Most of the passengers on the Viking Europe, including me and DH, are planning a good night’s sleep dockside in Linz, Austria, on the Danube River, for tomorrow’s agenda is a full-day excursion to the city of Salzburg, the birth place of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The weather forecast is 28 degrees Fahrenheit, and partly cloudy. We’re prepared to dress warmly in layers–“like an onion,” said the program director.
A light blanket of snow greeted us in Munich when we arrived on Sunday for our winter holiday. The snowflakes followed us to the border town of Passau, Germany, where the Danube (Donau), Ilz and Inn rivers meet.
In Passau we joined 139 other passengers for a week on the riverboat that will take us all the way to Budapest in Hungary.
At each port of call–just Passau and Linz so far–we’re taking in the famous and festive Christmas markets, usually in a town square, a short walking distance from the boat.
At nighttime we head for the Gluhwein Hutte for a mug of hot mulled wine to help keep warm. We just look for the booths with the longest lines!
We’re having a great time! Here are a few snapshots of the Christmas market and one of three locks that the Viking Europe passed through today between Passau and Linz.
A warm thank you to our family and friends in Pennsylvania who helped us with our winter wardrobe issues on the way over here. ~ Rebekah
Rebekah’s Studio 
Checked your website. Thanks for sharing. It looks like a wonderful experience. The markets are colorful. Glad you found some hot mulled cider. Keep warm. It was great to see you and spend some time with you. Enjoy the rest of the trip.