Thursday the 5th of May
Today we have left the Rhine and have started our journey up the smaller and more picturesque Main River. We are now in the Franconia region of Germany renown for its wines. Our first stop for the day was the beautiful town of Miltonberg. It is nestled right on the main river and in full of quaint little half timbered houses dated by to the 1600's
During the afternoon some of the group took a coach to Wertheim to spent the afternoon exploring another quaint village. The more adventurous rode between the towns on bicycles stopping at a lovely biergarten along the route. The distance was 36 kilometres and was a relatively easy ride along the edge of the Main river given a new perspective on the country side and the small villages
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Click Image to view our photo album |
Friday the 6th of May
This morning we arrived at Wurzburg right in the heart of the wine growing region. The highlight of the stay in Wurzburg is the "Residenz" It is the former home of the Prince Bishops and is now a world heritage site. This beautiful baroque palace is one of the largest in Germany. Unfortunately no photography was allowed inside the palace but the surrounding palace gardens are featured in out photo album. The town itself was also worth exploring on the way back to the ship.
After lunch we boarded coaches for our short trip to Rothenburg on the Tauber River. Without using the phrase too many times Rothenburg is perhaps one of the most Picturesque villages in Germany located on the famous Romantic Road. It is a medieval city still surrounded by its wall and guard towers.
Our afternoon was topped off with a wine tasting in a local cellar in Kitzingen before we rejoined the Amadante for dinner.
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| Wurzburg |
Rothenburg |
| Click Image to view our photo album |
Saturday 7th of May
Today we visited the historic town of Bamberg. Bamberg is often referred to as the "Franconian Rome" as like Rome it is built on 7 hills. It was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 1983. It is also renowned for its "smoked beer" called Ruachbier, a dark, red ale with a smooth smoky flavour and an aftertaste of bacon.
Sunday 8th May
This morning we visited the city of Nuremburg which is the second largest city in Bavaria. Nuremberg is over by a large castle on the hill above the town. Nuremberg was largely destroyed during the second world war and most of the historic buildings seen today have been faithfully rebuilt. Apart from its second world war fame as the site of the Nazi Party rallies and later the war crimes trials Nuremberg was an important medieval city with its records dating back to 1050.
In the afternoon we continued sailing on the engineering marvel known as the Main-Danube Canal rising to over 400 metres above sea level as we crossed the continental divide in the late afternoon.
Monday 9th May
After sailing overnight we entered the Danube and pulled into the town of Regensburg. Regensburg apart for its its historic stone bridge across the river and its magnificent Gothic Cathedral, the towns feature is its mass of tiny narrow cobblestone alleys and lanes. Next the the stone bridge on the banks of the Danube is Germany's oldest sausage kitchen.
Tuesday 10th May
After sailing overnight we pulled into Passau in the morning. After a very brief stroll through the town the group split into those going to Salzburg and those going to Cesky Kromlov. Both cites and unique and rewarded both groups with a great day before rejoining the Amadante in the Austrian Town of Linz.
Wednesday 11th May
One the highlights of this trip is a stop at the magnificent Melk Abbey. Words cannot describe the grandeur of this abbey so I will let the photo gallery do the talking.
In the afternoon we continued our journey downstream on the Danube passing through one of Austria's premier wine growing regions the Wachau Valley. Not only is it a wine growing region but also one of the most picturesque stretches of the Danube. We spend the afternoon in Durstein and following dinner a wine tasting at a local winery in Weisskirchen
Thursday 12th May
After sailing overnight we arrived in the city of music, Vienna. Today was a very full day with a large group deciding to visit the Schonbrunn Palace in the morning. It was the summer palace of the Hasburgs who ruled over much of Europe for over 600 years. Its most influential ruler was Maria Thersia.
Our afternoon was spent exploring the city of Vienna and following dinner onboard the Amadante a private concert of Mozart and Strauss.
Friday 13th May
After spending the night in Vienna the Amadante set sail for Bratislava just before 8am. Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia or more correctly the Slovak Republic. In 1918 the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the fall of the Soviet Union the Czechs and the Slovaks agreed to peacefully separate on the first of January 1993.
The old town is delightfully quaint being almost entirely a pedestrian zone with many quaint shops, cafes and pubs. The river is dominated by a modern bridge complete with a revolving restaurant at the top of its support column.
Saturday 14th May
Our journey on the Amadante is coming to an end made painfully clear as we approached Margaret Island and the vista of the twin towns of Buda and Pest. Following a quick pre lunch stroll to the chain bridge we embarked on our sightseeing tour ofter lunch. Visiting the old Castle district on the Buda side and taking in the spectacular views over the city from the Fisherman's Bastion. Following a visit to Heros Square we arrived at the Hungarian State Opera House and following a tour of this magnificent building we treated to a private recital. After our last dinner on board the boat we again set sail for a hour illuminations cruise up and down the Danube to take in the lights of Budapest.
Sunday 15th May
Finally it was time to bid a sad farewell to the Amadante and its fabulous crew who have looked after us so well on the duration of the cruise. At 8am we boarded our coaches for the day long trip to Prague. On arrival into the city we found it buzzing with excitement in the main square as the Czech republic had just won the bronze medal in the World Ice Hockey championship being played in neighbouring Slovakia.
Monday 16th May
Today was our first full day in Prague. The morning began with a trip up to Prague Castle which sits high on the hill overlooking the old City. After walking through the Castle grounds and the Neo Gothic Cathedral we viewed the changing of the guard before walking into the lessor town and across the historic stone Charles Bridge and on into the Old Town Square. After a short break for lunch we resumed our tour of the Municipal House which has been fully restored from the Soviet era. It is a performance and meeting place for the city and is a beautiful example of the Art Nouveau period.
Tomorrow is a free day in Prague followed by our farewell dinner. This concludes our blog as Wednesday will see us depart for our journey home I hope you have enjoyed following us on this magnificent river cruise through Europe and I look forward to your company on one of our future adventures.
Happy Travelling
Bill Forrester.
