Hank Schrader

February 2, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Bratislava, Slovakia

Hank Schrader

February 2, 2023

Danube River Cruise Ports

Bratislava, Slovakia

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Of the 4 countries on an upper Danube route, probably the least known country is Slovakia. It was once a part of the Hapsburg Empire, then part of Czechoslovakia, and finally became independent in 1989.

Bratislava’s city limits actually share the borders of Austria and Hungary..

So, let’s explore together and learn about Bratislava and its key sights.

Bratislava Castle-- The massive Bratislava Castle is located on a hill that has been populated as early as in the Stone Age. The Celts built a fortified stronghold here in the 1st century BC. The Romans, the Germans, the Slavs, the Hungarians and the Austrians have ruled the area in the later centuries. Bratislava Castle became the residence of the Hungarian Kings and was repeatedly rebuilt in various styles.

The most famous residence of the castle was Maria Theresa, who used the castle as her official seat to rule the Kingdom of Hungary.

Bratislava Castle. Please look closely at this photo Anne took. At first glance it looks like there are turrets at the corners, but the closest turret is attached to the roof and the far turret is a real turret.

From the exterior, it looks like a square with 4 turrets at the corners, but inside it has irregular shapes, gardens, and other buildings other than the castle. Again, even the turrets are deceiving. 3 are attached to the roof, while only the turret on the southwest corner is an actual turret. The actual turret is 47 meter tall (over 141 feet).

This famous landmark almost did not survive after it burned down in 1811. It lay in ruins until 1953, when reconstruction began.

Today it houses the exhibition of the Slovak National Museum and serves as a state function venue. The museum entrance fee is currently 10 Euros. Many river cruise companies offer hikes up to the castle as part of their active wellness offerings.

St. Martin's Cathedral is the most important church in Bratislava. This 3-nave church, with its Gothic Dome, was build in the place of an Older Romanesque church. It was consecrated in 1452.

Inside the Cathedral, on the altar, there the 18th century statue of St. Martin and the Beggar equestrian statue sculpted by famous baroque sculptor Raphael Donner. St Martin is wearing the traditional Hungarian Hussar clothing.

St Martin’s Church. Please look carefully at the cupola—it is a replica of the crown of Hungary.

As Bratislava became the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom in the 16th century, the Cathedral was the coronation place for Hungarian Emperors. There were 11 Hungarian Kings and 8 queens crowned here between 1563 and 1830.

On the top of the church tower, some 85 meters (280 feet) above ground, there is a 1 m high copy of the Hungarian royal crown that weighs 300 kilograms.

Michael's Gate is the only surviving gate of the former walled city of Bratislava. Medieval Bratislava was entered through four gates, and Michael’s Gate is the northern entrance.

The 3 other gates were Vydrica (the western gate), the Laurinc (the eastern gate) and the fisherman’s gate, which was added to the original gate system.

Not only was it an entrance to the city, but it also served as the watchtower of the original city fortifications. Over 50 meters high, the tower was built in the early 14th century, and was rebuilt many times since its original construction.

As it is no longer needed as a watchtower, it now serves as a museum and has a collection of medieval arms and town fortification on display. The tower also offers a stunning view of the city for just a few euros.

The following 2 pictures are about the Laurinc Gate that was built in the 14th century. The gate was demolished by the order of Maria Theresa, as the walls of the city were limiting growth of the town. It did not have a tower on top of the gate.

The Old Town Hall with the clock tower, and the romantic courtyard with renaissance arcades, makes it one of the most appealing historical buildings of Bratislava.

It is a complex of several construction styles.

Today, the Old Town Hall houses the City Museum with a large collection documenting Bratislava’s history. The Old Town Hall is located on the main square, which is used during the Christmas season as some lively markets.

The old town hall clock tower is 45 meters tall (over 135 feet).

This unique tiled roof is part of the old town hall

The Primate's Palace The 18th century Palace in the spirit of French Classicism is one of the most beautiful attractions of Bratislava. This Archbishop’s residence also welcomed the Hungarian Kings when the Castle was burnt down in 1811.

The palace also has an important role in European history. In 1805 Napoleon and Emperor Franz I of Austria signed the Treaty of Pressburg in the Mirror Hall Room. The treaty was a result of the Battle of Austerlitz, in which Napoleon crushed the Russian and Austrian forces. The treaty resulted in significant loss of territory by the Austrian Empire and reparations of 40 million francs paid to France.

Detail of the roof on the Primate’s Palace

In 1903, the palace was bought by the city and today it serves as the residence of Bratislava’s mayor. The historical interior conceals the exhibition of the European paintings as well as the set of 6 English tapestries from the 17th century.

There is also a beautiful Baroque fountain in the courtyard.

The fountain of St. George, showing the knight slaying the dragon.

St John of Nepomuk with angles outside of the Primate Palace

Slovak National Theatre is situated in the lovely restored Hviezdoslavovo square. The historical building of the Slovak National Theatre is the gem of the Neo-Renaissance architecture built by the Viennese architects F. Fellner and H. Helmer between 1884 and 1886.

There is a lovely Ganymede’s fountain in front of the building. The beautiful interiors of the theatre house are an acclaimed venue for Opera and Ballet performances.

A good photo of the fountain outside the Slovak National Theater

Grassalkovich Palace is still in use today. --This impressive Rococo palace was built as the summer residence of Count Grassalkovich in the 18th century (it was finished in 1760). Quickly It became the center of the Hungarian aristocracy social life and was also visited by the Empress Maria Theresa. The palace was used for parties and balls by the Habsburg royal court.

Maria Theresa Statue on the promenade alongside the Danube River

During the communist era, after first being used by the Council of Commissioner (a quasi-government of Slovakia), the palace was used as an activity center for Bratislava schoolchildren, known as the “House of Pioneers and Youth”.

After its reconstruction in 1996, the Grassalkovich Palace became the residence of the Slovak Republic's president. Its excellent garden is now a public park.

Chatam Sofer Memorial--The Jewish community has always played an important role in the life of the city. Although the historical Jewish quarter under Bratislava Castle was destroyed, the most significant Jewish funerary shrine and place of religious worship still can be found in the Castle Hil.

There is a preserved part of original Jewish Cemetery with graves of rabbis including the famous Bratislava rabbi Chatam Sofer, the most important figure in the history of Jews in Bratislava.

The Blue Church (its proper name is Church of St. Elizabeth) is very different from the old town portion of Bratislava. It is an Art Noveau style that was built in 1913.

According to the Bratislava tourist office website, the blue church is a popular place for wedding and baptisms.

Curious Statues of Bratislava--Three life size bronze statues hidden in the streets of the Old Town have lately become the biggest attraction for visitors of Bratislava. They are:

Cumil-The Peeper (on the corner of Panska and Rybarska brana streets),

French Napoleon Soldier (on a bench on the Hlavne namestie - Main Square),

Schoener Naci - Beautiful Ignaz (on Rybarska brana street).

There is actually a sad story behind the inspiration for the greeter statue, but no one knows for certain the truth of this story. While there are various versions of the story, the greeter went mad at the loss of a woman he loved. The story becomes clouded here—did she not respond, was his lady deported by the Nazis in WW II to a concentration camp? The greeter, berefted with grief, is said to have dressed each day in tails and offer flowers to all the ladies he encountered wandering the old town square area.

The UFO Bridge, as it is popularly known, has an observation deck that looks like it came from outer space. The bridge is 95 meters tall (285 feet tall).

The UFO Bridge with our rivership, the AmaCerto in the foreground

Even with all the fun of visiting this capital city, along the promenade, I was reminded in this former iron-curtain country, how they feel about there freedom. Here is a ponient reminder of the cost of war and freedom. It is a picture of several Ukrainian women who lost their husbands in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

A political message about the cost of the Ukraine War during our 2022 visit. The six ladies all lost husbands during this conflict.

Our Final Thoughts

It is a wonderful thing to visit the former iron curtain countries and learn more about them. Bratislava is a blending of the old and new and until recently been ruled by kings and queens and later under communist domination. This is an upbeat, thriving country eager to put its past domination as only a history lesson and they look to a bright future.

We hope you enjoyed this report and learned something about this country.

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 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

January 26, 2023

Rhine River Cruise Ports

Koblenz, Germany

Hank Schrader

January 26, 2023

Rhine River Cruise Ports

Koblenz, Germany

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 Koblenz, Germany as both a port for many river cruise ships and as a base to explore some of the best castles in the area around Koblenz on the Moselle and Middle Rhine.

