This morning we awoke in Melk. A short bus journey took us up to the Abbey dominating the hill, and we were pointed in the right direction should we wish to walk back down after the guided tour (an alternative to a return bus transfer): 'right is right, left is lost'.
The Abbey, in Habsburg yellow, boasts 500 rooms and is home to 30 Benedictine monks, who 'pray, work and read', and a secondary day school for 1000 boys and girls. Baroque gold and optical illusions at every turn created a sense of heaven on earth, according to our guide. Lavish riches included silk vestments from 1715, still occasionally worn on feast days. The most precious exhibit was a jewel-encrusted golden cross, not valued so highly for its precious metal and gems as for the fact that it allegedly encases a piece of Christ's own cross. The most bizarre and gruesome exhibit, on the other hand, was a reusable coffin with a kind of trap door mechanism, which meant that each parish needed only one. Early environmentalism.
Although skies were a little cloudy, the afternoon thankfully kept dry for our cruise through the Wachau Valley. This to me was what a Danube cruise was all about, gliding our way past gorgeous riverside villages and vineyards, the odd castle perched on the cliff sides. With everyone up on the sun deck, there was a shared sense of excitement and relaxation, and when we pulled into Durnstein we felt invigorated for a walk through the lovely old town.
To round off a splendid day, we and some new-found friends (The Brits) managed to come joint first in the evening's music quiz, a very jolly affair that not only tested eclectic musical knowledge but dancing skills. The shared prize of a bottle of Viking's finest sparkling wine contributed to a pretty good night's sleep.
The Abbey, in Habsburg yellow, boasts 500 rooms and is home to 30 Benedictine monks, who 'pray, work and read', and a secondary day school for 1000 boys and girls. Baroque gold and optical illusions at every turn created a sense of heaven on earth, according to our guide. Lavish riches included silk vestments from 1715, still occasionally worn on feast days. The most precious exhibit was a jewel-encrusted golden cross, not valued so highly for its precious metal and gems as for the fact that it allegedly encases a piece of Christ's own cross. The most bizarre and gruesome exhibit, on the other hand, was a reusable coffin with a kind of trap door mechanism, which meant that each parish needed only one. Early environmentalism.
Although skies were a little cloudy, the afternoon thankfully kept dry for our cruise through the Wachau Valley. This to me was what a Danube cruise was all about, gliding our way past gorgeous riverside villages and vineyards, the odd castle perched on the cliff sides. With everyone up on the sun deck, there was a shared sense of excitement and relaxation, and when we pulled into Durnstein we felt invigorated for a walk through the lovely old town.
To round off a splendid day, we and some new-found friends (The Brits) managed to come joint first in the evening's music quiz, a very jolly affair that not only tested eclectic musical knowledge but dancing skills. The shared prize of a bottle of Viking's finest sparkling wine contributed to a pretty good night's sleep.
