Viking River Cruise - Day 5 - Wachau Valley and Melk

This morning we are sailing through the Wachau Valley on the Danube River. It is absolutely stunning. This is the scenery I imagined when we planned the river cruise. I couldn't help saying over and over how beautiful it was. We would pass small villages with beautiful churches, houses, vineyards and green landscape. I might include too many photos here, but it is so hard to choose!

Uncle John enjoying his coffee and the view.

We sailed through the area for quite some time... maybe 2 or 3 hours... and took a bajillion photos!

We headed back to the room to get ready for lunch. When I came out of the bathroom, look where I found the monkey man. Up in the window 🤣 This gives you an idea of how big the room is. We booked the cheapest room (which was still NOT cheap) so only have a smallish window that doesn't open. The water level is right under the window. I think the room is about half the size of an ocean cruise room, but the bathroom was a good size. The shower was definitely bigger than most cruise ship bathrooms we have been on!

After lunch we headed out to our tour of the abbey in Melk. It was situated high atop a hill overlooking the Danube. The original abbey was built in 1089, but the one that stands there now was built in the 1700's.

While we were waiting for our tour guide to join us, Angie was helping out by holding the little sign the guides carry so we don't get lost. I was harassing her a bit and asking her all kinds of silly questions... but she just kept smiling and being nice to me 🤷

Our substitute guide Angela, answering every one of my questions politely. The funny thing was, when our real guide showed up her name was also Angela.[

The abbey still operates today as an abbey, a school for around 900 students, and a tourist attraction/museum. It was interesting to see the beautiful rooms inside and admire some of the treasures on display.

One of the beautiful rooms in the abbey.

After we finished in this grand room we headed out to the terrace where you could see an amazing view of Melk and the valley.

View over Melk from the abbey

There were many beautiful rooms in the abbey, but the most beautiful to me was the multi-storey library. Of course it was the only room you were not allowed to take photos in. Trust me, it was amazing! There was even a little metal spiral staircase to another level of books. I really wanted to go down there, but it was blocked off 😦

After you leave the library you walk down another beautiful staircase to head out of the building.

This beautiful staircase has a mirror at the bottom to give the illusion that it goes on forever.

When you get to the bottom of the stairs you head into the actual church, which was quite stunning. At this point we've been in several churches now, but I'm always impressed by the beauty and incredible planning that must have gone into building them.