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Imperial Cities
– Jewels of Eastern Europe
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May 20
– 27, 2007
Add-on options
Per person: $2,590* Back
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Imperial Cities includes: |
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A smart, well-traveled Journey Out guide dedicated to
making the art, history, culture and food of
Eastern Europe come alive for you ● A family atmosphere with a group of
gay men, lesbians and
their friends ● 9 nights in three- and four-star
hotels ● All your breakfasts ● Welcome reception and exquisite
gourmet welcome dinner ● City tours with professional local experts in
Budapest, Krakow and Prague ●
Ground transportation in Europe ● Visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mines
guided by a former salt mine worker ● Dinner at Wierzineck, a
restaurant dating from 1364 and a favorite of King Casimir the Great ● An
opera at the world-famous Estates Theater in Prague,
where Mozart himself conducted the premier of Don Giovanni in 1787 ● Nelahozeves Renaissance Castle visit, followed by a farewell dinner with
wine at the castle ● Porterage at the hotels ●
Itinerary is subject to change. To
book your air travel (not included) online, click
here. |
Itinerary
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Day
0 |
Wednesday |
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Depart USA — Remember, due to the time difference,
you'll arrive in Europe the day after you leave the U.S. |
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1 |
Thursday |
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Welcome to Budapest |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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Arrive today in the capital city of Budapest, the "Queen of
the Danube," and truly one of the world's most beautiful cities. The
birthplace of Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buda sits on one side of the river, and Pest is
on the opposite bank. This will be your home for the next 3 nights.
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Evening |
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Welcome
reception and dinner to begin getting acquainted with your fellow travelers. |
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2 |
Friday |
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'Allo, Dahling! |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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A local (sorry, not Zsa Zsa) will offer you this morning an
informative city tour featuring the Mathias Church, site of many coronations
of kings. You’ll also visit the Fishermen's Bastion with its white walls,
towers and arcades for spectacular views. Continue to historic Old Buda and
Gellert Hill, followed by the Parliament and Heroes Square, dominated by the
imposing Millennium Monument. The balance of the day is yours to explore
this magnificent city. (By the way, did you know both Richard Gere's
and Tony Curtis' families are from Hungary? Gere's family still owns and
operates a vineyard there.) |
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Evening |
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Dinner tonight is
on your own. Your Tour Director will be glad to make recommendations.
The
Budapest Summer Music Festival
is taking place during your stay, so you may choose to enjoy a
free open air concert in front of St. Stephen's Basilica or a musical and ballet
performance in the
Opera House. |
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3 |
Saturday |
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Exploring Budapest |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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Today you will have plenty of free time to continue
discovering this vibrant city on your own. Budapest is famous for its
thermal springs; you might consider “taking the waters” at one of the spas.
You can explore the popular
Celebration of Crafts Festival
throughout
the Buda Castle area, where visitors can enjoy folk dance and folk music
performances. |
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Evening |
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Dinner on your
own, and free time to sample Budapest's gay nightlife on a Saturday night.
According to Spartacus, the international gay guide, this city "has always
been known as a gay metropolis in Eastern Europe." Budapest offers gay bars,
cafés and dance clubs as well as several saunas. |
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4 |
Sunday |
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Budapest to Krakow |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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After breakfast
you'll make an early start on this travel day, departing
Hungary on a
scenic drive along the Low Tatra mountain range of Slovakia en route to Poland, with a
special stop in
Banska Bystrica.
This town is everything a Slovak city should be. It has the country’s
grandest square and a beautiful Old Town surrounded by the majestic
mountains so typical of Slovakia. Krakow, your home
for the next three nights, still offers the feeling of being in old world
Europe, with its century-old churches and famous Market Square.
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Evening |
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After
check-in, relax and enjoy dinner on your own at the hotel, or head out to
explore the town. |
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5 |
Monday |
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Salt of the Earth |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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Today you'll take a tour with a local expert of Krakow's
historic Old Town, featuring Market Square,
St. Mary's Church,
the University, and Wawel Castle, a former residence of Polish kings. Later,
you'll enjoy a visit to the amazing Wieliczka Salt Mines. Operating since
the 13th century, the salt mine is home to many incredible salt sculptures
and the famous salt chapel, still used today for
masses
and weddings.
