2. International Travel

Amsterdam to Bucharest & Transylvania

We explored Amsterdam’s streets, shopping districts and cruised in it's interior canals. We visited the oldest windmill in Kinderdijk the magnificent Cologne Cathedral, castles along the middle Rhine both in ruins and those converted to hotels, toured Miltenberg, Wurzberg and Bamberg, before continuing down the Rhine to Regensberg and Passau. We toured the war time underground art storage facilities in Nuremberg and continued our journey to Melk, Krems and Vienna, Austria before scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley. From there we continued on to Budapest, Hungary where we changed ships to venture further into Eastern Europe. We stopped in Kalocsa, Hungary before continuing to Osijek, Croatia and then Belgrade, Serbia. Continuing East we passed the Iron Gates and cruised magnificent gorges on the way to Vidin and Russe, Bulgaria. Continuing, we went to Bucharest and Brassov, Romania and then to Transylvania to enter the legendary home of Count Dracula, Bran Castle. We enjoyed a lifetime’s worth of experiences on a single four week voyage, June of 2019. Hope you enjoy the images as much as we enjoyed being there and taking them.
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Detail at the top of the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria.
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Detail at the top of the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria.

  • The Melk Abbey and Gardens. Melk, Austria.
  • Maps of the Melk Abbey grounds. Melk, Austria.
  • Entering the Melk Abbey grounds in Austria.
  • Melk Abbey Courtyard, Austria.
  • Model of the Melk Abbey and town when the walls still existed. Austria.
  • The church inside Melk Abbey, Melk, Austria.
  • Inside the Melk Abbey Church.
  • Church detail inside the Melk Abbey, Austria.
  • St. Wifey Pla at the Melk Abbey stairs in Austria.
  • Schönbühel Castle sits on the Danube's south bank in the Lower Austrian town of Schönbühel-Aggsbach, below Melk on the right bank of the Danube. The origins of the castle date from the early 12th century.
  • The ruins of 13th-century Medieval Hinterhaus Castle above Spitz in Lower Austria. The ruins of the Hinterhaus Castle originate from the 12th century. The castle dates back to the time of Kuenringers rule when it served as a strategic stronghold. From here they were able to rule the entire Wachau valley. Touring the ruins with the famous Red Gate gives you a good impression of what medieval defence methods were like.
  • Wehrkirche St. Michael's Church on the Danube. This is the oldest church in Austria with the oldest organ in Europe, in a tiny village of 17 homes that take such good care of this church as well as their farms,. It is believed to date from 987.
  • Abbey Church of Dürnstein in light blue near the point. Dürnstein was first mentioned in 1002 and became a Town in 1495. The Parish exists since 1289. The Monastery Church was consecrated in 1410 but only became the Parish Church of Dürnstein in 1745. In 1788 the Monastery was dissolved and it became the property of the Augustinian Monastery of Herzogenburg, who since then, have always sent a Canon of their number to serve the Parish as a priest. Nicely restored at this time. Austria.
  • Durnstein Castle ruins in the Wachau Vally. The city of Dürnstein and the ruin of Dürnstein Castle are connected by a wall. The castle was built between 1140-1145 by the family Kuenring (Hadmar I), and in 1645 it was demolished by a blast carried out by the Swedes under General Torstenson. The castle became famous through the legend of Richard the Lionheart. The tale that was created around the ruin of Dürnstein will lead you through some of the most beautiful natural and cultural scenic outlook points in the region of the Wachau. The legend of Richard the Lionheart says that upon returning from the Crusades, the English King tore up the Austrian flag and refused to share his spoils of war with Leopold V. Consequently, Leopold V held the English King prisoner in the castle from 1192 – 1193.
  • Another view of the Durnstein Castle ruins in the Wachau Valley, Austria.
  • Statue in Vienna, Austria dedicated to Empress Maria Teresa. Mozart and Hayden appear as well.
  • Statue of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (then Emperor of Austria, in Joseph's Square, Vienna, Austria.
  • Golden balls atop the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. The House of Hofburg, alternatively called the House of Austria, was one of the most influential and distinguished royal houses of Europe. The throne of the Holy Roman Empire was continuously occupied by the Habsburgs from 1438 until their extinction in the male line in 1740.
  • Detail at the top of the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria.
  • The Peterskirche (English: St. Peter's Church) is a Baroque Roman Catholic parish church in Vienna, Austria. It was first mentioned in writings from 1137.
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