Today we’ve arrived in Passau, Germany, ya (everybody here says ”ya”) and there’s bad news afloat: RAIN! POURING DOWN RAIN! And we’re scheduled for a walking tour of the city. Unfortunately it’s supposed to rain until our tour is over. Great. But we are Vikings and we will not be discouraged so we put up our umbrellas, ask about the first WC break and off we go.
But before we go, just a little information about Passau. Founded more than 2,000 years ago, Passau is one of Bavaria’s oldest city. Known as the City of 3 Rivers, it rests at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. And Passau is where we cross the border into Austria.
So we’re off on the first of 2 tours for the day – Passau.
Put up those umbrellas and here we go.
The colored stones in the walkway indicate this is an artists’ neighborhood. I suspect the individual colors correspond to the different art mediums present because occasionally one color or another would split off and move into an intersecting alleyway and up to a studio door.
This complex is the Bishop’s palace. The date on the front of it is 1499: that’s 1 & 1/2 of an 8 (4) & 9 & 9 = 1499. The German numbering system is so weird The complex doesn’t look that big from here but check out the aerial photo below.
This tour guide-provided photo shows the full size of the complex
A view across the river in the rain and fog.
St. Stephens Cathedral is home to the largest cathedral organ in the world, with 17,974 organ pipes, 233 stops and four carillons. Unfortunately our tour stopped at St. Stephens too early in the day to see one of the daily organ concerts.
Interesting door in St. Stephen’s Cathedral that only opened from the inside.
The Old Town Hall.
In one of the alleywayss, we ran across this man playing beautiful violin music while his adorable little dog kept an eye on his collection case.
Our Viking River Cruise 
What is the temperature like there? Is it cold and rainy or just rainy?
I loved the palace – that thing is huge isn’t it? I’m fascinated by the door that only opens from the inside at St. Stephen’s Cathedral as well as the huge pipe organ.
The violin player reminded me of the street performers we saw in Paris. They are so talented.
Mom would have loved the hat shop. She sure fancied hats.
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