Hank Schrader

March 14, 2024

Europe Destination

Cool German Water Fountains

Hank Schrader

March 14, 2024

Europe Destination

Cool German Water Fountains

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We all know the importance of water to live. I have read that without water you can survive about 3 days.

It is this vital element of water necessary for survival, that I believe caused humans to decorate their water sources in the medieval towns, to reinforce that access to water in towns and villages was a critical need to sustain life.

So, let’s look at some interesting fountains we have had the privilege of seeing in our travels to Europe in Germany—more than any other country in Europe, I’ve spent over 8 months here, some on temporary duty in the Army and some traveling with Anne.

Along with being beautiful and useful, many times these water features served a dual purpose, especially during the Middle Ages when many could not read. Some of these purposes include: as reminder of their duty to God, requesting protection from their patron saint, and upholding the tenants the Christian Religion; or for political reasons to glorify the rulers of an area; or to emphasize how to live properly (justice fountains); denoting historical events or the primal forces of water; and just to use water as a way to poke fun at life.

Most of these sights are in my favorite parts of Europe—the Old Town Centers or in German, the Altstadt.

I decided to organize these by how and when I saw these fountains. Without really realizing at the time, it helps makes these German fountains more important, as I learned the symbolism behind these water structures..

My First Trip to Europe.

In the summer of 1971, I spent 6 weeks traveling in Europe. I got to visit Germany, Denmark, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and England. Travel was much different then in Europe—my friend and I used traveler checks which we converted into cash for each countries’ currency, we used Europe on 5 Dollars A Day as our guide book, and had a rail pass to travel in between countries.

The first place I visited was Frankfurt, Germany. Due to the division of Germany into East and West Germany after WW II, as a newly commissioned US Army officer, we were not allowed to visit Eastern Germany.

Here is the Frankfurt Old Town Area I first visited in 1971. I loved the Market Square area, its half-timbered buildings, the church and the Justice Fountain. I’m not really sure, I recognized the meaning behind the statue on the column on the first visit, but I did when I finally got to visit again in 2021. Here are our photos of the second visit (all taken by Anne, of course as are all photos that are not watermarked).

Great tavern in Old town Frankfurt that was once the City Hall (Romer)

Two Castle Fountains During our 2013 Land Visit

With its tall towers, you would guess that Burg Eltz would have a dramatic water feature. Sadly, this is not the case. It does have a functional system but one would not call it elegant like the other portions of the castle complex. This small spout could be easily overlooked, until you see the detail on the metal water spicket.

A wonderful picture of the courtyard tunnel to enter Berg Eltz.

This small water feature in the courtyard of Berg Eltz is not very interensting at first glance.

Dragon Faucet in Berg Eltz—this is more like you would expect from this fairy-tale castle.

More in keeping with what one would expect from a castle, this fountain and its gardens of Stolzenfels Castle are just what we crave in well landscaped castle grounds.

Stolzenfels Castle taken during a visit to Lanech Castle which is directly across the Rhine

Stolzenfels Castle Gardens and fountain area

Perhaps Germany’s Most Famous Fountain We Have Enjoyed During River Cruises and Land Extensions

The Schoner Brunnen (the Beautiful Fountain) is probably the most famous and unique water fountain in Germany. The fountain is 19 meters high, was built in the 14th century, and is in the shape of a Gothic spire. There are 40 colorful figures on this fountain and represents important ideas and people of the Holy Roman Empire.

Schoner Brunnen in Nuremberg’s market square.

Another picture of the beautiful fountain in Nuremberg.

Larger City Fountains We Saw During River Cruises and land Extensions

In Frieberg, there are 2 fountains that caught our eye. The first is really no more than one faucet, but it is so colorful and unique, it deserves a place on this blog.

A small but unique water fountain in Frieberg

The large fountain with the lady carrying 2 water pails with her 3 children pops up in the middle of a very modern part of the city.

Woman with two pails and children in Frieberg

Close up of this water fountain in Frieberg

In Koblenz, there are 2 interesting fountains. The first is very large one, depicting the history of the city. It is called Historiensaule Fountain. The fountain in the middle of the square with its 10 meter high historical columns is worth seeing. The artist Jürgen Weber tells the story of the town of Koblenz in 10 overlapping scenes presented three-dimensionally for its 2000 year history. It is very modern, being constructed in 1992.

Historic Water feature covering the 2000 year history of Koblenz

Base of the History Fountain—wine merchants before the Roman Era

The second is called Schangel Fountain--The Schängel fountain is a monument to the city’s eternal “bad boy” who spits water from his mouth, sometimes getting surprised folks who stopped to admire the water feature wet. Designed by Carl Burger in 1941, the fountain stands between the Renaissance and Baroque structures of the present Town Hall and the former Jesuit monastery.

In Mainz, the ornate Marktbrunnen is large and fancy. It was donated by the prince elector of Mainz of the Holy Roman Empire, and it is in part a celebration of the military defeat of a rebellion, known as the German Peasant’s Uprising. This renaissance red sandstone fountain was one of the first in this architectural style in Germany. Madonna tops this fountain today, holding the baby Jesus—this part was added in 1890.

The Market Fountain of Mainz reminds the peasants about the ruling class power in Mainz

In Munich, we found 2 interesting fountains. The first is the Wittelsbacher (the sculptor) Brunnen located in the Lenbach Platz. It was created between 1893 and 1895. The fountain depicts the primal forces of water.

The Wittelsbach Fountain is dedicated to the rulers of Bavaria. The two mounted figures are allegorical figures, representing the positive and negative aspects of water. On the left, a young man on a seahorse throws a stone—it represents the destructive power of water, The woman water nymph, riding a bull and holding a goblet, is the positive power of water.

The last one is near the Karlstor gate on the city side inside what used to be the walled city. The decorations on the gate reflect a snub to the rulers of the day, and I speculate this fountain is part of that spirit. It is probably, an extension of the artist creators idea, “if you got it, flaunt it!”

This fountain of a naked boy throwing water on a Satyr, who spits water on the boy, was considered scandalous when it was first displayed in 1895. The naked boy was never covered up.

Quaint Village Fountains Almost Only From River Cruises

In Bamburg the Gabelmann (fork man) is a statue above a water well. It is a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, holding his 3-pronged fork or trident. He is located in the pedestrian part of Bamburg, at the Gruner Markt ( or Green Market in English). Locals use him as a good meeting place. Here is a photo of this good meeting place:

In Bernkastel, a favorite fountain is the Bear Fountain. This is a newer fountain erected in 1968 and pays homage to the heraldic symbol of city, the bear.

In Cochem there are 2 interesting fountains. In the town square, the St. Martin fountain (Martinsbrunnen) shows St. Martin on horseback, using his sword to cut his cloak in half to give to the shivering man. St Martin is the patron saint of Cochem.

Goat Fountain, Cochem, Germany. The story of this fountain is a goat was accused of eating grapes just before harvest time which was illegal. So, to find the truth, they placed the goat in a winepress and instead of white blood, the goat bled red—it was found not guilty but paid with its life. Poor idea from medieval times. Here is a photo of the unfortunate creature:

In Miltenberg, there is an excellent fountain in what some call the most beautiful square in all of Germany. It is made of red sandstone and constructed around 1583. At the top of the column is a figure that represents justice. In one hand is the sword and the other the scales of justice.

Passau

Here is a fountain we found in front of the Bishop New Residence in Pasau. Mary is on top of the column and at her feet are 3 Angels. The Angels symbolize the meeting of the 3 rivers at Passau—the Danube Angel wears ears of wheat in her hair; the Ilz Angel wears pearls; and the Inn Angel wears a Tyrolean hat.

It should come as no surprise that Rothenburg ober der Tauber (land and river cruise) makes the list with several fountains, as it is the best-preserved medieval town in Germany due to the intact walls protecting the city. Since it was high above the Tauber River, this geographical location resulted in over 40 wells dug in the city to make water more accessible to the town.

In market square, the St. George Fountain is impressive. It was built in 1608. The legend behind the slaying of the dragon by St. George is that the dragon was terrorizing the folks of Rothenburg and to distract the dragon and get water, the citizens offered up a human sacrifice each day. When the kingdom’s princess became the chosen one for the offering, St. George attacked and slayed the dragon to free the people of this torment. That is why his heroism is celebrated in many places in Europe. The fountain is the largest in Rothenburg.

St. George’s Fountain with Meat and Dance Hall building in the background

Perhaps the most famous fountain in Rothenburg is in this picture, but the small fountain is not the key sight in this picture—it is the background surrounding this fountain. It is the Plönlein, the small square and fountain, in front of the colorful, crooked building. With 2 impressive towers, and two diverging roads in the background, it has become the iconic picture of Rothenburg.

One of the most iconic views of Rothenburg

The Plönlein, the small square and fountain

Here is another fountain that we liked.

St. John’s Fountain.. In the background, the Siebers Tower is visible.

. The Herrn Fountain (Gentry Fountain) in Rothenburg.

In Trier (land and river cruise) the elegant St. Peter’s Fountain was constructed in 1595. St Peter is the patron saint of Trier. Around the columns are the cardinal virtues—justice with the sword and the scales; strength, with a broken column; moderation with wine and water; and wisdom with a mirror and a snake.

Market Square Trier. In the background is St. Peter’s Fountain on the left.

St. Peter’s Fountain Trier. You can see 2 of the large figures near the basin that represent the virtues. On the left is Temperance and on the right is Prudence.

In Wertheim, the Angel Fountain is a well-known landmark. Built in 1574, the red sandstone fountain features 2 angels that carry the coat of arms of Wertheim. The other 8 figures are important people from the past that were responsible for the building of this well. It is in an awesome setting with the half-timbered buildings framing the fountain sculpture.

One view of the Angel Fountain Wertheim. This photo shows the pulley system used to get the water by townsfolk.

Another view of the Angel Fountain Wertheim

Angel Fountain Wertheim. On top from this view the Coat of Arms of Wertheim is easy to see.

Wurzburg

There are 2 great fountains in this city. The first is the Vierrohrenbrunnen. At each corner of the obelisk column, are 4 women representing the 4 virtues—Justice, Fortitude, Temperance and Prudence. On top of the fountain is a Franconian man.

The next fountain is outside the front entrance of the Residenz Palace. This is known as the Franconian Fountain and it was designed to symbolize Franconia.

This water feature is outside the Residenz Palace in Wurzburg. It was created to symbolize Franconia. The figure on top of the column is holding the Franconian flag in one hand and a laurel wreath in the other hand. The 3 other figures at the base of the sculpture are 3 prominent middle ages artists—a painter, a poet, and a sculptor.

Our Final Thoughts

Germany has some great sights and I’m sure these fountains didn’t disappoint! We hope you learned a little bit about these water features and the message they conveyed to those who used them.

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And you want someone who can help you with the decision-making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you with high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 26 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 29, 2024

Europe Destination

Bern, Switzerland

Hank Schrader

February 29, 2024

Europe Destination

Bern, Switzerland

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

This is a look at Bern as a great destination to explore but it is also included as a post cruise destination for a Tauck cruise. You also might consider it as an alternative to the very popular visits to Lucerne and Zurich that are the 2 most common land extensions for Rhine River cruises that either start or end in Basel Switzerland.

So, let’s explore it together and learn about Bern as a base for a couple of days or just for a land extension on a river cruise.

Overview

Bern is the capital of Switzerland and built around a crook of the Aare River. It first was a fort site, as the land peninsula was surrounded on 3 sides by the river and was an excellent barrier to defend a castle. It slowly developed into a city that was quite prominent in the Middle Ages. In the late 1800’s, its central location was a key reason it was chosen as the confederation capital of Switzerland. This German speaking region has a population of only 133,315 (2017) according to Wikipedia, quite small for a capital city.

It is the small-town charm, relatively small number of inhabitants, and important political and cultural position that makes it quite different when compared to most European capital cities. For most visitors, the easily walkable old town is the most interesting area to explore. The old town has covered areas that offer boutique shopping stores, and cafes that used the old cellars of the medieval-style homes to create an unusual travel experience. These covered arcades, led one person to say you never get wet in Bern even in a heavy rain—sounds like music to the ears of the many shoppers who read our blog!

The Swiss also love their museums, and there are 3 good ones and 2 art museums that also might interest you.

So, let’s learn about the key sites in Bern.

Old Town Bern In the distance you can see the Bern Cathedral Steeple Tower.

Key Sights in Bern

The Federal Palace (Bundeshaus or Parliament Building)

This is the national parliament of Switzerland. The building is crowned by an imposing 64-meter-high green dome, decorated with stained glass windows depicting the coats of arms of Switzerland's cantons and a central mosaic of the Federal coat of arms with the motto “One for all and all for one”. There is huge statue of the three confederates, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, the founders of modern Switzerland. The building can be toured when parliament is not in session.

One part of the huge parliament building

One view of the 64-meter high green dome of parliament building

The Old Town

The medieval old town is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is surrounded on three sides by the Aare River.

There are some cool public fountains, topped by statues. The water is safe and the Swiss love to decorate their fountains—we have seen them throughout Switzerland, but there seems to be more in Bern than other Swiss cities (one source I read said there are 11 but can’t attest this is totally accurate) . Here are a few fountains that Anne got pictures of during our visit:

The Simsonbrunnen (depicting Samson killing a lion),

The Zahringerbrunnen (a bear in full armor)

Bear in armor Fountain . This fountain commemorates the Zahringer Duke who founded Bern. In the background is the clock tower

Close up of the Lady of Justice. Note she is blindfolded, holds a sword in her right hand and the scales of justice are in her left hand. At the bottom of her feet are an emperor, a king and a sultan—none is above the law.

Orge Fountain Granary Square. This monster fountain was believed as a warning for children to behave.

Anna Seiler Fountain who founded Bern’s first Hospital

A picture of mural facade of the historic pharmacy on the Barenplatz square

The Clock Tower (or Zytglogge), dating from 1220, is one of Bern’s iconic symbols. Found above the Old Town’s western gate tower, this 75-foot structure displays a large astronomical clock was made between 1527 and 1530. This was the main gate entrance into Bern and in an age when most of the population did not have clocks, these huge clocks helped the citizens know what time it was during the day.

An unusual fact about this clock system is that this huge clock must be wound by hand for 20 minutes each day.

The huge clock that must be wound by hand

Mechanical Figures. Right before the clock strikes the hour, a crowing rooster starts the show. Bears dance, a jester signals the hour too early, and Chronos, the god of time, turns his hour glass over. On the left is the astronomical display clock

A troupe of mechanical figures—including a rooster, Chronos (the Roman god of time), jesters, knights, and a piper—put on a dance show at four minutes to the hour. Visitors can climb the 130 worn steps to the Zytglogge’s observation platform for great views of the city and the Alps.

This is a good view of Kramgasse Street. On both sides you can see the covered arcades..

Part of the charm of the old town is the shops that are covered in arcades. It is the largest in Europe (covers 3.7 miles) and they are adorned with flags and flowers. The main shopping streets are Marktgasse, Kramgasse and Gerechtigkeitgasse.

Einstein House no 49 where he wrote his paper “The Theory of Relativity”. It now has a small museum inside.

Here is a picture of the Old Town Hall

Banneret Fountain Statue in Town Hall Square

Bern's Bear Park (Bärenpark)

Bern's first Bear Park opened in 1857. It is located at the far end of the Nydeggbrucke Bridge, next to the Aare River. The original bear pit is listed as an object of national cultural significance as the bear is the symbol of Bern and is on its coat of arms. The bear pit has 6,000 square meters of interconnected enclosures that house four brown bears.

Bern Münster (Bern Cathedral and Cathedral of St Vincent)

The Münster is 276 feet long, 110 feet wide, and 330 feet tall at the apex of its tower. The bell tower is open to those prepared to climb the 254 steps to its upper viewing gallery. The views over Bern and to the Swiss Alps make the effort worthwhile. It is located in the heart of the Old Town next to the Aare River.

The Rose Garden-- Located at the top of a steep hill (a ten-minute walk from the Bear Garden), and occupying four acres, the Rosengarten was a cemetery between 1765 and 1877 and has been a public park since 1913. It contains formal and walled gardens (with 223 varieties of roses, together with 200 iris and 28 Rhododendron species), ponds, fountains, lawns and a number of impressive sculptures. The Rose Garden also offers stunning views over the Old Town and to the Alps and Jura.

In front the Aare River. The large hill is the Rose Garden Park

3 Good Museums

Einstein Museum and Historical Museum of Bern

This is the second largest museum in Switzerland. The Historical Museum displays 500,000 objects dating from the Stone Age, arranged into eight galleries such as ‘Stone Age, Celts, and Romans', 'From the Middle Ages to the Ancient Regime', ‘Bern’s Silver Treasure’, ‘Captured Treasure—Court Art in Bern’ and ‘Bern and the 20th Century’. The Einstein Museum is devoted to the life of the world's most famous modern scientist. Admission charge; closed on Mondays.

Bern Communications Museum

The Museum’s permanent collection comprises three exhibitions. The first, So Near and Yet So Far: People and Their Media, charts how people have communicated over history. The second, As Time Goes Byte: Computing and Digital Culture, takes a look at the first computers. The final exhibition, Imagery that Sticks: The World of Stamps, is the museum’s smallest. It is devoted to Swiss stamps. Admission charge; closed on Mondays.

The Natural History Museum

Exhibits include Barry, a preserved Great St Bernard alpine rescue dog who lived between 1800 to 1814 and was responsible for saving over 40 lives; the Stones of the Earth collection, which exhibits alpine minerals, the Planggenstock giant crystals, gold mined in the Swiss Alps, and a number of meteorites; and .220 dioramas. Admission charge.