A former salt mine worker will guide you through the mine
and share their personal experience of the mine. |
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Evening |
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Tonight you'll
dine at
Wierzineck, a
restaurant dating from 1364 and a favorite of King Casimir the Great |
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Journey Out Experience
Wieliczka Salt Mines
The salt mines of Wieliczka-Bochnia have
been mined since the 13th century.
Legend has it that the mines were
part of the dowry for the Hungarian
princess, Kinga, when she wed Boleslaw
the Shy, over 700 years ago. According
to the legend, princess Kinga, before
marrying the Polish king, threw her
engagement ring into a shaft of the
Maramures salt mine, and the ring
traveled miraculously with the salt rock
deposit to Wieliczka. Miners drilling in
the place indicated by the princess
found salt. The princess's ring was
found in the first block of salt delved
out. Since then, Kinga has been
considered the patron of salt miners. In
1978 the Wieliczka Salt Mines was
entered on the UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage List.
Above: da Vinci's Last Supper
recreated in salt
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6 |
Tuesday |
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Krakow |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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After yesterday's introduction to Krakow, today is yours to
explore its many highlights on your own. Your Tour Director will be on hand
to offer suggestions on how to spend your day. Your may choose to explore
the
'Music
in Old Krakow’ International Festival,
one of many summer music festivals in the city. The classical music
festivals host international artists and are held in Krakow’s historic
venues. Or, you may choose to participate in an optional excursion to the
former concentration camp of Auschwitz. |
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Evening |
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You are on your
own tonight to enjoy a concert in the Old Krakow musical festival, or just
stroll the Old Town Square and enjoy quaint shops and free street
performances. |
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7 |
Wednesday |
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Here is the Church, Here is
the Steeple |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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This morning
you will leave Poland and drive along the beautiful Carpathian Mountains.
The next stop will be the capital city of Prague, known as "The Golden
City." This lovely, historic place boasts more than 500 towers and steeples,
as well as many beautiful parks and gardens. This will be your home for the
next three nights. |
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Evening |
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After
check-in, relax and enjoy dinner on your own at the hotel, or head out to
explore the town. |
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Journey Out Experience
Saint Vitus Cathedral
Saint Vitus Cathedral in central Prague
is named for the patron saint of
Bohemia. Containing the tombs of Czech
kings, the cathedral is an excellent
example of gothic architecture. Saint
Vitus is one of the Fourteen Holy
Helpers, a collective cult of saints
that originated in the 14th-century,
believed to intercede effectively
against various diseases. Saint Vitus is
traditionally the patron of dancers and
actors.
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8 |
Thursday |
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An Evening with Wolfgang |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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Prague offers visitors a
beguiling mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture that is
colorful and unique, unlike any other city in the world. You'll begin your
day with a walking tour of the city featuring the 1,000-year-old Hradcany
Castle, the former Royal Palace, the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral, and
the colorful Golden Lane. Proceed to the 14th-century Charles Bridge,
one of Prague's loveliest and most characteristic sights, with its 16 arches
and 30 statues. You will also see some of the places the award-winning
movie, ‘Amadeus’ was filmed. The balance of your day is yours to explore
this beautiful city. |
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Evening |
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Tonight you will
enjoy an opera at the famous Estates Theater, a Mecca
for all Mozart fans. |
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Journey Out Experience
An opera
at the
Estates Theater
The Theatre of the Estates is one of the
most beautiful and historic theatre
buildings in all Europe. It has a unique
charm that seems permeated by the genius
of the many supremely talented
composers, poets, musicians and artists
who have passed through its doors. “The
Marriage of Figaro” was first performed
here. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself
conducted the world premiere of Don
Giovanni at the Estates Theater in 1787.
Join us and you’ll enjoy a very special
performance. |
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9 |
Friday |
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Good King Wenceslas Looked
Out . . . |
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Morning & Afternoon |
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Today is yours to explore this imperial capital. Your Tour
Director will offer suggestions for your day in Prague. Care to join Dennis
for a rousing chorus of “Good King Wenceslas” in the
original
Wenceslas
Square? |
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Evening |
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Tonight features an exquisite farewell dinner with your
fellow travelers in a 500-year-old
Renaissance Castle
in
Nelahozeves, the birthplace of Antonin Dvorak. |
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10 |
Saturday |
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Homeward Bound |
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Morning |
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After a
leisurely breakfast, you'll transfer to the airport for your return flight
home. |
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Back
*
Price quoted is per person, double occupancy.
Solo travelers may choose single occupancy and
pay an additional $600.
Ask about our free roommate matching service.
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