Koblenz is located at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers. It is a great base to explore parts of nearby castles and quaint towns—we used it as a base of operations and enjoyed it very much during a trip in 2013.

Koblenz is one of the oldest towns in Germany and its strategic location had two different influences upon its history—it was a great place to collect tolls and both Germany and France wanted to control these valuable waterways and the land near it, so many castles were built to defend the area by the Germans. France attacked and burned these defensive positions as they vied for control of the area during the reign of Louie XIV, the Sun King.

Key sights in and near Koblenz include Deutsches Eck, Lahneck Castle, Stolzenfels Castle, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Berg Eltz, Cochem Castle, Marksburg Castle, and the Electoral Palace.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Koblenz as a base for a couple of days or just for a port stop on a river cruise.

Castle Exploration Base

There are several ways to see some castles in the area using Koblenz as a base. In the Spring of 2013, we did just that using buses, hiking and trains to get to these sights. The 3 castles in this section allow independent tours inside the castles, which make them well worth the visit.

Schloss Stolzenfels—the castle is located approx. 5 km to the south of Koblenz, which was originally built as a customs fortress and was destroyed by the French in 1689 in the Palatine War of Succession. It was rebuilt according to the plans of the Berlin master builder Schinkel and is now open to the public. It houses a number of valuable furniture pieces and a collection of armor and weapons. Here are some pictures:

Anne took this picture from Lahneck Castle for an excellent view of the **Stolzenfels** Castle in 2021

This is a scan from a postcard we bought at the castle

Here is how we got there: Bus connection: From Koblenz Hbf (abbreviation for Hauptbahnhof in German or main train station) the bus terminal is outside the rail station building. Take Bus-Bahnsteig ‘H“, Bus-Linie „650 Boppard“bis zur Haltestation „Stolzenfels-Schlossweg” (the signs will be in German)“. Translated it means Bus Platform "H" bus line "650 Boppard" to the holding station "Stolzenfels-Schlossweg". Der Fußweg zum Schloss ist ausgeschildert (again the German words on the sign). The walk to the castle is signposted. Also, you can take a boat to Stolzenfels stop. Closed on Mondays.

For those wanting a more active way to see this castle, you can hike part of the Rhine Castles Trail to Stozenfels Castle and then take the train or bus back.

We used trains and some hiking to visit Marksburg Castle and Burg Eltz from Koblenz.

Marksburg Castle is the only castle that never was sacked or ruined among the 40 some odd castles along the Rhine Gorge stretch from Koblenz to Rüdesheim. It is above the town of Braubach. Marksburg was built and served as primarily a fort and often these countryside castles lacked the grandeur of royal palaces. The construction of Marksburg was intended to defend the town and after entering the castle the first area is the Great Battery with its firing positions designed to protect the Rhine and town from enemies.

This photo shows the fields of fire for the battery to protect the town and approaching enemy on the Rhine River.

The next area on the tour is the wine cellar.

The gothic Hall was the kitchen area of the castle fort.

The next area was the sleeping area.

Next is the Chapel

Now the Armory Museum.

Finally, the Horse Stables, which also was used as a prison complete with torture devices.

Burg Eltz, Moselkern, near Cochem: Its multiple turrets and towers, which rise amid a thick forest near the Mosel River, evoke the chivalry and poetry of the Middle Ages. This is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Germany. Trains stop at Moselkern hourly from Koblenz or from Cochem/Trier. It is a 3 mile hike to the castle. Here are some photos of the burg:

This was the first view of the castle after our 3 mile hike.

This is a scan from a postcard we bought at the castle, as no pictures are allowed during the tours.

This is also a scanned post card. This the Knight’s Hall Room

We could take pictures at the treasury room of the burg.

Sights in Koblenz

Deutsches Eck (the German Corner)—is a monument built where the Rhine and the Mosel join. Kaiser Wilhelm I equestrian statue is featured here. It was first erected in 1987, 9 years afte the death of the Kaiser to honor his role in unifying Germany. It was damaged during WW II and in 1993 was reconstructed with a replica statue and now is proudly on display.

This picture taken in 2021 for our rivership gives you a good look at how large this monument is. It is 37 meters high (over 111 feet)

St Castor’s Basilica is on the backside of the triangular Deutsches Eck. The Basilica was consecrated in 836 and is the oldest surviving church in Koblenz. The Treaty of Verdun was signed here and this treaty help create the countries of Germany and France, as the aftermath of Charlemagne’s death and the war between his 3 sons..

Fortress Ehrenbreitstein--The Fortress rises 118 meters above the Rhine and dates back to the year 1000. Over the centuries the building was extended by the Electors of Trier. After its destruction by the French, the Prussians rebuilt the fortifications and the result, one of Germany's strongest fortresses, is today open to the public. It is the second largest fortress in Europe (Gibraltar is larger). (www.diefestungehrenbreitstein.de )

Directly across the Rhine from Koblenz, the fortress is on the right bank of the Rhine. To reach the fortress, make the 3.50€ one-way passage across the river from the main Rhine dock. Ferries operate mid-March to late November daily 9am to 5:15pm.

This sign tells you about the distances to important hiking sites around Koblenz. Rheinburgenweg tells us that the distance to the Rhine Castle Trail which is on the left bank of the Rhine is 5.1 km. Rheinsteig (Brucke) is the bridge and Fahre is the Ferry. This is part of the 21 sections or stages of the Rhinesteig—the part around Koblenz is section 10

You can also take the Koblenz Cable Car, and get a ride that takes you 367 feet above the Rhine and the ride is about 3000 feet in total distance and takes about 5 minutes to cross the river. The aerial cable was built in 2011 and connects Koblenz near St Kastor Basilica to a plateau in front of the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. The more adventurous might want a car with a glass bottom. The chairlift operates daily from April to October from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Round-trip tickets cost 8€ for adults, 5€ for children 13 and under.

One of the towers of the Koblenz Cable Car. According to the tourist information site, the cable car can transport up to 7,600 people per hour.

Old Town Koblenz—one of the oldest towns in Germany, the old town area is the charming and romantic streets between the St. Castor’s Basilica and "Liebfrauenkirche" (Church of Our Beloved Lady). The next 3 pictures are the buildings surrounding Jesuit Square.

Here is an interesting weinstube that caught Anne’s eye.

The exterior of the Hotel and Weinstube Kornpfort

Winniger wrought sign—it is a weinstube.

Goerresplaz Square—known today as Goerres Square, it is the central square of the old town. The fountain in the middle of the square with its 10m 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. It covers 2000 years of the history of Koblenz.

Liebfrauenkirche—beautiful Baroque church with onion shaped domes. This basilica with five-axis pillars was built between 1180 and 1250. The new construction of the Gothic chancel (an inside area of the church near the altar) began in 1404, while the baroque onion towers date back to 1693.

Schängel Fountain--The Schängel fountain is a monument to the city’s eternal “bad boy” who spits water from his mouth. 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.

Electoral Palace--The Elector Clemens Wenzeslaus built this palace from 1777-1786. Prince Wilhelm, later known as German Emperor Wilhelm I, officiated here as the Prussian military governor from 1850 – 1857. The palace now houses the administrative offices and is not open to the public. Located on Neustadt Street.

Bundesgartenschau--The “Empress-Augusta-Gardens” located on the Rhine banks are some of the most beautiful gardens between Basel and Rotterdam. On the tree-lined, grassy bank you will find the monument of Joseph Görres, as well as little treasures such as the Luise Temple.

Eat at the Altes Brauhaus, If you want some excellent German food try this fun place, Here are some pictures:

Our Final Thoughts

Koblenz is a good port stop or a good base. We hope you enjoyed this report. Please enjoy Koblenz—we 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.

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

Hank Schrader

January 19, 2023

Europe River Cruise, River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways Sails 2 Rivers to Help You See the Best Castles in Europe

Hank Schrader

January 19, 2023

Europe River Cruise, River Cruise Routes

AmaWaterways Sails 2 Rivers to Help You See the Best Castles in Europe

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

While all 7 river cruise companies we follow sail on the Rhine and through the Middle Rhine or, as it is more popularly known, the Rhine Gorge with its 40 castles, they usually sail from Amsterdam to Basel (or reverse) on a 7-day route. But expanding the usual Rhine route by blending this more traditional 7-day route of these awesome castles with a cruise on the winding Moselle in a 10-day cruise and suddenly this becomes the best castle watching opportunity on Europe Rivers. The result is the best castle experience in Europe on the rivers.

