Melk....a 900 year old abbey in the 21 st century

July 17....

The Abbey of Melk was a surprise....instead of being treated to yet another exquisitely beautiful old set of buildings, Melk has taken a leap forward in its presentation to the world....the renovated painting on the gables of the building should have given me a clue...

Inside......audio, video, blue lights, mirror reflections, paintings on ceilings, sculptures sticking out of walls, a veritable sons et lumieres not appreciated by all. I found the juxtaposition of old and new energizing.

The library which houses one of the largest collections of illuminated manuscripts in the world, is under heavy security, not just because of the hordes of tourists, but also because it seems to be a dilm set currently. No photos allowed.

The ceiling in the reception room, which appears to be vaulted, is trompe d,oeil.

Amsterdam....Rembrandt, bicycles, Van Gogh, canals....

.....and we,re only just coming down from a second hand smoke high! Probably the most exotic of all the cities we visited.....a surprise around every corner. An amazing morning at the Rembrandt House...it is almost eery to be within the very walls where he lived and worked...
Bicycles have right of way in this country and they take no prisoners...if you don,t hear the bell among the cacophony of sounds, you could be flattened.

Van Gogh museum was crowded....not too many of the well known pieces, more lesser known works...interesting his copies of Millet painting and those of other artists. Also his notes.........Again, great to see everything up close and realize that sometimes what you think is paint, is raw canvas..

Red light district.....yes, the girls are in the windows, yes the tourists are pushing each other down the narrow streets.....but only Bibi and I noticed the most amazing reflections in the canal......a fitting way to end the trip!


At Schiphol, leaving.

Koeln

Sunrise in Koln....

A self portrait.... Bibi still sleeping.

Bus and ship, and bus again...the Rhein and Koln

We have lost too many days through the lock strike. late Wednesday night we are told to pack up....we need to disembark the next morning, leaving the ship for good. The journey will continue by bus...

Early morning on the Rhine.....everything shrouded in fog....A cynic would be tempted to say, like thetravel plans.... But it is perhaps the most beautiful moment on the river


From Wertheim to ruedesheim by bus...en route the Johannisberg where we used to buy our wine....

Lunch in a "typical German" restaurant in Ruedesheim.....very Bavarian....am finally seeing germany from an "American" point of view....

then a ferry cruise down the Rhine to Boppard...vineyards and castles everywhere....and of course the Lorelei....


Then another 2 hours by bus to Koln...the Hilton. So some great views from the hotelroom.

Great confusion, great unhappiness among the passengers.

Wuerzberg...

.....spending time on board.....lots to see from the balcony....

Andrea, Dietmar,s niece,came to bring me medicine...couldn,t board because of landing difficulties, but some agile seaman managed to bring it...


The fresco ceilings by Tiepolo in the Residenz are spectacular....maybe next time...

Bamberg

Another picturesque town, more quirky corners....4 ship tours there simulteously, almost a thousand tourists....an art to take photos without body parts. But some quirky juxtapositions of old and new....and mysterious body parts protruding..

Missed the Picasso exhibit unfortunately....it was a Monday and the museums are closed...

Stumble-stones....had first seen the in Berlin a few years ago. Brass cobblestones with inscriptions to commemorate Holocaust victims, set into the sidewalk...

An unconnected tap mysteriously running water....

Reflections of buildings in hat stores....

Just a pretty town...