Regensburg, Germany

   Another overcast day but still mild and no rain. The pool guy was in bright and early to balance the chemicals and do a backwash. He left a note to fill the pool a bit so the hose was on for a couple of hours. I haven't had to use much water this summer with all the rain we've had.

   Usual day at the Seniors centre and home by 3:00 p.m. I filled another bin with weeds and tidied up a border on the north side of the house. My north neighbour has really let that area of his garden go to seed so I think the weeds are blowing over from his property. I hope I will shame him into doing something about it. 
  
   I have been overdosing on "Game of Thrones" this week. It's season six and I finally got it from the library last Friday. I will watch the final episode tonight. It's very brutal but the villain was eaten by his dogs in last night's episode so things may be working out for the good guys!

   Our next stop on the cruise was Regensburg, walking tour of the town, visited the cathedral to hear the choir - wonderful organ music - and visited the Thrum and Taxis museum, an example of Baroque splendour. The boat departed at 12:45 and shortly after we left the Danube and entered the Main canal which links with the Main River and then on to the Rhine. In the evening we crossed the Continental Divide so now all the locks would be lowering us as we proceeded towards the North Sea. The sun deck remained closed for the next few days as the bridges on the canal are all very low. Don't want to lose out heads!

Another cathedral!

Entrance to the museum - the Thrum and Taxis family (fabulously wealthy) still live there.

We couldn't go under this bridge - the captain had to back up the way he had come to reach the canal.

Passau, Germany

   Started off overcast, windy and cool but improved immeasurably as the day progressed. First thing this morning was to turn on the pool heater as the grandkids were coming over for lunch and a swim. The water was only 72F this morning!

    Tennis until 10:30 then I stopped by Judy's school to see how she was doing organizing her new classroom. It's a bit of a disaster area at the moment. Natalie and James had been "helping" her but they came home with me. She stayed for another hour and got a few more garbage bags filled. The room has been the domain of a (now retired) Kindergarten teacher who left everything behind. How exasperating!

   Next stop on the Cruise was Passau, our first stop in Germany (Durstein and Melk are actually in Austria) which is on an island between two rivers. We had a walking tour of the town centre including the cathedral. Back to the boat for lunch and we sailed at 3:45.  As soon as we were underway we had a strudel making demonstration by the head chef (the meals were all fabulous) followed by samples. Another fun quiz in the evening which my team won.

Interior of the cathedral - we stayed to hear the choir - wonderful!

Strudel making - he made it look so easy.

Durstein, Melk and the Wachau Valley

   Much cooler today and some rain this afternoon as I walked home from Bridge. I had several good hands and made the contract each time - my partner, Marie, had a Grand Slam - her first ever!

   I had to look in my diary to see where we went after Vienna - it was Durstein, an interesting town in the wine region of Bavaria, and a hike to a ruined castle overlooking the town and the river. After lunch on the boat we arrived at another town in the Wachau valley, Melk, where we visited a monastery. Bus there but we were given the option of walking back through the town, which I did, getting back in time for afternoon tea. As if we don't eat enough during the day! In the evening there was a lecture on the history and origins of wine. The weather was much cooler but still pleasant.

Interior of the church.

Exterior of the church.

View over Durstein to the Danube.

Entrance to the monastery in Melk.

Didn't quite make it all the way up to the ruined castle.

Vienna, Austria

   It has been overcast all day today, but quite warm - mid 20's. Two sets of tennis this morning and my wrist is much improved, almost back to normal. Kathy and I won the first set 6-2 but Cathy and Henry were up 4-3 when we had to vacate the court. I'd had enough anyway and was glad to stop.

   A rain shower later but not much so I was able to cut the rest of the grass this afternoon. The garden is looking very tidy, finally. I have some lamb chops marinating for dinner. It's ages since I had lamb - probably Easter -  but I will have to make my own mint sauce.

   Our next stop on the cruise was Vienna and we needed a bus to take us to the city centre. It was extremely hot again and although I enjoyed the walking tour, I was quite glad to get back to the boat. In the evening we had a demonstration and dance lesson of the Viennese Waltz which was fun. I got to dance with the instructor who really had me floating on air.