We are in Nuremberg today... and we have not told you all about our day yesterday in Regensburg... we will update you more later... we did find the synagogue in Regensburg and was able to go in and meet locals! It was wonderful and moving! The most amazing part.. and we will post pictures soon.. was meeting the author of a book we bought about his life and his survival of the Holocaust. When we were in the synagogue we were taken to him.. and met him .. and spoke to him! He spoke beautiful english and was so happy to meet us! It took our breath away!
Today we drove thru Nuremberg which was the center of the Nazi Rallies! It was very difficult to see! The city was 90% destroyed during the war and has been reconstructed. We are spending most of our time in the old city that is surrounded by a Medieval Wall and Mote! There is also a Medieval Castle here that was built in 1300's and Debbie is so HAPPY to finally get to see a castle!
We are having a wonderful time and can't believe it is our last day! We can't wait to tell you more and encourage you to experience this amazing journey thru time down the DANUBE!!!
We will be posting our pictures soon!.. so please come back to see Regensburg, the synagogue and Nuremberg.
We fly home tomorrow... and look forward to seeing and talking to you all!
Thank you for following our explorations thru Hungary, Austria, and Bavaria!!!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Thursday in Passu, Bavaria
Today was one of our favorite stops. Passau is in Germany and right on the border of Austria. Passau is actually in Bavaria. What a beautiful peaceful place. The history dates back further than most due to its location on 3 rivers! This town dates back five thousand years!!
There is a University here and a beautiful Cathedral! It is a modern city that reflects it's vibrant history!
There is a University here and a beautiful Cathedral! It is a modern city that reflects it's vibrant history!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Our Day in Melk
Melk is known for its Abbey and is the spiritual and cultural centre in Austria for over 1000 years! The town started as the residence of the ruling family and then became a Benedictine monastery in 1089. For over 900 years, monks have lived and worked in the Abbey. Since 1978, restorations of the Baroque buildings have been taking place in order to meet the needs of the local school in the Abbey as well as the visitors and cultural events that take place in the Monastery. This is one of the most important buildings in baroque style in Europe!
The highlight of the tour of the Abbey is the church which is considered the most beautiful baroque structure north of the Alps. Another extraordinary piece is the library houses over 100,000 leather bound books and is growing. There are also two huge globes constructed in 1690 one of the constellations and one of the earth.
The view from the Abbey overlooking the valley of the Danube is breathtaking and the town below is quaint! We enjoyed shopping and watching the local people shopping in the open market.
As we sail from Melk to Linz we went through several locks. To experience this unique waterway system is a treat. As the water rises and lifts the riverboat up and over the dam, the view changes and the landscape becomes even more beautiful. Along the way we pass small villages, snow peaked mountains and exquisite castles!
The highlight of the tour of the Abbey is the church which is considered the most beautiful baroque structure north of the Alps. Another extraordinary piece is the library houses over 100,000 leather bound books and is growing. There are also two huge globes constructed in 1690 one of the constellations and one of the earth.
The view from the Abbey overlooking the valley of the Danube is breathtaking and the town below is quaint! We enjoyed shopping and watching the local people shopping in the open market.
As we sail from Melk to Linz we went through several locks. To experience this unique waterway system is a treat. As the water rises and lifts the riverboat up and over the dam, the view changes and the landscape becomes even more beautiful. Along the way we pass small villages, snow peaked mountains and exquisite castles!
Our Day and Night in Vienna
We started our day with a city tour of beautiful Vienna, the capital of the Republic of Austria. We were surprised that such a modern the city could have so many old buildings throughout. The architecture was breathtaking! We learned that Vienna is, in every respect, the political, economic, and cultural center of the country.
Our first stop was the Belvedere Palace which houses the Austrian Gallery. The Austrian painters of the 19th and 20th century are the focus of this gallery. One of the major works shown here includes Gustav Klimt’s THE KISS!
Next we stopped at the infamous St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The cathedral of St. Stephen was built between 1263 and 1511 and is the symbol of the city of Vienna. Its tower stands 450 feet tall, making it one of the most impressive churches in Europe. From the Cathedral spanning all around is the town center, or Stephansplatz, where you can find famous Viennese cafés, designer shops, boutiques, and museums.
