Durnstein and Melk

Started the morning in durnstein.  Fuck it was freezing, 5 degrees.

Had breakfast then strolled the streets.  Lovely quaint village that grows wine and apricots.

We had the option of riding from Durnstein to Melk which is a 32km ride, taking approx 3 hrs.  We had put our names down to do this but there was only 18 bikes and 32 people wanted to ride.  Unfortunately (luckily) we were not picked.

We then sailed from Durnstein to Melk, traveling quite slowly down the river.  There were a lot of small towns, and ruins to see on the way.

The bike riders were supposed to beat us there but they actually took 4hrs instead of the 3, with some of them getting lost in a small town called Spitz.

After lunch and once all the riders were back we went to the Melk Abbey.

It was absolutely beautiful, especially the church.  It has about 32 monks still residing at the Abbey and it also has a school for the local kids, they only pay around €80 a month.  It must be amazing for these kids to be going to a school that looks like that.  The library has books in it from the 17th century, and it has around  100,000 books.

After the tour one of the Monks played the organ in the church, not really into church music but it was nice to hear the acoustics.

Now we are just relaxing, will be Dinner time soon, we are having a Spanish themed meal.  Last night we had Italian.

Durnstein....

Ruins on the hill, grape vines in the forground.

Entrance into the church

brrrrrrrrr

Scott walking through the cobble streets

again...

View of Durnstein from the boat

Housekeeping girls having fun with our towels.

Wachau Valley

Water slide?

Scott relaxing on the balcony

oh i want this, it has a dungeon

Melk

Abbey in the distance, view from the carpark

Abbey Entrance

Tour guide?  Hope he knows where we are going.....

ceiling fresco

Marie Antoinette's parents

Shiny :)

Bishops robes, weighing 12kg from the gold thread.

Marble Hall, the only actual Marble is around the doorway.  The rest is made to look like real marble.

Model of the Abbey

Balcony where the organ is.

Inside the church

The highest point of the ceiling, it has a balcony running around the edge of the rose.

Working wooden clock