When researching day trips from Vienna, Melk Abbey was listed as a top choice.

This abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II gave one of his castles to the Benedictine monks. I knew I had to see this, so I researched how to get to the abbey. I purchased my train tickets in advance. This would be the first time I would be changing trains on a day trip in a foreign country. It can get complicated when you do not speak the language.

From my hotel to the train station was a 45-minute walk. I arrived in Vienna by train several days before embarking on this day trip. I took a taxi to the hotel at a cost of 18 Euros. I asked the person at the front desk of my hotel if there was a bus or tram that I could take to the train station. The only option from my hotel to the train station was a subway at 2.50 Euro each way. That certainly was a better deal than a taxi, however subways and parking garages are two things I try to avoid. When I travel alone, I don’t feel safe going down into subways or in closed dark parking garages. Besides, if you are underground on a subway, you miss the sites of the city. I didn’t want to miss anything, so I decided to walk.

Sometimes it is just better to put on your walking shoes and take in all the sites. I am so glad I decided to walk. On my journey, I found two more churches. The first was on my list and I almost forgot about it until I saw it on my walk to the train station.

Karlskirche is dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo who was one of the great counter-reformers of the 16th century. From 1783 to 1918 this church was the parish church for the Emperor of Austria.

As I continued my walk to the train station, I could see this beautiful church in front of me. As I approached the entrance, both doors were opened as well as the interior gates. The parish church of ***Saint Elizabeth*** was very inviting and very beautiful.

The tulips outside the church made my day as I continued my walk to the train station.

What I noticed when I arrived on my train platform was an awful lot of children in groups with suitcases. It looked like a big overnight field trip. Several parents were on hand to wish their children a safe and happy trip.

My journey began at the Wein Hbf (Vienna Main Train Station) with a transfer at the St. Polten Train Station. When I boarded my second train, I met four 10-year-old students traveling with their class to the town of Melk. These 10-year-olds spoke German. When they realized I only spoke English, they decided it was a good opportunity to practice their English. Their English was so much better than my German!

One of the four students introduced herself to me. She had a very different sounding first name. I am sorry to say that I didn’t quite understand her name. She introduced me to her friends – Paul, Theresa, and Thomas. Then, the questions began…

Do you like bananas? Obviously, these questions were part of what they learned in their language classes.

Do you like spinach? The word spinach seemed to be a difficult word for them to say as they giggled their way through it.

Where are you from?

Then for some reason, they began practicing their numbers as they counted in English.

One of the boys told me his mother was 43 years old. And then the big question came – How old are you? I told them that my son was the same age as his mother. His eyes got quite big as they giggled and continued to practice counting in English.

I asked them where they were going in Melk. Although they understood the question, they did not know how to answer in English, so they called over their teacher who provided the translation. The class was going to a hostel in Melk. From the size of their suitcases, it looked like more than an overnight trip.

I told them that I was going to Melk Abbey. Again, they needed their teacher to help with the translation.

It was so much fun talking with these four 10-year-olds. I am amazed how people can go from one language to the next without hesitation. My brain was not developed in that way. I learned only English, and it wasn’t until high school that a second language was introduced. These children were surprised that I did not speak German as well as English.

We said our goodbyes as we exited the train – the children leaving in one direction with their class and me in the other direction toward the beautiful yellow structure known as Melk Abbey.

I found myself, once again, climbing lots of stairs to get to the entrance of the abbey all the while thinking that this would be a great place for a funicular!

Once at the top, the views were absolutely stunning in all directions.

The journey through the abbey began in a museum and ended in the beautiful church. This was the most magnificent structure I had seen so far.

I spent time in this church just taking it all in. I said a Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. This is a daily devotion I started many years ago. It is very special beyond words to say these prayers in a place as magnificent as this abbey.

Melk Abbey is another great adventure just outside of Vienna. If Vienna is on your Bucket List, then be sure to spend a day at Melk Abbey. Let me know in the comments below if you ever visited Melk Abbey. If you’ve been to Vienna, did you go on other day trips and if so, what were they?

There is still more to share from this 18-day trip. Stay tuned for more blogs, more pictures, and more fun adventures.