Vienna, Budapest, Prague 12 Days

Transcription

1 Vienna, Budapest, Prague 12 Days Discover Europe's Imperial Cities This exceptional tour is the travel experience of a lifetime, don t miss it! Set out for an unforgettable tour of three of the most beautiful, imperial, charming and lively cities of Central Europe: Vienna, Budapest and Prague, with a glimpse of the Danube Bend, Slavkov (formerly Austerlitz) and the spa town of Karlovy Vary. Day 1: Sunday New York Flight to Vienna, one of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe, and the romantic capital of the Waltz. Day 2: Monday Vienna Morning arrival to Vienna. Upon arrival we will be met by our Tour Escort. We'll start with a panoramic sightseeing tour of this amazing city. Its architecture, history and arts radiate a festive atmosphere coupled with a flow of energy. We'll drive along the Ringstrasse, the famous inner ring road and see parading on its sides, the Hofburg the Imperial Palaces, the Opera House, the Parliament and the Town hall. We'll see the impressive monuments of Vienna s Jugenstil, and the ultra-modern UNO-City on the banks of the Danube River. We'll then stop for a view from the garden of Belvedere Castle. These are just some of the sights during our tour. There is so much to see and do in Vienna that we have left the rest of the day free. Our tour escort will assist you with some recommendations. In the evening you can join a tour highlighting the best of Vienna by night (optional) Overnight Vienna Day 3: Tuesday Vienna This morning we'll meet Jewish Vienna. The tour will take us to Judenplatz in the heart of the old Jewish Quarter of the city. Here we'll visit the Museum at Judenplatz (with the subterranean remains of a Medieval Synagogue), and the Holocaust Memorial. At midday it will be time to watch the famous parade of historical figures at the musical Anker Clock. In the afternoon we'll visit the lavish summer residence of the Hapsburgs Schönbrunn Palace. Empress Maria Theresa commissioned it to rival Versailles. Our tour includes a visit

2 to the State Apartments, and the Hall of Mirrors where Mozart at the age of six gave a performance. We'll also have an opportunity to see palace s beautiful gardens. Overnight Vienna Day 4: Wednesday Sopron, Budapest Today, we leave Vienna for Hungary. Just after crossing the border we'll enter the charming little town of Sopron which retains its medieval soul and form. We'll stop at the main square, and then meander through the narrow twisting streets filled with Gothic mansions and townhouses on our way to the old Synagogue dating back to the 14 th century ( ), one of oldest in Europe. Leaving Sopron we'll continue to Budapest through the Transdanubian Puszta (the plains), dotted with orchards and vineyards, the typical Hungarian landscape. Day 5: Thursday Budapest This morning is dedicated to the Jewish sites of Budapest. An interior visit to the Dohány Street Great Synagogue will reveal the beauty and magnitude of the Jewish religious architecture in Europe. In the adjacent Jewish Museum we'll see a display of Jewish culture in Central Europe. We'll continue with a walk in the former Jewish quarter and stop in front of the Tree of Life for a moment of remembrance. In the afternoon we'll enjoy a tour of vibrant Budapest. We'll see the treasures of old Buda, on the west side of the Duna River the Danube, with its Fisherman s Bastion and the exquisite Matthias Church. We'll thrill at the breathtaking view of the city from the top of Gellert Hill. We'll then cross the Chain Bridge to the east side of the river Pest, where we'll see the neo-gothic Parliament building, symbol of the city. We'll drive on the largest avenue in Budapest to the Square of Heroes and conclude the day with a one hour Danube Cruise including a visit to Margaret Island s gardens. Day 6: Friday The Danube Bend Today, we'll enjoy a morning tour of the Danube Bend. Our first stop will be in the picturesque village of Szentendre. This fancy small town has attracted many artists who have settled here since the turn of the century. We'll take some time to explore the art galleries before continuing to Esztergom, the Cradle of Hungary, Royal seat for two centuries, dominated by the imposing domed Basilica. We'll return to Budapest via Visegrad (meaning high fortress in Slavic languages) an intriguing medieval rocky hill castle at the very Danube Bend. This afternoon is at your leisure, to further explore this intriguing city. Evening services followed by Shabbat dinner. Day 7: Shabbat Budapest Shabbat Services followed by Shabbat lunch. In the afternoon there will be a walking tour of the area. Day 8: Sunday Bratislava, Brno This morning we'll depart to the twin Republics of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. We'll pass the city of Gyor which has retained much of its Baroque charm. Then we'll cross the Slovak border, to Bratislava. A short stroll through the Capital City of Slovakia takes us to

