Country Number Three...Austria

Following an excellent day in Bratislava, Slovakia we find ourselves in Vienna, Austria this morning.
Yesterday's experiences included a tour and guided walk of Bratislava, Slovakia's charming capital. Our bus tour included a drive through Embassy Row, a stop at Bratislava Castle overlooking the city from its hilltop location. Set at the foot of the Little Carpathian Mountains, the city is dominated by this massive square castle. Our tour through the quaint old town, we saw St. Martin's Cathedral Michael's Gate with its 15th-century tower, Main Square with its quirky sculptures all over the place...even passing by the Canadian Embassy. It is interesting to note the proximity of two capital cities, Bratislava and Vienna, a mere 68 miles apart, closer than any two other capital cities in the world! Our Slovakia day was complete with evening entertainment aboard the Bragi with a Slovakian Folkloric Show...traditional music, songs and dance. it was a show not to be missed!
A night of cruising has brought us to this next city, Vienna. The rows of longboats are unbelievable, so many so that we are rafted onto each other. One needs to be sure one is dressed prior to sliding open the patio curtains, at the risk of looking right into a neighbour's patio. This will be an event filled day, with a city tour this morning, an optional tour to the farmers' market with the ships chef to select groceries for our next meal, then this evening a Mozart/Strauss concert...so much to report on. Weather has been very autumn like with cool breezes on the river. Sweaters are never far away.
Our morning tour exposed to us a grand and glorious mix of what was once the seat of the Habsburgs and the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. It is clearly one of the world's greatest centres of art, music and architecture. The splendid selection of  museums and palaces in the area of the Ringstrasse, the grand boulevard  which encircles the medieval city is almost overwhelming.
We took some extra time to visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, a gothic structure which is a testament to Vienna's status in the Middle Ages.
I chose to take an option trip to the Farmers' Market during the afternoon, accompanied by our longboat's chef, a young man from Slovakia, who while being a chef foe nine years was a Viking chef since this past May. He had the opportunity to set up his kitchen on the brand new Bragi. It was a short ride on the subway where fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses and breads were readily available. There was also a pleasant mix of bars and eating places intertwined with the stalls. Chef arranged for a tasting of cheeses, hams,  and breads as part our visit...very tasty!
Heading back to the Bragi, I knew that the best of the day was yet to come. Following yet another outstanding dinner, we boarded buses to head to a local palace. More than any other European capital, Vienna is a city of music. Even the elegant buildings along the famed Ringstasse seems to sing. concerts abound and on any evening, one is sure to succeed at finding a concert in a high-style venue. Ours was in a place concert hall/ballroom and presented by the Vienna Residence Orchestra. It.was so easy to lose ourselves in the amazing presentation...Vienna's most beloved music, with costumed singers and dancers, selections such as Mozart's The Magic Flute, the beauty of Strauss's waltzes... All that and a delightful drive from the concert through the nightlife of Vienna back to the Bragi. It was such a complete day!
To my friends in Ottawa eager to know about the Austrian take on Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews and the movie The Sound of Music, there is little interest and a lot of disdain for both the actors and the movie, itself. It is as if the Austrian feel insulted by the presentation of that story. Only Hollywood they say could make up sauce a fairy tale.
On a personal note, seeing the winter stables, right down town of the Lippizaner stallions was truly opportunistic. I managed some great photos as we'll of the horses being walked to the training ring...no show, just being in the right place at the right time!

Budapest...Old World Charm with a Cosmopolitan Air

It is late Monday evening...having departed Budapest about 60 minutes ago...what a great day! Today has been such a whirlwind of old world charm and cosmopolitan lifestyle. Budapest is a glorious mix of art and a joy to walk; Buda on the east bank and Pest (pronounced Pesht) on the west. Combined, it is brimming with history, culture and attractions; a mix of several architectural styles, with plenty of exciting things to do. Following breakfast, we boarded buses and began a classic tour, including stops at Hungary's most impressive square, Heroes' Square, which stands in honour and memory of great leaders in Hungary's history. We also drove through the Jewish district, site of the largest synagogue in Europe. Dohany Street is where the city's 19th century Christian designed synagogue is located. It is also known as the Great Synagogue. We were reminded of the years leading up to World War II when over 250,000 Jews perished. It was bombed and used as a stable during World War II, but in the 1990s, after the fall of communism, was restored.
Crossing the Danube River, we reached Castle Hill in the Buda section. Buda is an amazing place for photography as it stands high over the river, looking down upon the Pest region. It is in Buda where one sees the city's old streets, many under street reconstruction; Matthias Church, with its colorful tiled roof and interior murals; Fishermen's Bastian, an elaborate neo-Gothic arcade built on fortification walls is an awesome location for taking pictures. From there one looks across the Danube to see the grand Parliament Building, a huge collection of buildings with over 300 towers...currently going through a massive restoration costing millions! One also has an amazing view of the famous Chain Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge, two of the many that connect the two halves of this vibrant city. Following a pleasant on board meal, we enjoyed a quiet afternoon working off post flight fatigue...a fancy expression for a good nap. This evening's meal was another awesome eating experience. We were joined by another Kanata couple for dinner. Departure from Budapest was at 7:45 under the stars. One could hardly feel the departure of the Bragi. Being on the sun deck was both exciting and frustrating...camera batteries expired at exactly the moment we cruised by the Parliament. We are presently curing upstream towards Brataslava ...planned arrival is around noon tomorrow.
I'll try to post pictures here...if unsuccessful check out my Facebook page...

At YOW and Ready To Go!

