Kelheim and Weltenburg Monastery

I would like to thank the 172nd softball team for making it to the U.S. Army Europe championship softball tournament.  Because of this amazing feat, the whole brigade was given the day off of work.  This resulted in Justin and me being able to have a Friday adventure.  Softball really isn't that bad after all ;)

Taking the advice of my dear CrossFit friend, Jill, we went to the German town of Kelheim, which was about an hour and fifteen minutes from our house.  It was such a precious German town.  We enjoyed walking around and feeling the authenticity of the German culture.  First, we walked to the Old Town area to grab some lunch.  It was fun to walk around and happen upon some great things in this town.

We found a gorgeous fountain

And the old city gate

We had delicious beer from Schneider & Son,
coupled with some yummy spatzle

After lunch we wandered around and found this Mary and Jesus statue,
similar to the one in Munich

The Church of the Assumption of Mary,
it was nice and cool inside on this hot 90+ day

Schneider and Son Brewery

A random train car with paintings from Salvador Dali

Schneider and Son bier garten

A really old moped Justin insisted on taking a picture of

Weisse Brauhaus

Kelheim Rathaus

Love my day trip partner

After exploring Old Town we headed to the Danube River to take a boat ride upstream to the Weltenburg Monastery.

We're on a boat...with Liberty Hall on top of the hill

This rock formation is called Napoleon's Suitcase--Napoleon left it when
he was fleeing back to France after the Battle of Nations near Leipzig, Germany

An old "rock church"

Liberty Hall and Cave of the Danube Pirates

Enjoying the shade inside the boat (Did I mention it was really hot?)

The two rocks sticking up are called Peter and Paul

The oldest Benedictine Abbey of Bavaria,
the view of Weltenburg Monastery from the boat

Inside the courtyard

The main cathedral

After hiking around the Stations of the Cross,
we were rewarded with this beautiful view

Taking a break on the old stairs we had to climb to the top

It was so hot a wade in the Danube River was a perfect choice

The stones hurt our feet a bit, but it was refreshing

Did I mention that this monastery brews beer?  They have received a Gold Beer Award for their dunkel beer three different years.  Needless to say, it was tasty, and dunkels are not necessarily my favorite beer.  

We really enjoyed exploring the Weltenburg Monastery and learning a bit more about the features along the Danube River.  Fun fact: the Danube is the second longest river in Europe.  

On the boat ride back to Kelheim Justin enjoyed a beer while I cooled off with some eis (ice cream).
 

Great Friday off, if I do say so!