On the road to Vienna Austria

 Sunday October 1, 2023 - Travel to Vienna 

We took a scenic drive to the Danube Valley followed by a visit to the Benedictine Abbey of Melk, which we had a guided tour of.   The Abbey of Melk was gifted by Charlemagne end of 11th century to the Babenberger family, who later gifted it to the monks (there are still 23 Benedictine monks still there).  There is also a high school there that was supposed to have one of the biggest knowledge centers of the Middle Ages and is still in operation today for local students.  The current  building was built from 1702-1736 after the original had burned down.  You will see just a few outside pictures from here, since we couldn’t take any inside.  Apparently, there is an old movie with Sean Connery in it about this abbey. 

The picture above and the 5 below were taken on our drive in the Austrian countryside. (There may be some bus reflection)

Pictured above and below is the entrance to the Benedictine Abbey in Melk.  In the picture below I have a closeup of a directional sign pointing to America. 

This was a peaceful and beautiful fountain in the abbey.  In the first courtyard. 

Another far view of the Abbey and surrounding countryside.

One of the entrance courtyards in the Abbey.  The 2nd  of four!!

3rd courtyard entrance!!!!!

4th courtyard entrance!!!!!!!!!

This is the comedy break.  I saw this sign in at least 2 bathrooms at the Abbey. It means don’t stand on the toilet to go potty. 

Next - because we never let grass grow under our feet on a Rick Steves tour - a 2 hour cruise on the Danube river. 

This is the upper deck in the pictures above and below, but first we sat at an inside restaurant and enjoyed a snack and a drink.

Pretty Danube river shot 

  Burgruine Durnstein Austria. You can see the ruins of a castle on the hill behind the town .  It is a medieval castle from the early 1100’s. 

Urban legend says that Richard the Lionheart built this castle and used it as a base. So it would have been built sometime around the 1180’s

Ruined castle up on a hill.  As you can tell, there are a lot of Castles on the hills!  

Schloss Schönbühel is a castle in the Lower Austrian town of Schönbühel-Aggsbach, below Melk on the right bank of the Danube. The origins of the castle date from the early 12th century.

Some more history info: During the drive down the Danube river valley, we learned about Napoleon history, then about the rise of Hitler and the world and local events that catapulted him to power.  Also, not due to Hitler, in history in Europe Jewish people were not allowed in the trade guilds, so they studies and became the bankers, shop owners, lawyers and doctors, and there was a certain jealousy.  Adolph Hitler made it a theme to rise up against these elites as early as 1923.  By the way, the Nazi salute is illegal currently in Germany.  

We learned why it was called the third reich.  The 1st Reich was the Holy Roman Empire from 800AD until Napoleon times early half of the 1800’s.  The 2nd Reich was from the unification of German speaking countries in 1871 until 1918.  

Our guide talked a lot about the EU and how proud Germany and Austria were to be a part of it.  The European Union flag of 12 stars was to signify the 12 stars around the head of Mary. EU started with Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France Germany and Italy.   Currently 27 countries.  It is now longest time of peace on European continent.  They seem a little sour about Britain leaving - I am sure there are many reasons but mostly because it costs billions of euros spent on getting them out of the union.  

We finally arrived in Vienna around dinner time.  Wein to people from Vienna.  Men are called Weiners (the w is pronounced as a v) and the women are called Wienerin.  We learned that it was a city of 1.5 million people. They are proud to be the home of art culture and music culture. In 2018 and 2019 it was voted most livable city in the EU.  They take care of their citizens and want the rich, poor and in between to enjoy and live in their city.  1/3 of all Vienna citizens (600,000) live in good public assistance housing.  Over 80% of the old city was destroyed by bombing runs in WWII.  Almost all the pictures you will see over the next 2 days of old looking places and churches were rebuilt after the war.  Pretty much if it is not something to do with the Habsburg palaces, then it was partially or totally destroyed.  

Sad knowledge, November 9, 1938- all synagogues were destroyed  in Vienna - this was the climax of that event I told you started in Munich.  Kristallnacht - the night of broken glass.  

I am sure my next post will be more about Vienna because that will be my last day of the trip.  Today’s pictures of Vienna will be minimal.  

We arrived in Vienna and did some sightseeing.  This was Gerald, our guide for tonight and at the museums tomorrow.   He is standing in front of St Stephens Cathedral.   It is a massive cathedral in the center of town. 

Here is our group enjoying an evening walk in Vienna. 

Note the lower jaw on this statue’s face.  It is one of the Habsburg’s.  They believed in marrying first cousins, so over their rule, many were born with “deformities”.  This prominent lower jaw was one of those that passed on thru generations.As dukes, archdukes and emperors, the Habsburgs ruled Austria from 1282 until 1918. 

A plaza in Vienna 

Part of the Habsburg palace in Vienna. 

Street scene in Vienna.   

It is hard to get good pictures of large cities with large buildings. Tomorrow we explore Vienna and several museums.  Some won’t let us take pictures… more tomorrow.