The added bonus is a combination of small, charming villages, cool castles, the oldest city in Germany and finally the canals of Amsterdam. Add a visit to Lucerne and Zurich, for a taste of Alpine German speaking Switzerland on a land extension and this becomes an epic journey.

So, let’s explore together and learn about the port stops of 2 great routes—Rhine and Moselle Delights (starting in Basel) and the reverse right the Rhine and Moselle Fairytales

Rhine and Moselle Fairytales (Amsterdam to Basel)

Since the routes are so similar, I will report on the port stops of just the Rhine and Mosel Fairytales. I hope by the time I finish you will want to go on this route.

There are only 6 sailings on this route in 2023—so after reading this you should quickly reach out to us (sailing dates are at the end of April, 2 dates in May, 1 in June, 1 in August and 1 in October). Space fills up quickly and some dates have the special free land extension promotions going on right now but please remember they are capacity controlled and have limited space.

Amsterdam, Netherlands. This ringed city of canals is unique to say the least. A land of bikes, canals, and a free-wheeling culture, we have visited Amsterdam several times and escorted folks there. This is a city of 165 ringed canals, a population of 750.000 (it has as many bikes as people) and always full of tourists.

It is the capital of the Netherlands, with two world class art museums. It is a major port; once the wealthiest city in the world; and residents and visitors live with a tolerant atmosphere.

The tour today is a view of Amsterdam on a scenic canal cruise—it is a neat experience.

Gabbles are unique architecture in Amsterdams

Cologne, Germany. The huge Cologne Cathedral, with its twin pointed towers, is the best-known landmark in Cologne. Construction of the cathedral begin in 1248 and took the next 600 years to complete.

Next door to the Cathedral Romano-Germanic Museum which has artifacts from the old Roman town, including part of an old Roman villa.

Hohenzollern Bridge--This is one of the 7 bridges that cross the Rhine in Cologne. About 1200 trains pass over this bridge daily in route to the main train station.

The old town square is also another good site to visit.

There are 3 tour options today. They are: Join a guided tour through the Old Town and explore the UNESCO-designated cathedral. Continue on to the Cologne Rathaus, Germany’s oldest town hall, and take in other local sights.

For a different view of the city, visit a local tavern to taste its famous Kölsch beer, only made in Cologne, and reibekuchen mit apfelmus, potato pancakes typically served with applesauce.

Or, take a Cologne Bike Tour.

Lahnstein is a port near the Moselle and Koblenz. Here you will get the chance to tour Lahneck Castle, either by tour or take a hike up the castle. Lahneck castle was built in the 13th century above the confluence of the Lahn River. It was heavily damaged during the Thirty Years war in 1633 by Swedish soldiers. Later it passed in private ownership and has been family owned since 1907. The tour is an exclusive feature of the tours offered by AmaWaterways. The next 8 pictures are about this wonderful tour:

Anne took this photo in 2013 of Lahneck Castle on a gloomy day in March

For the slightly more daring adventure, take a cable car ride from Koblenz across the Rhine River to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is the 2nd largest preserved fortress in Europe. It stands 120 meters (360 feet) above the Rhine River.

The Deutsches Eck (the German Corner) is located at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers

For the more active, there is a “Two Rivers” bike tour.

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.

Schloss Reichsburg stands watch over the village of Cochem

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!

Schloss Reichsburg as we viewed it during a walk down to the village of Cochem.

There are two other options here—a visit to Cochem Mustard Mill and, for the more active, a Cochem bike tour.

On the way sailing to Trier, there are 10 wonderful castles, most that are visible from the Moselle River. One of my favorites is Thurant Castle with its twin castles. Here are 2 pictures to show you how scenic and beautiful this route is:

The ruins of Thurant Castle on the hills. The village in the foreground is Alken with an estimated population of 640

Trier was an old Roman outpost which was first settled by the Roman in 17 BC. It is the oldest city in Germany, and is near the Luxembourg border—in fact, one side of the Moselle River is Trier, Germany and the opposite other side is the tiny country of Luxembourg. Anne & I first visited here in 1989.

Important Roman sights include the Roman Baths, an amphitheater, Basilica of Constantine (it was the throne room of Emperor Constantin), and the huge city gate, the Porta Nigra gate, that dates back to 180 A.D. It has earned the nickname of “the Rome of the North.”

Other sights are the Trier Cathedral (it is the oldest Cathedral in Germany) and the ornate Trier Electoral Palace and gardens. Also worth a visit is the old town area of the main market (Hauptmarkt)—besides people watching, the backdrop is the Porta Nigra and the large square is lined with a variety of architectural styles and is quite colorful.

There are three tours at this port stop. First is the “Ancient Tales of the Porta Nigra” and for the active, two options--a Petrisberg hike or a Trier Bike tour.

Bernkastel is a wonderful town of around 8000. It is located about halfway between Cochem and Trier on the Mosel River. There are many half-timbered buildings, especially around the market square. Easily seen from market square is St Michael’s church, built in the 14th century that had a dual purpose— it served as a house of worship and its tall bell tower served as a watch tower in the old city ramparts. The city has some wonderful fountains—they include St. Michael's fountain on the Market Square, the bear's fountain, and the doctor's fountain. Overlooking the town is the Landshut Castle ruins. It was first built in 1277 but was ruined by fire in 1692.

When sailing from Trier, the Castle and bridge are a dramatic introduction to Bernkastel!

Bernkastel is located in the middle of the Mosel wine-producing region. This area has been producing wine for over 500 years. You will get to experience a guided walking tour through the old town center and a winery visit to sample several different regional vintages are scheduled for this portion of your cruise if you go on an AmaWaterways cruise.

Not to be overlooked, there are two active tours—a hike up to Landshut Castle or a Moselle bike tour.

Rhine Castles. Prior to arriving at Rüdesheim, you will marvel at the Rhine Gorge. Long before modern river cruising, in 1971, I first sailed this route on a day cruise on a KD ferry ship. After maybe 7 or 8 times cruising this stretch of the Middle Rhine, it still holds the wonder it had for me back in 1971.

Photo Anne Schrader of Katz Castle in the Rhine Gorge

A photo from 2015 during a cruise through the Rhine Gorge

Stahleck Castle in the Rhine Gorge. Photo Anne Schrader

Rüdesheim, Germany. The town of Rüdesheim is a charming wine village.

It is famous for the great white wines grown in the region, along with a special coffee drink, aptly named Rüdesheimer coffee (Flambé Asbach brandy, sugar cube, coffee garnished with whipped cream).

A lively lane, the Drosselgasse, is lined with taverns and wine-cellars.

The tours here are a Gondola ride and wine tasting, a vineyard hike, a Schloss Johannisberg bike tour, a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or tasting Rüdesheimer coffee. There are certainly a lot of options here!

Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum

Hank and Jim drinking Rüdesheimer coffee—it is awesome!

The crowded Drosselgasse Lane in Rüdesheim

Ludwigshafen, Germany

You won’t really visit anything in Ludwigshafen because it is the gateway to two great tours—Heidelberg and the Mannheim Baroque Palace.

Heidelberg is a historic university town. Top sights in Heidelberg, include a visit the red-walled Castle ruins, with its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th century wine cask. There are beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below.

The old town area is a great area to explore. Heidelberg is charming--where narrow lanes, shops and pubs housed in 17th-century structures in the Altstadt are kept lively by the cadence of student life. It also has the longest shopping street in Germany.

You can also chose an active tour in Heidelberg by hiking the “Philosopher’s Path”, where scholars at this university town have wandered when thinking about academic pursuits.

Mannheim Baroque Palace is one of the largest residences in Europe. It was built to highlight the important role of the Prince Electors to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1720 the palace replaced Heidelberg Castle as the residence of the Prince Elector.

The interiors of the palace are magnificent, especially on the main floor which you will see on your tour. The building was severely damage during WW II, but it has been restored to its former glory.

There are 2 other options here—a visit to Schwetzingen Gardens or a Landenburg bike tour.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg’s old town is a wonderful stop. After several visits to Strasbourg, it still beckons us back. Our first visit was on Bastille Day (14 July) over 30 years ago and the floodlights on the Cathedral were breathtaking.

There are several main attractions. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame is massive, and the Cathedral square always has lots of life.

