Days 14 Passau Again

Today after breakfast they bussed us back to Passau for a walking tour.  Our guide was very informative and we heard many things but not sure I remember them.  :). Pretty tired today as did not sleep well.  She did show us a picture of the pipe organ at St. Stevan's (Stephen): named for Stephen who was  the first Christian martyr and the main altar has a huge sculpture of the stoning.  The organ has five manuals/levels and was built in the 1920's.  There are 2 organs on each side and one main one in the back.  The amount of electrical conduit if laid end to end would reach from Passau to Vienna.  There are only 3 organists in Passau capable of playing the organ -- one main organist and two minors.

We ate lunch at another sidewalk cafe and had a wonderful salad and two different spaghetti dishes. We then shopped for a bag to haul souvenirs home, sun screen because it is soooo hot here and some sleeveless tops for me.  Who'd thunk?

We walked to a bus stop and caught a bus to the oberhaus which was built by one of the bishops across the river high on a hill with a huge wall.  Passau is ruled by a Bishop still and is 80% catholic.  The tax rate is 45% and 2% goes to the church -- either catholic or Lutheran.  The priests/pastors are paid from the tax as well as upkeep on the buildings.  If you don't believe in God, you can get out of the tax but, of course, you can't be buried from a church.  From this high vantage point, you can see the confluence of the Danube  and Eihn Rivers.  We also saw the measurement of this year's flood which is the highest since the 1500's when they started the markings.

The ride to/from Passau was picturesque; similar to a national forest with a river.  Tonight the Captain introduced the crew and we all had a toast on the sun deck as the ship left the bay.

We've met lots of people today including a couple from Maryland on another cruise ship. I was disappointed they weren't on our ship.  However, we keep running into the couple from Minnesota  we met last night watching the passing through the lock.  We ate dinner with them and their long time friends last night and had a wonderful time.

Food is wonderful on the ship and portions are reasonable.

Schlogen