Danube River Pilgrimage Recap 2024

In October 2024, I went on my first structured pilgrimage. You may be asking how this is different from any other tour. Matthew Kelly defines a pilgrimage as a journey to a sacred place for a sacred purpose. That purpose could be to ask God for a favor, thank Him for something, or it could be a quest for clarity.  

The planning started in January of that year. There were no single slots available at that time, so I just decided that if this was something I was meant to do, I'd find a roommate. And I did! Overall, this pilgrimage was exactly what I needed. It was almost perfect. This is an extremely quick recap of the pilgrimage. To delve into the religious sites, visit The Not So Perfect Catholic blog and click on the Pilgrimages tab. I also have similar posts on the Flyin' the Coop blog. 

• I found that, although awe-inspiring, Baroque Churches are just too much. They are beautiful, but I found it really difficult to concentrate on the Mass; there were too many things to look at.

  

  Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady, Regensburg, Germany "Old Chapel" or "Alte Kapelle"

• Dachau = Christ Victorious. (Find out why I say this in this post.)  I love how there are chapels there; in Buchenwald, there is nothing except the gate and the "medical building".

Carmelite Convent (Where we had Mass)

Russian Orthodox Church

Protestant Chapel

Mortal Agony of Christ Chapel (Catholic)

Jewish Memorial

• The ship (Amadeus Riva): I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the rooms. The bathroom was a good size with a GREAT shower. If I go on another river cruise, I need to remember to ask for a room closer to the front of the ship because of the engine noise. We were so pampered on the ship. The daily programs were fantastic. They would be on our beds when we returned from supper, as well as turn down our beds and spread out the bathmats. 
• The Pilgrimage had the entire ship...there were 140 of us. It was the ideal situation; even though our reasons for being on pilgrimage may have been different, we were all on the journey together. It didn't feel like there were that many people; we were split into 3 buses, so when we weren't on the ship, we were with our bus members.

Spacious Rooms (in a ship)

• It was really cool that I happened upon a couple of Stolpersteine in Regensburg. The sad thing was that our whole group walked right by it, but I stopped when I saw it & talked to others around me about it. One of the guides said Poland talked about doing something like that, but there were so many Poles taken away that it would be next to impossible to do something. Austria has upright plaques with a doorbell beside the names. (For an explanation of Stolpersteine, click here.)

Stolpersteine in Regensburg

• The church in Weltenburg Abbey was very interesting: no crucifix on the altar, but to the side of it. Instead, St. George is on it. The ceiling appears to be domed but is actually flat, and the painter of the frescoes is looking down. The church is built as if it were a theater with 3 levels: Hell, Earth, and Heaven. Good beer!

  

  Altar of St. George

  

  The monks make great beer!

• Linz, Austria. We had Mass in our first Gothic Church with incredible stained glass. In the church is a relic of Franz Jagerstatler and St. Catherine's (of Siena) Gate. The altar was in the middle of the church. Linz was separated during the Cold War: the Russians had 1 side, and the Americans had the other. The river separated the town. We were on the "American side".

  

  St. Mary's Cathedral, Linz, Austria

• St. Florian's Abbey was stunning. Being able to see (and hear) Anton Bruckner's organ, and also his tomb (which is directly under the organ), with all of those bones behind is something to see.

  

  Bones in Bruckner's Crypt

  

  Bruckner's Organ

• Melk Abbey was a little disappointing in that no pictures were allowed inside. Having said that, it was beautiful. Was it as beautiful as St. Florian Abbey? Hmmm... I didn't have time to walk around the gardens.

  

  Our first view of Melk Abbey from the ship in the morning fog

• After Melk, we sailed down the river during the day, and we could see vineyards. So charming!

  

  Wachau Valley, Austria

• Dürnstein: Medieval village oozing with personality. We saw a water line sign as we walked into town. A wedding was just about to start, so we went into the church for a quick look. The wedding party/attendees were dressed in traditional Austrian clothes. The town is famous for apricots, but they weren't in season when we were there. 

  

  Danube watermark on the side of a building

• The most significant "pinch me, I can't believe I'm here" moment was in Vienna, in Schonbrunn, the Habsburg Summer Palace. I still can't believe that I, a girl from small town East Tennessee, was listening to music written by Austrian composers in Maria Theresa's ballroom. It was such a magical evening.

  

  The ballroom where the private performance was held

• We celebrated Mass in some incredible churches: Baroque, Gothic, Wooden, in Dachau, in a Church Hall, and on the ship. One thing that stood out in all the churches was that there were no pads on the kneelers. At Dachau, I forced myself to continue to kneel, offering the pain up to the prisoners who would have loved to have had a place to kneel. It's hard to say which church was my favorite; definitely 1 of the Gothic Churches.

