Our last Danube river cruise only offered a tantalizing glimpse of Durnstein in the Wachau Valley of Austria. It was just long enough for Blonde's wallet to get a catch of thwarted longing in its throat. But on this cruise the wallet's dreams were fulfilled (and the wallet was emptied). Durnstein appears to have received its first mention in recorded history in 1112 when … [Read more...]
Dear Abbey (the one in Melk, not the advice columnist)
Perhaps you've heard of Melk Abbey so if someone says "Melk" your brain probably tosses in the word "Abbey" Kind of like hearing "Marco" and immediately thinking "Polo". Blonde's brain also reacted only in terms of "Melk Abbey" with no clue of the history behind it or of the town below it. On a Viking River Romantic Danube cruise we stopped to see the Abbey. Blonde had been … [Read more...]