2 Art Gallery Museums

The Kunstmuseum (the Museum of Fine Arts) holds over 4,000 paintings in its permanent collection and is Switzerland’s oldest and premier fine arts gallery. Admission charge; closed on Mondays.

Paul Klee Center—Klee is a famous modern art painter. His unique style transcended surrealism, abstraction, cubism, and expressionism, and is particularly well-known for combining different media into the same work (ie, paint, ink, pencil, pastel etc.). There is a rotating display of his works. Admission charge; closed on Mondays.

Getting Around

The old town center is the main tourist attraction. It is compact and can easily be explored on foot from the rail station. There is free public transport across the entire town.

The Rail Station.

The main rail station is simply called 'Bern' and is situated in the heart of the city, at the edge of the historical town center. The station offers a shopping center that is opened 7 days a week, and many train services to towns all over Switzerland.

Our Final Thoughts

Bern is a good destination to visit. I believe it is worth a couple of days. We hope you enjoyed this report. Please enjoy Bern—we did! We plan to visit this Spring on our next trip to Europe.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

July 13, 2023

Europe Destination

My Favorite 6 French Palaces and Castles

Hank Schrader

July 13, 2023

Europe Destination

My Favorite 6 French Palaces and Castles

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The 14 of July is Bastille Day in France. It is the National Day of France and commemorates the Storming of the Bastille (a prison garrison which held political prisoners held on arbitrary royal indictments) on 14 July 1789 during the French Revolution and one year later the unity of the French nation in a festival that continues today.

This was a history changing day, so let’s learn together why today we get to visit many of my favorite palaces and castles, since the French overthrew their royal rulers, ultimately making their palaces open for us to visit. Their lifestyle in their palatial, over-the-top residences is almost unimaginable to us today, as it was during royal rule. I plan to start with these fairy-tale residences--3 palaces and then 3 forts.

Versailles

This is the palace that every King wanted—opulent, innovative rooms like the stunning Hall of Mirrors, gardens, statues, and fountains made of gold—there never has been a palace that displayed the wealth and power of the royals like Versailles. The palace was abandoned by the royal family in 1789.

*Outside the entrance to the palace. This is a good picture capturing the immense size of Versailles*

The Latona fountain in the foreground, honored Lontona, the mother of Apollo and Diane, who after being insulted by the peasants of Lycia, turned them into frogs. This picture is also a great view of the statues lining the walkways. in the background at the very top of the picture, is the artificial lake named Piece d’eau.

*Part of the massive gardens of Versailles*

*Part of the manicured gardens of Versailles*

*Statue of Louis XIV near the front gates of the palace*

It is hard to grasp how large and extravagant this palace is. It has 2,143 windows, 1,252 fireplaces, 67 staircases and 5 chapels. The gardens and fountains are exceptional—there are over 400 sculptures (one source said it is the largest open air sculpture museum in the world) and 1400 fountains.

This is the holding basin reservoir and is the supply of water for some of the fountains in Versailles. 2 water jets sent water high in the air so it could be easily seen from the palace. This bronze sculpture is called Nymph and child.

Sometimes, as many as 5,000 people were residing in the palace. It deserves a full day and is a relatively easy day trip from Paris, France.

The Apotheosis of Hercules ceiling painting in Versailles. It depicts the gods and goddesses of Olympus gathered together honoring Hercules after he finished his labors and was raised to the level of a god. There are over 140 figures in this ceiling painting. Apotheosis means the elevation of someone to divine status.

Versailles is the symbol of the absolute monarch–home to Louie XIV–the Sun King. Every morning when this guy woke up, several nobles surrounded him to wish him good morning–they waited for their king to wake up! Power and influence among the nobles depended upon favor of the King and most would do anything to get a higher position.

Tours of Versailles start with the Ambassador’s Staircase, then touring the King’s state apartments, the Queen’s apartments, and the chapel. Then most enjoy the extensive gardens.

*The staircases in the gardens of Versailles*

*Hercules Lounge. The painting is Rebecca at the Well*

*The painting is Meal in the House of Simon the Pharisee*

*This is a photo of the Venus Drawing Room. The statue is of Louis XIV dressed as a Roman Emperor*

*Abundance Drawing Room Cieling Painting Versailles. The title is the Figure of Royal Magnificence, Immortality and Progress in the Fine Arts*

*Painting by Rousseau in the Venus Salon. It is called the Perspective of the Gardens*

*Council Chambers in the Palace of Versailles. In this room, the King would meet with his counselors and sometimes, with other subjects during audience time.*

My favorite room is the Hall of Mirrors. It is 250 feet long, with 17 windows and has stunning garden views. There are 17 arched mirrors combined with 24 candelabras; busts of Roman Emperors; along with painted ceilings telling the story of the Sun King’s battle victories. It was often filled with noble ladies in silk gowns, and men in wigs and fine clothes who loved to look at themselves in the mirrors.

*Chandilier and ceiling painting in the Hall of Morriors*

This is the room where the Treaty of Versailles was signed that ended World War I. This was symbolic location because in 1870 and 1871, Versailles was occupied by the German Army and William I of Prussia was crowned Emperor of Germany.

Chateaux Chenonceau—a Woman’s Palace

Built over the Cher River, this is an impressive chateau that I intuitively knew was going to be a special visit. From the entrance to this historic site, it is about a 15-minute walk to the chateaux through some wonderful gardens, a cool duck pond and a carriage house with splendid examples of horse drawn transportation and farming carts of the era. Here are some of our photos:

***Chateau de Chenonceau is built over the Cher River***

The first views of the palace, it is just stunning—it is built over the river and looks like a fairy tale castle. As you approach the palace, the forecourt has the Marques Tower, the old keep of the fortified castle that was demolished as the new chateau was built. The main door is made of wood and wonderfully painted. Here are 2 photos:

The first room we saw was the Guard Room. Here soldiers we ready to protect the royal family as needed. The huge fireplace was delightful on the chilly day we visited, and the Flemish tapestries highlighted some of the past events of this Chateaux.

The next room was the impressive Chapel. It was decorated for the Christmas season. All here is original to the 1500s except the stained-glass windows that were added in 1954. Here is a photo:

We next visited Diane De Poitier’s Bedroom, the Green Study, and the Library. Diane De Poitier is an interesting woman—she was the mistress of King Henry II and he gave her the palace in 1547. When Henry died as a result of a jousting tournament accident in 1559, Henry’s wife, Catherine de Medici’s, quickly made sure Diane was no longer welcome and she took control of the Chateaux.

My favorite room was the 200-foot-long Gallery. It instantly reminded me of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles except with 18 windows instead of mirrors. The Gallery is actually the bridge over the river Cher. The dazzling chandeliers and tufa and slate floor of black and white tiles is stunning. It would be easy to imagine a wonderful evening ball here—there would be plenty of room to dance and socialize and this was exactly how this area was used by the royals for lavish parties.

There are several bedrooms on the second floor. They include the 5 Queen’s Bedroom, Catherine de Medici’s Bedroom, Cesar of Vendome’s Bedroom, and Gabrielle D’Estrees” Bedroom.

On the third floor is the black bedroom. It is the mourning retreat of Louise who lived here after the assassination of her husband King Henri III.

My research of Chenonceau reveals that this is the third most popular chateau in all of France behind Versailles and Fontainebleau. It is well worth a visit.

Chambord—a Man’s Palace

One of the largest Chateaus in all France, Chambord has 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces. It was created as a hunting lodge and to impress visitors. On first sight, it does just that—this place is massive. 80 of the rooms are on display. This is a notable example of French Renaissance architecture. There are 4 main areas of interest of this palace.

We entered and went up the double-helix staircase, the first of the must see in the chateau. It was designed so users could pass without seeing each other since there are two flights of stairs. It is rumored to be inspired by Leonardo De La Vince and some say it was designed so the King’s mistress and the queen could pass without having to meet.

The second area of great interest is the furnished apartments of the first floor. These are lavishly decorated and have furniture fitting for a king (although they are recreations—most of the original furnishings were looted during the French Revolution).

*Some of the outer building and the vast hunting grounds*

The third area is the keeps—the vaulted rooms of the second floor. The symbol of the king was the salamander and there are many carved into the walls and ceilings.

The fourth area is the terraces. The sweeping views, the turrets, the walkways are really special. In the center of the terraces is the lantern tower crowned with the fleur-de-lis.

The gardens are beautiful. The surrounding wooded areas were ideal for hunting and still are used today for that purpose—it is Europe’s largest enclosed forest park.

***The Gardens viewed from the terraces***

This massive palace does impress—Francois I, the absolute monarch, invited the most powerful king of his day, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, to visit and he accomplished his mission to prove his power and wealth. A visit here will help you understand what power and wealth can build.

Mont Saint-Michel

The Abbey-Fortress, about a half a mile off the coast of Normandy, dates back to the 8th century. It is located on a tidal island and has a 1000-year history. It was once a famous center of learning, noted for scholarly work and especially for the artistry of the Abbey Monks for their excellent manuscript illustrations.

*The tidal area of the sea around Mont St. Michel*

It is just a stunning location. Part fort (to protect from the English invaders in the endless cross English Channel conflicts), an important pilgrimage site, sometimes a prison, and a center for learning, not only is it fairy-tale like in appearance, but it is also an important site in the history of France.

Construction of the site is said to be based on a vision to Bishop Avranches from the Archangel Michael requiring him to build a church on the island in the sea in the 8th century. In 966, the French kings and dukes of Normandy, allowed the construction of the Benedictine abbey on the island. St. Michael was the patron saint of the French kings, and this helped make it favorite places for royalty to visit.

*This wall sculpture depicts the visitation of the Archangel Michael to Bishop Aubert*

Part of the mystery of Mont St. Michel is the epic tides, which cover 8 miles in each tidal cycle. Adding to the speedy tides, quicksand is another peril to access this small island fortress. Combine these obstacles with fog that often occurs here, it is easy to see why this palace developed mystical place in the minds of the population and the pilgrims who were trying to get closer to God during their journeys. Adding to this legendary status, in the 15th century when the English conquered Normandy, they were never able to conquer Mont St. Michel during the Hundred Years War, so it is easy to understand the importance the French place on the island abbey-fortress.

*This is a good picture showing part of the tidal area of the sea around the island Abbey* *and some of the defensive positions*

*This is a good view of some of the defensive fortifications surrounding Mont St. Michel*

It is a steep hike up to the Abbey, which takes about 20 minutes. Touring the Abbey takes about an hour to an hour and a half. There are no English explanations in the Abbey.

*The crowded pathway up to the Abbey with its shops and restaurants*

In the Abbey, there is a church, the cloisters (an outdoor area enclosed with columns), the Guest’s Hall, the Ossuary and the Scriptorium Hall where the monks worked illustrating manuscripts.

*Scriptorium Hall were the monks illustrated manuscripts*

*The cloister has a garden surrounded by 137 pink granite columns*

This treadwheel crane was installed when Mont. St. Michel was a prison and was used to bring supplies up to the prisoners. It was powered by some of the prisoners inside the large wheel, who walked to rotate it.

Carcassonne

This huge fortress in the south of France is a like no other fortress in France--It is the largest walled city in Europe. It was built on a trade route that was used between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a fortified city with 52 towers and barbicans and has 2 defensive walls. There are over 2 miles of walls, and it has 4 city gates oriented to the north, east, south and west.

Why did cities put up walls around their city? Simple–a defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements.

Almost every town in medieval times that could build defensive walls did so for protection, as medieval cities were often attacked. Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands.

In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defenses encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets, and its fine Gothic cathedral.

The story of Lady Carcas is one of my favorite tales about Europe—it tells how Carcassonne got its name. According to the legend, the city was under siege by Charlemagne’s troops,and during the fighting, the king was killed defending the city. His wife, Lady Carcas became the leader of the town. The siege lasted for 5 years and as the city was running out of food, Lady Carcas had one of their last pigs thrown over the walls from one of the towers. The soldiers left, believing the city had enough food to outlast them.

*Narbonnaise Gate Carcassonne* is *the main gate to the city*

Lady Carcas had the city bells in celebration as the soldiers left and one exclaimed “Carcas Sonne” which translates to Carcas rings! Not missing this legend as it became a tourist destination, you can see her sculpture on one of the town’s walls.

*Another view of the main gate entrance*

Some of the best sights in this fortified city include the Château Cometal (the Count’s Castle), the cathedral and walking the ramparts for views of the countryside and the Aude River.

Part of the Chateau Comtal. It was built on the steepest part of the hill, helping in the defense of the castle. It has 9 towers. These towers defend the bridge over the moat that was the entrace to the castle.

Carcassonne is crowded with tourists during the day, but is a delight at night, so a visit here is best when you stay longer than a daytime visit.

Roquetaillade

You may not know much about this castle, but it is on the list of Historic Monuments of France that was established in 1840. Roquetaillade, near Bordeaux, was a wooden castle originally built by Charlemagne, but only some ruins remain. In 1306, a new castle was built with a square design, which featured 6 towers and a central keep (the main tower).

*This is a good picture showing the keep tower in the center of the Roquetaillade Castle*

*This is part of a clever escape route from the castle. While we were inside the castle, our guide pulled a lever mechanism and the red door completed this bridge, to become an escape route.*

*Another Interior picture of the castle*

Roquetaillade in French means carved out of rock and comes from the caves under the castle complex. It has been owned by the same family since 1306.

After the Middle Ages, there was not any military need for the castle and the castle was modified and updated to make it a more comfortable residence. The insides are full of decorative art, thanks to the transformation made by the famous architect Viollet le Duc, and it is the beginning of the Art Nouveau style in France.

Perhaps this is why I like this castle so much, thinking it would be stark due to its outward appearance, it was a beautiful castle with rich interiors. Along with the splendid interiors, my favorite was the kitchen area and the gleaming copper cookware.

Sadly, no pictures are allowed inside of the castle.

Most folks visit this castle on a river cruise from Bordeaux and I would recommend you visit here.

Our Final Thoughts

Perhaps you have other palaces and castle to add to my favorites list—there are endless choices. There is just something about these 6, in my opinion, which make them special and a delight to visit. We hope you enjoyed this report.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 52 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

June 29, 2023

Europe Destination

The Cat and Mouse Castles of the Rhine

Hank Schrader

June 29, 2023

Europe Destination

The Cat and Mouse Castles of the Rhine

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Whenever I get stumped about what to write in our weekly blog, I somehow always think about castles. So today’s blog is about two feuding castles.

The two Rhine River castles, Burg Katz and the smaller Burg Maus got their name from two feuding lords in the late 1300’s. Their different size and proximity to each other makes them a special part of the lore of the over 40 castles in the Rhine River Gorge.

To understand the rivalry of these two castles, many of these castles were constructed on this stretch of the Rhine by competing factions trying to gain more wealth and power. Burg Katz, across the river from Rheinfels castle, was built by to support Rheinfels fortress, while Burg Maus was built by the Electorate of Trier (one of the 7 voters for the selection of the Holy Roman Emperor) near Katz castle to undermine its’ power by also collecting tolls from the river merchants.

Burg Katz was built in 1371 to collect tolls on the Rhine River. The official name of the castle that overlooks the village town of St. Goarshausen is “Neukatzenellbogen”.

Here are some photos of Burg Katz, all taken by Anne:

The castle was built by the Counts of Katzenelnbogen, so it is easy to see how the name was shortened by locals to Burg Katz.

In 1626, the castle was besieged by the Electorate of Cologne and while courageously defended by 10 cannons and 80 soldiers, surrendered after 5 weeks when they ran out of ammunition. The 7 electors of the Holy Roman Empire were constantly trying to increase their power and ranking among the 7 Electors, so armed conflict was just one means of getting more power.

France always feared a strong Germany, and they invaded this region in an effort to assert its superiority and dominance of the small, un-unified German kingdoms. Both Germany and France wanted control of the Rhine River. This important transportation river soon became an area of international conflict.

The next siege came in 1692 by the French. The castle survived other attacks until in 1806 it was ordered blown up by Napoleon.

By 1770 it was in total decay. It has been restored and now is used for a holiday center for German financial authorities. Burg Katz is closed to the public.

Burg Maus (officially Thurnberg Castle) is much smaller than Burg Katz but is higher on the hillside and looks like to me, taunting the larger Katz Castle to come and get me.

Here are some photos of Burg Maus taken by Anne:

*The Map shows how close these two castles are.*

It overlooks Wellmick village and construction began on this castle around 1356. The castle has a massive shield wall, and the keep (highest tower) is part of this wall. Directly opposite this smaller castle is Rheinfels Castle.

Burg Maus was built to secure the borders of Trier against the Counts of Katzenelenbogen’s territory and to collect tolls. Burg Maus was never destroyed.

Today it is used as a falcon training center and is open for visits.

Our Final Thoughts

A lot of Europe history is about conflict, and power. In these 2 castles, it is a microcosm of these conflicts. We hope you enjoyed this report and learned something interesting about these 2 castles.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

May 10, 2023

Europe Destination

Siena, Italy

Hank Schrader

May 10, 2023

Europe Destination

Siena, Italy

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Siena is one of the hill top villages in Tuscany. It is in the northern part of Italy.

It was a rival of Florence during the Middle Ages but lost the battle of economic and political superiority, even though at one time the population was over 60,000, until the black death killed off over 1/3 of the population.

As often happens in well preserved medival towns, a historical event changed its course of history. In this case, it was later conquered by Florence in 1550 and became a much smaller player in Italy political and economic life.

Many think Siena is the best preserved medieval city in Italy. This town is built on three hills; has winding lanes and dramatic up and down small roads that require strong legs to walk; and is charming beyond belief!

So, let’s explore together this interesting city and learn about Siena.

Dramatic Veiws of Siena

It is amazing how jumbled yet dramatic this hill town is—it has amazing views, up and down hills with twisted paths and narrow roads.

