The Danube

Before getting to the Danube we spent a very hot day in Berlin, reflecting on the craziness of the Berlin Wall and the on to the opulence of the summer houses in outer Berlin area of Potsdam. One of the highlights was the Holocaust Monument.  A field of austere concrete blocks representing the streets and overpowering oppression of the Nazi hold over the Jews.  Most notable is the monument placed specifically over the grave of Gobbels to signify the ultimate winner. A significant place for this part of history was the Brandenberg Gate.  It was the scene for many speeches, including the US President, Ronald Regan, and symbolized to ultimate falling of the wall on 12 June 1987. This was
during the commemoration of 750th anniversary of Berlin.

The Sanssouci Palace is the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart.

Start of the Danube - Nuremberg

Well at least it is the start of the Main-Danube-Canal.  We boarded ship before then doing a day around Nuremberg checking out the Nazi propaganda machine that was in full flight in Nuremberg in 1939 and is now the site of the Trials of war criminals.

Then starts a kaleidoscope of massive churches in medieval towns across the very old trading route down the Danube.  This started in Regensburg, moved to Passau, Melk, Vienna and on to Slovakia (Bratoslovia)

Regensburg

We took a slight diversion from the Danube to go to Salzburg, the home of Sound of Music.  It appears that the Austrians did not appreciate the tourist value of the Sound of Music as it was censored after the war in Austria.

Melk Abbey

Vienna

Seems that they are making up for it now.  But probably the most spectacular part of the Salzburg visit was the St Peters cemetery. The cemetery grounds are known for its 'catacombs' carved out of the conglomerate rocks of the Festungsberg. They probably date back to around 300 AD, when they served as an Early Christian place of assembly and hermitage.

Salzburg - the birthplace of Mozart

St Peters cemetery

In between the cities was the cruising down the Danube.  Although a lot is done at night we did enjoy the cruise down the Wachau Valley with its many old vineyards and spectacular medieval castles and towns.

Wachau Valley

Spitz

Durnstein