This is a multi-part series about our Danube River cruise.
River Cruise Day 7 (Morning):
It feels good to sleep in this morning. We won't be disembarking the ship until 2:00pm when we dock in Dürnstein. The MS Joy left Linz at 5:00am this morning, and we enjoy an elaborate on-board brunch while making our way down the Danube.
The Wachau Valley in lower Austria is a Unesco World Heritage site, and is the crown jewel for all the Danube River Cruise lines that sail through the area. Since we've got about an hour before we arrive at the Wachau Valley, I treat myself to getting my hair blown out at the ship's salon. This luxury is worth every euro. My hair and I have had a love-hate relationship for my entire life, and I'm happy to let someone else wrestle with it.
It is another unseasonably warm day, with just a bit of cloud cover. Pretty much all of the passengers head up to the sun deck to take in the scenery. The ship's crew offers commentary on the Wachau Valley, as well as the fairytale village of Dürnstein that we will visit later in the day. We are invited to try some of Dürnstein's famous treats, all of which center around the marille (apricot) for which they are famous. We try several apricot liqueurs, apricots in heavy syrup, chocolate covered dried apricots, apricot smoothies, salted apricot kernels, and lordy, if they didn't know this would be my favorite -- apricot gummy candies.
Many passengers are content to sit and watch the scenery go by, but there are a group of us who bounce from bow to stern; port to starbird; trying our best to capture the scenic beauty that is around every bend.
I give up on trying to hear the narration, and so I will never know the significance (if any) of most of what we are seeing.
In this case, it's far better to let the eyes just see what they see, and let the camera capture what it deems worthy. The beauty of the region will speak for itself.
It is a photographer's paradise, comprised of farmland...........
Castles and churches (many, many churches!)...........
Tiny villages...........
And occasionally, an inviting restaurant (stop the boat, I want to get off!!!)
To be continued.........
Speaking of marille souvenirs, we have got a winner!
While I was visiting Durnstein,
I picked up a few tiny gifts to give to one of my readers.
Annnnnnnnnddd the winner is (drum roll, please)..........
Liberty of B4 and Afters!
Congratulations, Liberty!
This is a multi-part series about our Danube River cruise.
Read 10 Things To Know About River Cruising here.
Read Our First Day In Prague here.
Read 10 Things To Know About River Cruising here.
Read Our First Day In Prague here.
Read A Day In Medieval Regensburg, Germany here.
Read Picturesque Towns Of Austria Part 1: Engelhartszell here.
Read Picturesque Towns Of Austria Part 2: Salzburg here.
Read Picturesque Towns Of Austria Part 3: Durnstein here.
Read Vienna: Exploring The Old Town here.
Read Bratislava: Slovakia's Charming Capital here.
Read Picturesque Towns Of Austria Part 1: Engelhartszell here.
Read Picturesque Towns Of Austria Part 2: Salzburg here.
Read Picturesque Towns Of Austria Part 3: Durnstein here.
Read Vienna: Exploring The Old Town here.
Read Bratislava: Slovakia's Charming Capital here.
Read Budapest: The Pearl of the Danube River here.
Linking With:
Best of the Weekend
So very pretty!
ReplyDeleteI am again making dinner based on a recipe I got from the Weekend link up and I loved touring with you while it bakes! Great way to spend a hot Greek afternoon!!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for the scenic tour, Amy. Everything apricot sounds delish!
ReplyDeleteJoan-MyCookieClinic
Every part of your trip is amazing and makes me feel like I am there. I'm a big fan of old churches. The land is gorgeous too
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your week
Cindy
Beautiful tour! I kept thinking that I would have to keep reminding myself it is all real and not a movie scene in some faraway land. It really does exist! Did you have to sacrifice some clothes in your suitcase for all the apricot gummies you packed to bring home?! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry I haven't had time to read about the whole entire cruise trip you took as I have been away on my beach vacay and I am getting ready my daughter for college. When things settle down here I hope to read about your whole trip!! :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the weekend
Julie xo
It truly is a fairytale land you've been visiting, Amy. I have loved being given the scenic tour through your eyes. I was at my chiropractor's the other day and listening to him talk about their first river cruise coming up in a few weeks. They're going to Switzerland for it and I was telling him about your river cruise as he was getting my back into whack, trying to answer his questions about your cruise as I was huffing and puffing. See there, you gave me something to talk about!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm looking forward to seeing what it is! And tomorrow is my birthday, too! : )
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Liberty!
DeleteThis is fabulous. I love your photos. Everything is so green. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI can say this capture as a wow and yummy capture. Please tell something about my capture on my blog.
ReplyDeleteMuch interesting to see.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos.
Have a nice week!
The architecture is stunning! What a great cruise.
ReplyDeletei was waiting for the big blue church to come into view! we did an overnight in durnstein a few years ago when we went to austria/germany/slovenia for a few weeks. i got a bracelet in durnstein, i'm sure you went into the store. it's hand made jewelry with different colors of wires. is that still there???
ReplyDeleteb
Was it called House of Colors? I didn't go in because I knew I'd be tempted; I'd already bought myself two necklaces. But when I saw what a friend bought, I was so sorry I didn't!
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