On a lazy Sunday, I had planned to take the guided bus tour to Wachau village and the Danube River Cruise to Melk Abbey. This region of Austria is not very far from Wien, in fact, it’s just 45 minutes drive but gives you a different perspective of life by the Danube and the lush green landscape.
Dürnstein, a Wachau Village, is a tiny village by the Danube and surrounded by mountains, vineyards and apricot groves. I enjoyed spending time walking through the old city center.
Had the local specialty fried cream apricot dessert which was yummy.
The Danube River Cruise was the most relaxing experience on this journey. Having a glass of wine and sandwich while we passed small villages along the way. The scenery was simply stunning.
Melk Abbey perched on top of the hill was the highlight of the day. You can see the influence of different time periods through it’s architecture and the buildings expansion. My favorite were the wall paintings in the Garden Palace, the Library, Church and the panoramic views from the Abbey.
The Pink Garden Palace and it’s gorgeous wall paintings.
Melk town – From the Abbey, you can easily get to the town center, by walking down the myriad of steps. Since it was super hot, I didn’t spend much time in the town center. I grabbed a cup of pistachio and hasslenut gelato and walked through the main strip. I’m sure on a cooler day, this quaint town must be filled with locals and tourists by the water fountain having a ball. But today, I guess, I was the only one who was willing to brave the heat.
The bus ride back to Wien was swift and we got back within an hour. I had nice conversations with an elderly couple from New York. Always nice to meet other fellow American travelers.
