Melk and Krem, Austria

The Melk Abbey, a huge Benedictine monastery from the 17th century, looms over the small town of Melk. In those days the churches were made to "impress" and this one certainly accomplishes that goal! The public rooms are filled with paintings, jeweled religious artifacts, intricate robes worn to say Mass and fine furniture. It was financed by taxes paid by the poor tenants! But, many of the treasures were gifts from visiting royalty.

We visited on a Sunday morning while Mass was being said in the main chapel and heard this beautiful soprano voice singing the hymns - can't imagine what they do for Christmas or Easter!

We walked through the town on the way back to the ship and stopped in a small shop for a cappuccino and ended up buying apricot liqueur and candy too!

The ship was in Melk only for the morning and then we went on to Krem. There was a May Day celebration there with people in typical Austrian costumes dancing in the town square near the May Pole. A little beer drinking going on too!!

The wisteria and lilacs are beautiful!

The trip down the Danube was beautiful - more hills than we have seen previously - remember, they are "alive with the sound of music!" -  covered with vineyards. Castles were around every corner!

The chef made us a traditional Austrian meal with sausage, cheese, dumplings, schnitzel, roast ham and pork. An accordion player and his son, with his guitar, serenaded us during dinner. Don't think I have ever hear "New York, New York" played on an accordion before!!