Village Museum, Bucharest, Romania

The Village Museum is an open-air ethnographic museum showcasing traditional Romanian village life. The museum  contains 272 authentic peasant farms and houses from all over Romania.

Second largest building in the world

Second largest building in the world.  Romania's Parliament.

Bulgaria Veliko Tarnovo Caravec Fortress

This was a good town to go shopping in.  I didn't have the time to go into the Fortress.

Synagogue, Vidin, Bulgaria

Beautiful Jewish Synagogue now in ruins.

Vidin, Bulgaria

There is a nice Fort on the river here as well.

Belogradchik Fortress, Bulgaria

"During Stratsimir's rule, the Belogradchik Fortress became one of the most important strongholds in the region, second only to the tsar's capital fortress of Vidin, Baba Vida." Wikipedia.

VIminacium Stari Kostolac, Bulgaria

The Bulgarians have excavated a few of the ruins here.  If they ever finish it should be spectacular. 

The Iron Gate of the Danube

"The Iron Gates of the Danube River originally consisted of four narrow gorges and three wide basins spread over several miles of the river dividing Romania and Serbia. In the 1960s, a huge lock and dam was built to control the speed of the river and make navigating this section of the Danube River safer. Today, the river flowing through the Iron Gates is peaceful, and it is 130 feet higher than prior to the dam and power station. The effect of the dam can be felt on the river for over 100 miles, and two locks, spread more than 50 miles apart, anchor each end of the Iron Gates. Over 23,000 citizens living along the river had to be resettled after the dam was complete." Linda Garrison.

St. Sava's Temple (Hram Svetog Save)

Beautiful orthodox church in Belgrade, not yet completed on the inside.

  One of the 10 largest church buildings in the world

Beer! What is it good for?

Universally, Beer is the safest beverage to drink and almost always decent.  I thought the Croatian beers were the best in Eastern Europe.  This is a Jelen beer I drank in Belgrade.

"War! What is it good for?"

Damaged water tower in Vokovar that has become a war memorial.   The Serbs destroyed Vukovar. 
The Serbs say their side of the story will come out some day.

Puszta Horse Show

These cowboys could stand on a supine horse as well. 

Hungarian Horse Show

To my surprise, I was impressed with this show.  This is the Boss. 

Budapest is the best

This is a place I would like to return to.

Flying Saucer Bridge

Street art in Bratislava

Bratislava, Slovakia

This is the mid-point between Istanbul and London?

Nietzche and Klimt in Leopold Museum

Church Heliger Franz of Assisi, Vienna, Austria

Church Heiliger Franz of Assisi at Square Mexikoplatz, Vienna, Austria

Picturesque Durnstein

We stopped at two places on the Rhine this day.  Durnstein is small but very picturesque.

Library at Monastery

One corner of a wonderful Benedictine Library in Melk.

Marble Hall in Melk

The Marble Hall of Melk Benedictine Monastery.

Melk Benedictine Monastery

The library and marble hall are superb.

Europe's Largest Musical Organ

St. Steven church is always under repair.  The inside looks great.  The Organ Recital was fair. 

"Passau‘s Cathedral organ is now considered the largest catholic church organ in the world and Europe´s biggest organ with its 17.974 pipes and 233 stops. It is nowadays the official number five in the listing of the worldwide largest pipe organs. The organ of the Cathedral of St. Steven is outstandingly unique and truly a technical marvel, with its 17.974 pipes, its 233 ringing registers and its five carillons that could all be played from one console. "

Regensburg, Germany

The podium from which Hitler gave his speeches

Across from these bleachers, was a large parade ground where the Germans stood listening to Hitler during these large rallies.

Hilter's Colliseum

It was great to match up all the old film clips of Hitler's Rallies with the real place.

Bamberg City Hall, Germany

The little Venice of Germany.  Very nice.

Bamberg, Germany

"Bamberg is known for its smoked Rauchbier.
Bamberg is home to eight breweries, — an unusually high number for a city of 70,000." Wikipedia

 

Wurzburg Residence: better that Versailles

The is my most favorite palace in the world.

Hotel Riesen, Germany

I love the old buildings. This has a great bar.

Koblenz and the Middle Rhine

Riding on top of the Viking Prestige while cruising down the Middle Rhine.  We signed up for the Silver Collection for alcohol.  It was wonderful to watch one castle after another pass us with a glass of wine in our hand.

Cologne, Germany

This was the tallest structure in Europe until the Eiffel tower was built in Paris. 

Kinderdijk, Holland

The Dutch are looking at floating cities as a way to deal with Global warming.    People presently live in some of these windmills. 

Amsterdam

We flew into Amsterdam to board the Viking cruise to Bucharest.  The best way to see Amsterdam is to rent a bike.