Danube River Cruise - 5/6/14

Up at 6:00 AM this morning and out onto deck to watch the arrival at Melk, AU. Picturesque small town (pop. 5,525) along the Danube.  Primary point of interest is the Benedictine Monastery built on the hill side.  From the river, it is a short drive or 25 minute walk.  We leave via coach to tour the abbey and gardens this morning.

The building and museum are magnificent. The museum especially has been redesigned to present these very old artifacts (some dating from the 10th century) in a very modern setting. Upon reaching the actual church, we are bowled over by the magnificence of the interior.  Multiple alters surround the main knave. The high alter is completely covered in gold relief with sculptures abounding.  A true feast for the eyes.

Unfortunately, due to schedule and the crowd at the church, we had only 10 minutes to tour the garden, so barely had a chance to walk around the first lawn.  Obviously well tended, although the flowers were not quite in bloom. Hundreds of rose bushes covered in buds, tulips blooming and peonies beginning.  Lots of modern sculptures placed in the grounds.  It is a shame we didn't have time to investigate and tour.  We could have spent an entire morning just in the gardens.

Back to the ship for a cast off at 12:30, headed through the Waucha Valley of the Danube on our way towards Vienna.  A warm and pleasant afternoon of sailing and reaching our dock in Vienna at 6:00 PM. We had an early dinner as tonight we are taking in a Mozart and Strauss concert in Vienna.

The concert was held in a former city palace of one of the ruling aristocrats but to call this a house is not to do it justice.  The Concert room was magnificently adorned in marble with high ceilings. The orchestra was small, just 11 instruments including a piano, strings and a four piece woodwind section. The concert master was playing a Stradivarius which belongs to the City Orchestra of Vienna and is rarely played.  This evening's performance was being taped for Austrian television, hence the opportunity to listen to the Strad.

The group was outstanding.  They obviously enjoyed the music and their work.  In addition to the musicians, there were two opera singers and two ballet dancers performing the works by Mozart and Strauss. We left the concert at 9:50 and returned to the ship to be greeted by warm bowls of goulash!  Off to bed to rest for tomorrow's tours of Vienna.