This is one of the most relaxing places we have ever visited. There are 3 important sites which require about half a day to see and then experience dolce vida—the good life.

Here are some pictures:

Siena’s Main Square—the first key site.

The main square is pedestrian only. The city hall and its 330 foot tower that dominate the square. The tower is atop a chapel that today is only used to bless the horse racers of the Palio horse race.

The tower’s name is the Torre del Magnia on the Public Palace. The Public Palace still houses the municipal offices that are used today to govern Siena.

The Palio horse races are scheduled annually on 2 July and 16 August.

The Palio Horse Race

The Palio horse race is a contest between 17 different neighborhoods, complete with mascots and unique colors to identify the contestants, but only 10 get to compete in the actually race—they are drawn by lot. The seven losing neighborhoods are automatically in the next race, so in any given year all 17 get to complete (remember there are 2 races each year) but the lucky neighborhoods may get 2 chances in a given year.

The neighborhoods are called contrade, and the race winner gets a palio, or painted flag with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The race consists of three laps around the square and the jockey does not have to be on the horse to win—a riderless horse can win the race.

The race has been held since 1665.

This may be the most unusual horse race in the world where conspiracy and bribery are not only common, they are in couraged so long as a disliked rival doesn’t win. Rivalry is fierce—think about college or pro football competitions.

Here are the 17 different flags of the neighborhoods. This vendor sells the small flags for 8€, the big ones for 10 €.

It is quite common for businesses to display the 17 neighborhoods as we can see from this picture.

Although the first Palio is not until 2 July, it is commonplace to see practices like these two young men with their flags working out the routines. They are the Eagle Contrade.

Another interesting feature of the square is the Gaia Fountain.

Gaia in Italian means joyous and it got its name from the joy it brought the residents of Siena when it was completed in 1342.

The panels on the outside of the fountain were added in 1419.

They have been removed to protect them and the carvings are replicas.

The scene on the panels are from the Book of Genesis.

The wolfs in front of the panel represent the she wolf of Rome.

The City Hall and the Civic Museum

This is the chapel of the building. It was built as thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague.

The first floor area is constructed in stone, and the upper floors are made with red brick.

The she wolf symbol has an interesting legend about this symbol displayed in most important sites in the city. It is said that the city was founded by Senius and Aschius, two sons of Remus (one of the founders of Rome), making them the nephews of Romulus. They fled Rome after the murder of Remus by Romulus and they took the she-wolf with them to Siena.

The round symbol in this picture is the a christogram in the symbol of St. Bernardino. This symbol was placed on the palace in gratitude for his sermons to the citizens of Siena.

Siena’s Cathedral Area—the second key site.

The Cathedral is constructed of black and white marble. It was constructed between 1216 and 1263 according to Wikipedia.

The alternating black and white stripes are the symbol of Siena.

The upper facade mosaic is the coronation of Mary (triangle at the top).

Directly below the top mosaic is a large rose window. This photo shows these features very well.

There are 3 entrances to the cathedral. The central entrance is a bronze door.

The Duomo tower is the exact height of the tower on the Palace. One reason behind this symbolism is that the church and the secular world are equal.

The detail on the church is stunning. Many statues of saints are on the facade of the church. Please note the symbol of the she-wolf on the right column in this photo.

The marble floors and interior are magnificent but we didn’t get a chance to visit.

Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico

This is the third important site of Siena.

It is dedicated to Saint Cateriniana, a peasant girl, who had visions starting at age 5.

She wrote over 400 letters to the Papal leaders urging the church to unite from the French and Italian Pope disputes.

She is credited for helping to unite the church during this conflict.

Here is a picture of her church:

City Gates

Once a walled city, there are several city gates here. The city walls are over 1000 years old.

Great Food and Wine in Siena

Eating in Italy is an art—it is so important to the culture of this country. It is a slow experience, full of wonderful tastes, and often becomes the evening entertainment along with the food.

Italian meals are usually 4 or 5 courses.

They are several meal combinations, such as Antipasti, Primi, secondi, Contorni, insalata, fromaggi, dolce, and cafe.

The primi and secondi are usually hot courses and the primi often is a pasta choice, while the secondi is a meat or fish course. Depending on the food choice you may select contorni (side dishes) or maybe the meal will have a insalata, sometimes served with the meal or as a separate course.

The meal ends with fromaggi (cheese) or fruit and for most dolci (dessert).

A proper meal ends with cafe (coffee).

Here are 3 great meals we ate at Bagoga—it was full of locals and some tourists.

First, let’s start with the owner Papa, who has ridden in the Palio and makes you so welcome. He loves his guests and treats them in the best spirits of hospitality. Here I am with him:

A great primi—tagliolini con pancetta-carbonara (for me)!

Anne had tortino caldo di fromaggio (warm cheese pie with a walnut cream sauce)— she loved it!

Our secondi was pork filets covered with a delicious thin slice of lard for Anne ( she raved about the distinctive flavors —see the first picture below) and steak in pepper sauce for me (second photo).

Our third meal at Bagoga was on a Sunday afternoon. It was a great experience—Fiorentina T-Bone Steak!

The best way to start—a special wine from Papa’s vineyard. It was expertly decanted by David our waiter.

These steaks are huge (about 2.2 lbs) and traditionally cooked rare. It is so good and tender, it melts in your mouth. These 2 pictures don’t do it justice!

A Great Wine Tasting Experience

Right across from our wonderful bed and breakfast small hotel was a fabulous wine store. The owner, Fredricco, provided us an amazing wine tasting from the Tuscany region.

He was funny, and explained what made the small batched local wines special.

Here he is bringing down the 3 bottles we were going to try.

He was an excellent host and made this a fun experience.

Here is the 3 wines we tasted.

Fredricco makes his own olive oil. We got to sample some before our wine tasting.

He had an old grape press in the corner of his wine cellar cave that was carved out in the Middle ages.

I got a new appreciation for Chianti Classico.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a report! Siena is a place to go to relax—slow down and enjoy life.

I think you can see why we are in the business—it just is awesome to help folks have a great vacation.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

October 13, 2022

Europe Destination

5 Good Places to Eat in Brugge

Hank Schrader

October 13, 2022

Europe Destination

5 Good Places to Eat in Brugge

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We visit Brugge as often as we can when we come to Europe.

Part of the reason why we like this fairytale city is the many small family run restaurants in Brugge.

Here are two pictures to remind us of how wonderful this place is:

Where else but Brugge would you find charming buildings with swans decorating the outside of the building? The roof gable is known as a step gable and quite common in Brugge.

Perhaps the most iconic picture in fairytale land—just stunning at night!

Now, back to food. Brugge has many wonderful restaurants and we want to highlight some we have found to be exceptional.

The quality is always wonderful, we have found special dishes at each place we enjoy, and often the places we have found are frequented by locals.

Don’t visit these restaurants if you are in a rush—these dining experiences will be the art of slow dining—excellent cuisine you will remember long after your visit.

So, let’s explore together and learn about 5 great eating spots in Brugge, along with our favorite spot for a light lunch or just drinks —you won’t be disappointed in our 6 choices!

Cezar

This small restaurant and delicatessen has a real local connection—we often are the only Americans in this cozy place. The dining room area is just like they describe it on their website—it is a living room in their kitchen.

Meat is their specialty. They are open for lunch from 1200 to 1400 and for dinner from 1800 to 2100 five days a week and are closed on Sunday and Monday.

They are located on Jeruzalemstraat 1 and their telephone number is 050.70.97.84.

The following 7 pictures should help you understand why we like this establishment so much!

Anne with her before diner cocktail—we really like the insides of this wonderful place

Vol-au-Vent—a wonderful Belgium chicken dish

The traditional beef carbonnade stew made with Belgian ale.

In a place famous for its’ frites, a baked potato was a delightful change.

Grillkasteetje

This is some of the best grilled meats you will probably eat in Europe. It is small, the main dining area is up some steep stairs but the food is wonderful.

With only 24 tables in this establishment, reservations are mandatory. It is only open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday from 1800 to 2200 and closed on Sunday and Monday.

We have eaten here at least 4 times and can’t wait to go again.

They are located on Gevangenisstraat 1 and their telephone number is +32 50 68 41 48.

Here are just some of our wonderful experiences and good dining we have experienced here in our 15 pictures of some of our visits:

At the grill—where the food magic happens

Part of the second story dining room—the tiny upstairs after taking some steep steps that has seating for 18.

The small dining area on the first floor has 3 tables and seating for 8.

Roasted Camembert cheese—one of Anne’s all time favorites!

Anne’s wonderful grilled to perfection steak with bernaise sauce

The wonderful limoncello dessert is finished off by this giant liquor bottle—really cool!

For me, the proper way to finish off a great meal—a Remy Martin Brandy and coffee.

Pieter Pourbus

This restaurant is named after the painter Pieter Pourbus, a Flemish primitive painter who lived in Brugge in the 16th century. He was well known in Brugge as a Flemish Renaissance painter. His two main types of painting were religious and portrait paintings. He also was an engineer, a draftsman and a cartographer (he produced many very accurate topographical maps of Brugge).

Another small place with seating for 50, the interior is what you would expect from a historic house built in 1561 that Pourbus lived in. The owners, Johan and Sofia, are wonderful people and very friendly.

The restaurant is open for dinner only Monday to Thursday from 1800 to 2130,; closed on Wednesdays and open 1800 to 2200 on Friday and Saturday. On Sundays, they are open from 1200 to 1400 and then in the evening from 1800 to 2130. We highly recommend reservations.

The restaurant is located on Pieter Pourbusstraat 1 and their telephone number is +32 50 34 11 45.

We think these pictures will help you feel the great vibe of this place—the atmosphere and the really good, consistently quality food bring us back again and again—these 18 pictures should make it clear how good a meal you can have here.

One of the 2 fireplaces in this old building with its’ wonderful exposed beam roof.

They have a special 59 Euro meal. Here is our 2021 meal:

Here is what our 59 Euro Meal was like in 2022:

Our meal started with a glass of cava (Spanish sparking wine)

Anne had the grilled prawns—the orange sauce on the right is a wonderful picante sauce that really enhances the taste of the prawns.

My grilled rib-eye steak with green pepper sauce.

Sometimes we have just ordered of the menu. Here are a few dishes we have enjoyed:

Pork stew in a rich Belgium gravy—a really good dish!

Poules Moules

The best mussels in town are at Poules Moules. The name should tell you what they specialize in—Chicken and Mussels.

We have probably eaten here 3-4 times and it is consistently good and a great value.

They are open for both lunch and dinner and unless you want to stand in line for 40 minutes or more for lunch, make reservations. Like many Brugge restaurants, they have set hours for lunch (1200 to 1400) and dinner (1800 to 2130), and are not open all day long.

They are located in Simon Stevinplein 9 and their telephone number is 003250346119.

The mussels are excellent and I have always enjoyed their chicken dishes. They really do live up to their special dishes and we hope you will enjoy this place as much as we do—hopefully we have capture their good food in these 9 pictures.

Their logo on the door. As you can see, it is closed as this picture was taken around 1500.

During the summer, this outdoor eating area is packed with hungry visitors eating excellent food.

We were photo bombed in 2021 by this friendly, hustling waiter.

Mussels are prepared 5 different ways. Anne’s dish was prepared with white wine. The other choices are natural, in Bruges beer, with pernod and with fresh basil.

Our inside meal in October 2022:

Another great chicken stew dish, full of large chunks of chicken.

There is no doubt Anne will order the mussels.

The Lobster Pot

We were told prior to our visit the Lobster Pot, it had the best, freshest lobster and seafood in Brugge. Our advisors were correct! We also got instant confirmation during our visit when we saw the owners of Pieter Porbus already eating the special seafood tower.

This is a modern decor restaurant that use IPads to order from instead of the traditional printed menus, but trust me, it is among some of the best lobster I have ever eaten in my 73 years—in fact, we celebrated my 73 birthday here and were glad we did.

They are open from 1730 to 2200 daily from Tuesday thru Sunday, and on Sunday they open from 1200 to 1430.

It is located on Sint-Salvatorskerkhof 14 and the telephone number is +32 50 66 03 59.

The seafood is as fresh as possible and the food portions are large—we are sure you will like it, if you love seafood. These 8 pictures should back up our opinions.

The outside of the Lobster Pot. The roof line is called a Dutch roof and the curved top is clearly visible.

They use IPads as menus—you can even click on the item to see a picture—how cool is that!

Anne with her bib on ready for her lobster dish.

We couldn’t resist taking a photo of this giant crab attacking Anne—looks kinda like a horror picture but we were safe. Other large crustaceans decorate the walls.

A Special Lunch Treat—Terrastje

In our opinion, there is no better place than Terrastje for a hidden gem, with owners Ian and Patricia who are very laid back and serve good drinks and tapas type finger food.

It is very small, sometimes not open, but it is so cute, locals just accept it might be open or not. We always like this laidback vibe and look forward to our times here,

Here is their story in 12 pictures

Anne on the outdoor patio enjoying a drink

One of the owners, Patricia, serving drinks to their patrons.on the outdoor patio.

Even a light rain couldn’t stop us from having a drink under the canopy.

Ian and Patricia behind the bar—two really fun people and owners who will make you feel welcome.

When we say they are laid back, just reading their opening hours statement says it all—just stop in when you see it open bur don’t expect set hours.

The food is only tapas type snacks. Here is a large menu of their offerings on the wall.

The next two pictures are of little bear, our traveling companion. Sometimes he is shy but when he comes out and shares a table with us, you know it is a great place!

Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. They go great with the tomato soup usually available.

Our Final Thoughts

Food and good drinks have always been very important to us during our travels.

Brugge can be confusing with so many choices to eat and hopefully these recommendations will help you understand why we like these places.

We hope you will one or more and find our recommendations accurate and tasty.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

September 22, 2022

Europe Destination

The Interesting Italian Peninsula

Hank Schrader

September 22, 2022

Europe Destination

The Interesting Italian Peninsula

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Italy is always a top country to visit for Americans. Not really a surprise to me—we always send at least one couple or a group to Italy each year.

So, I thought I’d tell you about the wonders of the Italian Peninsula.

Ready to travel? —let’s go!

Overview of the Italian Peninsula

Europe is a continent of peninsulas—there are 5 major peninsulas and many minor ones. Perhaps the most popular travel destination in Europe is the Italian Peninsula—if not the top destination in Europe, it always is very near the top in travel surveys.

It is also called the Apennine Peninsula, after the mountain range that runs almost the entire length of this country. This landmass is 1000 km long—620 miles and when seen from the sky is in the shape of a boot.

This a good time to remind you that we have guides to Rome, Venice, and Florence available to help you understand some of the best sights at each city on the Italian Peninsula. Just visit our website, www.dreamdestinations.com and find the Europe pages. In the Southern Europe page, you can use our convenient order form to get your guide(s). They are free and are designed for you to print and fold up in your pocket—no bulky tour book to lug around (if you are not a current client, there is a limit of 2 guides).

So, let’s learn about Italian Peninsula and how we can help you experience this wonderful area of Europe.

Overview of the Italian Peninsula

A peninsula is a landmass that has water on three side. You may be surprised to learn there are 3 countries on the Italian Peninsula. Folks often think they would be correct in stating that it is only the country of Italy on this peninsula, but they would be wrong. This confusion results because the two small microstate countries that are hidden in Italy are enclaves—they are surrounded by the much larger country of Italy and are easy to miss.

The two microstates are San Marino and the Vatican. So, it is time to learn about these 3 awesome countries.

The Big Boy on the Block--Italy

To me, Italy is one of the most fascinating places on earth. Once, it was most dominate power on earth for 400 years or so during the Roman Empire; it was the birthplace of the Renaissance; and it finally became unified in 1860.

However, in my opinion, it was during and after the Middle Ages, when the feuding and fighting of the various city-states took place, that have shaped this country into many of its present-day charms. Regions are distinct and offer the traveler quite an array of places to visit and marvel at during their visits.

Combine this with the “Dolce Vida”—the good life--and it is easy to see why Italy is such a popular tourist destination. I think the best way to look at Italy is to divide it into 3 regions—North, Central and South, and keep Rome as a separate topic.

Rome

For anyone traveling to Europe, there are 3 cities that are the most important to visit in my mind. They are London, Paris, and Rome. The Roman civilization changed the world forever. Rome’s fantastic sights are a tangled mess of greatness—it often seems a small ruin of Rome pops up amid modern buildings. The traffic is also a challenge— it also seems everyone who drives wants to beat all others to their destination, so don’t expect drivers to always yield the right of way.

Even with these challenges, it is a magical place of history and awesome food and drink. To see most of the main sights in Rome, you will need at least 3 days, but even with over 10 visits to Rome, there is more for us to see—I doubt you will run out of places to visit and experience.

Some of the key sights in Rome are the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, the Arch of Constantine, Trajan’s Column, the Victor Emmanuel Monument, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Here are some pictures:

Northern Italy

The mountains of the Alps define this area of Italy. It is also home to the Italian Lakes Region and two of our favorite places, Lake Lugano, and Lake Como. Here is a photo at Lake Como:

Another great place is Portofino. Here is a picture

The two most important towns of this region are Milan and Venice. Milan is the regional capital of Lombardy. It is a world-famous fashion and shopping destination. In Milan, the two most famous tourist destinations are the Milan Duomo (cathedral) and the painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Here is a picture of the Duomo:

A word of caution about seeing the Last Supper. First, to see this famous work of art, you will require a reservation and you will have only 15 minutes to view the painting in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. There are two large paintings at opposite ends of the convent (the Last Supper is to the right as you enter) and they are very strict about their no picture requirement. We watched a tourist stripped of his camera and told to delete the picture or give up his camera. For obvious reasons, we do not have a picture to show you.