  

  St. Martin's Cathedral, Bratislava, Slovakia

• If I have any complaints, it would be that there wasn't enough time for reflection. I felt like we were rushed out of the churches after Mass because we had something else on the schedule, which was tight. I was also disappointed that the shops at the Divine Mercy Basilica were closed (All Saints Day); I was planning on buying Rosaries there, but Wadowice was a great 2nd choice since that's JPII's birthplace.
• One other thing that I would have changed if I could: I would have preferred tours of the churches. As I look back and dig into some of the churches we were in, we missed a lot. As in, miracles that we weren't made aware of. There was a Eucharistic Miracle in Regensburg that we weren't made aware of. I'm not sure why that wasn't pointed out (and that church wasn't visited) since we were on pilgrimage.

  

  The Minor Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary holds several relics I wish I had known about when I was there

• One thing did put a little bit of a damper on things at the end of the cruise: there was a couple who complained about our guide. I thought she was absolutely wonderful. She was very personable, professional, and when we needed reprimanding, she did so gently. One evening, I had dinner with another couple; all she seemed to do was complain about how things were different. You're on a pilgrimage, for goodness' sake. And, it's Europe...not the USA. Things are different there. 
• I met some wonderful, amazing people on this trip. The couples were just beautiful. I felt no sadness when seeing them together; they were so nice and just beautiful together. The guides we had (even though I know they had to have been stressed out at some point) were calm, professional, and knowledgeable. I could tell that they loved their country (Poland) and that they also loved sharing it with others.

  

  The whole group in front of Melk Abbey. Photo courtesy of Crossroads Italy.

Select International is the way to go. I can definitely see myself on more pilgrimages offered through this company.

Drinking up the Hodgepodge

Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond. 

1. Did you watch the Kentucky Derby this past weekend? Have you ever been to a horse race? Ever ridden a horse? Did you enjoy it? Have you ever been to Kentucky? Do you like Bourbon? 

I have no interest in the Derby if I'm perfectly honest. I've never been to a horse race but have been to the dog race once. I've ridden a horse; it was okay; not my favorite activity. I live in a state bordering Ky, so yes, I've been there & I do like bourbon. If you've never tried bourbon cream, it's worth a try. It's even better than Irish Cream. My bourbon balls are always a hit at Christmas, especially since I believe in making sure people know there's bourbon in it. 

2.  What's something you wish you'd placed in a time capsule fifteen years ago? 

I'm drawing a total blank on this one.

3. Are you adventurous? Elaborate. 

I didn't think I was but looking back over the past several years I guess in a way I am. I think I've always had a travel bug but never thought I'd be able to act on it. I'm not so adventurous to hike the Appalachian Trail or even go out into the woods and camp on my own, but I'm working up the confidence to travel alone.

4. Something you want to make this year? It can be a new recipe, craft, diy project, a milestone you've set for yourself...anything at all. 

I want to make plans to go back to Ireland and spend time on my own there.

5. Cinco de Mayo was also celebrated this past weekend...do you like Mexican food? If so what's your favorite dish? Have you ever been to Mexico?  Margarita-yes or no?

I do like Mexican food, for sure. Sometimes just a big plate of nachos & a bottle of Dos Equis is all I need. I've never been to Mexico and actually have no desire to go. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Last week I did something I hadn't done since we moved into this house...I mowed the yard. We have a zero-turn mower and I kept telling CH that he needed to teach me how to use it. But, he liked mowing the yard and didn't want me to do it so I never learned. I had MS give me a quick lesson and I mowed the yard myself. He mowed a small hill in the backyard because he was afraid I'd tip over, but other than that, I did it. It's funny how little things like mowing the yard can boost my confidence!

An Enchanting Hodgepodge

 

Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1. Do you wear your heart on your sleeve? Elaborate.  

Not only do I wear my heart, but also my thoughts. It gets me in trouble from time to time...I'm definitely the person to play poker against if you want to win!

2. A favorite love song? 

Old-Fashioned Love Song immediately came to mind.

But if I had to pick just one, it would be If by Bread. (My freshman year in high school the marching band played this on the field.)

3. Do you consider yourself a trusting person? Explain. 

Absolutely. I'm too trusting, in fact. I could tell you stories that would make you shake your head and wonder how I'm still here without any scars! 

I've been burned so many times by people I thought were friends or at the very least had my back. After I'm burned I usually put up a wall and don't let that person back in. I may get to a place of being cordial, but that's it; my guard is up after that.

