Passau

Aug. 10^th

We spent the morning in Passau, Germany.  Passau is on the border with Austria and is built at the confluence of the Ilz, Inn and Danube.  It apparently floods, and by flood I mean FLOOD!  The last flood was in 2005 and you can see where the river came up well past the first floor of the buildings.  But, it is an accepted way of life here.  According to the local guide, when the floods are coming people stock up on provisions and when the floods come, they sit up on one of the high walls, drink wine and watch the river pass by!

Most of the towns/cities we have visited in Germany date back to Medieval times.  Life centered around the church, the castle and the town square. Usually the cities were surrounded by walls with entry that were manned.  And of course you had your prince or bishop, or in some cases, a prince bishop, who controlled the people, land and wealth.  Bathing was considered unhealthy and you did not drink the water!  You drank wine or beer! I think we’ve done a pretty good job of adopting that custom on this trip!