Melk and Durnstein, Austria - Cruising the Wachau Valley

Next stop Melk, Austria. Cruising the Danube through the Wachau Valley was a real delight to the senses.  The mountains, valleys, vineyards, quaint villages with steepled churches, and castles from times gone by were a delight on a day when the weather was a perfect 10.

Herb garden on the ship's sun deck.

Our chef is deciding what herbs he will be using for dinner.

Vineyards in the background.

We passed lots of river boats.

Evidently river cruising is a big business on the Danube.

Picturesque - castle ruins, terraced vineyards and villages.

Eighteen miles through the Wachau Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

According to the tour book, the legacy of vintners stretches back as far as Celtic and Roman times. There are more than 30 monasteries that served as vineyards in Renaissance days.

Melk Abbey

900 year old Benedictine abbey.

The abbey is high on the hill above Melk. The baroque abbey has 365 windows, a library with medieval manuscripts and frescoes by Paul Troger.

The Melk Abbey Church.

A view of Melk from the abbey.

Following our morning at Melk Abbey we sailed on to Durnstein.

The castle ruins, high on the hill in the background, is Kuenringerburg Castle.

Richard the Lionhearted was held prisoner here for over a year. He was accused of insulting Duke Leopold V.   Durnstein's landmark the baroque monastery with the blue clock tower makes this scene picture perfect.

Zooming in on Kuenringerburg Castle

A good view of the blue clock tower and castle ruins

at Durnstein.

Kuenringerburg Castle ruins

I visited a local winery for a tasting and tour.

Loved the wine and the tour.

The tour and tasting were so much fun.

I've been to quite a few tastings and this was the best.

Very unpretentious and the wine was really good.

BTW the narrative is based on my notes and tour information. Any errors are unintentional. 

I hope you will join me for our next stop, Vienna.

Peace,Myra

Destrehan Plantation

New Orleans, Part 4

The morning at Destrehan Plantation was cool and misty following a night of heavy rain.

 

Destrehan Plantation, Established 1787

French Colonial, Greek Revival

 

Destrehan Plantation is the oldest documented plantation home in the Lower Mississippi Valley.

Our tour began with a guided interpretative tour of the home.

 Destrehan from the back

 

The gallery windows and shutters.

 

View from the upper gallery

 

 

Live oak trees on the property

 

For more information about Destrehan Plantation you may visit www.destrehanplantation.org.

 

♥andPeace,Myra

The National WWII Museum

New Orleans, Part 3

At 7:55 AM, Hawaii time, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Today is the perfect time to post about my visit to The National World War II Museum in New Orleans.  Let me begin by thanking the brave men and women who served in the Armed Forces.

 

 

Second Lieutenant Joseph E. Burford

US Army

My dad during training.

 

 

 

A small WWII tank similar to the one my dad served in Europe with.

I have seen the big tanks but was excited to find a small one.

 I am sorry to say I don't know the name of the tank or more about my dad's time in England and France. I plan to get organized and do some research.

 

 

The museum has a big collection of vehicles used during the war.

I learned to drive in an old military jeep. Yep, manual shift.

 

 

Cat walks provide a good look at the planes.

 

 

 

We have binoculars in a leather case similar to the ones on display.

 

 

There are lots of interactive exhibits throughout the museum.

 

 

 

 

The movie Beyond All Boundaries, produced by Tom Hanks, is a must see.

The movie is in 4D and makes you feel like you are a part of the action.

It may be too realistic for younger children and some veterans.

 

 

The "Victory Garden" supplies garden to table vegetables, herbs and salad greens for The American Sector Restaurant and Bar.

We ended our visit to the museum with a preplanned group dinner at The American Sector.

The red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing were the highlight of the meal!

 

 

 

 

♥andPeace,Myra

 

Lexington to Concord

In late September we went to see the grandchildren in Lexington, Massachusetts.

 

This is the Minuteman Statue on Lexington Common.

The "shot heard around the world" was fired on these grounds.

 

We had lots of time to explore the area while the family was at work and "school".

The weather was wonderful. Just a hint of fall in the air.

 

Buckman Tavern was a gathering place for militiamen preparing for the Revolutionary War.

The tavern is also known to have housed the first town post office and store.

 

The leaves were just beginning to turn in late September.

 

 

The is one of the monuments at the Old North Bridge in Concord.

 

The Old North Bridge

Concord, Massachusetts

 

April 19, 1775, after shots were fired in Lexington, the British moved on to Concord planning to find and take the weapons they had heard the militia was storing in the area.

Militia poured in from the surrounding area and drove the British back as they attempted to cross the bridge in pursuit of weapons.

 

An old cemetery in the town of Concord.

 

 

 

Now, the real reason for our trip to Lexington.

 

Papa and Nicholas reading a very interesting book about pumpkins.

 

 

Cora Jean, Jay and Karenna with Papa.

 

We spent one day at a local farm with the family.

 

The children enjoyed the sheep, goats, cows, and chickens

They also were excited to take a hayride.

 

We were lucky to be in town for the annual neighborhood block party.

Great food and fun for everyone.

 

Here the group was preparing for a group photo.

 

♥andPeace,Myra

 

 

Shiloh National Military Park

My husband and I drove to Shiloh in late August. Shiloh National Military Park is located in Tennessee and Mississippi. The famous Civil War battle took place April 6-7, 1862. The park visitor center has video presentation highlighting the two days in the spring of 1862.

 

The Shiloh National Cemetery is located on the bank of the Tennessee River near Pittsburg Landing where the Union Troops landed and prepared to meet the Confederates.

 

Tennessee River

 

We followed the park driving tour map to visit the monuments and markers in the park.

It is difficult to imagine what it was like in April 1862.

Today the park is a peaceful and beautiful landscape.

The Shiloh Meeting House, a Methodist church, gave the battle its name.

About fifteen turkeys crossed the road.

 

The squirrels were busy in the cemetery.

After our driving tour of the park we headed south to Corinth, Mississippi.

 The Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth has several interactive displays related to the Corinth Contraband Camp and life in the town during war time.

 

 

I liked the monument above.

 

The stone rectangles represented famous Civil War battles.

 

 

 

♥andPeace,Myra