Regensburg Retreat

Around 1 am Kevin was awakened by a large bump that shook the bed followed by a high- pitched scraping noise.  Theresa lay asleep so it was not her.  He laid there waiting to determine if any action may be required.  No announcement on the intercom as the ship continued to make way up the river.  Sleep was soon resumed.  The next morning the ship was docked in Regensburg and Kevin and Theresa were up by 7 am for a full breakfast and to prepare for the walking tour of the town. 

The walking tour was focused on the old architecture and life of the 13th and 14th century was described.  One section of town still had walls that had been erected by the Roman empire.  

Regensburg was a city of wealthy families.  These families would build what the tour guide described as Trump Towers.  The purpose of the tower was to demonstrate the wealth of the family that occupied the residence.  Oddly the towers were of little use as only the first couple of floors were finished.  The rest of the tower was an empty shell with a spiral stair case to the top where an individual could look out of the highest windows.  The wealthy were part of the local government and churches.  These organizations would control the traffic headed on the water ways and would force a tariff on all goods passing the area.  There was no industry just Taxation of others goods.  Here are some more Pictures.

In the town square was a Sausage Kitchen that had been around for centuries.  

Several shops sold authentic formal wear for the men and women.  For the Men it was lederhosen with vests and the long wool socks.  For the women it was a long dress with a bowtie.  The position of the bowtie would indicate Married, with child, or available.

Because Regensburg had no industry, they were not a strategic target during World War II.  This resulted in little to no damage from the war, allowing all old structures to remain today.

On the way back to the ship Theresa spied a fabric shop and had to purchase material from there.

Once back on board there was an announcement to have all guest meet in the lounge.  

We learned during this gathering that the bump in the middle of the night was the boat dragging the bottom of the river.  We were informed that the vessel was unable to continue as the water level was too low.  We were also told that the vessel would turn around and head back to Passau  that next morning. 
We were instructed to have our bags packed and ready outside our room by 9 am the next day to perform a “sister ship swap”.  This is a rarely used but known process. The objective was to have us and our luggage transferred by a 4 hr bus ride to a sister ship that was heading from the opposite direction and also was unable to pass thru those same shallow waters.  The guests on that vessel would be transferred to our ship to continue their journey through the areas we had traveled including Vienna and Budapest.  

So each vessels guest would be leap frogged to a new ship and continue as if nothing really happened.  

At this same briefing we learned that Austria had completely shut down, resulting in no excursions into Vienna for the group headed from where we came.  Austria is also demanding all citizens get fully vaccinated with no exceptions allowed. 

Once the meeting was over Kevin took his camera and headed to the top deck to oversee and record the maneuvers required to turn the long boat around.  To see the maneuvers, click to play this video link.

That next morning bags were packed and busses loaded.  We were delighted to see that the road that the bus ride took us on lead towards a town called Kassel.  Unfortunately, the route turned away from Kassel and onto the designated port of Nuremberg. 

The new boat the Baldur would be our new home for the remaining trip.  This location was no longer on the Danube but not on the Main River.  Kevin and Theresa rapidly unpacked as life would continue on the water.  We also learned at this time that for the next four days no one was allowed on the top deck.  This was due to the many low bridges the vessel would sail under.  In addition, all upper deck railing, and furniture were removed.  A one litter bottle of water was placed near the front of the top deck in view of the wheel house.  This was the warning instrument that if knocked over by the bridges would be the signal the bridge was too low to continue.  The swap was complete and we were all back on schedule and set for the afternoon was the tour of Nuremberg.