Alan and I just returned from a week of cruising along the Danube River from 
Nuremberg, Germany, 
to Budapest, Hungary, 
stopping along the way to tour the marvelous medieval city of Regensburg,
the Melk Abby in Austria,
Salzburg (home of The Sound of Music—this is where the von Trapps hid), 
Vienna in Austria, 
and the gorgeous countryside near Bratislava in Slovakia. 
We traveled aboard a river cruiser poetically named The Sound of Music, 
and every afternoon they served tea and cakes in the lounge. We were huge fans! 
During the days we enjoyed spectacular views along the Danube River 
or toured fabulous palaces full of treasures! 
By night we were treated to delightful classical entertainment (like this night of concert, ballet, and operatic highlights in Vienna), 
and at other times we enjoyed lively traditional folk music or other fun. 
We made a lot of new friends and learned so much…
tried lots of yummy new (and old) treats and had many memorable experiences!
I took a couple thousand pictures and hope at some point to share in more detail, 
but I’m still (very slowly) trying to recapture our trip on the Baltic Sea, 
so recounting our trip to the Danube may be a project for the winter months 
after Christmas while I’m snug at home but in the mood to reminisce about 
warmer days. Meanwhile, I wanted to share just a few highlights from the trip. 
Truly, we live in an amazing world, and I am so thankful to be alive!
“You have…clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”(Psalm 30:11-12)
