Off to the station in Salzburg - up the lift - down the lift - up another lift - down another - bugger - drag the bags up the stairs - train arrives - is this the right one - don't know - ask the conductor - sure is - let's go - make sure those bags do not go astray.
On through the Austrian country side past lots of small villages - sun is shining, kids out on bikes and people having their first swims of the season.
Changing trains at Wels onto a regional train to Passau - will we have time to find the next train?
Multiple greens - forests - more greens - so many greens - stripes of green, patches of green, spots of green, specks of green, carpets of green - greener than the emerald isle. Green trees, green fields, green crops, green weeds - even green power transmission pole
Change trains at Wels - no problems - sit beside nice young Austrian mother - goes to tech school in Linz everyday for 20 weeks - conductor comes along - in rapid German tells us something. - she intervenes - there has been a derailment down the line - we will have to change to a bus and then back to a train before we reach Passau - never mind she says - she will guide us!
On to the bus - where in the hell are we going? - never mind - having to take a bus rather than a train makes us feel at home!
The rain clouds gather - will they be followed by our first rain of the trip? - maybe - maybe not - yep - probably - light and tolerable so far.
Arrive Passau - nice taxi driver - arrive hotel - are you from Albury too? - where are the others - restaurant down the street - meet and greet - schnitzel and white wine - a bit more rain - retire with the others for the complimentary glass of bubbly - swap travel stories - head to bed
Rise for breakfast - meet the others - Reillys and Rodds arrive - Robbs on the train - Pam and Andrew still 100 away - pity about this rain - it has settled in.
Wander town - pass boats - around point - museum of modern art - almost drawn down a country avenue into the distance by a piece by Albett
Back to square - coffee - bad - off to organ recital in the church
Church - figures - murals - figures - looking at you - looking into distance - approving - disapproving - asking where you have been - smiling- frowning - pointing things out to you - ignoring you - entertaining you - cherubs - angels holding tablets of the psalms. Decoration - over the top - beutiful murals on the roof and upper chambers - no stained glass - golden pulpit - murals on roof and walls - vaulted ceilings - lower walls mostly plain - top over-compensates.
Huge organ - biggest in the world? - back of the church -
Church replaced one after the fire in 1600s. Baroque - italian craftsmen
Sit toward front on Richard's advice - sound peaceful - tone terrific - powerful - pin drops in the silence between pieces - will this silence and reverence last? - no! - some coughing - distracting - annoying - next piece strong - drives away the distraction - up the scale - down - up in power - down again - gentle wander through. a field - busy - building - still building - anticipation - something about to happen - nothing - an even keel - a little faster - this is pleasant but what is it trying to to say - relax - don't worry - life goes on enjoy it - enjoy a long life - things will come and go - close your eyes - let the music take over - finishing - no - keeps going - good - prepare to finish - ok to finish now - feel like clapping
Next piece - gentle - like a stream - on and on -change of scene - around a corner - bells gently chime - around the bend again - something is different - this isn't like any organ music I have heard before - feels like a canoe ride down a stream - encounter calm and not so calm waters and peaceful and not so peaceful glades - end in an unpleasant place - wake up - forget the unpleasantness - it is only transient - back to the peaceful times - love this!
People clap - haven't heard that in church before.
Lunch is important - Parma baguette and Pinot gricio
Lots of bikes - not just tourists
Back for a nana nap.
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