Venice is a world unto itself. This intricate area reclaimed from a muddy lagoon is a pedestrian maze of canals, bridges, and spectacular sights. It once was among the most powerful city-states of the world, and it dominated trade in much of the Adriatic and eastern Mediterranean Sea for several centuries.

The principal tourist sights are around St. Mark’s Square. They include the Doge Palace, the Cathedral of St. Mark (which contain the relics of this disciple of Christ), the markets of Rialto Bridge area and the canals. Venice is very crowded, confusing, and colorful with its trademark gondolas. Here are some pictures:

the Cathedral of St. Mark (which contain the relics of this disciple of Christ)

The Bridge of Sighs—it is legend that prisoners would get their last look a Venice as the crossed this bridge prior to being placed in windowless jail cells and sigh

gondolas. moored in one of the maze of canals

The Central Region of Italy

This region has the world-famous Tuscany hill towns and the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence. Tuscany is wine country. It has hill towns with fortified towers, left over from the conflicts between the various hill towns, that will take you back to a time long ago. There are so many to see that it would be easy to stay a week or more here. Some classic towns include San Gimignano, Siena, Orvieto and Montepulciano.

There are two other interesting cities in the region beside Florence. Pisa, with its famous leaning tower, and the walled city of Lucca also deserves a visit. But the must see in this region is Florence.

Florence, once the home of the powerful and rich Medici ruling clan, has the best Renaissance art in Europe. Key sights in Florence are the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia (David statue by Michelangelo), the Duomo and Giotto’s tower, Ponte Vecchio and the Palazzo Vecchio. Here are some pictures:

the Accademia with the David statue by Michelangelo

A word of warning about the two key art galleries—the Uffizi and the Accademia. Without reservations, you could stand in line for hours to get in. Some guidebooks recommend at least a month in advance for the Uffizi and a week for the Accademia. Even with reservations to get into the Accademia, we stood in line for an hour on a small group tour.

Southern Italy

From Naples south, the Amalfi coast has some on the most dramatic views in all of Italy. It is also home to the historical ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, these buried cities became a window into ancient Roman life. Here are some photos of Pompeii:

The Amalfi coast is dotted with towns clinging to the steep cliffs. Our personal favorite is Positano. Here are a couple of photos:

Positano.-the buildings cling to the cliffs

Sorrento is also spectacular, as you can see from this picture:

At the end of the boot, is the island of Sicily. It is the largest island of the Mediterranean. In many ways, Sicily is distinct from Italy. It has its own dialect, customs, and cuisine.

The Teatro Massimo Bellini Opera House in Catania Sicily

The World’s Oldest Republic—San Marino

The old city state of San Marino is a fun and cool place to visit. It is only 61 square kilometers in size. Although not very easy to get to without a car or tour, it is well worth the effort. It was founded in the 4th century and is a throwback to older times—it is undisturbed by the modern world. The dominate feature of this small country is Mount Titano and the 3-fortress built on the 3 peaks to protect this tiny country from invasion.

The capital city is also called San Marino and is a pedestrian only area. Inside the town walls, it is a delight to wander around. Here are some of our favorite photos:

Palazzo Pubblico and Piazza della Liberta. The building is the Government House

A guard outside the Government House in San Marino

The Cesta Tower, also known as the second tower of the 3 defensive towers of San Marino.

Noon time ceremony of citizens dressed in medieval clothes parade through the streets

The Smallest Country in the World— the Vatican City

This small area of only .17 square miles far outweighs its size—it is the center of the Catholic Church and for many years the only religion of Christianity. It is not possible to overstate its importance in the world stage—it is the religious capital for 1.1 billion Roman Catholics. The ruler of Vatican City is the pope, who is both the religious and secular leader of this tiny country.

The most important sights are St. Peter’s Square, the Basilica of St. Peter, and the Vatican Museum. Visiting the museum requires an entrance ticket and if you do not have an advance reservation, you could spend several hours waiting in line. Even to get into the Basilica of St. Peter, we waited over an hour. The lines are long, and I’m told it is a favorite area for pickpockets. Here are some photos:

St. Peter’s Square with the Basilica of St. Peter in the background

A Swiss guard outside the Basilica of St. Peter

Our Final Thoughts

As you can see, we are experts in travel to the Italian Peninsula and we would like to help you visit someday. We hope you enjoyed this report.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

August 24, 2022

Europe Destination

The Best Sites in Pompeii

Hank Schrader

August 24, 2022

Europe Destination

The Best Sites in Pompeii

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Pompeii was a thriving trading center during the Roman Empire days about 1,943 years ago. It was not wealthy or poor—just a middle class port that prospered. Wealthy and poor lived side by side, as was often the case in many Roman cities.

Daily life for many was working in the fields, or other occupations and getting goods from the vendors, supplied by the port and local merchants. There were food vendors, wine bars, hotels, theaters to hear music and plays, an amphitheater and even brothels. As always in all societies, the wealthy lived lives of luxury in fine villas with great food and wine. The benefits of Roman control of the Mediterranean made life pretty good for most during this time.

A catastrophic event would quickly change the lives of the residents of Pompeii—on August 24, 79 AD Mt Vesuvius erupted (some scholars now believer it was 24 October 79 AD). 18 hours later, the city was destroyed, all who remained were killed (an estimated 2,000 of the 12,000 residents), and the city was buried under 20 feet of ash and pumice.

The city’s location was lost over time and lay relatively untouched until 1764, before archaeological excavations started and still continue today. We visited in 2011 and it appears that many finds continue to be discovered and are on display since our visit.

This large city is divided into regions based upon excavations. There are 9 regions (I thru IX).

So, let’s explore together and learn about Pompeii and get a little insight into what life was like in ancient times in a Roman city.

Forum

This was the center of life in Pompeii, as is the central place for commercial, political, and religious activity in Pompeii. It is located at the intersection of the two main streets of Pompeii.

There were no private houses in this area. The most important temples, government offices and a few markets line this space. The forum runs north-south for 142 meters and is 38 meters wide in an east-west orientation.

Among the structures and buildings that surround the forum are the Temple of Jupiter, 2 arches (Drusus and Germanicus), municipal buildings, the Comitium (an open air hall that was used in elections), the Basilica (used for administer justice and business negotiations and transactions), the Macellum (the main food market for the city) and the Eumachia (a wool trading business).

The temples of the forum are covered later in this blog.

In the far background, the round arch is the Nero Arch (previously named the Germanicus Arch), one of the two arch entrances into the Forum from the north. In the left, in the foreground with the 3 columns, is the entrance to the Marcellum (the covered market)

This is a view of the western side of the forum. The 3 columns topped by 3 smaller columns in the center of this photo is the entrance to the basilica.

Located in the eastern side of of the Forum, the Eumachia building was a wool trading business shop.

Inside the Marcellum (the covered market) in the Forum area.

This is a carved sign to tell residents that no chariots and carts were allowed in this area during shopping hours—it was pedestrian only. This is in the Forum area.
The sign below tells us this is in region VII (7) and site IV (4)—the system used by archeological investigators to study and catalog Pompeii.

The Streets and Fountains of Pompeii

This picture shows the cart and chariot ruts from the paved streets. The round raised stones are for residents as stepping stones to avoid the water that was used to clean the flooded streets by stepping stone to stone.

Teatro Grande and Little Theater

There are two theaters here—the large one that had seating for 5,000 and the smaller one which had room for 1,000.

The Little Theater was covered, had seating for about 1,000 and was used for music performances as the covering helped the patrons hear the music performances better,

Amphitheater

This was the place where the population was entertained by Gladiators and wild animals fighting.

This is the oldest stone amphitheater in the Roman Empire—the Colosseum in Rome was built a 100 years later.

The amphitheater is 445 ft by 341 feet. It was important to the culture of Roman society. Similar to sports contests today, the gladiators were advertised by slogans and painted posters. According to Wikipedia, one gladiator was identified as “Heart throb of the girls”.

These contests were seen as a reward for the citizens of Pompeii. Followers must have been intense fans of these contests—in 59 AD a deadly brawl happened between the residents of Pompei and the nearby residents of Nuceria. As a punishment, the emperor banned all contests in Pompeii’s amphitheater for 10 years.

Baths in Pompeii

There were five public baths of Pompeii.

The Stabian Baths are oldest preserved public baths from the ancient Roman Empire.

Some of the Domus of Pompeii

A Domus is a large or massive house that the Roman upper classes lived in during the Roman Empire. These villas were very important for aristocrats in Roman society as the reinforced their position and wealth.

In their Domus, the owners would meet with clients in the atrium of the villa to conduct business—the clients would see the magnificently decorated structures and the wealth it took to live in such a luxurious manner. There was constant pressure that these villas were tasteful and fashionable.

Here is a little about 4 of these large villas (there are more than these but these are generally considered the most important):

House of Menander

The House of Menander is a typical example of home of a high-ranking family. The house name comes from a picture in the building of Meander, a playwriter from Athens.

There were other high quality paintings in this villa. They include scenes of the Nile and paintings of the various battles of the Trojan War.

A box containing 118 pieces of silverware was discovered during excavation of the site and now are on display in Naples at the National Archaeological Museum. There is speculation that these were stored for safe keeping as the villa was probably under renovation when the volcano erupted.

House of Vetti

The house of Vetti was the home to two rich merchant brothers and is the best-preserved house in Pompeii.

Some researchers have identified these two brothers as freedmen or former slaves and perhaps these two chose two remarkable items in their atrium area as a result of their former poor life circumstances to let all who visited them they were quite rich and now prominent citizens,.

First, there were two large strongboxes. used to store valuables—a sure sign of immense wealth. The other display was a painting of the god Priapus, (I’m not making this up, as the Romans of this era often were quite open about sex and human body parts), who is weighing a bag of money against his rather large erect penis on a scale.

Instead thinking this is lewd, the painting has a real message. The penis represents fertility; the money wealth; and the scale is a measure of both—without balance you can’t have abundance.

No wonder this house has been a favorite of visitors to Pompeii.

House of Faun

This was the largest home in Pompeii—it had 40 rooms and covered an entire city block.

The house has a copy of the Alexander Mosaic, showing him in battle against Darius III of Persia and the small statue of a faun (half human and half goat). Both are replicas, as the originals are in the museum in Naples.

The home had 3 more mosaics that are now on display in the museum in Naples. There are the cat and hen mosaic, the dove mosaic, and the tiger riding mosaic.

A copy of the Alexander mosaic on display in Pompeii. Over 50 figures are displayed in this mosaic. The original is on display in Naples. The mosaic is 18 feet long by 8 feet wide.

This picture is from the British Museum in London showing the detail of just Alexander the Great during the battle. It is a copy as the original mosaic is on display in the museum in Naples.

Villa Del Misteri (the Villa of Mysteries)

On the road leading to the city harbor is a villa that displays frescoes of a woman being initiated into the cult of Dionysus (Bacchus to the Romans)—the god of decadence. This cult was forbidden, and the frescoes seem to depict a secret initiation right.

Pompeii’s Brothel

Lupanare (Brothel) fresco is the picture on the wall below. Romans used to call prostitutes lupe or she-wolves. On the walls of this tiny house there are frescoes painted with sex scenes and we are not sure if it was an advertisement of services available or they served as decorations.

Archaeologists believe this was the largest of the 25 brothels that were in operation in Pompeii.

Gladiator Barracks

This is the living quarter of the gladiators and the area where they trained.

It is located behind the large theater. Armor, shields, and weapons were found here during excavations.

4 Important Temples

Temple of Apollo (Forum Area)

This was originally a 6th century BC temple dedicated to the Greek and Roman God Apollo. Before Pompeii became part of the Roman Empire, it was a Greek outpost.

The Temple of Apollo is considered the most important religious temple of Pompeii. It was rebuilt between the 3rd and 2nd century BC and was the first temple in Pompeii. It is recognized as most important due to its age and Apollo was seen as the god of commerce.

Gradually, the Temple of Jupiter became more important in Pompeii and probably had more followers in the later era of Pompeii.

The Temple of Jupiter (Forum Area)

This Temple was built around the 2nd century BC. By placing the temple on a raised platform, it helped to make it more prominent.

While the Temple was originally to honor just Jupiter alone, the temple also later was used to worship and honor the Capitoline Triad (the gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva). In 80 BC, after the city was besieged by Sulla, this temple became the main temple in Pompeii.

The Temple of Jupiter is on a raised platform, about 9 and 1/2 feet high. Entrance to the Temple was by the 15 steps.

Temple of Isis

This Roman Temple is dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis. It was discovered in 1764.

This temple pre-dates Roman times and probably was bult in 100 BC. Isis was worshiped as the ideal woman goddess—an ideal mother and wife; a matron of magic and nature.

Temple of Vespasian (Forum Area)

Vespasian was the emperor of the Roman Empire from 69 to 79 AD. This temple is significant that the population of Pompeii not only worshiped gods, they also saw their emperor as a god.

The altar in the Temple of Vespasian. The carvings depict a scene of typical sacrifice in Roman times—a man leads an ox to the Priests as they prepare to make an offering.

The entrance to the temple of Vespasian.

Mt Vesuvius

The volcano mountain that made this site available to us today, is still an active volcano. Mount Vesuvius has erupted at least 30 times or more since 79 AD.

This famous eruption was the so significant, that geologists created a name for eruptions based on the Roman god of fire and forgery—Vulcan. That is why we describe the cone shaped mountains as volcanos today.

Vesuvius is the only active Volcano in the European mainland and there is a potential that the 3 million people living near this volcano could perish if a major eruption happen again, so some call it the world’s most dangerous volcano.

Here are 2 photos of looming danger in the distance—a silent threat until that fateful day:

Our Final Thoughts

This is an eerie but significant site and well worth a visit. A word or two of caution—there is no shade in Pompeii, so bring a good hat, water, wear sturdy shoes and use sunscreen.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

July 28, 2022

Europe Destination

Château de Chillon

Hank Schrader

July 28, 2022

Europe Destination

Château de Chillon

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Château de Chillon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Switzerland.

It is Switzerland’s most visited historic building--many consider the castle fortress one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. It was never burned down, damaged or destroyed since being built.

The site of the castle on Lake Geneva, built on the island of Chillon, makes it stunningly photogenic and it has gained even more notoriety from romantic writers such as Victor Hugo and Lord Byron.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Château de Chillon and take a tour of this impressive castle.

Above is the most famous view of the castle.

History of the Castle

Originally this was a Roman outpost fort site that was constructed to protect the Alpine passes. Only some of the foundation remains and was incorporated into the present day structure .

From the mid-12th centuries, the castle was owned by the powerful Counts of Savoy and the castle served as the summer home for this noble family. They expanded the castle and even had a fleet of ships on Lake Geneva. The castle location was ideal to collect taxes from merchants using the Great St. Bernhard Pass or from sailing ships on Lake Geneva, which made them very wealthy. For 400 years, the Savoy’s prospered by owning this castle.

During the 16th century instead of a residence, the castle was used as a prison. One prisoner, patriot Francois Bonivard, who was held captive for 6 years in Chillon, later became famous due to the 1816 poem written by Lord Byron, entitled The Prisoner of Chillon. Bonivard preached about the Protestant Reformation, was against the Roman Catholic Savoy rulers and was held in chains during his imprisonment.

In 1536, the castle was captured by a Protestant Bernese force after a 3-week siege (one source said it fell in 2 days, so I’m not sure how long it took to capture the castle), and all the prisoners were freed, to include Francois Bonivard.

In 1733, the castle became a state prison.

In 1798, the Bernese (German speaking) occupants were ousted from the castle by the soldiers of the canton of Vaud (French speaking). The Bernese left without a fight. During this period, the castle was used as a munitions and weapons depot.

Some Castle Highlights

The castle is really two structures combined; as part served as a strong fort and part were living areas for the Savoy rulers, with magnificent views of the Lake and Mountains. Here is the fort side of the castle:

After entering the castle, you arrive at the 1st courtyard. Here are a couple of pictures:

The dungeons are probably the most important area for most visitors, due the Lord Byron poem, who enhanced this bleak area due to the poem and legend of the imprisoned Bonivard.

There are 50 rooms in the castle, and they are connected by passageways in almost an intricate internal manner than often is maze-like.

This area is part of the oldest fortifications on the castle. To the right is the second courtyard.

The Constables Dining Room area dates to the Savoy period. This area was restored to what it looked like in the Savoy period. During the Bernese period, it was a kitchen and seating room.

Here are some photos of the Bernese Bedroom. It probably has been used as a bedroom during the Savoy period, but the wall decorations date from the 17th century and are clearly Bernese.

My favorites rooms were the great hall area and the bedrooms.

Great Hall of the Count in the Château di Chillon is a impressive room. It has slender black marble pillars: black and white striped zigzag wall decorations and a wooden ceiling dating from the 15th century. The four windows over the lake are topped by a beautiful four-leafed clover design.

Here are some pictures:

Coat of Arms Room was used for receptions. All of these coats of arms were to the administrators (bailiffs) who lived in the castle from 1536 to 1733.

The Lord’s Bedroom was the bedroom of the ruler of the castle. It has a spiral staircase that allowed the ruler access to the ramparts or the private chapel.

Dressing Room for the lord and on display in this picture is a replica of a bath that would have been used by the occupants.

Latrines

Wood Paneled Room was probably used by the ladies of the house of Savoy.

The Chapel was a private chapel for the Savoys; later it was used as a powder house in the Bernese period.

3rd Courtyard

The Allinges Room has served as bedroom (Savoy period) and then a powder room and wine press room during the Bernese period.