4. June 14th is National New Mexico Day...have you ever been to New Mexico (aka The Land of Enchantment)? Any desire to visit the state? Some of the top-rated tourist attractions there are- Carlsbad Caverns National Park, White Sands National Park, The Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, Bandelier National Monument, The Georgia O'Keefe Museum, Santa Fe Plaza, and the Petroglyph National Monument. Of the attractions listed which would be tops on your list? 

I've never been but it's on my list. I definitely want to go to Carlsbad and White Sands, but the place on the top of my list is Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe. More specifically, the staircase. The chapel was built without access to the choir loft. The nuns weren't able to find a suitable builder who could come up with a way to access the loft. They said a novena (prayers said 9 days straight) to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the last day of the novena, a man came and built the staircase. He only had simple tools and left without payment or without saying his goodbyes. The stairs spiral 20 feet to the choir loft and appear to not have any support. No nails were used in the construction, only wooden pegs, and glue. The wood is some kind of spruce but is not indigenous to New Mexico. 

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

5. What's something you've found enchanting recently? 

The woodpeckers and hummingbirds. I guess that's a sure sign I'm getting old! There's a red-bellied woodpecker that visits the suet several times each day. 

The hawks in the park also get my ear when I'm walking; especially in the evening. The other day I saw 1 being chased by 2 blue jays. The hawk had something in its claws (I couldn't tell what it was) and the blue jays weren't happy about it.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have 1 more Ireland post and that series will be complete. I'm glad that I have this blog to keep my memories of amazing trips. Even though I don't "rough it" ( and will never!), I do like camping in different places. I think it gives a different perspective on the places we travel to. Instead of spending the night in a hotel and turning on the tv, I like listening to the sounds of where we're camping. Like I said, it gives you a different perspective.

A Timely Hodgepodge

 

Joyce asks the questions; we provide the answers. Check out what others said at From This Side of the Pond.

1. What do you wish you'd done more of last year? Less of? 

More: Laughed; Less: Worried

2. What's the tallest building you've ever been in? Do you have a fear of heights? 

I was able to go to the top of the World Trade Center in the 80's when I was a guard instructor for a high school band. They marched in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade one year.

At times I have a healthy fear of heights. I was able to walk the path at The Cliffs of Moher without getting freaked out.  I wasn't brave enough to do what I saw these 2 men do, though:

3. Do you have a word for the year? Elaborate if you'd like to elaborate. 

I do: Strength. The word came to me several times in 1 day so I knew that was it. I pray for God to give me strength through this year. I also need the strength to let people around me know when I need to draw strength from them.

4. January 11 is National Milk Day...are you a milk drinker? What kind? Your favorite recipe that calls for milk (cereal doesn't count)? 

I used to be a huge milk drinker. We drink whole milk in this house, which is why I don't drink much anymore. Favorite recipe? I'm drawing a blank for any recipe that calls for milk except for Danish Pancakes. More on that in early February! 😉

5. What excites you most about the future? What do you miss about the past? 

In all honesty, the future is a little scary. I'm just taking things day by day and not thinking too far ahead. If I had to say 1 thing, I'd say retirement. I miss being able to call my mom on the phone and talk to her.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm getting back in the swing of things after being off for the holidays and then having 3 days off last week due to the weather. I can't believe it's only Wednesday...it feels like it should be next week already! But summer will be here before I know it.

Planning Out the Summer with the Hodgepodge

Head over to Joyce's to add your post and see how everyone else answered this week's questions.

1. Realist, idealist, optimist, pessimist...which one are you? Elaborate. 

I'm each one at different times. Sometimes I can be a realist, although most of the time I'm an idealist. I look at the world a lot through rose-colored glasses and choose to not allow things that are happening rob me of my joy. I'm an optimist...except when I'm being a pessimist. I like to think the best of everyone until I have a reason not to.

2. What's something currently on your wish list? 

The main thing is to just relax. That may not be what Joyce was looking for here, but that's all I've got right now!

3. Three things on this week's shopping list? 

Well...since I haven't made out my shopping list for the next couple of weeks yet, I'm winging this one. We're camping this weekend so I'll definitely have some items we need on the list.

4. According to Trip Advisor here's a list of the top ten things to do in the US this summer-

Chicago Architecture River Cruise, Skip the Line Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour, New York In A Day guided sightseeing tour, Charleston's Old South Historic Horse and Carriage tour, Grand Canyon helicopter tour, Full day iconic sights of LA, Beverly Hills, Beaches and more, D.C. at Dusk guided night tour, Beneath the Streets Underground History tour (Seattle), New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat tour, Gangsters and Ghosts tour in Chicago...read more about each excursion in the link here. 

