| Enchanting Danube River Cruise |
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October 24 - November 2, 2009
With Tour Leaders Wilmer and Janet Martin This leisurely-paced trip is for those who love history, architecture and diverse cultures in a blend of the best of Eastern and Western Europe. Music lovers will delight in tracing Mozart’s early career while in Vienna and Salzburg, as well as learning about the legacy Strauss’s Blue Danube Waltz left in Vienna. The Danube River, through its rich history, has remained timeless and truly enchanting. German poet Friedrich Hölderlin called the Danube “a refreshing, melodious river, sometimes foaming with high spirits, at other times dreaming serenely.” You will enjoy this cruise on the “River Princess” ship, led by Wilmer and Janet Martin, owners of TourMagination, who enjoy taking river cruises because of the smaller ships and being able to walk into cities when you dock at ports-of-call. There will be time for group worship, sharing and fellowship. Join them on this journey full of centuries of intriguing history that will unfold before your eyes. Click here to read past blogs about our European Heritage Tours. Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25 The tour departs on Saturday evening from either Newark or Toronto on overnight flights to Frankfurt, Germany. We will land early Sunday morning in Frankfurt where we will meet and get a flight together to Budapest, Hungary. We will be transferred from the airport to the River Princess ship. Monday, October 26 Budapest is an enchanting city with a vibrant mix of East and West, and medieval and modern. Made up of two parts–Buda, the hills, and Pest, the flat lands–it is divided by the Danube and is an architectural dream. Our city tour features the famous Chain Bridge, the UNESCO-listed Castle Hill district, and the 19th-century Fisherman’s Bastion. Captain’s Welcome Dinner. Tuesday, October 27 A tour today through Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, will acquaint us with a sampling of the town’s eclectic architecture of Gothic, Baroque and Art Deco styles. Bratislava has been aptly named the “Coronation City of Kings” and you’ll discover why as we walk along the sidewalks where there are little golden crowns in the pavement identifying the route of the coronation procession of eleven kings and eight royal spouses over the centuries. We’ll also pass the 17th-century palace that now serves as the seat of the Slovakian government, Old Town’s Freedom Square and Peace Square, Mirbach Palace and Primatial Palace. Wednesday, October 28  St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna Optional Tour: Visit Schönbrunn Palace or join the Connoisseur’s Vienna tour, and/or enjoy a classical music performance of Mozart and Strauss. Thursday, October 29 The tiny baroque village of Dürnstein in Austria seems lost in time. Enjoy leisure time exploring this charming village on your own before departing for Melk. We will cruise through the heart of the picturesque, vineyard-rich Wachau Valley, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its abruptly rising hills, and nesting baroque villages. As you sail to Melk, you’ll be greeted by the famous Melk Abbey situated high atop the granite cliffs of the Danube. This 900-year-old complex is a wonderful example of baroque art and architecture and home to a very famous Benedictine library. Friday, October 30 After docking in Linz, today’s adventure will take us out of Linz, through the region known to many as the “smile on the face of Austria.” Upon arrival in Salzburg, the “city of salt,” you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its well-preserved medieval town core and for its musical heritage. See the Mirabellgarten, once featured in the well-beloved film “The Sound of Music.” Visit the 15-th century Dom Cathedral, representing Faith, Hope and Charity. Saturday, October 31  We conclude the tour at Passau Optional Tour: Visit Schärding, one of Austria’s most beautiful baroque towns situated in the Inn River Valley. Captain’s Farewell Dinner. Sunday, November 1 We will disembark the ship on Sunday morning and will be met by a coach driver who will take us to the Passau Castle, high above the town to learn of the importance of this location in Anabaptist history. We will also have a great view of the confluence of the Rhine, Danube and Moselle Rivers. We will drive to Alzey for the night. Monday, November 2 This morning we willl need to say goodbye to each other as we board separate flights from Frankfurt International Airport to Newark and Toronto. For further information regarding the complete tour fare, please This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . We would be happy to be of assistance. |