4th Courtyard

Ramparts and Bastions

Keep Armory Display

Watchtower

Our Final Thoughts

You probably know how much I love castles and we would recommend a visit here. The history, the displays of power in the feudal times and the stunning views make it truly worthwhile. We hope you enjoyed this report.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

June 23, 2022

Europe Destination

Castles of the Moselle

Hank Schrader

June 23, 2022

Europe Destination

Castles of the Moselle

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Castles always seem to be fascinating places—a defensive structure that has grown into a luxury living space from its stark beginnings or as Anne would say “a bunch of stones—some are not very interesting.”

I tend to agree with her, so while I may briefly mention some of the castle ruins and their interesting history, I will concentrate on the best castles you can visit and see the interiors. or relax in a café built on the grounds. The ruins sometimes are spooky and if appropriate, I will include their stories.

The steep hills of the Moselle allows many of these castle complexes to be classified as spur castles. Instead of a more traditional hill or mountain site built on a ridge which means it can be attacked in two directions, a spur castle hills are so steep, it usually means it is only vulnerable from one direction.

Many of these castles were destroyed by war, especially by the French in 1698, but some have been restored and they have some interesting tales about their history and present day uses.

So, let’s explore together and learn about 11 castles on the Moselle.

Thurant Castle

A section of the map of the Mosel we bought back in 1989 on our first visit to this area. The map direction of travel is from Koblenz to Trier. Thurant castle is on the right bank of the river at the 25 km mark.

Only 25 km south of Koblenz, the twin towers of Thurant castle are visible from the Moselle. The castle was built during the years of 1198 to 1206 on spur of shale above the village of Alken.

It didn’t take long for this castle to see war—it was besieged in 1246-1248 during a war between the archbishops of Trier and Cologne. The result of the war was to divide the castle into two parts and each tower became a possession of the two waring archbishops.

Both the Trier Tower and the Cologne Tower had separate entrances and living areas. The castle was destroyed in 1689 by the French.

By the 1800s the castle was abandoned and left to decay. In 1911 it was bought and partially restored. Today it is open to the public during Spring to Fall and is a popular visitor site. It is easily seen from the Moselle and recognizable due to the twin towers.

Ehrenburg

The castle was built in 1296, overlooking the village of Brodenbach. Like all castles in the region it was involved in disputes between nobility rulers and wars. French soldiers under the command of Louis XIV (the Sun King) seized the Ehrenburg Castle during the War of the Palatine Succession and blew up much of the castle in 1689. Only the chapel remained intact.

This castle has become a place similar to a Renaissance Fair. There are many demonstrations about medieval life, classes and re-enactors. There is also a restaurant and a small 5-room hotel which provides a chance to sleep in a castle.

Ruins of Bischofstein Castle

This section of the map shows both Burg Bischofstein at the 30 km mark and Burg Eltz at the 35 km mark.

There is a lot of history of this castle, built on a spur 230 meters above the village of Broenbach. Early folk tales say it originally was a palace for Bishop Nicetius (527-566) but the current castle was most likely built around 1270 to 1273.

The French destroyed Burg Bischofstein in 1689. The present-day structure dates from 1938. It was first restored by a businessman who wanted to rebuild it as a summer home in 1930.

Today the castle is designated as a protected historical site, not for for being an 800-year-old castle but an example of the architectural style of the 1930s.

Today schools around Germany visit the former castle and it is also used by vacationing groups.

Berg Eltz

This is the best castle near the Moselle, but you cannot see it during a river cruise from the water of the Moselle. The castle is built on a 70 meter spur surrounded by the Elzbach River (a tributary of the Moselle).

Berg Eltz is a beautifully preserved castle, with towers, half-timbered walls, and it is seemingly in the middle of nowhere—Anne and I hiked in 3 miles from the Mosel River town of Moselkern in early March one year to visit. The family who owns this castle still lives here and has done so for 850 years in their ancestral home.

The entrance to Burg Eltz which clearly shows that it is a spur castle.

There are 2 places to visit here—the Treasury (pictures allowed) with a great display of precious items and tour of select rooms (no pictures) which takes about an hour or less. 3 families owned this castle, and each has built separate wings.

The tour includes an entrance way decorated with weapons, various gathering rooms, bedrooms, and the kitchen—all very authentic and used by the families for over 33 generations.

Perhaps the most famous room of the castle, is the Knight’s room, where the 3 different families met to celebrate and work our any conflicts that might arise. It is famous for the wall decorations, which served as a reminder to the 3 families about cooperation—a jester mask (representing freedom of speech) and a large rose (representing a code of silence—items discussed in the room need to stay there

The famous Knight’s room. This is a scan from a postcard we bought during our visit to Burg Eltz.

Two Twin Castles

The twin castles are at the 40 km mark above the village of Treis.

Wildburg Castle and Treis Castle were built with 150 meters of each other and their history is intertwined together, Although they are private residences now, they are scenic sites visible from the Moselle. Here is their story":

Treis Castle

The exact date of construction of this castle is unknown but many think it was during the second half of the 11th century.

Like so many castle in this area the French destroyed the castle in 1698.

Today the castle is recognizable by its restored square tower. It is privately owned and not open to the public.

Wildburg

Wild Castle is a private residence and cannot be visited. It was built sometime in the 14th century, perhaps to protect the southern side of castle Treis.

Like its close neighbor Treis Castle, it also was destroyed in 1698 by the French.

It was rebuilt in the 1950s and made livable to its private owners.

Cochem Castle

Cochem, Germany, on the Mosel River, is a former walled city. It has a population of about 5,800 and is a traditional old German town. The town has many fine buildings, quaint cottages, guild houses, and winding cobblestone streets. The town square, lined with half-timbered houses, is a wonderful, scenic area of this small town.

In Cochem, if you go on an AmaWaterways cruise, you will enjoy a guided tour of Cochem that takes you to the spectacular hilltop Reichsburg Castle (also known as Cochem Castle but the correct name is Schloss Reichsburg). It has fantastic views of the river valley below. Touring inside the castle is great!

Standing on a hill 300 feet above the town of Cochem, this elaborately restored castle (it was destroyed by the French in 1689) is a fun and interesting visit. Many river cruise companies visit this castle.

The original castle, whose first purpose like many others on the rivers of Germany was to collect tolls, was rebuilt from 1868 to 1890. While not authentic, it is still cool—great vistas, interesting rooms, perhaps most importantly, at first glance, it is an impressive structure and I enjoyed visiting it.

My favorite rooms were the Dining Hall, the Knight’s Room, and the Trophy Room.

Reichsburg is a spooky place, but doesn’t look spooky.

What makes it spooky, is the witches Tower, the oldest part of the original castle. In medieval times it was used a witchcraft trail place. The horrible way these trials were conducted was to throw the lady on trail out of a window. If they died, they were given a Christian burial, because they were not a witch.

Metternich Castle Ruins

At the 61 km mark above the village of Beilstein is Burg Metternich

Sailing past Beilstein, Anne took these picture in 2009.

This castle was built around 1268 and destroyed by the French army in 1689. The castle changed owners several times before being acquired by the Metternich family in 1637 and the name remains to this day. The castle has never been completely rebuilt.

Today it is a hotel and restaurant and beer garden. While not much remain in these ruins except the outside walls, you can climb the old castle keep which is now just used as an observation tower.

Arras Castle

Just above the town of Alf (it has nothing to do with the cartoon character), Arras Castle, is more than 1000 years old and built on the former site of one of the 19 ancient Roman forts. The castle has seen its share of conflicts between waring nobility and the bishops but like other castles in this region was almost completely destroyed by the French in 1698 but the keep tower was not destroyed.

In 1907 restoration efforts began. By 1984, the property was developed into a hotel, tourist attraction and restaurant,

It is popular because of the physical structures including fortress walls, a climbable belfry, and the idyllic courtyard. Inside the castle you can visit the Hall of Knights with weapons and armor, the underground Dungeon with a Medieval torture chamber and a museum.

Gravenburg Castle

Only parts of the western walls remain of this castle that was built in 1350—there is perhaps the least amount of ruins that remain of these 11 castles in this blog. As with many of the castles of this region in 1680 the French took control of the castle which began 4 sieges of the castle. After the last siege in 1734 the castle was blown up and destroyed.

Today the ruins serve as a good spot for a tavern with some pretty gardens where you can have great views of the Moselle River. Even small bits of a castle can conjure up images of the past, and Germans are great at taking a ruin and making it into a park and tavern spot.

Landshut Castle

These castle ruins are more than just a pile of rocks. At the 130 km mark. above the village of Bernkastel, the castle is quite prominent. The history of this site dates to Roman times and was part of the defensive concept of 19 military mountain top fortifications to protect Trier. Recently, several artifacts from the Roman period have been found on this castle site.

The current structure was built by Heinrich von Finstingen around 1276. The castle was destroyed by a fire in 1692, but the damage was not so severe that these ruins can still be explored—you can still climb the castle tower.

This is a popular site to visit on the Moselle River above Bernkastel. In the courtyard area there is a restaurant and café. There are good views of the Moselle and various paths for hiking around the Hunsruck mountain range area,

Our Final Thoughts

The violent history and constant struggle for power in the Moselle River Castles is evident in these castles, as most were destroyed in wars—the French and German forces were struggling for control of the region.

We hope you enjoyed this report. Perhaps now you have a good guide to explore this wonderful area—many think the Moselle, with its quaint villages, castles , vineyards and steep hills is the most scenic river in Germany. We agree!

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

June 2, 2022

Europe Destination

A Visit to Dracula's Castle

Hank Schrader

June 2, 2022

Europe Destination

A Visit to Dracula’s Castle

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

When I was teaching World Geography to high school students, I created a project about a Europe Vacation. The students had to pick 5 places to visit in the 4 regions of Europe and write about those places in a report for a major grade.

For the eastern region of Europe, the most popular choice of my students was Romania, because they all wanted to go to Dracula’s Castle.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Dracula’s Castle together and explore the myth of the world’s most famous vampire.

The Myth of Dracula’s Castle

The story of Dracula’s castle comes from the novel written by Irish writer Bram Stoker. In his story, he writes about Count Dracula who lives in a castle in Transylvania.

Count Dracula is a century’s old, undead vampire who lives on human blood and is said to be descended from Attila the Hun. He has many powers and sometimes is known as the king of the vampires.

Although Bram Stoker never visited Romania, his description of the castle that Dracula lived in best fits the present day Bran Castle. This is a weak connection at best, but that has not stopped most folks outside of Romania calling Bran Castle by its nickname--Dracula’s Castle.

There is speculation that the vampire character’s name, Dracula, was inspired by Vlad Tepes. He was more infamously known as Vlad the Impaler, but sometimes Vlad Tepes also used a different name--he was also known as Vlad Dracul. The legend just grew, and Bran Castle has embraced it as a good promotional way to get people to visit the castle.

Vlad Tepes

This story just would not be complete without hearing a little about Vlad Tepes, better known as Vlad the Impaler. Vlad was a prince during the 1400’s and was involved in the conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and Hungary.

He struggled to maintain power and was in constant conflict with the boyars of Wallachia (the Bucharest region of present-day Romania). History has documented his gruesome way to dispatch his enemies—he had them stabbed and then finished them off by impaling them on long sharpen poles in agonizing deaths, that sometimes caused his victims to suffer for days. His ruthless way to kill just fits perfectly into the Dracula legend of being blood thirsty. Most of his impaling happened between 1456 through 1462.

Vlad was killed in 1477. Shortly after his death, stories about his cruel acts were published, especially in Germany, where they became very popular. There is a famous wood cut carving print, published in 1499, showing the prince eating a meal while, some of his enemies are impaled near him in the town of Brasov.

Vlad is a controversial figure—some accounts praise him as a defender of his homeland, others say he was a ruthless tyrant. Some say the name Dracul roughly translates to Devil.

While his association with vampires is fictional, the legend remains, and he probably was the inspiration for the Dracula vampire character in the horror story by Bram Stoker. There is evidence that Vlad passed through the Bran area often and some accounts say he was imprisoned in Bran Castle for 2 months, but he never lived in the castle as its ruler.

Bran Castle

This is an interesting castle that allows visitors a chance to see most of the insides of this old medieval fortress that was completed in 1388. This castle was built to defend Bran pass and it certainly does not hurt the legend that at times the castle is shrouded in fog. We visited on a rainy day—it just was just what you should expect when you get to go to Dracula’s Castle.

For those expecting a spooky castle, the inside rooms are surprising livable. This is because the castle served as a royal residence from 1920 until 1947. It is well decorated but very sparse for royals.

Yet the mood is set prior to getting to the upstairs rooms—you must climb a narrow secret stairway—this is not for the claustrophobic—it is steep, and the walls are rough and rocky—perfect for an entrance way to the supposed home of Dracula!

The castle is compact with living and dining spaces. There are a lot of passageways connecting the four walls of this castle/fort complex.

Some of the rooms are King Ferdinand’s Dining Room,

the music and library room,

the large drawing room,

the Biedemeier Drawing Room, and

the Saxon Room.

the Castellans’ Room

As you would expect there are towers, a small display of weapons with an armor collection and a dungeon.

It is a worthwhile adventure and one we hope to help you see sometime in the future.

How can you visit Bran Castle?

I think the best way to visit Bran Castle is to base yourself in Brasov, Romania. This was our base of operations for our visit. To get to Brasov, we took a train from Bucharest to Brasov. Along the way, we stopped at Sinaia to visit Peles Castle. This elegant castle was the royal summer residence and is more a palace than a castle. It has over 100 rooms. I will write more about this wonderful castle in a later blog.

We were on an AmaWaterways lower Danube cruise, and when it ended, we arranged a private transfer from our rivership to the Bucharest train station. We then caught our train, visited Peles Castle, got back on the train and stayed in Brasov for a couple of days.

Using our hotel staff in Brasov, they arranged for a private driver to get to Bran Castle. Brasov is a great town and our experience there was wonderful—we would visit again.

Here are some pictures of Brasov:

Catherine’s Gate was part of the old medieval walls of Brsov

There are many good outdoor cafes in Brasov

We did learn however, to be cautious about taxis in Romania—they often charge extra instead of the established fare. Using your hotel to reserve a taxi or private tour was wonderful—we were charged a fair amount. To help combat this problem, we also learned there are government registered taxis that have agreed to charge fair rates. It was a great lesson learned.

It is quite possible to arrange a trip from Bucharest to visit both Peles and Bran Castles. It is a long day trip, usually 9 hours or so, but a lot of folks think it is another worthwhile way to see these two great castles.

Our Final Thoughts

Our visit to Romania was inspired by the fictional demon Dracula. A river cruise that ended in Bucharest made it easy to venture out on our own and simplified some of the transfers. Funny how a legend started our interest, and we expected to see a great castle, however, what we got was so much more—it was a visit to a wonderful country, with warm, friendly folks eager to help visitors.

We learned about a new great castle by doing some research—Peles Castle. Brasov also is a great stop. But most of all we meet some great folks. They have worked hard to escape the communist past and we enjoyed our time there. It is not on the normal tourist path of London, Paris, or Rome, but a surprising place we loved. That is the wonder of travel—just get inspired to try something new and often it will turn out fabulous—just as our experience did.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50+ years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

March 3, 2022

Europe Destination

Helsinki, Finland

Hank Schrader

March 3, 2022

Europe Destination

Helsinki, Finland

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

In July 2021, Time Magazine ranked Helsinki as one of the greatest places in the world to live. While we don’t live there, we agree it is a great place, especially during the summer, and for you travelers, Helsinki is a great place to visit.

This northern European country has splendid weather for about 3 months or so, and there is a great festival during August in this capital city, called the Helsinki Festival—it is an annual arts and culture event and another great reason to visit this Nordic capital..

So, let’s explore together and learn about Helsinki.

Overview of Finland

As a former World Geography teacher, I just can’t help but tell you about how this country is classified. Finland is not really a part of the Scandinavia region, but this is not clearly defined by all geographers.

Some include only Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Others add Iceland and Finland and define these 5 countries as the Nordic countries. There is lot of the confusion is over Finland, as large portions were once part of Sweden and Russia, and this also has influenced its culture and classification.

I guess it really doesn’t matter how it is classified by geographers—it just is a cool place and worthy of a visit or two.

Get Our Guide to Helsinki

I would be remiss if I didn’t let you know that we have written a guide to Helsinki. Just go to our website at this link and we will send you the guides you request.

Here is the link on our Northern Europe page of our website:

Northern Europe Guides

The guide is free and there is no obligation, it is just a service we provide to help you have better travels when visiting this region (this is only part of the 50 cities guides we have for key European cities.)

We do limit our guides to those who haven’t booked with us to only 2 guides, so this is a great incentive to get a trip going with us.

Ok, let’s learn about the capital city of Finland—Helsinki!

The History of Helsinki, Finland

Sweden, Estonia and Russia all have important influences in the development of Finland and especially Helsinki.

King Gustauv I of Sweden, established the town of Helsinki as a trading town to rival the Hanseatic city of Reval (we know this town today as Tallinn, Estonia) in 1550. He named the town Helsingfors.

Sweden lost control of Finland after a war with Russia in 1809 and the Tsar established Finland as the Grandy Dutchy of Finland and Helsinki was designated its capital in 1812.

One of the legacies of this dominance of Russia is the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral pictured below.

During WW I, in 1917, Finland declared its’ independence. Russia recognized its independence in 1918.

Let’s Explore Helsinki

Helsinki has a population of about 650,000. The city is sometimes called the “Daughter of the Baltic” since it is located on a peninsula surrounded by the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city of the Nordic countries after Stockholm and Oslo.

