Finally, Lunch and the Trip Back

We didn't see much more of the grounds, nor did we hike up behind the abbey, though it looked interesting back that way. We were on a tight schedule, and wanted to get back to Regensburg before the cathedral closed, so we could see that at least.

But we had to eat. There was no point in making this trip on two trains, a bus, and a boat, if we were going to pass up having a beer and some food at the oldest monastery brewery in Europe (again, I'm not getting into the thing between these monks and the monks in Freising).

So keeping an eye on the time, the bus schedule, and the boat schedule, we went to the biergarten. Two "authentic" beer gardens in two days. We were doing really well here. We ordered two different beers.

Herr Hai ordered the extra alcohol-extra dark one, and Herr Kellner-- the young and professional waiter asked in English, "Are you sure? High alcohol content." To which Herr Hai replied, "I'm not driving, unless they let me drive the boat." The poor guy had no idea what to do with that comment, but he brought the beer which came in a really nifty looking ceramic thing. If my father of blessed memory had been with us, he would have told me to "put that in your purse".

Foodwise: leberkäse with eggs for me again, and Herr Hai got the Hausgemacht Wurst-- house made sausage. Good taste, but weird texture for us process food brainwashed Americans. It was chopped rather than ground and took us both aback.

We walked on the beach a bit, took some pictures of ducks, and went back to the boat as it was boarding. As we drew closer to the town of Kelheim, we had a good view of Liberation Hall, which was commissioned by King Ludwig I (this family really liked to build), to commemorate the victory of Napoleon in the Wars of Liberation (1813-1815). If we ever get back here, we'll take a walk up and see it.

Also included in the pictures: the high water marks on the side of the abbey. Sobering, to see how high the water has gotten, compared to where it was as we stood on the beach.Read more