Anne took this picture of the huge spire of the Strasbourg Cathedral. The spire is 142 (466 feet) meters high. It is considered one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in Europe.

Wander down to Petite France—the home of tanners, fishermen and other artisans—the half-timbered areas are just stunning.

There are 2 options here for tours—the “Gems of Alsace” tour or a Strasbourg bike tour.

Breisach, Germany

Breisach is another gateway city—there are another two great options here—Freiburg, Germany and Riquewihr, France.

Freiburg, Germany (the official name is Freiburg-im-Breisgau) is a blend of old and new.

This city among other claims to fame is said to the sunniest city in all of Germany. Located on the southern edge of the Black Forest, and near the Rhine River, it was a good trade location and rich burghers, and the mercantile guilds were the original political force in the city.

It is a university town (started in the 1400s), once was a walled city but its number one sight is the Freiburger Münster (Freiburg Cathedral) (started in the 1300s). The cathedral was completed in 1513.

Riquewihr is a constant splash of colors, half-timbered buildings and wine shops jumbled together that just is so charming you will not know where to look next. The next 3 pictures are just some of the colorful structures in Riquewihr.

This medieval walled city still has most of its walls. There is a watch tower that today houses a museum about the defensive structures of the city, the people who manned the defensive structures and the weapons they used.

Don’t forget to shop, enjoy the food or a snack and sample the white wines this region is so famous for and brought wealth to this village!

Try some food here—the blend of German and French food results in dishes you won’t soon forget.

The regular tours are a Riquewihr walking tour, or an excursion to Freiburg. The active tours are a Black Forest hike or a Breisach wine country bike tour.

Basel, Switzerland

Basel is the 3rd largest city in Switzerland. The historic old town area, on the left bank of the Rhine, was once an old Roman citadel on the high ground. The Munsterplaz (cathedral square) hosts the large church and some wonderful Christmas Markets. There are no tours here, as it is time to disembark your wonderful cruise.

You will sail under this bridge right near the old town—perhaps now you understand why river cruise ships have only 3 decks!

For a truly immersive experience, there is a three-day Amsterdam pre-cruise land extension and ta 4-day Switzerland post cruise land extension that spends 2 days in Lucerne and 2 days in Zurich.

Our Final Thoughts

This is an exceptional opportunity to see some of the most fascinating and interesting sights in Western Europe. We think this cruise is unique and really deserves consideration for your European travels. We hope you enjoyed this report.

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

Hank Schrader

January 12, 2023

River Cruise Advice

Helping You Get the Right River Cruise--Our Sales Process

Hank Schrader

January 12, 2023

River Cruise Advice

Helping You Get the Right River Cruise—Our Sales Process

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

In 2022, we helped 50 couples and 1 single to either sail on a European river cruise or put down a deposit on a sailing for travel in 2023 or 2024. Perhaps the most interesting fact about these folks we helped is that we have never personally met 83% of our clients.

These are pretty amazing statistics for our small 2-person operation or as my lovely wife Anne likes to say that we are a “small volume, high touch agency.”

So, how do we help these folks who do not live in Pearland Texas (the greater Houston Texas area) get the right river cruise for their river cruise vacation (my unofficial count is residents of 25 different states)? Why do they use us instead of a local travel professional? How do we/they find us?

So, let’s explore together and learn about our sales process and how it helps the folks we serve get better river cruise vacations.

How Do Folks Find Us?

There are 2 main ways we get potential clients—they find us on the internet, or they are referred by past clients. We do not advertise and are lucky to have 2 key internet search articles that are number 1 on Google—our 2022-23 Europe River Cruise Company Comparisons (since 1 January to 12 January 2023, 1,217 folks have opened this article) and our Best River Cruise Routes Guide (since the start of January 2023, 490 folks have read this article).

Past clients are very good about referring us to their friends—it is a very high compliment they liked our past services to recommend us. We take this very seriously to help these folks get the right vacation on a river cruise.

So, now you know how they find us, the most important question is why do they use us instead of a local travel professional or do it on their own?

Why Do Folks Use Us?

I believe most folks use us because we have excellent knowledge about river cruises (okay I’ll say it—we know more than almost every travel professional in the US) and they can trust us.

Knowledge of the river cruise vacations we sell requires us to constantly keep updated about travel products, and the vendors who sell them. We must be able to match our clients to the best product for them.

But our knowledge is not just inside our heads—we have so many great content items about every possible phase and aspect of river cruising on our website—www.dreamdestinations.com it is astounding! Our clients and potential clients don’t have to remember what we tell them—they can read about and reference it later.

Here is just a partial list of items: an overview of Europe River cruising, Egypt cruises, route guides, port guides, company comparisons, FAQs (frequently asked questions), onboard reviews, stateroom comparisons and tours, blogs about our river cruise services, comparisons, advice, and reviews of routes, trip itineraries wellness offerings and the vibe of each line—over 50 blogs by my count! I have never found a resource so complete except for a small number of travel writers who travel for free—we have paid for all the 24 river cruises we have taken—I think it makes us not as biased as some others. Often their work is not as detailed as ours.

Trust is the other cornerstone of our business—are we who we say we are, do we tell the truth, can you trust your hard-earned dollars for a vacation we recommend?

I also think there are 2 other factors that help clients decide to use us.

First, do they like us—are they comfortable with our methods, processes, demeanor, and our relatability to get their desired river cruise vacation?

Second, do they care about us?

So, let’s see together if our knowledge, our likability, and our empathy towards our clients can help them towards the goal—to get the best river cruise experience for them.

How Do We Help Our Clients Get the Right River Cruise for Their Trip?

The process starts by our potential client reaching out to us for help by phone or email. Most have never taken a river cruise, but they are well traveled, often have taken an ocean cruise and think a river cruise would be an excellent vacation but are not sure how to start. They have already done their homework—a river cruise looks like a promising vacation option for them, but they are not sure about how to get the right one for their preferred travel style.

It probably helps that this is an expensive vacation (I like to say river cruising is an expensive hobby) and for that amount of money they are willing to get help—a lot of our clients plan their own vacations and are not totally comfortable giving up control. They also usually have not used a travel professional and want to know the value and cost to use us (there is very good news here—we do not charge any fees and feel the river cruise companies fairly compensate us with their commission structure which is already built into the cost of the cruise, so they in essence get our services for free).

Our first telephone conversations are always very interesting—we met some fascinating folks. They are sizing us up—knowledge, trust, care, and likeability by how we interact with them. They are always a little apprehensive—after all, there is a lot of concern that we will not get them the right river cruise and their first interaction with us is probably on the internet prior to the first phone call.

Imagine you are in their shoes—can these dudes really help us? On our end it is really simple—our superior knowledge of the river cruise industry and the routes put them at ease. It is not unusual for us to spend over an hour or more on a phone call.

I like to say we are the real deal—about 99% of their questions we can answer without notes and references. Here are their most common questions:

Which company would you recommend? Why?

What is the best route for a first-time river cruiser? Why is it better than other routes?

Have you ever been on a river cruise? Have you sailed this route?

What is the daily itinerary on route_____? Is there a lot of bus rides? Guided tours? Free time? How many different tours per port? What are the best ports? Why?

Is it regimented—what is the daily schedule?

What is included in the cruise?

How about food and wine and drinks? How many dining options? Can they handle my diet restrictions?

What type of stateroom should I pick? Do I need a balcony?

I’m very active—are there bikes and wellness activities? How good are they?

I have limited mobility—is a river cruise right for me?

What about high/low water?

What is the dress code?

What about pre and post trips?

What does it cost to use your services? Why should we use us?

What about travel insurance? What does it cost?

Now that we have gotten the myriad of questions answered, we start the process. First, if they have not done so yet, we require a completed travel request on our website for first time potential clients. We need to know who they are, where they live and what they want to do, why the want to go on a river cruise, and when they want to go.

With that in hand, we offer ideas of the best route—river cruising is first and foremost about the destinations. Once we have settled the route question, it is on to the company that best matches their travel style.

Now it is our turn to research their desires and match their needs to what products are available in their desired travel time frame.

After we discuss options, if necessary, and then we move to a formal quote. We provide a quote document, explain the key terms and conditions, and always explain the travel insurance offered by the vendor.

Now, it is decision time. They now need to accept the offer or decide it does not work for them, regardless of the reason. If we can resolve the issues—maybe a different cruise date or a different stateroom, we will attempt to fix it. Sometimes folks just say no—usually it is too high a cost for them. Since our mantra is always to do what is best for the potential client, we understand that it always does not work out and we are okay with that result.

