Charming Passau

 Saturday, Dec 10

out of order

We decided to forgo the guided  walking tour of Passau, and set out on foot to explore the charming city founded by the Celts more tha 2000 years ago, making it one of Bavaria’s oldest cities.  Known as the City of Three Rivers, it rests at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz, and Danube rivers.  Having long enjoyed its strategic position , it grew to great economic and political power, and the legacy lives on in graceful arcades, colorful houses with rococo facades, and the beautiful baroque St Stephen’s Cathedral, which houses one of Europe’s largest pipe organs, with 17, 974 pipes.  That was our first stop, and we marveled at the beauty of not only the organ, but the frescoes and ornate architecture, and multiple alters lining the walls.  There was to be a concert at 12;00, but it would make it too tight for us to get back to the ship for our afternoon excursion, so we regretfully passed on that, and took in the glass museum before heading back. It was absolutely mind blowing, and housed in an incredible building, which must have been either a castle or church, and I was so glad we decided to go.  We could have spent much more time, but did get an overview of the 5 floors jam packed with glass from the earliest to more current.  Unfortunately, our afternoon excursion was less tha gratifying, and in retrospect, we all wished we had just stayed in town! 

(Photos out of order)

St Stephens Cathedral 1688, seat of the Bishop and main church of his diocese. Stunning inside and out, with several alters and beautiful architecture. 

 

Back out on the street, we were greeted by the familiar stands with délectables. 

Smoking fish! 

St Stephens can be seen at its full height shot from the square where the Christmas Market is set up. 

The boat ride on the Inn River proved uneventful, and we were not expecting the beer tasting, and our tour guide was less than inspirational, and we were left wondering why this was an excursion! When we mentioned it later to the activity director, she said many enjoyed it in the summer…..maybe a cold beer on a hot day? We loved Passau, and wish we had spent more time there instead.

I have to say the boat was very cute! 

The Inn river is green from the mineral runoff in mountains. 

I had remarked on the odd ball shapes in trees, and was told it was Mistletoe!!  So cool! Kind of blew my mind! 

I’m not a beer drinker, but the pretzels were good and this regional drink was great!! I actually drank two of the cute little shot glasses, and wanted to bring the glass home as well! 

Took a photo as I will never remember the name! Our guide said it’s way better than Jaergermeister, which I have not tasted, but there is a definite loyalty to regional foods, as you might expect. He, however, is Italian, so there may be something there! 

The boat ride took us to the small town of Sharding, which we were told was not a tourist town, and mostly  Germans and Viking passengers visited. Our guide was also not a very good salesman! Rather sleepy, but quaint as most small European towns are, it did have lovely multicolored and gabled buildings all along the town square, which was quite charming. 

Interesting fire hydrants! 

It has been explained in several towns how valuable salt was, and how it was taxed, and referred to as white gold. We were taken as a surprise to a small shop where we mixed salt and herbs for the experience, and to bring home. 

Dinner on board was a Bavarian food tasting, with red checkered cloths and pretzels, and the waiters and waitresses in regional dress, and all very fun, and way too filling!  I’m afraid we will need a good bit of work to get our waistlines back in shape when we return! 

Special German dinner on board, with waiters all in regional dress, was fun. More pretzels! I think Clem has finally had his fill!