Day 2 Thursday, Oct. 5: Zagreb

We spent the morning exploring the city’s upper and lower towns

with our guide, visiting the Cathedral and walking the streets lined

with elegant 19th and 20th century buildings. We’ll see the Lotrščak

Tower and the Jesuit monastery that now houses an art museum,

then pass through the Stone Gate that marks the entrance to the

medieval quarter of the city. The afternoon is at leisure to continue

exploring the markets, botanical gardens and wonderful lunches people watching or on the go to try and see everything.  The markets
Oh and lets not forget the museum of broken relationships 

Overnight: Hilton Doubletree, Zagreb

Day 1  Wed. Oct 4th 2014 : Arrive Zagreb Croatia

Overnight: Hilton Doubletree, Zagreb 

DAY  11. – Thursday, Apr. 21: –  Off to the airport to leave Prague and homeward bound back to Canada. An early morning goodby to Liz and Lorece.   A bitter sweet day as we are sad the end of our trip is here but pleased to be on our way home. Here’s to a special group of ladies that made this trip special.

Make new friends, keep the old, the new are silver and the old are gold.

Our bow-tie thank you to our crew

DAY  10. – Wednesday, Apr. 20: – Today we spent as a day of our leisure. Everyone decided to start by walking to the Jewish 1/4 and take in the Maisel Synagogue. From there we went to the Pinkasova Synagogue with walls and walls of the names of all who parished in the Terezin concentration camp. There was also a room dedicated to the drawings done by children that were in the camp. We could not hold back the tears. How could humans do this to one another…. Yes defiantly a profoundly moving experience. Then on to the Old Jewish Cemetery were due to lack of space had to bury their deceased 12 deep. A few of the girls decided to go back and spend some more time checking out the Charles Bridge.

Hand painted names of 77297 Victims The NAMES  hard to take in

The CHILDRENS drawings

The Cemetary

Notes under stones from loved ones

After the Jewish 1/4 we split up into smaller groups and had a chance to have street food and more shopping for that most important keepsake. Can’t wait to have my morning tea in my Prague mug.

At the end of the day some took in the lights of Prague by a river boat cruise.   The lights of the city looked amazing. I am sure they enjoyed it.

Prague – one wonderful cityDAY 9. – Tuesday, Apr. 19: – Pinch me we are in Prague. This morning’s sightseeing tour reveals why Prague is considered one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with a historic city center that’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visited the 1,000 year-old Prague Castle and St. Vitus before walking down the hill and over the Charles Bridge to the Old Market Square. The rest of the day we spent shopping and just looking up is amazing. Another wonderful lunch at Mattyos suggestion in the basement of the Municipal House building all decorated in the Art Nouveau era. We were also serinaded by an accordion player. Some of the girls made it as far as Wenceslas Square. This a beautiful city and many of us can check this off our bucket list. The architectural history, he food, the shops and the people Municipal house decorated in Art Nouveau .     Charles BridgeTouching for good luck

Dancing buildings

Yea! Earth day is every where !!!!!

Great food in Preague. You have to have at least one street meal.

 The Astronomical Clock 

The clock

Shops have crystal everywhere

John Lennon wall changes on a daily basis.

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DAY 8. – Monday, Apr. 18: –
Today was a busy day. We packed up and travelled by bus to Prague. It’s Auf Wiedersehen to the AmaSonata cruise ship.  This bus ride was not as long as we thought as it was broken with a stop at Regensburg, one of Germany’s medieval cities. We enjoyed a walking tour of the historic town, a quick lunch and some free time to shop. We were so excited to finally have our bus ride finally end at the Hilton Hotel in Prague. Check in was easy and well organized. Mattyos gave us a quick tour to help us get our bearings and recommended a perfect restaurant for dinner. The Plzenska Restaurant is located in the 140 year old Municipal House  The art nouveau style is charming and the food was delicious. We all had the best shower ever and a good night sleep.  

Great food in Preague

Yea! Earth day is evert where!!!!!

