Weather predictions indicated two good days before rain so decided to push up our plans for outdoors activities.

Proudly using our new weekly public transportation passes, we headed out of town to the top of the hills in the Vienna Woods and hiked down, first through trees

and then vineyards to the little (touristy) town of Grinzing

to sample the local wines. (Thanks, Diane Vasica, for the suggestion.)

Since this is a music city we attended a concert at the prestigious Musikverein build in 1867 with wonderful acoustics but dreadful visibility. A hall designed to see and be seen rather than watch the performers. Mozart, Tchaikovsky and a bizarre modern piano concerto played with wild abandon by Denis Matsuev and not less than three encores.

Next morning as we fell out of bed Jerry moaned “I need a vacation!” but by 8am we were on the train on our way to the monastery town of Melk.

At the top of the hill we toured the huge 18th century Baroque fortified Bendictine abbey/library/school (originally founded 11th century). It’s WAY over-the-top church is a gold everywhere rococo eye-dazzler.

Important churches needed relics (parts of dead saints). The Melk church contains two “saints” skeletons. Both plundered from Roman Catacombs and thus assumed to be martyred saints. Since they didn’t know who these people were they just dressed them up and gave them names. This one they called Saint Friedrich. (FRED? a popular Roman name?)

After lunch a two hour cruise on the Danube (it’s not blue)

passing wonderful towns and castles

to the adorable town of Durnstein in the Wachau Valley. The castle ruin at the top of the hill is famous as the place where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom as he was returning from the crusades.

Perfect place to wander, enjoy the architecture and shop.

Wachau valley is famous for apricots and wine. We were offered samples at the many Wieser stores. Jerry is from Weiser (different spelling) Idaho so we felt compelled to sample the apricot liqueur many times. We were happy campers by the time we headed back on the train to Vienna.