IMPERIAL CAPITALS OF EUROPE
BUDAPEST,VIENNA, PRAGUE & BERLIN
April 30 - May 12, 2012
A UNIQUE TRAIN TOUR WITH ONLY 10 PARTICIPANTS
See below for prices and discounts.
Your host and guide is MIKE ROSS …your local guide to the World, since 1982.
A unique train tour featuring BUDAPEST, formerly a Hapsburg Imperial Capital, now the vibrant center of a revitalized Hungary; VIENNA, “Paris” of the East, filled with the grand structures of a 19th century empire and lilting Strauss music; and PRAGUE, yet another Hapsburg Imperial Capital, where each building looks like a pastel wedding cake, along the beautiful Vlatava River.
Includes flights from Detroit, rail, hotels with private bath, breakfast and dinner daily, touring as noted.
Itinerary
Day 1. Board our jet for the overnight flight to EUROPE.
Day 2. Arrival in BUDAPEST we transfer to our hotel in the heart of the city. We’ll stroll the Vaci Utca, the 5th Avenue of Budapest, and visit St. Stephen’s Basilica this afternoon.
Day 3: West across the Peloponneses, stopping in some picturesque mountain villages, before arriving at OLYMPIA to visit the fascinating Museum and the actual site of the games and the stadium from 776 BC! Overnight in Olympia.
Day 4. Early today we cross the famous Chain Bridge into the ancient city of Buda for a walk along the Danube and to explore this part of town. This afternoon, enjoy the Budapest Baths or a wine along the Vaci Uta.
Day 5.This morning we will board the train for VIENNA, capital of Austria and former imperial capital of the AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE. We spend the afternoon exploring this magnificent capital city. We´ll visit St. Stephans Cathedral and walk and the marvelous Ring Street.
Day 6. Today begins with a visit to the world-famous Art History Museum. One of the most famous collections on earth, it is captivating to art lovers and neophytes as well. Later wander the shops and cafes of the Kaertner Street, 5th Avenue of Vienna.
Day 7. This morning we begin with a visit to the Hapsburg Royal Palace. This was the main residence for the most powerful family in all of European history. We´ll hear its grandiose and sad story, see the statues of its most famous residents and walk through its grandest rooms.
Day 8. An early morning train takes us to PRAGUE, the CZECH REPUBLIC. The Medieval capital of the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, the city today looks like a confectioners dream, each building a giant, pastel wedding cake. We will walk this afternoon to Starometska Square, site of the incredible Tyn Cathedral and the ancient medieval astronomical clock. Later we´ll visit the Charles Bridge, filled with artisans and craftsmen.
Day 9. This morning we will tour the former Royal Palace, the Hradcany. Crowned with its own Gothic cathedral, St. Vitus, this was the site of the beginning of the Thirty Years War, one of the most destructive wars in world history.
Day 10. After breakfast we will visit the Museum of Communism, an excellent view of the recent past in Eastern Europe. Later you can stroll Wencelas Square for glassware, the old town for antiques or you can just sit in a café on the Starometska and enjoy the scene.
Day 11. North through the beautiful Elbe River Valley to the new capital of Germany, BERLIN. This afternoon we will see the Jewish Memorial, the remnants of the Berlin Wall, stroll the Unter den Linden Boulevard, and see the Brandenbrug Gate, symbol of the Cold War.
Day 12. BERLIN. Today begins with a tour of West Berlin with its glittering shopping streets, huge department stores and the massive ruin of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, reduced to ruins in WWII. In the afternoon we'll visit the famous Potsdamer Platz and several of the historical sites from the the 1930s and 1940s.
Day 13. We transfer to the airport for our flight homer
PRICE: from Detroit from $5406, ONLY $5106 with early deposit. RETURNING MIKE ROSS TRAVELERS $4906. Single supplement $550. Price may vary with airfare at time of booking. Security charges and airport taxes not included.
PAYMENTS: $1500 deposit with form below. Balance due 95 days prior to departure. Read TERMS & CONDITIONS on the web site. Call Mike at 517-782-6847, toll free 877-845-4763, send an e-mail to Mike@mikerosstravel.com or visit us on the web at www.mikerosstravel.com.