While Brad travelled from Melk to Durnstein by bike, I took the easy route and cruised down the Wachau Valley - much more relaxing I think. This area of Austria is renowned for wine and apricots and often the alcohol and the apricots are mixed to make an apricot brandy or 'Marillenschnaps'.

After a very scenic cruise past various castles and churches, we docked at Durnstein - a quaint little town whose landmarks are the monastic church and the ruins of a castle fortress. The is a beautiful tower that is decorated like a Wedgewood plate (in blue and white) and the castle is apparantly linked to the Crusades where Leopold V - ruler of the country at that time - held Richard the Lion Hearted of England prisoner in 1193.

One of the old buildings in the town also had the roof missing. The story goes that one of the important landlords (not sure whether he was royalty, or mayor or bishop) wanted to see his land from his home - probably the tower - but the roof of this large building blocked his view, so he demanded that it be removed. Anyway, the town now mainly thrives on tourism with plenty of trinket shops and places to sample apricot schnapps or hand made (apricot) chocolates.

After Brad arrived from his bike ride and after dinner we had the option to attend a wine tasting if we wanted to. It was a much smaller group than the previous wine tasting we went to but it was absolutely hilarious. I think the hostess had a few wines under her belt before we arrived. She told us about the meaning of where her drindl skirt was tied. If the knot was on the left, it means she is available, and on the right she is forgiven. 'Forgiven' Brad said, 'what did you do?' (she meant taken). Writing it here now it doesn't seem very funny but it is probably a case of you had to be there. (As an aside - didn't think too much of the wine)