We spent the afternoon in the Stephansplatz and lunched at a famous café called Gerstner, which opened in 1847 as a small pastry shop in the heart of Vienna. This café earned the highest honor of d as Royal-Imperial Court Confectioner in 1873. The pastries are not only delicious, they are pieces of art!
Vienna is a bustling city, which is one of the many reasons it is one of the most popular destinations for tourists who enjoy the cosmopolitan yet nostalgic flair of Austria.
The highlight of our day in Vienna was a fantastic Strauss and Mozart concert at the Auerberg Palace where Mozart not only played but lived there for a short time while composing. It was a perfect combination of the symphony, ballet and opera; a musical treat that gave us a taste of the Viennese culture that has influenced so many!
Our first stop was the Belvedere Palace which houses the Austrian Gallery. The Austrian painters of the 19th and 20th century are the focus of this gallery. One of the major works shown here includes Gustav Klimt’s THE KISS!
Next we stopped at the infamous St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The cathedral of St. Stephen was built between 1263 and 1511 and is the symbol of the city of Vienna. Its tower stands 450 feet tall, making it one of the most impressive churches in Europe. From the Cathedral spanning all around is the town center, or Stephansplatz, where you can find famous Viennese cafés, designer shops, boutiques, and museums.
We spent the afternoon in the Stephansplatz and lunched at a famous café called Gerstner, which opened in 1847 as a small pastry shop in the heart of Vienna. This café earned the highest honor of d as Royal-Imperial Court Confectioner in 1873. The pastries are not only delicious, they are pieces of art!
Vienna is a bustling city, which is one of the many reasons it is one of the most popular destinations for tourists who enjoy the cosmopolitan yet nostalgic flair of Austria.
The highlight of our day in Vienna was a fantastic Strauss and Mozart concert at the Auerberg Palace where Mozart not only played but lived there for a short time while composing. It was a perfect combination of the symphony, ballet and opera; a musical treat that gave us a taste of the Viennese culture that has influenced so many!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
sailing from Budapest to Vienna
As we left Budapest after a lovely day touring – seeing so many old buildings and new influences! We saw the largest synagogue again and drove through the old Jewish quarter! One of the most shocking and moving memorials to the Hungarian Jews lost in the Holocaust was a line of cast iron shoes along the Danube representing those who were shot and thrown into the Danube by the Nazi’s.
Another reminder of WWII was the only building in Buda that has not been restored. You can see it in one of our pictures. It still has shots in the exterior and is a must see in the Castle Hill part of town.
The Architecture and bridges are fantastic to see and the history is overwhelming as we walked the little narrow alley ways in Buda. We shopped a bit and had a croissant and realized that we were in a magnificent place that needed to be visited again!
Now we are on the river sailing towards Vienna and the view from our window in our room is spectacular. It went from flat lands to mountains in a blink. All of the sudden we saw old homes, small villas and little towns surrounded by snow peaked mountains.
As we sail, on one side we see Hungary and the most unbelievable Medevil Cathedral that is lit up majestically, the other side is Slovakia – truly remarkable!
It is getting dark and we are looking forward to Vienna! Stay tuned for more later!
Another reminder of WWII was the only building in Buda that has not been restored. You can see it in one of our pictures. It still has shots in the exterior and is a must see in the Castle Hill part of town.
The Architecture and bridges are fantastic to see and the history is overwhelming as we walked the little narrow alley ways in Buda. We shopped a bit and had a croissant and realized that we were in a magnificent place that needed to be visited again!
Now we are on the river sailing towards Vienna and the view from our window in our room is spectacular. It went from flat lands to mountains in a blink. All of the sudden we saw old homes, small villas and little towns surrounded by snow peaked mountains.
As we sail, on one side we see Hungary and the most unbelievable Medevil Cathedral that is lit up majestically, the other side is Slovakia – truly remarkable!
It is getting dark and we are looking forward to Vienna! Stay tuned for more later!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Our Day in Buda and Pest...
Enjoy our pictures of Pest and Buda! We had a great day --- and was able to explore both sides of the Capital - first Buda and then Pest. You will see us enjoying the old city on a sunny day! Stay tuned tomorrow for our adventures in Vienna!
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