Gate1 Travel: 15 Day Kaleidoscope of Central Europe
Guide: Michael Paier
June 23 – July 7, 2016
DAY 1, Thursday, June 23 – Depart for Poland
Flight: Tampa-Atlanta-Amsterdam-Warsaw (Originally scheduled to fly through Paris but Air France threatened a strike. Therefore, Gate1 rerouted us to Amsterdam)
DAY 2, Friday, June 24 – Arrive in Warsaw
Arrived late in the afternoon and got to Sheraton Warsaw. Checked in and got to our room. While setting up the electronics in our room, we blew a circuit, cutting power to the room. The hotel electrician came to fix it and, even though he didn’t speak much English, got us set up for the rest of our time in Warsaw. Tim enjoyed a Polish beer during the orientation to the trip with our Tour Manager, Michael, followed by dinner.
Overnight: Sheraton Warsaw
Meals: Dinner at hotel.
DAY 3, Saturday, June 25 – Warsaw City Tour
This morning, Erin put together what she knew in her head (Warsaw was demolished at the end of WWII) with what she saw (new buildings since the 1950s) during the tour around Warsaw, including both banks of the Vistula River. We visited Lazienki Park to view Chopin’s Monument (beautiful!), then traveled along the Royal Route with its historic monuments and residences toward the Warsaw Ghetto. We were able to see where the Warsaw Ghetto had been, including where the Jews were gathered to be sent to a concentration camp or killing center. We visited the Jewish Ghetto Memorial outside the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN). Then, back on the bus across town to the Old Town (the first of several on this trip). Now off the bus again, in this pedestrian area to walk through the cobbled streets to the Market Square, viewing the Cathedral of St. John and the Royal Castle. The local guide and Michael gave us ideas of things to do and we headed off for an afternoon to ourselves. Digging out our Rick Steves book, we found a small museum about the rebuilding of the Market Square ($0.50 each for admission!) and then found our first Geocache of the trip. On this very hot day (for Warsaw, anyway), we grabbed some ice cream and decided to head out of the Old Town to the Warsaw Uprising Museum. We, too, had been mistaken in believing that the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Warsaw Uprising were the same thing, so we went across town in a taxi to the museum to learn about it. We started walking back to the hotel, but when the rain started and Starbucks was around the corner with free Wi-Fi, Uber sounded perfect! After freshening up, we headed out looking for a place recommended for their pierogi, which Tim had to have. We’d been warned the service was poor, which it was, but the food was worth it. Traditional beef pierogi for Erin and beef & cabbage pierogi for Tim- delicious. Together with homemade lemonade for Erin and a Polish beer for Tim, the check total came to, WHAT????????, $7??? Yep! What a deal! We found many such deals in Poland.
Overnight: Sheraton Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Sunday, June 26 – Jasna Gora Monastery
Leaving Warsaw already? Afraid so. That’s how the whole trip will be; as soon as we really start to understand the city, we leave. On our way to Krakow, we stop in Czestochowa to see the Paulite Monastery at Jasna Gora, a place of devout pilgrimage by Polish Catholics and home of the Black Madonna, a portrait of Our Lady that is said to have miraculous powers. This is the first time we’d seen a monastery with its own armory. Beautiful churches, alcoves, and grounds too for that matter. After time to explore there and grab a bite to eat before continuing our way to Krakow. Neither one of us knew it was a former residence of the Polish kings, but we did remember Schindler had a factory there. Once we checked in, most people headed off on an optional tour and we went to the factory. Very interesting place, knowing the thinking he went in with and how he changed while he was there. We pretty much closed the museum down, getting back when the rest of the folks did, which was kinda late. That led to a late dinner at the hotel and then crashing after a couple of long days.
Overnight: Radisson Blu Krakow
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner at hotel
DAY 5, Monday, June 27 – Krakow City Tour, Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour
Waking for another day of exploration, we toured medieval Krakow, including a visit to the 16th century Wawel Royal Castle District. Walking up to the Castle was worth it for the views out and to see the castle itself. Next, the bus drove us over to the Jewish Quarter, where we got out and walked around, looking at the synagogues and other buildings nearby. Then, on to Oskar Schindler’s factory, where everyone else got out for pictures and we just rested. Now back on the bus and across the river to the Old Town and Market Square to view St. Mary’s Church and the Renaissance Cloth Hall. Knowing the afternoon would be intense, we opted for a quick bite for lunch and then some down time before heading out to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous network of concentration camps from World War II. Our afternoon tour through this museum of the Polish government is amazing to behold. Having studied & taught the Holocaust for years, Erin had seen so much of it before in pictures, but to be there was awe-inspiring. Tears were swept away several times in our group this afternoon. It was another later evening for dinner after we returned, so we got several recommendations from the hotel concierge and headed into the Old Town. We were able to get a table, probably the last without reservations, as we saw many people turned away without them. Dinner was very good, and we walked through the Market Square after dark to get back to the hotel after another long day.