3 the Old City and the site of the former Jewish Quarter, which has been partly decimated by communist building projects. But even so, there are spots suitably marked with Commemorative Monuments. Our tour includes a stop at the Memorial Place of Rabbi Moshe Schreiber, the Chatam Sofer Crown of Rabbis, Father of scholars, a true genius bright and alert. After lunch we'll drive through Southern Moravia and into the Czech Republic. We'll stop for a visit in Mikulov, a town famous for its religious tolerance, especially towards the Jews. Jews settled here in 1421 and the large Jewish Ghetto has been partially preserved, along with a Synagogue and the Jewish Cemetery. We'll continue to Brno, Moravia s main city. Overnight Brno Day 9: Monday Brno, Slavkov, Prague We'll start the day with a panoramic tour of Brno featuring Spielberg Castle and other landmarks, followed with a visit to Slavkov, - formerly Austerlitz - the site of the battle of the three Emperors : Napoleon of France, Franz II of Germany and Alexander I of Russia in December We'll then drive through the rich farmlands of Moravia and Bohemia to Prague. A late afternoon tour of historical Prague will reveal to us why Prague is considered one of Europe s most attractive Capital cities. We'll see the 1000-year-old complex of Hradcany Castle. This area has been the country s center of political and religious power for centuries; the tradition lives on today, as the castle remains the residence of the President of the Czech Republic. We'll visit the courtyards and historic halls of this impressive complex. On our way out we'll make sure not to skip the Golden Lane lined with small picturesque houses, which look rather like doll houses than people s homes. They are multicolored and some of them date back to the 16 th century. The renowned writer Franz Kafka lived in the Golden Lane for some time during the World War I. On our way down to the old town we'll cross the renowned Charles Bridge lined with statues. In the Town hall square we'll admire the Astronomical Clock, once the envy of all Europe. In the evening we'll enjoy a tour of magical illuminated Prague by night (optional). Day 10: Tuesday Prague, Terezin Today will be devoted to Prague Jewry. We'll start with an in depth visit of Josefov district Prague s Jewish quarter: the inspiring Old-New Synagogue, the oldest functioning synagogue in Europe, the old Jewish cemetery and the Jewish Museum complex scattered in several historical Synagogues of the quarter: Maiselova, Klaus and Pinkas. In the afternoon a short drive brings us to Theresienstadt, an old abandoned fortress used as a prison (its most famous inmate was Gavrilo Princip the assassin of Sarajevo who's actions in 1914 brought on World War I) in which the German Nazi authorities established in 1941 the first Ghetto-Model Concentration Camp used as a propaganda tool. In its function as a tool of deception, Theresienstadt was a unique facility. This is not a happy place to visit, but it is an essential one on this tour. Day11: Wednesday Prague, Karlovy,Vary Today we'll enjoy a full day outing to Karlovy Vary (formerly Karlsbad), arguably the best known Spa town in all of Europe. The uniqueness of Karlovy Vary, founded in 1370 by Emperor Charles IV, lies mainly in the Balneological Treatment that exploits mineral and hot springs (13 main springs, about 300 smaller springs). Before World War I, Karlovy Vary was