Now, we make the deposit on their behalf using their credit card we have taken over the phone. We then make the deposit for all requested services. Once complete, we send a copy of the invoice to them.

Once we have completed the deposit, now we handle the details—transfers, pre and post arrangements, perhaps flights thru the vendor (we do not book air directly), or hotels.

We will help them during the pre-cruise planning phase and during the actual cruise.

About 90 days out, it is final payment time. Excitement builds.

Now comes the best part—usually a totally satisfied client, whose expectations were exceeded!

How cool is that—we hope it ends that way but sometimes there are bumps in the road (very seldom) and we try to fix the problem or improve for the next trip. Part of the reason it usually turns out favorably is that, as I like to say, “there are no bad river cruises in Europe and these vacation experiences are probably the best trip you will ever take!”

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a process!

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.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 51+ 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

January 5, 2023

Europe River Cruise

Who is #1 in 2023--Comparing River Cruise Companies

Hank Schrader

January 5, 2023

Europe River Cruise

Who is #1 in 2023—Comparing River Cruise Companies

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

A year ago (early 2022), I wrote an article for Travel Weekly magazine for their digital publication (they also have a print publication), about the search for the number one river cruise line. The premise of the article was that you really don’t have to know who is number one—you should be more concerned about getting a line that matches your desired travel style.

While primarily aimed at travel professionals, if you would like to read this short article, here is the link:

https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/How-to-choose-the-right-river-cruise-line

Yet, there is always that fear among our clients that they didn’t get the best. We all want the best—more value for less money if that is possible. It is difficult to find what the best option for many is—it is confusing to many professional travel advisors, so I’m not surprised if you have ever wondered—how can I solve this problem and get the best European river cruise for me?

So, let’s explore together and learn about who is # 1 in 2023 among river cruise lines, or better yet how can I get the best river cruise company that matches my travel style?

They all look very similar—there are differences between lines!

Overview—Why Trust Us About River Cruise Comparisons?

It certainly is a fair question to ask—why care about our opinion? Here are a few facts about us—as a friend once told me “It ain’t bragging if you’d done it!”:

Last year (2022) we helped 34 couples going on river cruises. Already in 2023, we have booked 17 couples who will take a river cruise (if you are a good mathematician, that means we sold 51 river cruises in 2022 but 17 haven’t traveled yet). We have booked folks on 5 of the 7 lines we follow and offered a quote on each of the 7 lines since we have been selling river cruises.

To provide some clarity about this in terms of other travel professionals who sell river cruises, according to Travel Weekly’s Annual Report on Travel Agent bookings (all these statistics are from their report), only 47% of all agents specialize in selling river cruises. Among home-based travel professions, we book more travel than about 76% of our peers, and that number is only for total sales—almost 95% of our business in 2022 was from booking river cruises.

In 2022, our article Europe River Cruise Comparisons 2022-2023 was opened on the web 19,237 times. Our Best European River Cruise Route Guide has been opened 8,148 times.in 2022. Both rank # 1 on Google searches.

We have been on 24 River Cruises. There is an excellent chance we have either been on a route you are interested in or have sold the route to a client. Experience counts!

So, the bottom line is that we really know about river cruising and are well positioned to help you get the best match for your river cruise vacation.

Why is it so Confusing to Evaluate Europe River Cruise Routes and Cruise Lines?

There are really three reasons, in my opinion, for the confusion about Europe River cruising.

First, a simple answer is that good advertising and a good overall product make all lines sound great. For example, almost all have heard of Viking due to its homerun decision to advertise on PBS, especially on Downton Abbey—the stunning video clip still resonates today even for me who has seen and visited ever sight on the short video clip—it is just a great chance to see some of the most interesting places in Europe in an easy vacation.

But does that make Viking the best cruise line? At least 6 other good lines (they are the main Europe River cruise companies in the US market) sail the exact Upper Danube route where the majority of the Viking Ad takes its video scenery from for their TV Ads. Now it starts to get confusing!

Second, few folks have been on more than one river cruise line and/or on multiple Europe Rivers used by the 7 companies that we study almost daily. Most who have taken a river cruise in Europe think it is such a good vacation, that they tend to remain loyal to their first cruise line, without really investigating other companies. But could there be a better option? —more confusion!

Third, there is no standard way to evaluate differences among suppliers. All have won some type of award or are rated the best in one phase or another of their product offerings. I recently had a great conversation with another travel professional, who ranked our second-best line as her number one. But one thing was clear the differences were so minor, the ranking was essentially not important—all that mattered was the client experience. We both agreed however, that many travel writers who cover river cruising, tend to hype all and the lines are not all equal. What was clear to me, she had an excellent grasp on the industry and the advantages and disadvantages of each river cruise company—far more important than ranking lines.

We had a client last year take back-to-back river cruises on our 2 highest rated lines. He told me it really was a toss-up, but he favored our second rated line. His rating was that they were both so good, he didn’t think it would matter to most folks which line they chose.

It just reinforces for us what a good vacation river cruising is for the majority of our clients.

So, what is the solution to this confusion?

Our Approach to Determining the Best Match for your River Cruise Vacation

There are really 4 areas we try to explore with potential clients to determine their best match for taking a river cruise vacation. They are:

Why do you want to go on a river cruise?
What routes are you interested in?
What are the specific benefits to you from a particular river cruise company—do they match your expectations?
Are you a good fit for a river cruise?

Why Folks Go on River Cruises?

There are 6 main reasons folks go on river cruise. For us, the destination and itinerary are almost always the most important factor among our clients

The second reason is the perceived value of this luxury vacation—it is almost all inclusive on all lines and even though, as I like to say, an expensive hobby, there is a great perceived value for all that is included in the fare.

Most like the combination of smaller towns and visiting the great cities of Europe.

The included tours and land programs are very important, and we find it a key difference between lines.

Smaller ships, intimate atmosphere and ambience is a major appeal, especially after the pandemic.

The services by the caring staff always resonate—most would like to take some home with them if they could.

It is hassle free, convenient, and fun and you often travel with likeminded people.

What Route Interests You?

There are many great rivers in Europe, some more navigable than others, available to choose from. The variety of routes makes repeat sailing, especially in Europe, an attractive option for folks. Each route is different, the seasons make the experience different, so for many of our clients it is not a one and done option.

I’m sure now you can understand why we wrote our Best Route Guide to help you learn about these different options.

Along with that guide, we have created 51 port guides along these routes, with our pictures.

The bottom line—we have the knowledge to match you with the right route for you.

Here are some pictures about the many places you can see on a river cruise:

What are Your Travel Expectations?

Matching your travel experience with the various vendors will make a difference. Stateroom amenities, ambience, crew interactions, port stops, food and wine, themed cruises, promotions, and perceived value all factor into an informed decision.

There are differences between lines. Here is a simple comparison on balconies—would you prefer a half balcony with a push button window (the Scenic picture) or the twin balcony (the AmaWaterways picture)?

Sorting all this out requires extensive knowledge, perceptive questions, and a connection to your advisor, in our opinion. While 6 of the lines we follow sell directly to customers, I just can’t understand why some try to do it on their own—control I guess, or fear someone is trying to sell them something they really don’t want.

Buyer be warned—direct sales folks have one mission—sell quickly. You are far better off connecting with a professional who takes your concerns and wants and then matches your expectations to the correct vendor.

Just remember all agents are not created equal—some, like us, are the real deal!

Are You a Good Fit for a River Cruise?

We find that most of our clients who enjoy a river cruise have some or all of these characteristics in common:

Well-traveled, having visited Alaska/Hawaii/Europe previously
Age 60 or older (although recently, we've noticed this trending younger)
Retired
They enjoy small villages/historical sites
In the $80,000 median annual income range
Veterans of a seven-day or longer ocean cruise
Willing to spend $400 or more per person, per night, if the value is there
Celebrating a milestone event
People who enjoy good food and wine

Perhaps you share some or all of these characteristics—then you’re a great fit for a river cruise!

As with any type of vacation, a river cruise is not for everyone. Folks who don't like schedules, have mobility challenges, want huge staterooms or are looking for the Vegas-style night entertainment ocean cruises often feature may find river cruising a poor choice to take a river cruise.

