Wednesday, Nov 4th. Today we decided to skip the walking tour and relax. We were docked in downtown Passau, with an excellent view of both shores. I was given the time to examine the houses along the river in detail. They’re all pretty but also structurally different in various ways. Clearly built by wealthy people. A lot of personal attention went into their design. I’ve learned that house colors designate the professions of the occupants.
We spent an hour on our own walking around. The cathedral in Passau sports the most pipes than any in the world. Pamphlet sites “17,239, so far”. I suppose donations will get more pipes. The building itself is nothing special compared to the others I’ve seen. We didn’t see much of the town, but others who took the tour enjoyed it.
In the afternoon we visited the real countryside. Guess what. More churches, or as I now am fond of saying, “OMG, Another Church” (OAC). A bus took us to a small riverboat on the Inn River. The river has very restrictive rules regarding engined watercraft, making our riverboat one of only two allowed. Quiet cruise past country scenery and a few beautiful mansions. Beer and pretzels served. We disembarked and walked across a modern foot suspension bridge (into Austria!) which the guide derided for being expensive and unnecessary except for naturalists and tourists. A little hypocritical for a tour guide.
We then bused a short distance to for a brief tour of the town of Sharding. The guide (who, as with two other German guides, loved to laugh at her own jokes) talked to us so much we had no free time. This was just as well because it was Sunday and nothing was open. She shared a lot of interesting specific knowledge and general Austrian information. Very good. On the return to Passau we stopped at a monastery for an overview of the city. We weren’t required to climb the famous 321 steps, popular among pilgrims and students who are about to take final exams and need good fortune.
A pleasing, semi-relaxing day.
House colors generally indicated the profession of the occupant. 
Dom St. Peter and its 17,000 pipes. 
Nice. 
Water levels during flood years. Second from the top is 2013. 
Late fall colors. 
A dangerous rock on the Inn River when it was used to transport salt downriver. 
Barn under construction. 
A kindergarden. 
Children’s efforts to beautify the town. 
Downtown Sharding. 
I got bit by an Austrian Mosquito.