Helsinki grew up around its harbor. Helsinki and Finland have one of the world’s highest standards of living. Here are some pictures of Market Square Harbor:

Here is the Esplanade (a great pedestrian walkway and boulevard), and a wonderful place to wander:

Senate Square is dominated by 4 buildings. The stunning Helsinki Cathedral and the government palace are pictured below (not pictured are the main building of ther University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland):

We have visited twice and really like Helsinki—our favorites are the waterfront market square area and the Esplanade.

Helsinki is rated as the capital city with the 8th cleanest air in the world by the World Health Organization.

A huge emphasis on public transportation, may be one reason, Helsinki makes the list of the cleanest cities. This city wants to make cars obsolete by developing an on-demand-public transportation system.

The current diverse public transportation system consists of trams, commuter rail, bus lines, 2 ferry lines, and some on-demand minibuses. There is also a big emphasis on bikes and developing bike paths. One third of the city is green spaces.

Our Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this report and learned a little about this great city. We would be delighted to help you visit this wonderful place.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 24, 2022

Europe Destination

My Favorite 5 Walled Cities in Europe

Hank Schrader

February 24, 2022

Europe Destination

My Favorite 5 Walled Cities in Europe

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

One of my favorite things to do in Europe is visit the old walled cities of Europe.

A walled city is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. From ancient to modern times, they have been used to enclose settlements and provide protection for those living in the city.

Almost every town in medieval times that could built defensive walls did so—they were essential to survive the harsh times of yesteryear.

Today, walled cities have become obsolete due to improved weapons and aircraft used in modern warfare. The good news is that the cities that did not destroy their old walls now usually are special places where you can enjoy a bygone era that survives in today’s modern world

So, let’s explore together and learn about my 5 favorite walled cities and see Anne’s pictures of these wonderful places.

Tallinn, Estonia.

The inspiration for this blog is that Estonia Independence Day is February 24 and we are publishing it on 24 February 2022. I am starting off with the walled city gem of Northern Europe—the old Town of Tallinn.

Tallinn Estonia old town is a great place to visit. It is the oldest capital city in Northern Europe. With 1.9 km of its original city wall still standing, Tallinn has one of Europe’s best preserved medieval fortifications—it has cool gates and 20 defensive towers.

A large part of what gives Old Town its fairytale charm is the system of walls and towers that surrounds it.

The old town is divided into lower and upper towns—and it is just a charming, fun place to explore. We have been there 2 times and are ready to go back soon.

York, England.

York has been defended by walls since Roman times. It has the most intact walls of any city in England.

We walked some of the walls and it was great to see this old town from the large walls. Inside the walls, the York Cathedral is especially impressive and there are other medieval half-timbered buildings and areas that are neat to visit.

The walls had 4 main gates which restricted entrance into the town, provided protection and were also used to collect tolls. In our opinion, York is a good place to visit.

Carcassonne, France.

Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. It is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defenses encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, the narrow streets and its fine Gothic cathedral.

Here is a small part of these massive walls:

The walls have 53 towers and 5 barbicans (A barbican is a fortified outpost or gateway or any tower situated over a gate or bridge). There is a castle inside the walled city complete with a drawbridge. It is the largest walled city in Europe.

We stayed inside this walled city, really enjoyed the sights and got to eat cassoulet—a regional specialty dish of beans, duck and sausage—great food—Anne now makes at home for us.

There are 2 main gate entrances to the city. They are the Narbonne Gate and the Aude Gate.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany.

Only 3 towns in Germany have completely intact city walls (Nordingen and Dinkelsbuhl are the other two) and the walls of Rothenburg are considered by most as the best.

This may be the best-known walled city in Europe and is very popular as a tourist destination. Rothenburg is Germany’s best-preserved walled city. Part of the walls have covered walled walkways and can be walked and provide great views of the city.

The walls are about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) long and covered, with several towers and entrances at the gates. Rothenburg is usually very crowded during the day but if you stay overnight, it is awesome place to visit. We stayed overnight and really enjoyed our time here.

Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Dubrovnik is known as the pearl of the Adriatic. This walled city is considered to be among the great fortification systems of the Middle Ages.

The walls are about 1.940 meters long and 25 meters high (82 feet) at some points. It has 17 towers, 5 bastions and 2 angular fortifications and a fort all incorporated into the walls. There was even a moat around the land portions.

The city at one time was defended by 120 cannons. These fortifications were never breached, but diplomacy skills of its leaders rather than military might was probably the reason Dubrovnik never fell to its enemies, according to some historians.

We have walked portions of the walls and the views are stunning. There is a lot to see inside the walls and good restaurants—this should be a place you go to also.

Our Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this report. There is just so much history to see in Europe and its structures help you learn about times past.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 10, 2022

Europe Destination

3 Great English Castles You Should Visit

Hank Schrader

February 10, 2022

Europe Destination

3 Great English Castles You Should Visit

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

I really like castles but as Anne says, some are just a pile of rocks with nothing much to see and I agree—some ruins are just a pile of rocks.

Don’t let these words deter you, since many have transformed from stark and stout defensive structures into grand properties property’s with stunning interiors that have a lot to see during your visit.

There are many wonderful castles in England and many have published list of great structures to visit but our task is not to rank castles; we only want to show you 3 great ones we have visited and leave ranking the castles to others.

So, let’s explore together and learn about 3 wonderful castles in England we feel are worthy of a visit during a trip to England.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is the most historic castle, palace and prison in England.

Located on the Thames River, this 18-acre complex first started with the construction of the White Tower in 1087 by William I (you probably know him best as William the Conqueror from the battle of Hastings that resulted in Norman rule of Britain in 1066).

Other famous sites include the Traitor’s Gate, the White Tower Museum, the Execution Site, the display of the Crown Jewels, and the Royal Chapel.

Don’t miss a chance to talk with the Beefeaters (their proper title is the Yeoman Warders), who in principal are responsible for looking after any prisoners in the Tower and safeguarding the Crown Jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are an attraction themselves.

A view from the Thames River of the Tower of London

**Model Display of the Tower of London**

Here is what the Tower of London looks like as visitors approach from the shore.

A sign that tells visitors of the beheadings of famous killed on this spot. Only the high ranking were executed here; others were killed outside the tower’s walls.

Traitor’s Gate entrance from the Thames River.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the official home of the Royal Family of England for over 900 years and is stilled used today by the royal family.

This large castle complex is an easy day trip from London. Touring the state apartments is fascinating (usually there are 24 rooms on the tour)—the scale and beauty of these 24 rooms is indescribable (sadly no pictures are allowed)! The castle complex has 951 rooms, if you count stairways and corridors, of which 225 are bedrooms. St. George’s Hall is used for State Banquets and can seat 160 guests.

Starting with the grand staircase and vestibule, with its excellent collection of armor and weapons, it seems each room get more grand and impressive. There are bedrooms, drawing rooms, dining rooms, and halls adorned with paintings, the finest of furniture and reminders of English power and wealth and victories against rival nations. It is almost overwhelming in its grandeur and beauty.

Statue of King Charles II beneath the round tower. Charles II was responsible for the many opulent redecoration of Windsor Castle—he desired it to rival the French palace of Versailles.

Changing of the Guard, Private Apartments, Windsor Castle

Warwick Castle

Originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068, the castle was an expansion of William’s control of England in the Midlands of England, as he advanced north in England in efforts to consolidate his control of England.

In the late 1100’s, the original wooden structure was replaced with stone fortifications. From 1330 to 1360, the castle began to take shape in its’ present from with important upgrades in defensive structures such as a gatehouse, a barbican (a fortified gateway) and 2 towers.

With the decline of defensive castles due to more modern weapons, the castle alternated between an excellent residence to an estate badly need of repairs. It eventually was sold to a tourist company. At present there are 12 rooms open to the public.

The theme park atmosphere is a little corny but it still is an impressive site. There are some unique demonstrations on the 64 acre grounds. These include a Trebuchet (a siege machine) fired twice a day (it is seasonal); Flight of Eagles—a birds of prey demonstration; Warwick Warriors—a show about the combat weapons used by figures in Warwick’s history and a Seasonal Jousting show.

Kids of all ages will probably love this castle and the theme park atmosphere.

Outside walls of Warwick Castle. On the left is the barbican and on the right Guy’s Tower.

Warwick Castle has the second best display of arms at English castles—only the Tower of London’s is better.

Nicely landscaped grounds inside the castle

The large Trebuchet siege machine. We watched it hurl a huge stone quite a distance.

Our Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this report.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

February 3, 2022

Europe Destination

A Culture Trip in Europe--German Speaking Countries

Hank Schrader

February 3, 2022

Europe Destination

A Culture Trip in Europe--German Speaking Countries

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

German is the official language in Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. It is the co—official language in Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg.

According to the website Lingoda, it is estimated that about 92.6 million people speak German in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The site estimates that about 16% of the European Union’s population speak German as their primary language.

So, I thought I’d write about the 4 main countries that speak German in this blog—Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

So, let’s explore together and learn about German Speaking Europe. I will start with a brief overview of culture, and then tell you about the 4 main German Speaking Countries and German culture in these countries.

German Cultural Influences on Europe

When I was teaching AP Human Geography, I used to identify 8 elements of culture for my students. They are 1) religion, 2) language, 3) art, 4) politics, 5) economy, 6) customs, 7) society and 8) geography.

It is clear that two elements influenced the other elements and are often considered the most important elements of a country’s culture. The two most significant elements are religion (the beliefs of a society, and some of their traditions) and language (the communication system of a culture—the way it expresses itself in speech, writing and symbols).

Even though in the academic world culture is expressed by these 8 factors, for many, culture and food are so closely intertwined, they are one of the most visible factors and symbols of the German speaking countries, and I am glad to share some of the great food we have tried and love in these countries

So, let’s see how the German language and culture has impacted on the 4 countries of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria and Germany

Liechtenstein

In Liechtenstein, it is estimated that about 35,000 speak German—basically, that is the entire population of this tiny country. This micro state is the 6th smallest country in the world.

It does not even have an army and in 2007 was inadvertently invaded by the Swiss when about 100 Swiss Army soldiers wandered into Liechtenstein by accident. When the Swiss government informed the government of Liechtenstein of the incident, no one in the country even knew it had happened, since the borders are not guarded or well-marked—I guess it was the invasion that never really happened!

Liechtenstein is one of the two world countries that is double land locked (Uzbekistan is the other). What that means is all the country’s borders are with Switzerland and Austria, who are land locked with no access to the sea.

The residents speak a dialect that is closer to Swiss Standard German. It is so small, that once a year, the prince ruler invites all (yes all!) of its residents to Vaduz Castle for a beer.

Hard to get more German than drinking a beer—it certainly is one of my favorite pastimes!

I visited Liechtenstein in 1989 and this small country was so peaceful and fun—I want to go back again!

Switzerland

In Switzerland, it is estimated that 4.6 million speak German. Switzerland is a melting pot for different cultures. About 64% of the population speak Swiss German. French is spoken in western Switzerland by about 20% of the population, and about 8% Italian and a small number speak Romansh, a Romance language.

One of the unique items in Switzerland is how well languages are used as a binding force, not a force of division, as most Swiss people often speak at least two languages and often more. However, language does have a strong cultural influence—German areas features an Alpine culture of brats and timbered buildings; French areas have cafes like France: and Italian areas feature pizzas and villas.

Only in a country like Switzerland, could the unofficial internal border between German and French speakers, called Rostigraben, be named after a Swiss-German potato dish. No wonder I like this place!

One of the key influences of Germany culture in Switzerland has been in the food and drink world. The meat heavy dishes of Germany are abundant throughout Switzerland. Potatoes and cheese, and one of my favorites, cheese fondues, and raclette (melted cheese scraped on to bread or potatoes) are staples in restaurants.

Another key influence has been the Christmas markets. We have been in Christmas markets in Basel, Zurich and Lucerne (these 3 cities speak German as their primary language). All have been special—you should go if you get the chance.

Swarovsko crystal tree in the covered Christmas Markets Zurich

Austria

In Austria, it is estimated that 8 million speak German, virtually the entire population of Austria. German influences are also important to Austria. The meat heavy dishes such as Wiener schnitzel and other pork dishes are on most menus in the country.
Austria does have some distinctive cultural features. A great coffee house culture and tempting dessert treats are very important in the capital city of Vienna—the vibe of artists, intellectuals, and writers meeting to exchange ideas and socialize that was important to the city’s lifestyle over 100 years ago still exists today. Austria has a strong culture of classical music, with famous composers and the elegant waltz dance was created here and often delight tourists with dazzling performances.

Kata (cruise manager for AmaWaterways), Anne in her drindel purchased in Vienna and our bar server friend

It is an alpine country—62% of Austria’s land is in the Alps Mountains. As stated earlier, it is a landlocked country, with no access to the sea. However, even without a coast, about half of Austria’s electricity comes from Hydro-power from dams and rivers in the Alpine regions.

One of the more interesting Austrian traditions, is called the first day of school cone. It roots come from Germany. When 6 year olds start school, they receive a cone full of candy, school supplies and toys. The idea is to make the stressful first day of school a little more fun.

Again, the Christmas markets are really cool in Austria. Vienna has several and the little town of Melk also has a small gem, with craftsmen working right in front of you. Here are some photos you might enjoy;

Christmas Markets at Schonbrunn Palace grounds in Vienna

Booth at Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Markets

Christmas Markets in Vienna at the town hall

Blacksmiths at work in the small Christmas Market in Melk, Austria

Germany

Germany has over 80 million who speak German. It is the second most populous country in Europe, after Russia (according to the World Fact Book). Its’ economy is the 5th largest in the world.

Anne and I love German food. Here are a few of our favorites:

Hank with a beer and a brat in Nuremberg

Perhaps one of the most important German traditions that has been exported to the world are their Christmas traditions and celebrations .Decorating Christmas trees and the world famous Christmas markets are traditions that have spread throughout Europe, but especially to German language areas off Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Having visited the Christmas Markets in all these countries except Liechtenstein, I can promise you it is a magical experience.

Cologne, Nuremberg and Regensburg stand out as our favorites during the Christmas Markets season. I have also talked a lot about their food culture in this blog and how German cuisine has been a big influence on its German speaking neighbors.

It is clear to me German culture has spread in these Alpine countries from their daily use of the German language.

Regensburg Christmas Market near the Dom

Thurn and Taxis Christmas Market—our favorite in all Germany, Regensburg, Germany

Anne and Hank with their German Hats at the Thurn and Taxis Christmas Market

Our Final Thoughts

I hope you have learned a little more about the influences the German speaking countries have had on Europe. These are wonderful places to visit and we hope one day you will let us plan a trip to one or all of these great places.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 26 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well as a Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50+ years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

April 8, 2021

Europe Destination

Fountains of Europe--Water Becomes Art

Hank Schrader

April 8, 2021

Europe Destination

Fountains of Europe—Water Becomes Art

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

We all know water is essential to life. So, it stands to reason that drinking sources of water were important to maintain life. Yet mankind, in its endless quest to make what is functional into something more, started decorating water sources and wells for various reasons.

Some were to display power and wealth to dazzle all in palaces; some were displays of religious significance; some were to replicate their vision of paradise in their gardens; some were to display craftsmanship—pretty much the idea was to enhance this essential element of life.

Don’t expect any real rhyme or reason or great organized method to this collection of pictures—they just caught our eye and we were fascinated seeing them used in the daily lives of Europeans in their public gathering places, or at their palaces.

So, let’s explore together and learn about fountains through our eyes—you won’t be disappointed!

Dramatic Palace Fountains

Let’s begin our journey by the most dramatic fountains, usually found in Palaces.

Perhaps the best known collection of fountains is at Versailles. Water in French gardens has always been important, and there are about 50 fountains on the palace grounds. Here are some photos of these wonderful fountains:

Latona’s fountain depicts the story of Latona, the mother of Apollo and Diana. She pleads with Jupiter to protect her children from the insults of the peasants of Lycia about her children. Jupiter grants her request and turns the folks in Lycia in… — Latona’s fountain depicts the story of Latona, the mother of Apollo and Diana. She pleads with Jupiter to protect her children from the insults of the peasants of Lycia about her children. Jupiter grants her request and turns the folks in Lycia into frogs and lizards.

Apollo’s Fountain may be the best known fountain in Versailles. It shows Apollo, the Sun god, bursting from the water in his chariot ready for his daily flight above the earth. It was a symbol of the power of the Sun King, Louis XIV.

Next up has to be Peterhof, just outside of St. Petersburg in Russia. Not to be outdone by the magnificence of Versailles, there are 64 fountains. None of these require pumps, as water is supplied from natural springs and by using elevation difference, it creates enough pressure to get the fountains to work.

Here is a picture of the famous Samson Fountain in Peterhof. This symbolizes the defeat of Sweden (the lion was the symbol of Sweden) by Russia on Samson’s Day during Peter the Great’s reign

Trying to replicate their idea of paradise, the fountains of the Alhambra in Grenada, must also be on this list.

**Paseo of the Cypress has been renamed as the Garden of Saint Francis.**

The Courtyard of the Lions was built in the 1360’s. This garden was designed to represent the heavenly garden of Islam. The large bowl sits atop 12 lions and 4 water channels stream from this fountain. The 4 channels are symbols of the 4 rivers o… — The Courtyard of the Lions was built in the 1360’s. This garden was designed to represent the heavenly garden of Islam. The large bowl sits atop 12 lions and 4 water channels stream from this fountain. The 4 channels are symbols of the 4 rivers of paradise. Water also come from the mouth of the lions.

**A great photo of one of the water features of the Generalife gardens.**

The Alcazar in Seville, has some great fountains in the gardens.

**This is the Pond of Mercury in the Alcazar, Seville. The statue in the middle of the pond is of the ancient god Mercury.**

**The beautiful blue tiles provide a great backdrop for this fountain.**

In Bratislava, Solvakia, in the Primate’s Palace this small fountain depicts St. Gorge slaying the dragon.