Overnight: Radisson Blu Krakow
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6, Tuesday, June 28 – Scenic Drive to Budapest
This morning, we stopped at the John the Baptist Church at Orawka to see this amazing, very old wooden small church. Continue through the scenic Tatra Mountains and the wooded countryside of Slovakia, having lunch in Donovaly, Slovakia. In the late afternoon, we reached the Danube Valley and the twin cities of Buda and Pest. As we had dinner in the hotel that evening, we found a local grocery store for our latest roundup of soda and snacks, while also giving us a peek at the area. After dinner, we went for a stroll towards the Danube River, finding the Train Station along the way. We arrived at the river just after sunset, but knowing we would be on a cruise on it the next night, we decided to turn around and head back to get some sleep. (Keep in mind that sunset is at about 10:00 pm here!)
Overnight: Radisson Blu Beke in Budapest
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner at hotel
DAY 7, Wednesday, June 29 – Budapest City Tour
Our morning tour began in Pest with a chance to view the Parliament, Royal Palace and Heroes’ Square. Then we crossed the Danube over the Elizabeth Bridge to the Buda Hills. We visited Mount Gellert, and then continued to Castle Hill to see the 13th century Matthias Coronation Church. From Fishermen’s Bastion, we enjoyed a panoramic view of the city and had our group picture taken. We had the afternoon on our own, so we found a great little place for lunch, then walked until we found a pedestrian street lined with stores and restaurants. After doing some shopping, we found the memorial to those Jews who were shot at the riverside as part of the Holocaust. After heading back to the hotel, we got ready for our dinner out on the Danube. The Danube River Cruise and dinner was a spectacular time eating and drinking with new friends. We ate first, then enjoyed the perfect weather as we sat upstairs as the sun set and the colors of the evening began to change. By the end of the evening, the buildings were all lit up beautifully and we had cemented great new friends.
Overnight: Radisson Blu Beke in Budapest
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8, Thursday, June 30 – Travel to Vienna
This morning, we didn’t go on the optional tour, giving us a morning off, which was needed since we aren’t early morning people and we’d been doing that every day. After a late breakfast, we went walking to discover parts of the town we hadn’t seen. While out, we found our Geocache, which turns out to be the furthest cache from home we’ve ever done. Cool! After a lunch bought from the local grocery store, we departed Hungary and travelled through the Austrian countryside to Vienna, the former center of the Hapsburg Empire. Once we arrived, we checked in to the hotel, to find out we were not going to get Wi-Fi in our room for free even though we are Hilton Honors members (don’t get us started again, please!). After arguing with management for a while, we made the best of it and headed out to find the better parts of Vienna other than that hotel manager. We enjoyed finding little squares in the Old Town, including a great place to eat, Joma, and then walking until almost dark (10:00).
Overnight: Hilton Vienna
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9, Friday, July 1 – Vienna City Tour
Wow! What a place! Vienna does have huge palaces! First we saw the impressive Schonbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Hapsburg emperors. After our tour through the palace and its gardens, we saw the Belvedere Palace and its gardens. We continued with a drive along the famous Ringstrasse and viewed the Empress Maria Theresia Monument, Votive Church, City Hall and Parliament. Then, off the bus to walk through the Hofburg courtyards to the State Opera House. Michael then gave us some ideas of things to see as we headed out on our own. Being day 9, we first headed back to the hotel, got directions to the laundry place and dropped our clothes off to be cleaned (yes, we paid someone to do our laundry, but we were there so short of time we didn’t want to spend several hours sitting in a Viennese laundromat). Then, once again, we Ubered across town to start walking our way back, beginning with lunch at the bratwurst stand that won the blind taste test this past year. Tim got his bratwurst in the bun and I got mine the way the Viennese eat it (cut up on a plate, served with a piece of bread- “This is why you have two hands, one for the bratwurst, and one for the bread!”). Then we started strolling back through the Old Town, dipping in to shops and getting ice cream along the way.
