Shopping List.

Taking a break from my trip and sharing my shopping list from Anthony.

He told me last night we have to go to Walmart today and he would make the list.

Chocolate milk

a toy for Jackson

hot dogs

milk

and a toy for him.

He even left it in my purse so I wouldn't forget.

Melk

Melk has been an important spiritual and cultural centre in Austria for over 1000 years. First it was the residence of the Babenberg family and since 1089 it has been a benedictine monastery, founded by Leopold II. For over 900 years, monks have continually lived and worked in Stift Melk (Melk Abbey) following the rules laid down by St. Benedict. The well known Collegiate church at the entry of the Wachau Valley with it's 900 years of art history is one of the most important buildings of baroque style in Europe.

Great views from a top the Abbey.

Beautiful ceilings

Cool things that you couldn't touch.

More ceilings.

Amazing on the outside as well.

World famous library

Really old book.

Long hallway!

Passau/Linz and Salzburg

So day 3 the ship docked in Passau in the morning cruised than afternoon and than had the evening in Linz. Unless you decided to go to Salzburg for the day. I chose Salzburg. So happy I did. I loved LOVED loved Salzburg. This post is going to have a lot of pictures and I really tried to cut it down some.

On our way to Salzburg we stoped at this little town where we saw this.

This would be the church were Holy Night was written.
Salzburg is proud of it's past. As an ecclesiastical princeipality which enjoyed the exclusive status of being responsible to the Emperror directly, Salzburg was ruled by archbishops, uniting both secular and ecclesiastical power. The modern city is located on the site of Roman Juvavum, a settlement which grew up on one of the major military roads of the ancient world. Even today, over one hundred churches, castles and palaces bear witness to the power of the Salzburg archbishops. In 1756 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg's greatest son, was born here. 1842 saw the erection of a monument to him in what is today Mozart square. It was not until 1816 that the Salzburg became part of the Habsburg Empire. The years following World War II saw Salzburg develop into one of Austria's leading trade center.

A statue in the gardens at Mirabell Palace

Mirabell Palace today is used for offices of Salzburg's mayor and the municipal council. As well as mettings, awards ceremonies and romantic concerts are held here regularly.

Entering Old Town

A view on Getreidegasse, which is one of the oldest streets in Salzburg.

This would be the birth place of Mozart.

Yep. They still wear these traditional clothing.

Inside Salzburg Cathedral

The navity set inside the Cathedral where the baby Jesus is not put in until Christmas Eve and the Wiseman don't get put in until January 6th.

Views of Salzburg atop Hohensalzburg Fortress

The Alps

Enjoying a yummy preztel while walking around the markets.

Nuremberg

Day 2 Nuremberg (bused from Regensburg)

The city was founded about 1000 years ago by an Emperor named Heinrich III and before the war, the city was one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Germany. From the 12th to the 16th century nearly all the emperors maintained their residence in the Kaiserburg (castle) and held their imperial diets here. At that time, Nuremburg was regarded as the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations. Most of Nuremberg was completely destroyed during WWII, (in 90 minutes!) and the historical building you will see today were mostly rebuilt, using the very same stone. WWII plays a major role in the city's history, considering that Adolf Hitler chose the city as the site for his annual Nazi party rallies. Later, the city became the famous location for the Nuremberg Trials.

Today the city is a flourishing metropolis.

In Nuremberg we took the WWII tour. Because we lost part of our day being bused to and from Regensburg. We were unable to get off the bus for all of the sights so I did not get many if any good photos.

The rounded exterior of the Party Congress Hall is a reminiscent of the Coliseum in Rome.
The Hall was designed to hold 50,000 people, but was never finished.

The Zeppelin Grandstand

We also saw the courthouse were the trials took place, the Jewish cematary.

Even today, the city is surrounded by it's sturdy 13th century defensive wall complete with fortified towers!

We had some time to enjoy the Christmas Market in Nuremberg after our tour.

The Friday before the first Advent Sunday, the Christmas Angel opens her market, reciting the solemn prologue from the gallery of the church of Our Lady. And as every year, by Christmas Eve, more than two million visitors from all over the world will have sampled the delights of the Christmas Market.

About 180 wooden stalls, festooned with red-and-white cloth, have given the Christmas Market it's name of "little Town from Wood and Cloth".

This is such a large market. I only wish we would have had more time to explore it.

Typical Christmas articles such as Christmas tree angels, ornaments, candles, toys as well as arts and crafts products can be found.

The hand painted ornaments were one of my favorite things we found.

What amazing talent.

Christmas in Europe has such a different feel about it. It truely had a Christmas feel about it that I can only imange what it was like before we turned it into the comericlaztion that it is today.

The Nuremberg market was my favorite.

Deggendorf & Regensburg

Now that I have caught up with all my Christmas post. It's time to tell update on my trip from the week before Christmas.

I was lucky enough to get a fam (work sponsored trip) the week before Christmas to check out a river cruise called AMA Waterways.

What a great trip. We sailed from Nuremberg to Budapest. Seeing the Christmas Markets along the way.

After spending a lot of hours on one of these and in airports we finally made it to Nuremberg.

Only to find out the Danube water levels were too high and the ship was sitting in Deggendorf.

About a 2 hr transfer from Nuremberg.

Once we finally made it to the ship we took the evening to get settled in and have dinner. And finally get some sleep in a bed.
The next morning after breakfast we took a walk into Deggendorf (not normally a place that the ship stops) There wasn't a lot to see.
Loved the cute cobblestone streets.
That afternoon we were bused into Regensburg (45 mins).
Regensburg is the oldest town on the Danube and a World Heritage site.
The wealth of the city was generated in the past from thee vibrant salt trade. Though the city is known for it's high Gothic cathedral, there is not one "main" sight in the city. The lure of Regensburg lies in it's charming cobbled streets throughout the old town, because Regensburg, unlike most German cities, was spared destruction by the bombs of WWII. You will find the oldest sausage kitchen in all of Germany, dating back to the year 1135.

Stone bridge was built between 1135 and 1145. The old stone bridge has 16 columns and it a marvel of medieval engineering.

Entering into Regensburg.

David and Goliath Mural has been re-touched many times, but dates back to the 16th century.

A hightlight was the Regensburg cathedral, a most impressive Gothic church, famous also for it's boys' choir, the Regensburger Domspatzen.

Our first Christmas market.Trying Gluhwein (warm spiced wine). This is how you stay warm at these markets.

We even tried our first German sausage here. Yum!

I have to say that Regensburg was one of my favorite city's we saw.