melk

we wake up in a melk, austria. today we're walking to the monastery. below are a few of the highlights.

this river front cafe documents historical high water marks

it rained last night, and snails slime their way across the trail. this one is a behemoth! this photo captures the moment before bill grabbed the snail and ran after me. i think the creatures are beautiful, but something about them gives me the eeks

our destination.. melk monastery.

this monastery was renovated at the beginning of the 18th century.. during the counter reformation. the idea was to make Catholicism fun and pretty, so that believers would return. those who chose to ignore the offer did so at the cost of their homes, as they were forced out of the austrian empire. anyhow. isn't this a pretty ceiling?

the town of melk as seen from the monastery.

mom and me!

a library with a very pretty ceiling.

it's a globe... but those aren't continents, but astrological signs instead

water color on display at library

stair case.. i shudder.. the snail lives

a baroque abbey

sun foot

a peaceful park behind the monastery.