Famous Fountains

No European fountain list would complete without including Trevi Fountain, in Rome. It is the largest fountain in Rome—86 feet by 161 feet. Before the pandemic, this fountain was visited by 10 million people a year.

The theme of the Trevi Fountain is that water is the source of health and abundance it brings to the earth. The many sculptures are themed around Oceanus, not Neptune, as many visitors think. The fountain source of water dates back to ancient Roman times and the modern fountain was completed by direction of the Pope

Most know the legend from the movies—throw a coin into the fountain and you will come back to Rome.

The ancient Trajan Fountain, in Ephesus, Turkey was built in the 2nd century AD (or the Common Era). The fountain had two stories, with one interior pool of water and one exterior water pool. It was decorated with 10 different statues.

It was built to honor Trajan, a former ruler of Rome—it was quite common to build monuments to Roman Emperors and this carried forward to the Roman colony of Ephesus. This was a massive structure—about 9.5 meters high and 17 meters long and it is hard to realize the true size from the present day ruins.

Our next stop is a little naked guy, who can’t hold his water. Of course, I’m referring to Manneken Pis, located in Brussels. In an effort to hide his naked body, thousands of costumes have been designed to cover him up but they still leave part of him exposed. It has become the symbol of Brussels because it represents for the Belgium people their sense of humor and independent thinking.

This bronze statue was designed by Jerome Duquesnoy in 1619.

He even has a replica in Colmar.

In Antwerp, the Brabo Fountain is another spectacular art work display. It is located in front of the town hall and was dedicated in 1887. The legend is about a Roman soldier who defeated a giant terrorizing the Scheldt River by forcing all to pay tolls. Water of the fountain comes out from the severed wrist of the giant.

Here is a much smaller water well that has great iron works also in Antwerp,

At a place where they always seem to be repairing this fountain, Der Schoene Brunnen ( in English the beautiful fountain) , in Nuremberg, is just stunning.

The fountain is 19 meter high, was built in the 14th century, and is in the shape of a Gothic spire. There are 40 colorful figures on this fountain and represent important ideas and people of the Holy Roman Empire.

We finally got some pictures of this gem—please enjoy.

In Basel, Switzerland, we found two small fountains that were richly decorated with painted figures. My favorite is the statue of Neptune that is really good art work. These small fountains are quite typical of Swiss fountains

**Sevogel Fountain in Basel. The statue at the top is Herman Sevogel, the hero of battle of St. Jakob.**

Paris, France Fountains

The Fountain Medicis, in the Luxembourg Gardens is an interesting water fountain. It was built around 1630.

The Fountain Saint Michael was built in 1860. It depicts St Michael defeating the devil. There are 2 winged dragons that provide water to the fountain. 9 different sculptors worked on the fountain.

The Fountain Stravinsky, in the Pompidou Center, is a colorful display of 16 different sculptures. These whimsical collection of works are designed to represent the works of the musical composer Igor Stravinsky. This fountain area was created in 1983.

The massive fountains at the Palace de la Concorde are impressive. This is the Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation.

**The Fountain of the Rivers represent river navigation, agriculture and industry.**

Bordeaux, France

This massive fountain is in a park in Bordeaux.

Along the waterfront, Bordeaux has some amazing fountains. This is the Monument aux Girondins Fountain. Girondists supported the French Revolution and this fountain was built as a memorial to these folks as they became political martyrs and were often killed for their beliefs during the reign of terror.

Baltic Fountains

In Stockholm’s Old town, there is an impressive fountain.

**The gargoyles serve as protectors for the water spouts of this still working fountain in old town square in Stockholm.**

On the Esplanade in Helsinki, several cool fountains caught our attention. Havis Amanda is recognized as one of the best works of art in Helsinki. Here are 2 pictures of this fountain.

**The sculpture is cast in bronze an the water basin is made from granite. The sculpture is a mermaid rising from the water and four sea lions spouting water from their mouths.**

**A close up view of one of the sea lions.**

**Water Nymphs Fountain in the Esplanade in Helsinki**

Some Fountains of Southern Europe

In Dubrovnik, a huge water supply system, kept the walled city well supplied.

This tiny fountain in Montenegro is more functional than ornamental.

In Pecs, Hungry, this dazzling fountain has always impressed visitors and locals for the detailed tile work. This is the Zsolnay Fountain is an Art Nouveau fountain built in 1912 using tiles from the Zsolnay factory.

In Malta, there are some neat gardens among the heavy fortifications. This is the Upper Barrakka Garden Fountain in Valletta. This garden is located on the upper tier of of the Peter & Paul Bastion and really stands out among the strong defensive walls ,

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—European Fountains—just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much! We hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we enjoyed seeing them during our travels.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 49 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

March 11, 2021

Europe Destination

St. Patrick's Festival in Ireland

Hank Schrader

March 11, 2021

Europe Destination

St. Patrick’s Festival in Ireland

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

“Everyone is Irish on March 17!”

One of life’s great experiences in Europe is to visit Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day. It is always on 17 March each year.

So, this week, I thought I’d tell you about 3 great adventures you should try in Ireland during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

So, let’s explore together and learn about these 3 great adventures—you won’t be disappointed!

Celebrating on St. Patrick’s Day

Throughout all Ireland, there are really fun parades, dancing and music—the country comes alive. It is a spectacle not to be missed. Some of the country has turned the celebration into a 5 day event, especially in Dublin.

It didn’t start out that way though—St. Patrick’s Day originally was only a religious feast day, celebrating the missionary who brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and this festival celebrates his death in the fifth-century.

Paddy’s Day as it is called in Ireland, has evolved more into a secular event but in Ireland it really is more a day that is celebrated with the whole family and is a way to showcase Irish culture.

There is some heavy drinking in some places, especially the Temple bar area of Dublin, full of tourists, but the parades are family friendly, and if you pick the right place, you can actually meet some locals like we were able to do in Dublin in a great pub during the festivals 5 days.

Adventure One—See a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland

One of the great festivals of all time is to get to see, or better yet, march in a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland. The largest parade is in Dublin and covers 2 miles. Almost every town has a parade, especially the larger ones, the color of the day is green and families gather together for a few drinks together and probably a family meal.

There are shamrocks displayed everywhere. According to the legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) by using the 3 pedals of the Shamrock as his visual aid.

There are parades throughout the country which are as equally festive and fun.

We got the chance in Silgo to march in one with a group of travel advisors on a tour of Ireland in 2010. Here are some photos of the locals getting ready for the parade:

**A bag pipe band getting ready for the parade**

**Irish school kids formed up to march in the parade**

**A rescue Golden Retriever rescue dog plays with the handler before the parade**

Our group theme was to dress as a Disney character. Here are the photos of our group and some others in the parade:

**Cruella de Vil and a Dalmatian—characters from the Disney 101 Dalmatians film**

**Alice and the Mad Hatter from the Disney film Alice in Wonderland**

**Captain Jack Sparrow and mate from the Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean**

Anne (dressed as Jessie—she made her costume) & Hank (dressed as Buz LightYear) just prior to marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sligo Ireland 2010.

**Buzz LightYear (Hank) and Jesse (Anne) from Disney film Toy Story**

What smart Irish parade marchers do right after the finish of the St Patrick Day’s Parade–they have a pint or two! Sligo Ireland

**These 5 Leprechauns having a pint—they found their own pot of gold!**

Adventure 2—Visit a Pub when Ireland is Hosting a Rugby Match during the Six Nations Tournament

We were lucky one year to be in Dublin during the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. It just so happened that Ireland was hosting Scotland in 2010.

The 6 Nations Matches usually end right around March 17, so there is excitement of possibly being the winning side for Ireland as the overall Trophy winner, or perhaps the Triple Crown winner (best results of Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales) and maybe just a solid win in their last match.

Here is a picture of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin where the matches are played when Ireland hosts one of the other sides:

So on 20 March 2010, what a surprise—Anne and Hank found a great pub—full of locals to enjoy Dublin life. It was even better—Ireland was playing Scotland in the 6 Nations Rugby Test Matches and most fans were getting ready for the game with a couple of pints. Before the match, it was shoulder to shoulder, with all decked out in Scottish kilts, or rugby jerseys —what a blast!

Kehoes is a Traditional Irish Heritage Bar, established in 1803.

As I have said, the place was packed, both sides had excited fans and the Guinness flowed.

**Bartenders at Kehoes—the Guinness and other beers flowed before the rugby match**

Kilts on the Scots mixed in with Green Irish team jerseys and the banter was non-stop, pointing out the merits of one side versus the other side deficiencies.

**Two local gents we struck up a conversation at Kehoes Pub. Please look carefully in the background—you can see the green Irish rugby jersey front and back over the bar.**

By the way, Ireland lost later in the day in an upset to Scotland (23-20)!

There could not have been a better pre-game event—Scotts dressed in Kilts, pubs packed with friendly rivals almost shoulder-to shoulder (pre-COVID-19 Days), all drinking copious quantities of beer, and an electric atmosphere.

The real thing was the display of national pride by both sides. This is what really makes it special and a memory we won’t forget.

Adventure 3—Visit Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse tells the story of brewing Guinness beer. In the exhibit, it tells about how the beer is brewed and information about its founder, Arthur Guinness and other family members who controlled the business.

This is not the actual brewery—it occupies several city blocks on the river. Here is a photo of the massive brewery complex:

**Part of the huge brewing complex for Guinness Beer**

You know you must be famous when your country-men crate a statue to commemorate your brewing skill—this is located at St. Patrick’s Church grounds. This is the grandson of Arthur Guinness, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, who developed a large export business for his stout beer and made the beer famous. Okay, he also was a representative in Parliament, a Baronet (a British hereditary dignity) and the wealthiest man in Ireland and brewed great beer—he certainly deserves a graveside statue in my book.

**The graveside marker for Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness**

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin—it is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Sir Benjamin Guinness donated the money to make a major restoration of the national cathedral and it is why his grave site is on the grounds.

While Guinness beer is world famous, in a brilliant marketing move in the 1950’s, they started to publish The Guinness Book of World Records—all to answer trivia questions of the pub patrons in Ireland and England. Happy patrons drink more beer!

The Guinness Storehouse is located in an old brewery in the St. James section of Dublin that has been repurposed to tell the story of the Guinness brew. It is especially festive during the week of St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and there are added attractions, music, and it is a fun celebration that aren’t available during other times of the year.

**Anne ready to go into the Guinness Storehouse.**

While this venue is available year round, it is still really worthwhile to learn about the signature beer of Ireland during any visit if you can’t make it during festival time. I promise you, even if you don’t like the Guinness style stout brew, it just tastes better in Ireland.

There are 7 floors in this venue, which has been open since 2000. It is fun to see the history of the Guinness brew, explaining the 4 ingredients—water, hops, yeast, and barley (both roasted and malted barley are used) ; looking at the ways they transported the breverage to market ;and the advertising methods.

**Part of the Tasting Experience on the 2nd floor.**

**Display of the heating elements used to make Guinness**

**Old time train engine used to transport Guinness to market.**

Made of More sculpture—this 12 ft tall carved wood sculpture tells the 250 year history of Guinness Brewery. It was carved by Jonathan Santana. It is displayed on the 2nd floor of the Guinness Storehouse.

**Anne is posing with her friend a turtle transporting a pint of Guinness, part of the 3rd floor World of Advertising display**

The tour includes a Guinness poured on the 7th floor Gravity Bar, which has an excellent glassed in 360-degree views of all of Dublin.

**Anne with her Guinness in the Gravity Bar.**

On the 5th floor, there are 2 upscale restaurants. We chose the 1837 Bar & Brasserie over the Brewers Dining Hall, where Anne and I ate a great meal—Guinness Beef Stew served with Guinness Soda Bread for me.

**Hank with his Guinness ready to go into the 1837**

**The staff is placing our order at the 1837 Bar & Brasserie**

**My Guinness Beef Stew—I liked the way the served it traditional style with mash potatoes and a whole carrot on top of the rich, hearty stew.**

My Final Thoughts

What a great adventure—Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day—just another reason we love the Old World of Europe so much! We hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we enjoyed experiencing them during our travels. Festivals like this are experiences well worth your travel dollars—you will never forget how fun they are.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

January 21, 2021

Europe Destination

Prague

Hank Schrader

January 21, 2021

Europe Destination

Prague

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

One of the most interesting cities to visit in Europe is Prague.

It is a great pre or post city visit after a river cruise.

We have led several clients on visits to this city and wanted to share a tour of this awesome city in the Czech city from our eyes.

So, let’s explore Prague in the Czech Republic together and learn about what to do and see here—you won’t be disappointed!

City Overview

A former member of the Warsaw Pact countries of the Iron Curtain, this vibrant city has thrived after the Velvet Revolution of 1989. It has historic roots that are really interesting to learn about but it is also just a fun place to explore its mixture of historic sights, great shops and hearty food.

The town center has most of the interesting sites and the good news is it is relatively compact, and easily walkable except for the steep walk up to the Castle Quarter (not to worry we have done it several times!).

The key sights are divided into zones. They are the Castle Quarter and the Little Quarter on the west side of the Vltava River. On the east side of the river is the Old Town, Jewish Quarter and the New Town.

They are linked by several bridges, but one the most important and interesting bridges in Prague and all of Europe, the Charles Bridge, is bustling with activity and serves as a monument to 30 Saint Statues on this pedestrian only crossway.

For centuries, this bridge was the only link between Lesser Town on the left bank of the Vltava River on the way up to Prague Castle and Old Town on the opposite side.

Here are some pictures of this famous bridge:

The Castle Quarter

Situated on the high ground above the west bank of the Vltava River, the Castle complex dominates all of Prague.

Here are the key sites:

St. Vitus Cathedral--The largest and most important church in the Czech Republic, the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral stands within the confines of the Prague Castle and is one of Eastern Europe's finest examples of Gothic architecture.

Prague Castle--In spite of many wars and fires, the Prague Castle has grown into a unique architectural complex. It contains the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, a convent, several towers and many palace wings. It includes the only privately owned building, Lobkowicz Palace, with its highly acclaimed museum (art works, porcelain, firearms and musical instruments). There is an admission charge to visit some of the sights.

Golden Lane--is a small picturesque street with colorful wooden houses. The legend is that alchemists attempted to turn metal into gold here, but in fact the alchemists lived elsewhere at the castle. It was actually goldsmiths living here in the 17th century who gave the street its captivating name. There is also an admission fee here to visit this small lane.

The Little Quarter

This area below the castle complex is where merchants and the wealthy lived. This neighborhood has a wonderful High Baroque church—the Church of St. Nicolas.

The other really interesting site is the Nerudova Street—the step, cobblestoned roadway, lined with interesting doorway signs, shops, and foreign embassies.

The Old Town

The commerce center of Prague in times past, is now one of the most visited sites in Europe.

Here are some of the most important sights in the old town:

Old Town Square--Famous for its historical monuments, Old Town Square is a Prague must-visit. Climb to the top of the 660-year-old Old Town Hall Tower for spectacular views of the Baroque-style St. Nicholas Church (north corner of the square, it has a fine interior); Gothic-style Church of Our Lady Before Tyn (twin towers) and the Old Town itself.

Church of St. Nicholas--There are plenty of impressive Baroque churches in Prague, but the St. Nicholas church at the Old Town Square is one of the most beautiful thanks to the colorful frescoes, intricate ironwork and stucco that decorate the interior.

Old Town Hall--Prague's old Town Hall was built in 1364. The astronomical clock in the town hall's tower is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Originally the building served only as the city hall of the old town, but later became the city hall for all of Prague. It is now only used for ceremonial functions.

The Astronomical Clock (Orloj)--on the side of the Town Hall--consists of an astronomical dial embellished with zodiac symbols, a calendar dial and colorful, moving sculptures. As the clock chimes, biblical figurines come out, and spectators may watch the "Walk of the Apostles." An hourly bell toll features a figurine representing death. The clock comes to life from 0900 to 2100.

In the center of the square is the Jan Hus Monument, the first to rebel against the total authority of the Catholic Church. He was the first Protestant Priest, a college professor and ultimately burned at the stake.

From Old Town Square, a walk along the posh Parizska Street (Paris Street) with it’s over the top shops will lead to a somber sight—the Jewish Quarter. Here are some pictures of this grand avenue:

In part of the Old town is the Jewish Quarter—the Jews were pushed into a small marshy area near the bend of the Vltava River—it is one of the best preserved areas of Jewish life in all of Europe.

Josefov, also known as the Jewish Quarter or the Prague Jewish Ghetto, dates back to the 13th century and presents visitors with the opportunity to see a little of what life was like for Jews of that era. This small 3 block area was once walled in by order of the pope who declared that Christians and Jews should not live together with 6 exit gates.

But things changed in 1897 with the destruction of the walls and new buildings—now this area is primarily Art Nouveau buildings.

With its much more pleasant look of today, it still is somber to remember the 120,000 or so Jews living in Prague in 1939 in the start of WW II were reduced to only 10,000 by the 1945 liberation of the city.

The New Town

Basically this area surrounds the old town area and follows the outer walls that used to protect the city.

The most important sight here is Wenceslas Square--Wenceslas Square was originally conceived in the 14th century as a horse market. The large square, measuring 750 by 60m (2500x200 ft), evolved into Prague's central boulevard.

Prague Cuisine

This a land of hearty food—pork, cabbage, great beers and potato dishes. Among our favorites are the pork knuckle, beef tenderloin in cream sauce and almost any pork dish.

Here are some of our pictures of the food of Prague:

The food is even better if you get to share it with close friends, like our travel chums. Here we are in 2015 during the Christmas Markets

Don’t think there is only hearty food here—we escorted a close friend and client to a 3 star restaurant in Prague with food and a view beyond compare. Here is some pictures:

My Final Thoughts

Prague is just a great visit—it just doesn’t get boring and we always look forward to returning!