Overnight: Hilton Vienna
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10, Saturday, July 2 – Bratislava Excursion
I know you’re thinking, “Where?” Well, Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia since 1993, when Czechoslovakia separated into two countries. This rather small capital is really a cool place since its revitalization after the Communist era. For centuries, this city has been famous for its charm and beauty. The beautifully restored old town with its winding lanes and medieval courtyards is nestled between the steep Castle Hill and the Danube River. First, we explored the historic center on a guided walking tour with a tour guide, Martin Sloboda, who actually writes THE books and takes the pictures of the area. (When purchasing your travel books in Slovakia, be sure his name is on it! LOL) After the tour ended, we had time to stroll the lively pedestrian streets of this charming city where local street vendors offer regional gifts before returning to Vienna much too quickly for Tim & me. That’s the only kind of problem we had with the tour- we weren’t ready to move on but we had to. At least we went back to Vienna for a great evening: dinner at an Austrian Heurigen Tavern. A local accordion player kept us clapping and singing along while we ate hearty Austrian dishes and dessert. Like earlier in the day, we weren’t ready to go when we had to, but we knew another day full of sites was coming early.
Overnight: Hilton Vienna
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 11, Sunday, July 3 – Travel to Prague via Cesky Krumlov
This morning we departed Austria for the Czech Republic. Begin with a stop in Cesky Krumlov, a fairy-tale town with a maze of narrow cobbled streets. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Cesky Krumlov has earned an international reputation as a time capsule of the past. Enjoy a short walk through the town and view its Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance houses. Later, we continue through Southern Bohemia to the Czech capital, Prague – “The City of a Thousand Spires”
Overnight: Grand Majestic Plaza in Prague
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 12, Monday, July 4 – Prague City Tour
This morning’s sightseeing will include a walking tour of the Lesser Town and the Old Town, viewing the Infant Jesus of Prague Church and include the 14th century Charles Bridge, with its 30 baroque statues of various saints. From here, admire the views up to the Prague castle. Continue through the Old Town Square to view the famous TownHall Astronomical Clock, viewing the Municipal House, Powder Tower and the Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, we toured the hilltop Prague Castle complex, former residence of Bohemian Kings and the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral, where Kings were crowned and battles were fought. We saw spectacular vistas of the entire city below us. Later, we enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant as we said farewell to about ten of our group who were staying in Prague or going home from here.
Overnight: Grand Majestic Plaza in Prague
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner at local restaurant
DAY 13, Tuesday, July 5 – Dresden, en route to Berlin
Today we crossed Saxony to the Baroque art city of Dresden, also known as “the Florence on the Elbe River.” We enjoyed a walking city tour to view the sights that included the Zwinger Palace (being redone, but we got a peek inside due to our tour guide knowing the right people!), the Semper Opera and the newly rebuilt Frauenkirche. Then we continued to Berlin, the proud capital of reunited Germany. We checked in to the hotel, which was amazing in itself (best on the tour), and then headed out with friends to explore and find dinner. We also found a Geocache tonight, so we did find one in each country we stayed in overnight. Mission accomplished!
Overnight: Intercontinental Berlin
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 14, Wednesday, July 6 – Berlin City Tour
This morning, we enjoyed a guided tour of Berlin. We stopped to see and get pictures with the major sights of the city, including the Reichstag building, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and the remaining parts of the Berlin Wall. We then viewed the Unter den Linden Street and Kurfurstendamm, as well as the State Opera House and the cathedral. After a quick lunch, we travelled to Potsdam, known as the “City of Palaces,” well known as the meeting place of the “Big 3”: Truman, Churchill and Stalin in 1945 at the Cecilienhof Palace for the Potsdam Conference, and where they created post-World War II Europe. This evening, we enjoyed a Farewell Dinner with our new friends, wondering how the trip could have happened this fast!
Overnight: Intercontinental Berlin
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner out at a local restaurant
DAY 15, Thursday, July 7 – Depart Germany
Flight: Berlin (12:45pm)-Paris-Atlanta-Tampa (11:45pm)- don’t forget the time zone changes! We were up and travelling for 23 straight hours, but the trip was worth it.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel (yum!), Lunch & Dinner- airplane food (ug…)