Last time I wrote we were about to dock in Passau - the first of our German ports of call.

Beautifully situated at the confluence of three rivers, it was yet another very pretty town and we enjoyed our afternoon there very much.     Although, Barry did manage to break his reading/sunglasses so we spent much time in an optometry place in a vain effort to get them fixed.  Ended up buying a pair of magnifiers at the 1 Euro shop and those are doing the job.   A beautiful sunny day, like all the others. 

Water levels are not a concern for now, as we are in the Main-Danube Canal. 

Next stop was Regensberg, which we have been longing to visit for ages.  Our friends the Arthurs' daughter married a young man from here and they visit often.    But, Regensburg - in large part will have to wait - see below.  Mind you it was the German National Day and all the shops were shut, and there were mass rallies around town - pro Nazi and anti Nazi.  We did manage a plate of sausages and a beer at the old Wursthaus by the Stone Bridge, and enjoyed those.   Overnight sail to Nuremburg. 

We were disappointed in Nuremburg.  It was good to do a coach tour around the sites which remain from Nazi occupation and all of us were interested to see where the Nuremburg rallies were held, and then much later the Nuremburg Trials.     The drive into the old town promised much with some lovely old buildings which had miraculously survived the WW2 bombings (75% of the city did not).  The castle high on the hill overlooking the town was lovely however the town centre is a mish mash of the occasional lovely old building and the ghastly post war ones.  There was a busy little market in the square, and a pretty little river running through town, but overall it wasn't as lovely as the other places we have visited - a fine example of which is Bamberg, where we have been today.   What a gem - 1000 years old and mercifully spared the wartime bombings.  Pretty as a picture and we thoroughly enjoyed our morning there today.    Tomorrow we are in Wurzburg. 

The weather has turned just a little - rain this afternoon while we have been sailing however a forecast of 21 tomorrow, so far from terrible.   

Cost of living here is very good - I was expecting high prices for cups of coffee, and other incidental purchases.  Not so - more or less the same price as home, and if anything, less. 

We continue to enjoy the boat - today there was an interesting lecture on the European Union, and this afternoon, the obligatory galley tour.  The head chefs changed over yesterday and the new one is from Melbourne - expecting big things from him of course!