The Beautiful Blue Danube - Day 3

We are on a train speeding toward Ancient Melk Abbey on the beautiful blue Danube River. Oh, by the way, Dave and Ray were sent off to purchase train-boat-train combi-tickets, but we got busted by the conductor.......🙉

It seems Dave and Ray somehow only purchased 2 round trip tickets instead of four (we blame it on the pretty ticket agent's poor English). The female conductor on the train laughed when we said we didn't know Shirley and Sally, and directed us to "pay up" at the next station. Sally and Shirley expressed a faint suspicion that we were striking out on our own, disrespecting our heartfelt apologies and excuses.   This time the ladies came to the desk with us, thus securing their safe passage and guarding us from any potential "Euro-floozies". 

Here are the girls with their tickets, Ray and I continually expressing contrite regret. 

Climbing the hill above Melk we see the restored 11th century Melk Abbey towering above us in Baroque splendor (the exterior was redone on the 1700's). 

The Benedictine monks took vows of poverty, but the abbot did ok. 

Circular stairway..........to heaven, I guess....

The library - I got scolded by the guard for taking this pic. She must have thought I had a book-eating camera. Not one volume was out of order (Ray checked). 

Pretty town of Melk below. 

Climbing back down the hill, we walked the couple kilometers to the Danube wharf, boarded our boat and cruised downriver past lovely vineyard towns for 3 hours. 

Picnic lunch on board with Sal and Shirley's new favorite soda: "Almdudler"!  At a Viennese grocery store near you.......

Landing in Krems an der Donau, we hiked a few more kilometers (all uphill) to our target restaurant........to find it closed. Sooo disappointed - They made their own bacon!!  Really!!

Oh well!  We consoled ourselves with a couple more kilometers of sightseeing in the pretty town and found another spot for dinner, while contemplating how Hungarian cuisine with tons and tons of really spicy paprika might be a welcome change. I believe there is no Sri Racha to be had in all of Austria (still checking). 

Taking the train back to Vienna, everyone dozed in another food coma. Today we did literally walk our butts off!

Tomorrow: the Naschmarkt (international/farmer's market), the Emperors  Palace, Sisi (the Emperor's Barbie-doll wife), and a Heuriger (country wine garden).