Duck dinner

Our crew Roxanne our Wine guy Vanos, Dom and Vanos

A great day ahead!!!!!!!

DAY 7. – Sunday, Apr. 17: – Early this morning we cruised to Passau in Germany, where the Danube River is joined by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north. We enjoyed a walking tour of this 2,000-year-old city, noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture, cobblestone streets and St. Stephan’s Cathedral. More WOW factor. We had lunch back on the ship and cruised on to the medieval town of Vilshofen. Our tour of Vilshofen was a pleasant surprise as we all fell in love with leiderhausen and our very animated guide in them. Our time in the town was educational and full of great photo opps. In the evening we enjoyed a festive “Oktoberfest” celebration with beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing. What a hoot!!! As we had our last dinner on the ship we had a wonderful opportunity to show our appreciation of our bow tied crew. These guys/gal were so wonderful, happy and joy to see at every meal. The whole crew made our stay extra special. Our last night in the lounge a gentleman bought the Canadian girls a round of drinks. (Cheers to him) Do you think…..maybe we have been a little entertaining. We were all a little sad to be leaving but we know our waist lines are pleased. The AmaSonata on the Danube was a very memorable trip, the crew, the people the food and from all accounts the wine. Now on to our new adventure…. Prague

Good Morning Passau

Off on our walking tour

Our guide Sabastian

Beautiful Sr. Stephan’s

Shopping in the town

Our bow-tie thank you to our crew

The other food guy

Our food guy Marius and. Sister of another mother Roxanne

Spring is here, Shopping is great and the rain has stayed away.DAY  6. – Saturday, Apr. 16 ; This morning our ship arrived in Linz. We took a bus ride to Mondsee with the Alps as a back drop. We saw where some of the movie Sound of Music was filmed. The shops the history and spring time blooms made for another perfect day. A small guest at a local wedding. While in Mondsee we saw a wedding party.Team Power Shoppers 

Our Sound of Music gal, Sandra.

That’s our girl Sandra Vonntrapp! Above is where they filmed the wedding scene in the Sound of music

Back on the bus and off to Salzburg for a walking tour of Mozart’s birthplace and the historic center made famous by the Sound of Music.  With the Mirabell gardens and the Baroque architecture the city was a must see. We all loved the Old Market and just enjoyed people watching. Back to the ship for dinner and to meet up with the girls that went to Cesky Krumlov, a charming mountain town in Czech-Austrain border. Another amazing dinner and belly aching laughter. We are all just enjoying ourselves and so pleased to be here.
Yes this the guy who invented radar. (Well how it works)

The Golden Arches only allowed this small M for their store

The wall where movie set persons for the Sound of Music left up a huge nazi flag as filming ran late. They promised to remove it the next morning. Opps to late local dignitariies and Russian guest saw it first thing as they rode into the square for some official ceremonies. Wow….  wonder what was going through their minds.    

We are now on the move again on to Passau for 8:00 am. We are looking forward to some time in Germany.

DAY  5. –  Friday, Apr. 15: – The sunrise was beautiful from the ship all the while passing some wonderful landscapes homes and towns. We set off for a walking tour along Dürnstein’s cobblestone streets. We saw  the magnificent blue  tower of the local abbey church and the castle ruins high on a hill where Richard the Lionheart was once held for ransom. We enjoyed tasting some local wines and exploring the liitle shops. We return to the ship and continued onwards, cruising through the scenic Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon we visited the spectacular Benedictine Abbey in Melk, one of Europe’s largest and most revered monasteries and also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visited the museum, the library and the Abbey  that contains religious relics, frescoes and richly embroidered vestments, as well as the abbey’s priceless collection of medieval manuscripts. We all enjoyed our walk back to the bus checking out the shops and stopping for refreshments. While we were out touring the  ship cruised to Grein, we meet up with them there. This evening we enjoyed a  5 course dinner in the private dining room over looking the river. Many wonderful tastes and presentation’s.