The big day has finally arrived. I thought that departure time for YOW would never arrive. It was July 17th, 2012 that this plan hatched! Along with friends Garnet & Shirley and Jim and Pam that the decision was taken to book a river cruise. It's been months of planning and imagining about what our trip of a lifetime will be like; now it's time to find out! We will be aboard AC 838 to Frankfurt, a short time in Frankfurt, then on to Budapest, Hungary aboard LH1338. We should arrive at our first destination around 8:30 Frankfurt time....the day has moved so quickly! Already it is late evening in Budapest. It has been like a whirlwind... We found the Frankfurt Airport almost overwhelming and somewhat poorly organized in terms of getting passengers through passport control and on to the next leg of the adventure, taking almost 90 minutes from disembarking from AC838 and on to LH 1338. Service was excellent through both carriers. Our second flight was aboard an Airbus A32, a very comfortable, quiet flight. Upon arrival in Budapest, the Viking crew took over. Before we knew it, we were on a luxury coach, headed for boarding the Viking Bragi! Once aboard,we quickly met up with friends Garnet & Shirley and Jim & Pam. Right from the outset, the service has been excellent! The cocktail hour became the embarkation briefing, where we learned about the ship and about what we could look forward to during our time on board. It's like a fairy tale, things are that well planned!
Tomorrow we will learn about Budapest. What we know already is that few cities
can compare to this city. Hungary's captivating capital combines old world charm with a cosmopolitan lifestyle.  It is home to 1.7 million people; the city is actually the merging of two cities... .... So much to know...so little time one has to learn it all!

Getting Down to the Short Strokes

Five days and counting...From one of my favourite writers..."Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long journey that spans the continent ...Sooner or later we must realize that the true joy of life is the trip!". Anticipation is a wonderful thing!
Tickets/Travel Package have been procured...and hats off to Viking River Cruises and  Expedia CruiseShipCenters (Kanata) for excellent information ; checklists have been written and double checked; emergency information sheets have been prepared and printed in triplicate; passports are current and ready; prescriptions and meds are organized; photocopies of photocopies are up to date; instructions for the care of the house and plants completed;  all of my packing is complete, although I have not yet moved my suitcase to the front door. My partner is a little more casual about the urgency to get things packed..."It'll all be done on time", she says!
An additional exciting item has been the procurement of an iPad Mini...no big laptops for this traveller. I'll be keeping in touch with the world and blogging from my new toy...first lesson is today at the Apple Store!
To my friends who have blogged their river cruises before me...if there are last minute items about which I should be reminded...this would be a good time to do so!
Next blog..."Sitting at YOW"!
How many more sleeps?

Two Week Countdown

In less than two weeks, immediately following the Richmond Fair Demolition Derby, we board the big bird! Preparation began today. The first thing that I've discovered is that choosing what to pack for a 30 day trip that includes 15 days of cruising European rivers and 15 days of wandering English countryside and fitting all that clothing/stuff into one medium sized duffle bag is a challenge. Clothing for warm days, breezy days and cooler days is proving to be interesting, to say the least! I think that my dilemma is that I promised myself that I would follow Rick Steves', "Essential Packing Checklist" and realize that I can't travel that lightly! Some tough decisions are going to have to be made! The next challenge is to decide what toys and electronics to take. I'm toying with the notion of gearing up with an iPad Mini rather than my laptop, my new Nikon (do I take a tripod?)...well you get the idea.
And wouldn't you know it; since I purchased Euros two weeks ago, the cost has gone down! Had I waited until this week the cost of purchasing foreign funds would have gone up! It's all part of getting ready. Luckily, the next few days are intended for making the several decisions that need to be made.
I can tell you this also, the anticipation is mounting. This will be a trip of our lifetime!

https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/rivercruises/europe-rhine-danube-budapest-amsterdam-2013/itinerary.aspx 

 

The Countdown Begins

On the eve of the ninth month of the year, we're starting to get serious about the late September excursion that lies ahead. The trip that lies ahead is probably our most interesting excursion since 1984, when with the former Director of Education we wandered Germany in a beautifully escorted journey. This trip will see us fly from Ottawa-Frankfurt-Budapest to embark upon Viking River Cruises, Grand European Tour.
Features included are:

• 15-day cruise with river-view stateroom
• 13 guided tours with audio headset
• All meals: 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 14 dinners, featuring regional specialties and including Welcome Cocktail Reception & Dinner and Captain’s Farewell Dinner
• Visit 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Culture Curriculum: Glassblowing demonstration; cheese & jenever tasting Bavarian folkloric music performance, German language lesson, The Dutch Masters, The European Union, Great Canals and Locks, Life and Works of Mozart, the scenic Main River, the Rhine and the Danube's lovely Wachau Valley; European Wine Regions...it goes on and on!

Follow this blog to stay up to date with this wonderful experience!

 

 

 

Post Great Race Reflections

July 23, 2013

It's another hot Tuesday in the Ottawa area. If you've been following my blog at www.greatrace.com, you'll know that I participated in another superb event, The Hemmings Motor News Great Race presented by Hagerty. This year's event saw the timed endurance rally travel from St. Paul, MN to Mobile, AL. I had the pleasure of announcing shows on both sides of the Mississippi River, several terrific events from St. Paul to Lacrosse, Wisconsin, through Dubuque, Iowa to Davenport, to Peoria, Illinois to Hannibal, Missouri...you get the idea.
Every stop offered enthusiasm and great crowds to cheer on the competitors...all the way through to Mobile, Alabama!
Now, as I reflect on yet another adventure, I marvel at the good fortune I've had travelling all those miles with Great Racers, some for the first time, many for many times over several years.

The next entry of my blog will be the introduction of our next great adventure... a 15 day Viking River cruise from Budapest, Hungary to Amsterdam, Netherlands. That trip is coming in September. I'm starting to thing about that experience and the planning required to make it a success!
Stay tuned!