In the time between segments of our summer adventure we booked a river cruise on the Danube between Passau, Germany and Budapest, Hungary. After some research, I chose Uniworld. Our ship is aptly named after ruler of the Habsburg dynasty…the Empress Maria Theresa. Group travel is not always our thing, especially after hosting 9 client trips for our company around the world, but we really enjoyed this boat and tour.

Staircases surround a portrait of the Empress complemented by lighting from a gorgeous Murano glass chandelier.

Our stateroom was small, but we had a nice “French Balcony.”

“This looks like an interesting new experience!”

Checking out at the main desk before departing the ship.

We were given umbrellas for the rain.

Our Uniworld tour of Passau, Germany, begins. Colorful cobblestones direct people to various artist’s workshops.

“Follow The Yellow Brick Road”…and the red, white green and blue brick road as well.

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Historical river height markers on the side of the building. We missed major flooding later in the year.

A charming old part of the city.

Wall paintings on the Rathaus.

Saint Stephan’s Cathedral in Passau opened in 1693.

I really enjoy German cuisine!

Back to the ship.

The S.S. Maria Theresa at the quayside.

Introductions of the crew by the captain.

Our “Dress Dinner” evening. The attire for the passengers on our cruise really ranged from A to Z.

We docked by the Lentos Kunstmuseum in Linz, Austria.

We connected with a some very interesting people on the ship. Marla and Angela chat while on a tour of Salzburg.

On our way to the Salzburg Cathedral.

I was fascinated with the cathedral interior details.

At the Residenzplatz, the main square of Salzburg’s old town.

Exploring Salzburg’s “DomQuartier.”

This monument in the Residenzplatz commemorates a 1938 book burning. Books by Jewish writers and other dissidents were rounded up from libraries, bookshops, and private homes by members of the Hitler Youth and burned in the square.

Traveling in Austria is wrought with a dark historical past. Our guide in Vienna told us “there were more Austrians than Germans in the Gestapo during World War 2.

The iconic composer, Mozart, was born in Salzburg in 1756.

Looking down on the pavement of many streets in Salzburg you will see brass plates of primarily Jews who were removed from their homes and taken to various death camps during the War. They are called “Stumbling Stones.” “Lest We Forget” the horrors of World War 2.

Our guide takes us toward the Monchberg Lift for a better view of Salzburg.

We passed the oldest bakery in Salzburg.

Our next day we took a tour of the historic Melk Abbey founded in 1089.

The beautiful entrance.

Photographs were not allowed in the Abbey.

A view of the Abbey grounds.

Marla and I really enjoyed the tours and access provided by the guides used by Uniworld.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.