Danube River

My journey begins as a tiny secret, a little trickle of water giggling over smooth stones in a big, dark forest in Germany. I whisper hello to the tall trees as I start to grow, becoming a small stream that dances through green fields filled with colorful flowers. I flow past old castles sitting high on green hills, watching them sleep in the sunshine. For a long, long time, I travel, getting bigger and stronger with every mile. I pass through sleepy villages and busy towns, and people wave to me from my banks. I am a watery road that travels through ten different countries. I am the Danube River.

I am very old and have seen so many things. Long ago, brave Roman soldiers marched along my shores. They called me Danubius and built strong forts to watch over the land. I watched them build and work, and I carried their boats on my back. As time went on, big, beautiful cities grew up beside me. In a city called Vienna, people built fancy palaces. In another city named Budapest, amazing bridges stretch across me like giant arms reaching out for a hug. For thousands of years, I have been a special kind of highway. Instead of cars, big and small boats have floated on my waters, carrying food, clothes, and wonderful ideas from one land to another. I helped people from different places become friends and share their stories with each other.

My flowing water doesn't just carry boats; it also carries music. One day, a man named Johann Strauss II was watching me sparkle. He thought I looked like I was dancing. On February 15th, 1867, he shared a beautiful song he wrote about me called ‘The Blue Danube.’ It was a waltz, a type of music that makes you want to twirl and spin. His music traveled all over the world, and people who had never even seen me could imagine my sparkling, flowing waters. Today, I am still here, connecting people, animals, and nature. I give homes to fish and birds, and I share my happy, flowing song with everyone who comes to listen. My song is about friendship and connection, and it is for everyone to enjoy.