Overnight the ship docked in Regensburg on the Danube River. We woke this morning in Regensburg shrouded in a heavy fog. After breakfast - a walking tour of the old town. During WWII only an aircraft factory outside Regensburg was bombed and therefore the old medieval aspects of the town have remained in-tact.

Regensburg started as a Celtic settlement, called Radespona, around 500 B.C. The Romans later took it over, renamed it Castra Regina, and made it their center of power on the upper Danube. From the 7th century, the town was the center from which Christianity spread over southern Germany. The architecture of Regensburg testifies to its long history and past grandeur, which reached its peak by the beginning of the Gothic era - 12th to 16th centuries. Its buildings and towers offer an unspoiled glimpse into history, and many of its ancient structures are still used today.

The Romans built a stone bridge across the Danube in about 1135 and it remained the only bridge across the Danube for about 800 years.

St Peters Catholic Cathedral dominates the skyline. At first a bishop's church was built around 700, at the site of the present-day cathedral parish church Niedermünster (St. Erhard's tomb). Around 739, St. Boniface chose the area of the Porta Praetoria (North Gate of the old Roman fort) for the bishop's seat, and the site of the cathedral.

The Regensburger Domspatzen (Regensburg Cathedral Choir) is the official choir for the liturgical music at St Peter's Cathedral. The choir consists of boys and young men only. The Domspatzen, literally "Cathedral Sparrows", trace their origins back to the year 975 when bishop Wolfgang of Regensburg founded a cathedral school that - among other things - instructed boys to sing in the liturgy. One of the former Choir Directors from 1964 to 1994 was George Ratzinger - older brother of Benedict XVI Pope Emeritus. We were lucky to arrive at the cathedral as Solemn Mass was ending and heard the choir in full voice. We attended the midday Mass which followed and although the choir did not sing, there was pipe organ music which was beautiful. It didn't matter that we only understood three words: Alleluia, Amen, Christe.

Dinner on the ship with the Danube swiftly flowing by.

Today's insight:

• Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) was Archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982. Regensburg falls under the authority of the Munich Archdiocese and Pope Benedict XVI said Mass in this cathedral.
• Regensburg's Der Hutmacher (milliner or hat maker) is famous for supplying hats to Hugh Hefner, Johnny Depp (for Alice in Wonderland) and Pope Benedict XVI.