Ybbs - Krems: Room at the top
Friday April 8, 2011, 70 km - Total so far: 270 km
Today we experienced some of the highlights of the path from Passau to Vienna - Stift Melk, a Benedictine Abbey built between 1702 and 1736 and the scenic Wachau Valley.
Today we experienced some of the highlights of the path from Passau to Vienna - Stift Melk, a Benedictine Abbey built between 1702 and 1736 and the scenic Wachau Valley.
View before we reach Melk
Lovely, quiet paths
Our path remained close to the river until we reached Melk with its impressive Baroque abbey, built on a rocky outcropping over the Danube. Janos and I had both been here many years ago and didn't remember much. Still if we hadn't had e-assist, we might have just said "been there, done that". But with our e-bikes the short steep climb on a cobblestone road didn't bother us.
Drawing showing a bird's eye view of Stift Melk
View of Stift Melk from below
Stift Melk - Courtyard
Stift Melk - fountain in courtyard
Stift Melk- fountain in courtyard
Stift Melk
Stift Melk
Spiral staircase at Stift Melk
View from Stift Melk
Around noon we were again on our way, now on the north side of the river. It was sunny and we had a strong and cold wind pushing us along as we approached the Wachau Valley, known for its good white wines. The picturesque villages amidst the vineyards are evidence of the region's prosperity and they attract many tourists, not just those on bicycles.
Crossing the Danube to Emmersdorf, the gusty wind made it hard to stay upright.
Wachau - apricot trees in bloom
Be Careful! Children!
Wachau
Wachau
In Krems we found the tourist office and got help finding a room. I don't know what it's like in the summer, it could only be worse, but it seemed much more difficult to find reasonable accommodation here than it had been in Ybbs, Enns or Aschach. The tourist office lady regretted that the nicest room she could offer us was located on top of the hill, three hairpin curves until you got to the top, and we certainly wouldn't want to cycle up. We grinned and said 'no problem'. Then in all modesty we confessed that we had e-bikes.
Entering Krems - das Steiner Tor
Our room in "Pension am Steindl", 74€ including breakfast, was immaculate and tasteful, the owners of the pension friendly and the shower as well as the breakfast the best on the trip. We returned to town on foot on a steep stairway down the mountain side.
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