Our Final Thoughts

As you can see—it doesn’t matter who is number one—it only matters that you get the right river cruise vacation that matches your travel style. As, I like to say, “There are no bad river cruises, all lines probably will provide you the best vacation you will ever take!”

Bottom line? If you: desire fine dining; a hassle-free vacation that is easy to plan and arrange; want to discover leisure destinations that they may later want to return to and explore in-depth; are looking for good value; and seeking a reliable and safe vacation, then European river cruising is a great choice for you.

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 give 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!

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

Hank Schrader

December 22, 2022

Holidays

Merry Christmas 2022

Hank Schrader

December 22, 2022

Holidays

As 2022 winds down, we want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Travel finally returned to almost normal and we were honored to help many folks travel this year and have many other folks planning to travel in 2023 and 2024 with our help.

We value you so much, it is beyond mere words to express our appreciation and love for you.

We got to take 3 business trips this year. We thought we could share some of our joy of travel by these pictures of our adventures and perhaps put a smile or two on your face as you browse them.

We wish you all health, peace, prosperity, and safety in the 2023 and in the future. It is with deep gratitude and respect that we feel for all of you who trusted us with your travel plans and dreams, that makes us want to continue trying to help you all have best trips possible. We stand ready to help in the future when the need arises to have journeys that are meaningful and memorable.

Thanks for your trust in us! Please share a toast to you and your families during these holidays. We promise we will toast you all during our celebrations!

Remember to: Savor Life . . . Make Memories . . . Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

Anne and Hank

The entrance to the dining room on the AmaSonata decorated for Christmas. It was our 7th Christmas Markets cruise,

Our October cruise on the Essence of Burgundy cruise.

Hank and Anne at the Chef’s Table on the AmaSonata.

Libby, who doesn’t get to go on our adventures, wants us to come back soon, so she can chase burger (in her mouth) and play with us again.

Little Bear gets to go. He really like Munich and likes to pose with beers.

Little Bear really likes to meet other bears. He especially liked this friendly bear in Rothenburg ob Tauber, Germany.

Little Bear and Lenny (he doesn’t always get to go) ready for a nap in Regensburg, Germany.

Little Bear wondering where we will all go in 2023—he’s ready!

Hank Schrader

December 15, 2022

Europe River Cruise

Danube Christmas Markets on AmaWaterways in 2022

Hank Schrader

December 15, 2022

Europe River Cruise

Danube Christmas Markets on AmaWaterways in 2022

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 report of our 23rd Europe River Cruise. We are back on the Danube and it is just the start of the Christmas Markets after being cancelled during most of 2020 and 2021.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Christmas Markets in 2022 on the Danube and in Southern Germany.

What are the Christmas Markets?

In Europe, many squares are used for various street markets. At Christmas time, these squares are transformed into one unique blaze of color, goods and foods from small vendors. It is a social gathering where hot mulled wine, beer and street food are served and all seem to get along as they browse the various vendors.

Christmas markets date back to 1300 or so and started in Germany, Austria and the eastern portion of France. The season usually starts about November 25 and lasts until 23 or 24 December, roughly following the Advent 4 week season. Even for a person like me who does not really like shopping, this is so much fun that everyone should try this at least once. Unlike American Malls, this is not combat shopping and crowds of hassled folks; this is a gathering of folks socializing with food and drink, music, and buying gifts at a much gentler pace.

Seeing the decorations alone is worth the trip but many booths have handmade items that are unique and priceless. Most sell only on cash, so make sure you have enough local currency to get your purchases. And, as we have learned though our own mistakes, if you see something you like, buy it or you will often miss out. Most markets open around 10:00 AM and close around 9:00 PM but it varies a lot and it is not uncommon for booths to close down for short periods to take a break or get something to eat or an owner to take a day off and not open their booth.

As long as you dress warmly, these markets offer a cultural experience second to none—it is an experience not to be missed!

Munich

Before the start of our cruise, we visited the Christmas Markets in Munich. It was overcast, sunny then thunder showers. Right after it rained, we got this picture of the Christmas Markets in front of the new Rathaus with a rainbow over it.

Budapest

Another picture of the markets taken by Mark Thomas.

Bratislava

This capital city of Slovakia is a great gathering place at night for folks during the Christmas Market season, as you can see from this picture.

Vienna

We visited 3 Christmas Markets in Vienna. We took the excellent subway system out to the markets at Schönbrunn Palace. The first 2 pictures are of this excellent market.

The next 2 pictures are at the markets around St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Passau

The markets in Passau are among our favorites—we always seem to find great gifts here in this small market.

Nuremberg

Nuremburg is famous as one of the best and biggest Christmas Markets in Germany. Here are some pictures:

The famous Nuremburg sausages on the grill.

Regensburg

Our favorite Christmas Market is in Regensburg. It is on the grounds of the Thurn & Taxis palace grounds. The next 4 pictures are of the wonderful market—we highly recommend you visit it.

Across the famous stone bridge is a market that features a lot of good food and drink—it was small and packed with folks having a good time.

No trip to Regensburg would be complete unless Anne got a new hat from the Hutkonig. It is her 7th.

Our Final Thoughts

The Christmas Markets in Europe are special—we highly recommend you enjoy them on a visit to the Old World. We have have enjoyed them at least 6 times and plan to return—they are that much fun.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

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

Hank Schrader

December 8, 2022

Europe Travel

An Overnight Train Experience in Europe

Hank Schrader

December 8, 2022

Europe Travel

An Overnight Train Experience in Europe

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

While in Europe, we love riding the trains. A unique experience is taking an overnight train in Europe.

So, let’s explore together and learn about riding the rails at night—you won’t be disappointed!

Overnight Train Basics

There are two types of sleeper cars. They are sleeper compartments with sleeping berths and couchettes.

A couchette is a seat that converts into a bunk. Usually there are six to a compartment. This is the bare bones bunk with a pillow and blanket. Sometimes they are segregated by gender, other times not.

On our first trip by couchette in 1990, we were paired with 2 guys from Argentina, complete strangers, who were surprised by the mixed genders, and at first a little awkward for both of us. Fortunately for us, I speak fluent Spanish and we agreed to who got which sleeping bunks.

There were two problems—first no air conditioning, so the compartment was so hot, sleep was fleeting at best (perhaps said too gently—it was horrible). Second, they both smoked, so they opened the door to our compartment often to go have a smoke in the train corridor.

Opening the window to let some fresh air in was not a solution either, as passing trains roaring by created deafening, sudden noise that jolted us awake from what little restless sleep we had that night.

Although not on the Paris to Amsterdam overnight train we took in 1990, this is the typical tight corridors on overnight trains. At the end of this passageway, is the toilet (WC).

Along with that, in the old days, there was a passport check at each country border. Here is the bottom line—we hoped to save a day of hotel expenses but wound up sleeping a whole day after checking in to our hotel.

By far, your best choice is a sleeping berth. This is a separate compartment with limited facilities.

So, let’s look what an old railcar on the overnight train looks like, and document our experiences on this adventure.

Our Route

We are on a route using the EuroNight sleeper train. It is called the Kalman Imre and links Munich and Budapest. The train is named after the composer Emmerich Kalman.

On the sign you can see, we departed at 2330 (the second line on the track sign). The good news—the train started in Munich, so boarding was a lot easier with a stopped train instead of rushing to get on.

The reason, this overnight trip was a good idea, is that we stored our luggage in the Munich Station. Each large storage area cost 3 Euros for 6 hours storage (you need Euro coins and exact change). Here is what the storage area looks like.

The luggage storage boxes in Munich. You can clearly see the 3 Euro cost on the right side of the picture.

What our Sleeper Cabin Was Like

We were in compartment number 11, 13 and 15. Trust me, it was tight space for 2 and unless a small child, really not feasible for 3 adults unless you are on a bare bones budget, in my opinion.

Here is the number display outside our compartment.

Our car had air conditioning, an essential, in my opinion, even in winter.

A sign telling us about the heating/air conditioning controls in the room. Note the sign is in different languages, one thankfully is English.

What the compartments looked like with just our coats hung up. You can see the temperature control in the middle upper portion of this picture,

The coat racks and ladder storage area when not in use.

The ladder set up, so Anne could get up on the top bunk. We brought our own small silk sleeping travel sheets (the crumpled blue item on the lower bunk)—a great idea!

The sink area after opening up the green cover (note the water is not for drinking)

Train Tips/Lessons Learned

Here are some good tips you might want to consider if you want to take advantage of a night train.

