Passau

Arrive this morning in Passau, at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. Your guided walk along the town’s narrow streets takes you through Old Town and past traditional patrician houses. Admire the New Bishop’s Residence and see the impressive baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral; its ornate interior is home to one of Europe’s largest church organs. Enjoy lunch on board your ship, and return to the city for further exploration on your own before departing. Alternately, set out this morning with your guide to enjoy a full-day optional tour of picturesque Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and setting of The Sound of Music. We cruise through the night. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

CITY OF MOZART AND THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Spend the day in one of Austria’s most picturesque alpine cities, setting of the beloved film The Sound of Music and the birthplace of Mozart. Drive with your guide past charming mountain villages, rolling hills and pristine lakes. Upon arrival in this glorious city, enjoy a guided walking tour of the Italianate Old Town, strolling past high-baroque architecture and through the splendid Mirabell Gardens, where scenes in the movie were filmed. By foot, as the medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress watches over from atop its rocky cliff, you will gain an intimate view of Salzburg. Continue to the Domplatz, dominated by the 249-foot 17th-century Dom and St. Peter’s Abbey, where Mozart premiered the Great Mass in C Minor in 1783. Savor lunch in Austria’s oldest restaurant, named for the church, as classically trained singers and musicians regale you with songs in the spirit of the movie musical.

* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.

SAIL THE LESSER-KNOWN WATERS OF THE INN RIVER

Board a smaller boat to explore the waters of the Inn River as the rolling hills of Upper Austria and Lower Bavaria unfold around you. Meet your guide for a drive upriver through the Bavarian countryside. Soon, you will arrive at the quaint little Austrian town of Schärding on the Inn River, just a short distance from Passau. Take a walking tour with a local guide, admiring the gracefully curved gabled roofs of multihued pastel houses facing the picturesque baroque central square. Then embark a small boat to cruise the famous emerald-green waters of the Inn River. As you get underway, you will see the onion-domed tower of St. George’s Church peering over the town. Enjoy beer and a pretzel as you take in views of the passing countryside, with German Bavaria on one side and Upper Austria on the other.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.

Zoe: When you pass the Continental Divide where the Rhine goes to North Sea and Danube to the Black Sea, there is usually a celebration. When we moved from Germany to Austria and stopped in Passau, we took an optional trip to Salzburg. This is one of our favorite places to visit. It is famous for music festivals and is the birthplace of Mozart.

We skipped the tour of Passau to spend the day in Salzburg. Our tour bus guide provided a running commentary on the 2 hour ride mostly south and slightly west towards the Alps. We noticed another Viking Bus slightly ahead of us, more tourists on the way to Salzburg:

To break up the monotony of cornfields and farms, our guide noted that the barns with the large windows were for cows; those with smaller window were for pigs. They could tolerate higher temperatures. The local farmers processed the cow dung into fertilizer and gas by containing the waste in domes:

Along the way we saw a monument to the 65th Infantry of the US Third Army who had liberated Jewish children after the War. Sadly, many died on their journey back to their native towns. They had no parents to guide or care for them:

Around 9:15 we crossed the In River into Austria. We could see developments of upscale country homes for retired Austrians:

A while later we passed near Hitler's birthplace, Braunau am Inn, Austria. Our guide told how the town's mayor continued efforts to avoid making it a gathering place for Neo Nazis. He also pointed out that Pope Benedict was born nearby in Marktl, Bavaria, Germany (about 20 minutes west).

Now we expected to see children and teachers dancing around the streets of Salzburg. But they wouldn't stand a chance among the railroad yards, fast food signs, and the industrial side of town:

Thankfully, the bus stopped in the New Town. Our guide would lead us quickly to Mirabell's baroque garden where Julie Andrews sang and danced with the Von Trapp children:

After a cup of coffee, we were ready for a whirlwind tour of the city and landmarks:

...Mozart's chocolate exploitation (We sampled these chocolate balls a few days later onboard ship)...

...handmade 1,000 Euro lederhosen (dark leather meant for use to wipe hands from dirty wet snow) and traditional dress with significant bow placement...

...followed by an elegant chicken and polenta lunch at St. Peter with solos, harmony, sing-a-longs and dancing to Sound of Music tunes (The Hills are Alive, Do-Re-Mi, The Lonely Goatherd, Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Maria, My Favorite Things, Edelweiss, Jam and Bread, So Long, Farewell):

As we left Salzburg, we saw children playing in the streets and families enjoying a sunny stretch of sand by the river.

Further down the road there was a Christmas tree farm sign and more retirement homes. What a place to retire.

Back on ship, we were entertained by crew members in lederhosen and traditional Austrian dress welcoming everyone to a Taste of Germany feast. Passengers could order off of a special menu and/or join the buffet line for all kinds of German food offerings.