With the long weekend due to Maria’s Himmelfahrt, we were able to explore a little more of Bavaria. In preparation for my first batch of visitors next month and October, I’ve been gathering some research on the beers and restaurants in the city center of Munich. Mostly I’m checking on restaurant atmosphere, food is typically standard and the price is always a robbery. We also decided this weekend we’d check out Passau, 1.30 hrs northeast of Munich, as our quick trip destination.

Click to View Pictures in Passau

All the stores were closed yesterday in the city center, but surprisingly the museums, tourist bureau, and boat tours were opened. I guess yesterday was not considered a true Feiertag. Passau is unique in that it is situated on a penisula at the interesection where three rivers meet: the Danube or Donau in German (blue in color on good days), the Inn (green in color), and the smaller Ilz (black). There are plenty of park benches to enjoy a picnic or restaurants to eat along the riverfront. We ate at the “Blau Bock” along the Donau, I recommend the Kinder-Schweinebraten and the Hefe-Weisbeer vom Faß. It’s a good normal portion for lunch.

Next time I come here to visit, I will be sure to arrive early to hear the organ play between 12 and 12:30 on the workdays at the St. Stephan’s Dom. The western wall supports 17,774 pipes for what I can only imagine is a booming sound of Gloria in Excelsis Deo when played. The Dom itself is extremely ornate and worth a peek. However, they only play the organ at those times mentioned and at 7:30 pm on Thursdays between May and October.

It did threaten to rain on us a good part of the day, but once we hiked up upper Veste between the Ilz and Danube, the sun broke through and made for a nice afternoon. For those without a car, the train takes one straight there and a Bayern ticket can get you there and back to any other city in Bavaria for 24 Euro for up to 5 people.