4 also one of the leading Spa Resorts in Europe that was frequently visited by famous artists, scientists, and aristocrats, from Franz Joseph to Karl Marx. Karlovy Vary is also renowned for Moser glassware and its exclusive Becherovka herbal liqueur. Towards the end of the day we'll return to Prague. In the evening we can enjoy a performance of the famous Black Theatre (optional). Day 12: Thursday Prague, New York Transfer to the Airport for your flight home. Departure Return Days Price* Single Room** Flights TBA TBA Including * Price per person in double/twin room ** Supplement for Single room Notes NEED TO KNOW Price Includes: Price Excludes: Round trip air fare from New York as per itinerary. First Class hotels. Kosher Meals daily. (For details see General Conditions). Transportation by air conditioned coaches. Sightseeing, transfers and entrance fees as per Itinerary. Experienced English speaking Tour Escort. Price of tour is subject to change due to change in air fare Airport and security tax. Travel Insurance (For details see General Conditions). Personal expenses. Gratuities to local service providers and Tour Escort. Optional tours. Individual transfers. Any item not mentioned under included in price. Important to Know: There may be changes to the order of places visited. We will make every effort to visit every place mentioned in the itinerary. The tour organizers have no control over airline services such as seating, special meal requests, changes in departure times or delays. These remain the sole responsibility of the airline company. Kashrut on Tours Only strictly kosher food is provided to our travelers on all our tours. On some of our tours we are able to provide glatt meals. Kashrut is of utmost importance to us and we take special measures to ensure that everything served is kosher.

5 The meals: Breakfast is prepared using our utensils. We use local fresh fruits and vegetables, and we use milk products when they are permitted. We use kosher cereals, and bread. We usually serve hard boiled eggs and sometimes scrambled eggs or omelets. At breakfast, we prepare our lunches so that guests have their choice as to what they eat for lunch. We bring food from Israel to supplement what is served in the hotel such as cheeses, peanut butter, tuna, etc. For dinners, we serve either fish or meat (usually chicken) as our main course. In areas where meat is not available nor readily acquired, we will have fish. When possible, we acquire the meat locally from Chabad or other reliable kosher source, and in some cases we fly the meat in from Israel. We try to provide as many meat meals as possible. The main course at dinner is preceded by soup and salad and accompanied by freshly prepared vegetables. Dessert typically consists of fresh fruits. We do not guarantee Pat Israel and Chalav Israel for all destinations. In many destinations we have our own dishes and silverware. Where we don t, we provide disposable flatware. When we cook in hotel kitchens, we use our own knives, cutting boards, pots and pans, cooking implements and disposable metal trays. All food preparation is done on covered surfaces under the strict supervision of our trained staff/guides who also function as our mashgichim. We make great efforts to assure that our travelers will experience local foods first-hand, while maintaining stringent observance of Kashrut laws on all occasions. On most of our tours, you will be accompanied by two of our staff members- one a guide for the tour who is knowledgeable about the places you are visiting and will accompany you throughout the day and the second, a person who will deal with the logistics of the tour and provide kashrut supervision in the kitchen. Hotels: It is our aim to provide the finest hotels in each area we visit. We require our hotels to allow us to work in the kitchen and to supervise the cooking and there are many hotels that are not willing to cooperate. They simply have no desire for us to be meddling in their cooking process nor are they happy about our bringing our equipment into their kitchens. We work very hard to find the best hotel in the area that will meet our requirements. Because we are not ready to compromise on kashrut, we may not always be able to use a five star hotel. Deposit, Cancellation Fees & Policy: Deposit, Cancellation Fees & Policy: A $500 USD Deposit per person must be received at the time of booking in order to confirm your reservation. Payment in full is due 60 days before departure. A minimum number of participants are required to operate tour dates. If a minimum number has not been reached prior to tour departure and the tour is cancelled you will receive a FULL refund. 60 days before departure bookings are refundable less a $100 administration fee working days prior to departure: 25% of total per passenger working days prior to departure5025% of total per passenger Less than 14 working days prior to departure: 100% of total no refund We strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance.