Back to the River Cruise - Durnstein, Austria

After we left the Abbey of Melk, most of us returned to the ship for a cruise along the beautiful Wachau Valley to a delightful little Austrian town called Durnstein. The fittest of the passengers, however, cycled the 35 km to Durnstein along the river front, using the ship’s power-assisted bicycles. It was a warm sunny day, so I imagine the ride was both invigorating and demanding. Many locals and other tourists used the bicycle path at the same time - it is clearly a popular sport around here. But what picturesque place to ride!

Anyhow, most of us walked the few hundred metres from where the ship was docked into the heart of the town, and browsed in the little shops looking for something unique to take home.  And Durnstein did offer something unique, since this is the district where apricot trees abound. You could buy anything with the flavour or aroma of apricots - from apricot soaps and lotions to chocolate-coated dried apricots to apricot jams and chutneys to apricot liqueurs to brandied apricots. And of course there also were many goods with apricot motifs on them, such as oven mitts, aprons . . . 

At the end of the day we all assembled at a beer garden for a special treat - a ‘Sundowner’. This beer garden was located at the edge of the town and overlooked a vineyard and the river - a great view! We were served huge platters of all kinds of meats, cheeses, pickles and other delicious treats as well as crusty bread rolls and drinks, and then the fun began. We had two great musicians who performed many popular songs and had everyone singing along, eventually persuading some to get up and dance. This was no ordinary dance, however. It precipitated great laughter when those who got up entered the spirit of the show. We all then walked back to the ship, very contented with life - and with our apricot parcels. 

By the way, to give you some idea of the performance of a ship's WiFi, and I bought a package which the ship called 'the fastest internet on the sea', it took me 3 hours to upload these photos, while it would have taken 5 minutes in my London hotel!  Very frustrating, but I wanted you the see this lovely region of Austria. 

Walking through the woods between Melk and the river.

Another view of these lovely peaceful woods.

Our first view of Durnstein from the river.

The main cathedral in Durnstein - viewed from the river ship.

A close-up of the stunning blue cathedral tower.

A view of the Danube from the bike path as I walked into Durnstein. 

Walking into the town of Durnstein through its wide city wall.  

In the courtyard of the cathedral.

The door into the cathedral. I did not go inside.

Walking along the long, narrow main street of the town where most shops were located. 

Walking down the street where the beer house was located. Its entrance was the first door on the left. It had both a lower garden and a larger entertainment area upstairs.

The men were about to dance 'Zorba the Greek'.

The view from the upper entertainment area of the beer house towards the vineyards and the river.