1) Don’t expect a fancy car and realize you will be comfortable enough to sleep with some loud noises with train cars added and taken off the train.

2) We chose a second class berth over the first class berth, as the cost was not worth the minor upgrade.

3) Luggage storage is going to be a problem if you have more than 3-4 suitcases. The overhead racks are good but limited by the small compartment size.

4) The bathroom WC is not in your compartment—reminds me of my early days of travel, so plan accordingly and expect some wait times.

5) Don’t expect working electric outlets in the compartment, especially on the older trains. We found one inside the mirror and had to rig a way to charge our electronic devices.

Our old car had only one electrical outlet. It was inside the mirror. Since we brought a European adaptor with USB outlets, we were able to charge our devices during the trip.

You may wonder what this picture is all about! Here Anne has plugged in her portable fan, suspended it from a bungee cord, so she could experience her fan during the night. Pure genius, from my creative wife

There was a small breakfast included in the trip. Here is the menu:

Each of us got to select 7 items from the menu. Our conductor brought us the breakfast about an hour prior to our arrival at Budapest.

Our Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this report.

Overnight train travel has some real advantages. During our trip, we stored our luggage in the Munich Main Train Station (Haptbanhof) and visited the Christmas Markets and had a great German meal before departure. We saved a hotel cost but it certainly is not the most comfortable way to travel.

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

Hank Schrader

November 22, 2022

Thanksgiving 2022

Hank Schrader

November 22, 2022

We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! It has really been fun helping so many folks travel this year. Travel has rebounded in 2022 and we are thankful we have many new delighted folks who have trusted us to make their travel plans and shared with us that they had great experiences, as well as our many friends who have done multiple trips with us and have traveled with us this year. We also are thankful for those who have booked with us in 2023 and 2024.

We all have a lot to be thankful for in our lives. Please reach out to your friends and family and tell them you love them and value their friendship.

May your travel dreams come true in the future. Please remember to:

Savor Life . . . Make Memories . . . Visit Dream Destinations! Your Journey Begins Here!

Anne and Hank

Hank Schrader

November 17, 2022

Europe River Cruise

AmaWaterways Land Extension Promotions in Europe for 2023

Hank Schrader

November 17, 2022

Europe River Cruise

AmaWaterways Land Extension Promotions in Europe for 2023

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

AmaWaterways currently has an excellent offer. It is called the Complimentary Land Package. The package includes a free 2-3-or 4-night land package. The promotional package ends on 31 December 2022 and is available on many 2023 sailings.

I have included the normal cost of the land extension to help you see the amazing value of this promotion.

So, I thought I’d write about the different land extensions available and a little bit about the cities included.

Benefits of the Complimentary Land Package

The package includes the following:
Stays in 4- or 5-star hotels near the major sights
Daily breakfast
Guided tours and excursions
Transfers between your hotel and the ship
All packages include an on-site cruise manager to assist you

Featured Land Packages

There are many options here and it is beyond the scope of this blog to include every sailing. However, never fear, I will organize the land package options by the river and tell you a little bit about each extensions that are available, using our pictures and guides, so you can see if one option is available to enhance your river cruise to take advantage of this promotion.

Rhine

On the Rhine, there are 3 land package options available. They are:

Amsterdam (valued at $1,190 per person)

A land of bikes, canals, and a free-wheeling culture, we have visited Amsterdam several times and escorted folks there. This is a city of 165 ringed canals, a population of 750.000 (it has as many bikes as people) and always full of tourists. It is the capital of the Netherlands, with two world class art museums. It is a major port, once the wealthiest city in the world, and residents and visitors live with a tolerant atmosphere. On this 2-night extension you will have a walking tour of the city and a visit to either Haarlem or Zaanse Schans.

Lucerne and Zurich (valued at $1,680)

You will spend 2 nights in Lucerne and 2 nights in Zurich. The Zurich portion includes a guided tour of the old town area. In Lucerne, a visit to the alpine old town area, a visit to the Lion Monument and a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne are some highlights of this extension.

Lake Como (valued at $1,440 per person)

Lake Como, in the Northern area of the Lakes Region of Italy is a place of spectacular scenery. Included in this extension is a scenic boat ride on Lake Como to the stunning port of Bellagio.

Danube

On the Danube, 4 land extensions are available. They are:

Prague (valued at $1,320 per person)

The city of 100 spires is fascinating and interesting—good sights and bohemian culture, make it one of our favorites in Europe. Prague is organized into 4 quarters and most folks spend their time in the Castle Quarter and Old Town Square area. On this extension, you will get to visit Prague Castle, cross the St, Charles Bridge, visit Old Town and see the famous Astronomical Clock and get to taste Czech beer. On the way to the ship, you will get a stop in Regensburg during the transfer.

Budapest ($840 per person value)

Perhaps the most stunning city on any river cruise, Budapest is 2 cities rolled into one. By far the most impressive city on the Danube, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a town we love to visit. It is really two towns—the high town of Buda that overlooks the banks of the Danube and Pest on flat land. They are united by several bridges, but the Chain Bridge is the most important and is a symbol of the city. Both sides have some awesome structures—among them Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion (Buda side) and the Parliament building (Pest side). Once you visit, you will want to come back.

Vienna (valued at $980 per person)

Vienna is a true treasure—the importance of this city on history cannot be overstated—it once was the capital city of the Hapsburg Empire of Austria-Hungary. Palaces, great museums, great shopping, and good food make this an easy choice for an extension. This package is a 2-night extension. It features an “Imperial Vienna tour.”

Romania (valued at $1,800 per person)

You will spend 2 nights here in Bucharest and 2 nights in Brasov. Bucharest is known as the “Paris of the East.” We visited it as part of our Black Sea voyage on AmaWaterways.

Brasov is one of the best cities in Romania. Your tour will start in Sinaia at the Peles Royal Castle on your way to Brasov. On day 2 you will tour Brasov and visit the birthplace of Dracula in Sighisoara. Next, is a visit to Dracula’s Castle in Bran. Then off to Bucharest for a tour.

France

On French River Cruises, the main land extension is Paris, but some new extensions are available.

Paris (valued at $1,340 per person).

This 2-night land package has excursions to Montmarte and Atelier des Lumieres. The extension starts with a city tour of the city of lights.

Barcelona (valued at $1,770)

This extension is a 3-night stay in Barcelona, Spain. This extension includes the “Best of Barcelona” tour and a visit the next day called “The Mountains and Abbey of Montserrat.

Bilbao and San Sebastian Spain (valued at $1,760 per person)

This is a 2-night package in the Basque region of Spain. The tour starts in Bilbao with a Guernica walking tour and an introduction to tapa, and a visit to the Guggenheim Museum. In San Sebastian there is a tour of the city.

Geneva, Switzerland (valued at $2,000 per person)

This is a 3-night extension in Geneva. The tour includes a city tour of Geneva, a visit to Annnecy in the French Alps and a visit to Chillon Castle.

French Riviera visit to Nice and Monaco (valued at $1,980 per person)

This is a 3-night land package. The package includes a Nice city tour, and an Eze and Monaco tour.

Loire Valley, France (valued at $1,800 per person)

This is a 2-night land extension. It visits Chateau de Chenonceau, Du Clos Luce, and Chateau d’Amboise on the first day. Then the second day includes Chateau de Chambord and Bois.

St. Malo, France (valued at $1,720 per person)

This is a 3-night package. This tour includes a visit to Fourgeres during the transfer to St. Malo, tours of St, Malo, Dinard and Dinan, and a visit to Mont St. Michel.

Douro

Prior to the 7-day cruise on the Douro, you will have a wonderful 3-day land extension in Lisbon.

Lisbon (valued at $1,380 per person).

This land extension spends 3 nights in Lisbon before the 7-night Douro cruise. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and is located on the Tagus River.

Key sights include the Alfama (oldest section of the city, with a Moorish feeling, has cobblestone streets and white-washed houses), St. George’s Castle, and the Tower of Belem.

The land extension includes a tour of the city of 7 hills, the excursion to Sintra to visit Pena Palace, a visit to Tomar Castle, and the transfer to Porto for the cruise.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what an offer! This promotion is a great way to save money, extend your trip and add value.

We hope you enjoyed this report and can’t wait to help you select one of these cruises for your next vacation.

