We woke up as we were docking in Melk.

The monastery at Melk began as the palace of the first Austrian rulers, the Babanbergs, in about the year 1000.  When they moved their capital to Vienna, they gave the fortress, the lands and therefore, the rent to the Benedictine monks.  They expanded the monastery in the gothic style, but then in the 1700’s the abbot decided to rebuild it in the baroque style. The place was wealthy and huge, at least in part since it was situated in a location that the Hapsburg emperors used it as a place for them and their 300 or so closest retainers to stay when they were traveling.  No pictures may be taken inside the monastery, but here are some from the outside.  

Alan walked back to the ship while BJ took the bus and met him back on the dock.  Here are some walk through the town and woods pictures.

We reboarded the Ve and cruised down the Wachau valley of the Danube.  Lots of ruined castles and small, quaint towns.

One ruined castle was supposedly where Richard the Lion-Hearted was kept captive on his return from “the Holy Land”.

Shortly thereafter, we docked at Krems, where we took a wine tour and tasted some of the local wines at a cooperative winery called Winzer Krems. Their wine is sold in the States at Total wine, so we didn’t buy any.

On our return to the ship, our dinner was a “Taste of Austria,” which was a typical Austrian meal with cheese, sausages, red cabbage, potatoes, sauerkraut, roast, and of course more wine beer and schnapps.

 

Later tonight we leave for Vienna where we will now spend two nights, due to the low water levels in the Danube.