Of the ten attractions listed which do you find most appealing? Have you already experienced anything on this list?

I've done the horse & carriage tour in Charleston and have been in DC at dusk (dusk is the only time to see the Korean War Memorial) but that's it. The Beneath the Streets Underground History Tour in Seattle sounds appealing. We're having to ditch our original plans of going to Banff, Canada, so this has given me an idea of what we can possibly do for vacation! Thanks, Joyce!

5. Besides home and work where do you spend the most time? 

Not to sound like a "Church Lady", but...church. I love going and sitting in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel for a bit of time. It's so amazing to just sit and be still. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 Summer vacation is HERE! Even though I have a somewhat busy summer with our Council of Catholic Women Convention at the beginning of June and surgery at the end of June with some appointments in between, I'm so looking forward to not worrying about meetings, paperwork, and planning therapy. I also have a huge decision to make before June 14. Next year is the first year I'm eligible to retire, so I'll be spending time in the Adoration Chapel asking God what He wants me to do. I don't want to leave too early, but I don't want to wait too long to make my exit. This decision is a lot harder than I expected it to be.

The Great Adventure 2019: Peggy's Cove

We left the AirBnB behind and began to make our way to our next stay. We were headed to The Ovens Natural Park for a couple of nights of camping. But since we had plenty of time to get there, we made a slight detour and headed for Peggy's Cove. CH kept talking about how the landscape of the Canadian Maritimes looked like Ireland, but I told him it didn't...until we got to Peggy's Cove. This looked like the Ireland I saw:

I think most people go to Peggy's Cove for the lighthouse; we just enjoyed walking around and enjoyed the scenery.

Once we walked into the actual village, there was a boat tour. We thought, "why not?" and jumped on in. It was beautiful seeing the area from the water. The rocks that were formed that appear to be haphazardly were incredible.

No seals, but we did see these birds. 

East Dover is another fishing village next to Peggy's Cove that looked equally as charming.

Just as we made our way back in front of the lighthouse, a staff member obliged us by taking our picture as we went by:

There is one other point of interest that we saw while there: 

We almost missed the William E. deGarthe Memorial. It is right next to a house, so it appears to be part of the yard. This monument is in honor of  the fishermen of Nova Scotia. The sculpture depicts 32 fishermen, their wives and children, St. Elmo with wings spread, and the legendary Peggy of Peggy’s Cove. It was absolutely amazing. And, yes, it actually is in someone's yard...William E. deGarthe. At his death, the sculpture was about 80% completed. 

After leaving Peggy's Cove, we continued on toward our destination. We stopped to eat at a place called rhubarb. It had great atmosphere; we were able to sit at a table on an enclosed porch and have a nice lunch. As it happens, there was a group of people from around Atlanta at a table near us. The accents sounded like home!

Continuing on, at one point we went around a curve and were absolutely struck by this view:

Seriously, it was so unexpected that it just took our breath away. Seeing Mahone Bay turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. Unfortunately, we didn't stop and walk through "downtown" to see what all this town has to offer. This is one place that we want to return to and spend a full day or two exploring. 

I read about a little town called Lunenburg. The "Old Town" is a UNESCO Heritage Site so I was intrigued. But, we ended up being a little disappointed. We walked along the waterfront but there really didn't appear to be much there. We just didn't think it lived up to the hype I read about. You can definitely tell there is German influence in the architecture.

Theresa E. Conner is a saltbanking schooner, designed to preserve the fish in saltwater. It was in service from 1938 to 1966 and is now a museum. It was the last saltbanking schooler to run out of Lunenburg.

(Information from Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.)

Memorial to Fishermen:

View from the park on top of a hill to the harbour:

St. John Anglican Church. The 2nd Church of England built in Nova Scotia (1753) and the 2nd oldest remaining Protestant Church in the country. The original congregation was comprised mostly of German Lutherans. The same foundry that made Big Ben and the Liberty Bell made the original bell.

When it was built, the wood came from King's Chapel in Boston, which was disassembled from the inside. The wood was carried through the window and shipped to Lunenburg.

The stars above the altar are said to be a mystery. Some believe the stars depict the sky the night that Jesus was born, as it looked in Lunenburg on that night.

Lunenburg Academy opened its doors in 1893 and is a National Historic Site. This building was built after a fire destroyed the current school. It served as a school until 2012 when concerns over the cost of maintenance caused the school board to turn it over to the town. Renovations began shortly after we visited. The building is used for a library and music school, as well as space rented out to businesses as offices.

If we knew at the beginning of the day what we knew at the end, we would have spent more time in Mahone Bay. But I think that just means we'll have to go back! 

Next stop: camping at The Ovens Natural Park.