We
stayed docked at Deggendorf for the morning while the ship was restocked with
food. But we didn’t stay on the ship! We travelled by coach to Passau for a
walking tour of the old part of the city. Passau is located at the Austrian
border in Southeast Germany. Situated at
the confluence of the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz, Passau is worldwide known as
"The Three Rivers City". The earliest evidence of human settlement dates
back to the Neolithic. Passau was part of the Roman Empire for more than 400
years. It became an Episcopal seat in the year 739 AD. Passau was an
independent prince bishopric for over 600 years. Finally in 1803 Passau was
annexed into Bavaria. The setting of the Old Town, created by Italian baroque
masters in the 17th century, shows soaring towers, picturesque places,
enchanting promenades and romantic lanes. In the heart of Passau on the Old
Town’s highest point rises St. Steven’s Cathedral, in which the world’s largest
cathedral organ sounds. Sitting high above the rivers, the majestic fortress
"Veste Oberhaus" on the Danube’s side and the Pilgrimage Church
"Mariahilf" on the Inn’s side frame the city outstandingly beauty. Passau
with its unique charm and its atmosphere is one of the most beautiful and
spectacular German cities on the Danube.
We enjoyed the walking tour, then half an hour free
time before catching the coach back to the ship for lunch.
Then after lunch we were back on the coach for a
trip to Bodenmais where we visited a Glass factory. Bodenmais is in the district
of Regen in Bavaria in Germany. It lies at one end of the Zeller Valley in the
Bavarian Forest. Its tourist attractions include in winter a skiing hill,
doubling in summer as a 600m long summer Bob-sleigh track. The ski lift also
brings you to the mining museum reminding of ages of ferro-oxide mining and
Vitriol production. Some shafts are still accessible. The top of the hill is
marked by a great cross. Downtown is known for its glass shops.
We only visited one large shop that was filled with
all sorts of glass bits and pieces! You could get so many things glass! We saw
a demo of glass blowing and I had a go at doing it and made a glass bulb that
is used for watering plants. I am not sure that it will make it home in one
piece, but I will try.
While we were visiting Bodenmais, the ship moved
on. They managed to make it under the low bridge at Boden, that had kept us
docked at Deggendorf for two days. To get under the bridge, they had to take on
extra ballast water. The clearance was only 25cm! The crew took photos and a
video of the passing under the bridge that we saw in the lounge after dinner.
It certainly was very close! Everything had to be taken off the sun deck and
the wheel house was lowered right down. There was no room for error, but
Captain George and the crew did a fabulous job!
The
coaches met the ship at Straubing – south of Regensburg. It was a very quick
stop! The coaches arrived minutes before the ship, the crew quickly tied the
ship up, the gang plank was lowered, we boarded the ship and the ship was
untied and we set off all within about 15-20 minutes. Captain George told us
later in the evening that we did not have permission to stop at Straubing, and
he will have to wait and see what happens. We have to have permission to stop
at all the ports/docks and sometimes there is a limit to the amount of time you
can be docked. All I can say, is that I am pleased that the rain stopped, the
water level dropped, the lock masters worked together and we were able to get
under that low bridge at Boden! It means we are a day behind schedule now, and
that the program may have to change, but at least we are cruising! Because of
the delay we saw Deggendorf, we did get to see Passau (we were meant to go
there a couple of days ago, but didn’t because we were trying to get passed the
bridge before the water got too high) and we had a bonus trip to Bodenmais! We
are certainly well looked after on this ship!
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