Melk

  Our Orientation Program includes two full day trips. The first, to Melk, was a warm up for Graz (more on that later). On the way we stopped off at a castle not far from Vienna for a falcon demonstration… thing, before a ‘traditional Austrian lunch’ (surprise! Schnitzel was on the menu), and finally Melk. The city’s claim to tourist fame is a massive abbey on the mountain. If anything, the place is so overwhelmingly opulent it seems fake.

 Chris used to do parkour! He can climb anywhere, it is quite fun to travel with him.

 Can you spot the Mary? This castle isn't even that famous, which hurts my Canadian brain. They're just littered all over Europe, no big.

 This was an incredible show to have a front row view for. They deliberately placed meat near us so the birds would come close.

 Chris got smacked in the head by bird wings, as two trainers sent the birds back and forth overtop of us. The condor fortunately had the decency to take a longer route.

 Seeing this painting was the biggest WTF moment. Ninjas?

 There is a mummy in the abbey cathedral. I have no idea why, or who this is, but it is so out of place given the general splendour of the rest of the tour.

 We were serenaded by this tuba player as we walked in the main city. I may have killed myself laughing in enjoyment.