Cruising the Danube (part 2)

Cruising along the Danube is a day's view of water and mountains and then something interesting comes along. Mostly it looks like this view with Romania on the right and Serbia on the left. The ship was sailing to the narrowest point of the river and what I didn't realize or remember was that when people were fleeing Communist Romania for the west, many swam, floated or sailed to freedom in this area until the Romanian government started patrolling their waters. Even today you can't sail from one side to the other since there's no border control. Well you can sail and cross but the consequences wouldn't be good.

The Mraconia Monastery is in the same area and the original dated from the 11th century. People, governments and wars being what they are saw this place destroyed and rebuilt over the years. Then when the Iron Gates were built to control the water and shipping along the Danube the latest version was flooded and rebuilt here. So go monks. After centuries your monastery still survives in spirit and use if not original building.

This giant rock carving is only a couple of decades old. Nothing Middle-Earth or ancient times. The Statue of Decebalus (last king in a region of Romania) is striking and hidden from sight except for one gap between the mountains. You have to get your cameras ready as the ship didn't stop for a long photo op.