On The Move!!: Last Day in Passau

Today we started the day with a buffet breakfast - followed by a walking tour of Passau. We were given numbers noting which walking group we were randomly assigned to. We lucked out as I think Eva was the best tour guide (noting on what others said about their tours). She was born and raised in Chicago - but fell in love with a tall, handsome, young German man in college. (She noted that now after 40 years together in Germany - he is only only a tall German man). She has lived here in Passau for the past 40 years and was quite a character with a very thick accent (for someone who was born an American). We learned about the history of Passau (not affected much by the wars, located at the intersection of 3 rivers, the Danube, The Eine, and one other small one). Most people here are Catholic - and everything is closed on Sundays. She noted that in Germany if you see beggars on the road - they are most likely part of organized crime/ mafia. She said in a socialist state there is no reason for anyone to beg. Interesting point. We learned about how there wasn't a lot of money to hold criminals - so they held them in prison until they were almost starving and then would release them after parading them around town in a red hat (a la scarlet letter) - so people would know the person was a criminal. At the end of the tour - we got a demonstration of how to make gingerbread, and lebkuchen and how to make a Xmas wreath. ONce the tour was over - Andy and I returned to the Xmas market because we wanted to try the half meter wurst. It is a bockwurst like sausage that is literally a half meter long (we shared it) - it was amazing. Then despite the fact it was snowing at this point, we decided to make the hike up the hill to the castle ( the stronghold of the Bishop of Passau). It was a lot of stairs and quite steep in places - but we made it to the top and were gifted with amazing views. The snow started falling heavier - and we could see whole snowflakes on our jackets (really cool!). We walked back to the ship and relaxed for a while before the captains reception and dinner. We left Passau during the reception - and headed for Austria. Went through a lock at the end of dinner - which was fun to watch. We should arrive in Linz around 1AM - and itinerary tomorrow is a bustrip to Salzburg.