What a great adventure—this town will give you views and experiences you will never forget.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

November 5, 2020

Europe Destination

6 Nations Rugby--Great Travel Ideas!

Hank Schrader

November 5, 2020

Europe Destination

6 Nations Rugby—Great Travel Ideas

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

In a travel year like no other I can ever remember, Anne & I watched the end of the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament last Saturday on TV. England won but the real story is how different this year’s games were played and when they finished. As with everything else this crazy year, the competition started in February and was scheduled to end in March, but it was suspended until last week (31 October 2020) for the final 3 matches. There were no fans at the venues. It was strange but there was a lot of quality rugby being played by these national teams.

So, why am I writing about rugby on a travel blog? To me, it just points out how a pandemic has changed the world of travel and how much we miss visiting the 6 Nations that complete each year in my favorite rugby competition.

My game plan for this adventure is first to tell you a little about my rugby career, a little bit about the Six Nations Tournament and then how our travel has been associated with these 6 countries by telling you a favorite memory or two of our travels to each place.

It should be an interesting journey! Ready? Let’s go together!

My Rugby Career

I started playing rugby in 1972 as a member of the Ft. Riley-Kansas State Rugby Club, where I played for about 3 years and developed a passion for the game and the sport. Next was the Ft. Benning Rugby Club for 9 months or so, where I won the Coaches Award as the Outstanding Player in the Spring Season of 1976. My next team was the Monterrey Rugby Club for 9 months.

In Panama, I was Captain of the Atlantic Syndrome Rugby Club (where I won the Most Valuable Back Award) and later the Captain of Panama’s Pacific side and Captain of the Isthmus select 7-a-side team that competed in Mexico City. Then off to the Fort Bragg team for about 6 months or so. I also played for the Seattle Rugby Club while in grad school for a little over a year.

Upon arriving at West Point to teach physical education. I was fortunate enough to be selected as an assistant coach for the rugby team from 1982-1984. One of the highlights had to be escorting the team to play in England against the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst Rugby Team. What a thrill to visit the home of rugby and have our lads play at Twickenham Stadium, one of the venues of the Six Nations Championships!

**West Point Rugby Club at Sandhurst 1983**

I was also a member of the Old Gray Rugby Club.

My last team was a return to the Monterrey Rugby club and later as a member of a Monterrey Select team where we won the Inter-Service National Military Championship in May of 1985 at Fort Sill, OK.

In about 350 or so games, I think I have scored about 67 tries (like touchdowns in football), 16 Drop Kicks and 108 conversions (like a PAT in football) but I never really kept records.

The Six Nations Rugby Competition

The 6 teams in the tournament are England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Each team plays the other teams once, with home field advantage that alternates every other year. The competition began in 1883 as the Home Nations Championships with England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In 1910, France was added and it became known as the Five Nations Championship and I began following the tournament during my playing career. In 2000, Italy was added and the championship was renamed the Six Nations Championship.

It is the most important international rugby championship that is played in the Northern Hemisphere and features the key originators of rugby union play.

While the world cup championship is more important than the six nations, the six nations is for many fans the most interesting and meaningful rugby tournament—it is easy to follow since there are limited teams and rugby pride is rampant in the England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales countries—it is very much like our football super bowl.

It is my favorite rugby tournament—I just love the passion, the quality of play and the pride in supporting one’s national team! We were in Dublin at Kehoes Pub just before the Ireland and Scotland match one year and the atmosphere was electric—we had a ball!

So, with that in mind, let’s visit the six nation’s countries and learn about our favorite memories of each country.

England

It is easy to argue that England has changed the world more than any other country in the world’s history in the last 300 years. As the saying goes, the sun never set on the British Empire—at one time they ruled over 50 countries. England’s strength was and still is its sea power.

A place so steeped in history and fascinating places to visit, I’m going with a tranquil visit to the Cotswolds, a place that evokes calm and relaxation. I will say London was a close second, but somehow I think we managed to see a side of the more rural England and still visit some awesome nearby sights such as the country palace (Blenheim Palace), a great college town (Oxford) and a jaunt into Shakespeare’s hometown of Strafford-on-Avon.

The Cotswolds area in Gloucestershire is about 25 miles wide and 90 miles long. It is in the English countryside that is like stepping into a real life fairy tale area of rolling hills, sheep and quaint villages.

Our favorite village is Chipping Campden. It was a sheep market town that once was the most important source of wool in England. It was said that Cotswold wool was the best wool in the world and made many merchants here rich.

France

France is a diverse country that combines man-made beauty and natural beauty. From art, to great food, to philosophy, the French have been leaders for the rest of the world. One way to describe this country is “L’art de Vivre”—the art of living.

I could easily spend 6 months traveling around France, but I decided to pick Paris, as it is one of Anne’s favorite, there is such a wide array of things to do and see, it is near enough for great day trips but it is the small café’s and bistros I love the best.

Yes, the art of living—enjoy these pictures!

Ireland

Ireland is the 3rd largest island in Europe. It was ruled by the English until 1949, when 26 counties formed the Republic of Ireland and 6 counties became Northern Ireland. It became a member of the EU in 1973.

I’ve picked two favorites here—Dublin and a country estate—Mt. Falcon.

In Dublin, perhaps one of our best experiences was in Kehoes in Dublin prior to the Ireland vs. Scotland rugby match in 2011. This is a Traditional Irish Heritage Bar, established in 1803. The place was packed, both sides had excited fans and the Guinness flowed. Kilts on the Scots mixed in with Green Irish team jerseys and the banter was non-stop, pointing out the merits of one side versus the other side deficiencies.

Other great sights in Dublin are the wonderful painted doors, the Guinness Storehouse, and the Book of Kells.

The other memorable place was a stay in the country manor of Mount Falcon in County Mayo. This former estate of the Knox family is now a luxury 4 star resort.

Italy

This unique country with so many famous sights has 20 regions that have their own distinct character. This peninsula country is about 850 miles long and 150 miles wide. It has over 5,000 miles of coastline. It is a land of food and wine and the “sweet life” but still is the world’s 7th largest industrial power.

There are so many good choices, this was perhaps the most challenging country to narrow it down, but I decided to go with Rome. There is so much history of the ancient sights, the Vatican, the shopping but my favorites are visiting the vibrant squares that are markets during the day and al fresco restaurants at night.

**Campo de Fiori Flower Market—turns into liviey night spot**

One of our great adventures in Rome was a food tour led by Hande Leimer, owner of Vino Roma. We visited a Rome Market where all the produce comes directly from the growers. We visited the market, some food shops and cafes, and ended with a geleteria!

If you truly want to understand a different country, you have to participate in their daily lives.

Scotland

Scotland has two regions—the Lowlands, an urbanized area, and the Highlands, a nature lover’s area of mountainous type terrain, with over 280 hills and mountains over 3000 feet or more that is dotted with deep lakes called lochs.

Edinburgh is the winner here, as it has so much to see and do. Anne has some real Scottish heritage and I have been allowed to come along and learn about clans and the Scottish way of life. On the Royal Mile, you can visit 2 castles, see key sights and even buy a kilt, as we did.

If you only have a day or two, the choice has to be Edinburgh, but I’d stay longer and see some of the highlands also!

Wales

Wales is only 170 miles long and 60 miles wide. It has 750 miles of scenic coast. It has its own unique language that has survived to present day, although almost all speak both English and Welsh. It also has a passion for rugby that makes it the number one sport in the country.

I can’t do just one here, since one was among the most memorable trips we ever took.

Our most memorable trip has to be Anne’s 60th Birthday, when we stayed at a vineyard about twenty miles outside Cardiff. We attended a cooking school with perhaps at that time the most famous chef in Wales, Angela Grey. She taught us how to make some classic French dishes in her cooking school at Llanerch Vineyards. We made Coq au Vin Blanc (Chicken in White Wine Sauce), Lyonnaise Potatoes and Crêpes

The second has to be our stay in Conwy, Wales—a small walled city with a great castle (you knew somehow I had to get another castle into this blog) and a chance to really get down with the locals in their pubs.

My Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed this unique rugby tour of the 6 Nations through our eyes!

We hope this inspires you to dream about European travel—and then take action when travel restrictions are lifted! We will be ready to help!

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

May 14, 2020

Europe Destination

Reasons to Visit Some of the Least Vistited Countries in Europe

Hank Schrader

May 14, 2020

Europe Destination

Reasons to Visit Some of the Least Visited Countries in Europe

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Trying to define exactly what Europe is a matter of debate. Some include 44 countries; others 51—the additional countries are partly in Europe and in Asia (Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Cyprus and Turkey). The reason for this is geographers have used two key land features, the Ural Mountains and the Ural River to divide Europe and Asia. Since the landmass is not totally separated by a sea or an ocean, the division is really due to the distinct historical, cultural and political identity of Europe that is quite different from Asia and not by any true geographical physical boundaries.

If I were deciding upon what is Europe, I would count only the European part of Turkey, exclude the former Russian countries of Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine and most of Russia except St. Petersburg. I also would include Cyprus. While the Schrader Europe (41 countries) has no bearing on any geography division, Schrader Europe really is about the quality of tourist sites or experiences that appeal to enough travelers to make a visit worthwhile, in my humble opinion.

But this is not a geography lesson; this is a blog about why you should consider visiting some of the least visited countries in Europe.

As a concession to the correct definition of Europe, we do have PowerPoints on all 44 countries in Europe on our website. They are organized by the 4 regions of Europe and include a special section on Little Treasures that provides information on some of the smaller European countries. We also have city guides for 6 of the 8 countries covered in this blog—Reykjavik, Vaduz, Luxembourg, Monaco, San Marino and Belgrade. It is easy to order them from our website.

So, let’s visit 8 of the 10 least visited countries of Europe. Although Moldova (#1 least visited) and Belarus (#4 least visited) are in the top 10 of the least visited, there are not many reasons for the average person to visit and I am not writing about them in this blog.

A word about the data—it is from the World Tourism Council, some is outdated, and with the travel world on hold currently with COVID-19, is just for comparisons purposes only. I include the country’s rank (#1 being less visited), but choose not to include the number of visitors, as I cannot verify the data widely available is all from the same year, or has any meaning as all as numbers are sure to plummet in 2020. However, it seems the trends and rankings are quite valid—the 8 countries I have listed are the least visited countries in Europe for at least the last 5 years or more. I decided to list them alphabetically instead of ranking 1-10.

Ready? Let’s go!

Bosnia & Herzegovina (#7)

A small country of the former Yugoslavia, most folks know this country from the 1984 Winter Olympics and the devastating civil war that followed (1992-1995). Bosnia, as it is commonly called, has a very small coastline, especially compared to its immediate neighbor Croatia. We have not really visited here except for a 10 minute stop while on tour in Croatia.

Sarajevo was featured on TV during the Olympics before the brutal civil war and was a beautiful city. The war damaged some of the city, but it has since recovered. A great place to visit is in the old town, Sarajevo Bašcaršija, which features towering mosques, bustling bazaars with traditional handicrafts like copper plates and gold-gilded tea sets. Also try the outdoor cafes for sipping strong Bosnian coffee.

Another good place to visit is Mostar, which many call the most picturesque city in Bosnia. It has perhaps the most famous site in the country—the Stari Most bridge which arches across the Neretva River right in the center of the old town. Destroyed during the civil war, it has been reconstructed with great care.

The last good place to visit is just outside the city of Blagaj. There you can see the Velagić House and a monastery complex, both of these structures are dramatically built into the side of a cliff.

Iceland (#8)

This island nation has the northernmost capital city in the world. It is full of wonderful natural sights. I briefly visited while in the Army, but had little chance to enjoy the country as it was an official visit with military work that precluded any tourist destinations.

Most of the best sights in Iceland are the natural wonders. These include: the Blue Lagoon (a famous geothermal hot springs lake); the Golden Circle (The Golden Circle is the popular tourist route that includes Gullfoss waterfall, Geyser, and Thingvellir National Park); and the Northern Lights (best seen September to April, but often not visible due to clouds, rain or snow—it might take some luck and patience on your part to see the aurora borealis).

Reykjavík, the colorful capital city, is known for its nightlife. A little remote, but can be access by flights or for the really brave, an ocean cruise (I guess I don’t qualify as a Viking raider!).

Liechtenstein (#2)

This is one of the world’s smallest countries—it is only 62 square miles! I have driven through the entire country and visited its capital Vaduz in 1989. Vaduz has about 5,000 inhabitants. Most of the country is Alpine mountains or Alpine valleys. The language of Liechtenstein is German and they use Swiss Francs for currency. The capital is Vaduz and there are some interesting things to do including hiking up the castle of the Prince and visiting the stamp museum and Prince’s Art Gallery.

If you have ever seen the movie, The Mouse that Roared with Peter Sellers, for me, Liechtenstein was the model for the small country, that to avoid bankruptcy, declared war on the United States. The plan was to attack with a small force and surrender, so to have the US bail them out as it had done to other European countries under the Marshall Plan. However, in this farce, the small force captured a Q Bomb and now was the most powerful country in the world. It just seemed to me to fit, as I sat drinking a beer in an outdoor café, gazing up at the castle—I guess I’m a true romantic—small does not have to mean uninteresting!

Luxembourg (#10)

Luxembourg is a holdover of the Holy Roman Empire feudal system. This place is a gem, with interesting sights packed into a tiny country. The walled city, Luxembourg City, is a fortress city with steep cliffs surrounding the old city complex. Anne and I visited in 1989 and liked our brief overnight stay.

The old town is charming and the steep city walls make for great views in Luxembourg City and the surrounding rest of the town. Other sites in the town are the Grand Ducal Palace, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, and the underground tunnels. Expensive but a great place—it is one of the richest countries in the world.

Outside the city, there is an awesome castle complex at Bourscheid Castle. There is an American Cemetery about 5 miles outside town and is the final resting place of Lt. General Patton and many other soldiers—quite a moving place to visit. World War II history buffs will also like a visit to the Ardennes region, with its Battle of the Bulge Museum.

**American Cemetery in Luxembourg—Lt. General Patton is buried here**

North Macedonia (#6)

The ancestral home of Alexander the Great, this tiny country does not have very many visitors but has endured a battle over the name of the country that has hurt tourism. Recently, the country in 2018 resolved a 27 year dispute over the correct name for this former part of Yugoslavia, after Macedonia declared independence in 1991. The problem here is that Greece has a part of their country also called Macedonia and both claimed the name. It finally has been resolved by renaming the new country—the correct name is now The Republic of North Macedonia.

Of all the countries of this blog, tourism has a way to go, in my opinion, as this country has not been able to join the EU (European Union) and the political disputes have hurt the tourism sector.

In the capital, Skopje, the old bazaar and Kale fortress deserve a visit. Perhaps the best place to visit in the Republic of North Macedonia is Ohrid. Ohrid is known for its churches. Two of the most famous are the church of Kaneo, and the monastery of Plaoshnik. They are stunning buildings on Lake Ohrid. Ohrid is known as Jerusalem of the Balkans, for the fact that it once had 365 churches, and was a very important area in the growth of Christianity.

Monaco (#5)

A remnant of the Holy Roman Empire, Monaco is an old principality—it is only about 2 square miles. It has the highest population density of any country in the world. This country is known for being a tax haven and is home to one of the most famous casinos in the world—Monte Carlo Casino. It has one of the best formula one races in the world—the Monaco Grand Prix. In Monaco, they speak French and use the Euro for currency.

I visited in 1971 and the first place I went was the casino—it was not lost on me that James Bond gambled here! The changing of the guard at the palace and the wonderful aquarium of Jacques Cousteau are also worth a visit. Just wander here—it is a playground of the rich and famous!

San Marino (#3)

This is an independent country completely surrounded by Italy (we in the geography world call this an enclave). It is only 24 square miles. It is the smallest and oldest republic in the world. The town of San Marino does not allow automobiles. Attractions include the 3 forts on the 3 peaks of Monte Titano, a Basilica, and shopping in the village’s narrow streets. San Marino postage stamps are highly sought after by collectors. The language used here is Italian and they use the Euro.

You have to love a place that has cross bow competitions, and parades at noon of villagers dress up in medieval costumes. We really enjoyed our visit and want to return. A little hard to get to but what a gem!

Serbia (#9)

It might seem strange for a relatively large country to be on this list, but it does not draw many visitors compared with other European countries. There are some very impressive fortresses and several large houses of worship. A good place to start is Belgrade, the capital city. Kalemegdan Fortress, on the banks of the Danube, is huge and an interesting site to visit. Also, the large Orthodox Saint Sava Church is an impressive structure.

**Kalemegdan Fortress, on the Danube near Belgrade, Serbia**

**Weapons Display, in Kalemgdan Fortress**

**St. Sava Orthodox Church, Belgrade, Serbia**

The Iron Gates on the Danube and Novi Sad deserve your time. We visited on an AmaWaterways lower Danube cruise and it was a great way to be introduced this interesting country.

**Petrovaradin Fortress near Novi Sad on the Danube River**

**Church on the Banks of the Danube in the Iron Gates**

My Final Thoughts

Wow—what unique places these 8 countries are for me! As we grapple with how travel will be after we resume our explorations, perhaps these lesser known places with draw more interest away from some of the sometimes crowded tourist top places to visit in Europe. I certainly hope so!

Please let us know if you have visited any of these 8 countries and as always, your pictures are welcome!

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise experts, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations. As you can see, our full service agency can get you to almost anywhere you desire to travel and provide you a great experience and vacation.

When you are spending your hard earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48+ years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Join Our Mailing List