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

Hank Schrader

November 10, 2022

Veterans

Veterans Day 2022

Hank Schrader

November 10, 2022

Veterans

Veterans Day 2022

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Retired US Army Major Infantry Officer

www.dreamdestinations.com

Tomorrow is Veteran Day, 11 November 2022. This is a day to recognize the service and sacrifice of the folks who pledged to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic” by raising their right hand and were required to recite these words of allegiance to our country.

Counting my 4 years at West Point, I spent 24 years of my life in a uniform and serving my country. It was an awesome experience and I’m glad I made that choice. It was a honor to serve our country.

Military service changes all who serve, and most aspects are positive. We gained maturity quickly, learned many new skills, tested our resolve, became resilient, learned how to handle extreme stress and trauma, and made sacrifices to defend our country. Not all of us handled it the same—some still have problems associated with their service.

It’s been 31 years since I served. I went on to teach and coach for another 20 years before working full time in our travel business. The lessons learned from my military experience govern all aspects of my life—character and action count more than words.

A phrase from the West Point cadet prayer has always been very meaningful to me, as it has served as a summary of how I wanted to live my life and I thought you might like to know about it. Here it is

“Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole truth can be won.

Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy.”

Those are difficult goals to achieve and my personal guidelines to live by every day. I have tried to and hope I have been successful but there is always room for improvement.

Just reading my thoughts and seeing how my service changed me, you can understand better how each who has donned the uniform might have developed in their lives. They have done more than defend our country. They usually set higher standards, have good work ethics, and make us a better nation.

Less than 1 % of the population of the US (0.727% in a Google search) are on active duty now. According to the US Census Bureau, there are 18.2 million veterans. AARP reports that about 13 million are 50 years or older like me.

We did not all serve under the same conditions. My father served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. I never served in a combat deployment.

While I can’t verify how totally accurate these numbers are, here are some reasonable figures for the personal cost of the 4 major wars including WW II from 1941 to present:

WW II 1.076,245 dead and wounded;
Korea 128,650 dead and wounded;
Vietnam 211,454 dead and wounded;
the War on Terror (Afghanistan and Iraq Wars) 57,614 dead and wounded.
I think these sobering figures say how lucky my Dad was to survive 7 years of combat for our nation by being deployed in 3 of these 4 conflicts.

In many ways it is ironic the public perception of military service during my service. At 18 years old as a cadet at West Point, I was called a “Baby Killer” by an angry group of Vietnam War protesters during the Armed Forces Parade in New York City in 1968. Later, the comments were almost always positive.

I guess those who protest fail to realize soldiers seldom make the decision to go to war; it is our political leaders who declare war or deploy troops. Yet we are the face of their decisions and a much more accessible target of public ire. Perhaps those who feel this way should remember we are defending their freedoms to protest government decisions.

I would be remiss if I didn’t cite the families who support our soldiers. It is a very personal journey; fear, and joy; never knowing if a loved one will come home each day. They deserve to be honored also for their sacrifice and loyalty to our nation by supporting their soldiers during their military service.

As a tribute to those who have served and are now serving, I thought I’d share with you some photos of military service, some personal, and some honoring the sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom from our travels in Europe.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial honors the American soldiers who died in WW II. This is the final resting place for 9,385 killed and a memorial for 1,557 reported missing.

The Ranger Monument at Pointe du Hoc erected by the French government. It is located atop a German bunker and commemorates the rangers scaling the 100 foot cliffs and seizing the gun emplacements on this point and later finding and disabling those artillery pieces.

Luxembourg American Cemetery. This photo was taken in 1989. 5,075 are buried here and it honors 371 reported missing.

My Dads’ Command Photo from Vietnam. He was the Brigade Commander of the 18th Engineer Brigade from 1969 to 1970.

My Dads’ graveside marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

Anne and I at Ft. Ord CA celebrating New Year’s Eve. I was the S1 (personnel officer) of 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division when this photo was taken.

I salute my brothers and sisters in arms—you have done well and deserve recognition on Veteran’s Day.

Be safe and well—you have lived beyond the common level of life!

Henry Carl “Hank” Schrader, Jr. Major, Infantry Retired

Hank in Panama in 1978. I was the company commander of B 4 20 Infantry (mechanized).

Hank Schrader

November 3, 2022

Europe River Cruise

15 Day Sailings from Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverships

Hank Schrader

November 3, 2022

Europe River Cruise

15 Day Sailings from Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverships

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The opening of the Main-Danube Canal, linking the Rhine and its tributary, the Main River, to the Danube, was really the central idea that allowed modern day river cruising to become a mainstream vacation for many US travelers. PBS and Viking were the other catalyst, as their sponsorship resonated with viewers.

If you could get one of the two absolute best of the European Rivers on one cruise, my choice would be either the Amsterdam to Budapest route in either direction or sailing on the entire length of the Danube. It is one of the two good options for those seeking an extended sailing experience in Europe by rivership.

The voyage goes from Amsterdam to Budapest along the Rhine to the Main River, then to the Main-Danube Canal and finishes on the upper Danube. This cruise combines the best of the two most popular river cruises in Europe—the 7-day upper Danube and portions of the 7-day Rhine and Main Rivers route.

We have never sailed this exact route but have sailed to every destination. 14-day cruises are awesome—it is even possible to create your own special cruise by combining two back-to-back cruises on the same rivership—we did this in 2015 by escorting two different groups.

So, let’s learn about this route and see if it is a good option for you to take a river cruise on this route for 15 days.

River Cruise Companies Offering the Route

6 of the 7 River Cruise Companies we follow offer this route going through the Main Danube Canal. Only AmaWaterways does not offer it as a complete route (they used to), as one of the owners, Rudi Schreiner, believes the water levels around Regensburg are often so low, it causes part of the cruise to become a bus tour. They do offer a way to avoid this by using two back-to-back cruises and skipping the problematic area. Here are the companies offering this complete route using the Main-Danube Canal and the name they use to describe the route:

Avalon Magnificent Europe

Emerald 15 Day Splendors of Europe

Scenic Jewels of Europe

Tauck Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat

Uniworld European Jewels

Viking Grand European Tour

It is really beyond the scope of this blog to try to match up each company in a comparison mode of their features, as the idea here is only report on the major port stops.

You can already see how complex river cruising can become, knowing all 7 offer good options to discover two key rivers in Europe. This is where we come in, to help you evaluate and match the lines to your travel style and preferences and budget.

General Route Overview

The route starts in Amsterdam and ends in Budapest or starts from Budapest to Amsterdam. Here are the ports, highlighted by our photos.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

This capital city is ringed by canals, has famed gabled buildings, there are more bicycles than you can even imagine—it is one unique place. Combine this with the free spirit of the residents and you will long remember this special town.

Cologne, Germany

Cologne has been a town for over 2,000 years (it used to be a Roman outpost), is the 4th largest city in Germany and is famous for its cathedral. The two 510-foot-high spires dominate the skyline of Cologne, and it holds the relics of the Magi. Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most visited building.

We also liked the town squares, where some of Germany’s best Christmas markets fill the squares during the Advent season.

Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim, Germany

The 65-kilometer Middle Rhine Valley is the best sailing route you will ever find in Europe. There are 40 or so castles, steep riverbanks and it is simply breathtaking!

After that most scenic stretch, you will visit Rüdesheim, famed for its coffee drink flavored with Asbach brandy, the winding, narrow, Drosselgasse lane, its fine Riesling wines, and a generally friendly, welcoming village.

Miltenberg & Wertheim, Germany

Miltenberg is one of the best preserved medieval cites on the Main River. The colorful half-timbered houses are magnificent. A walk to the town square is a wonderful experience.

Later that day, you will visit Wertheim, known by its nickname as “Little Heidelberg”, and get to see the narrow lanes of this village. Wertheim is located at the confluence of the Tauber and Main Rivers. The two top attractions are the castle and its medieval town square.

Wurzburg, Germany

Wurzburg has several unique architectural buildings but is most famous for the Residenz Palace. The gardens of this palace and interiors are magnificent. This Bavarian town is also a famous wine region.

Bamberg, Germany

Bamberg is a 1,000-year-old town with interesting buildings. The most famous are the town hall, built in the middle of a river, and its beautiful cathedral. It is built on seven hills and is located where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. It is also home to a smoky flavored beer.

Nuremberg, Germany

The old walled city of Nuremberg is one of my favorite places in all Germany. It has an impressive castle, is crisscrossed by a river, and has some cool old buildings. The central market square, with its beautiful fountain, is another great place to see. It is also famous for its Christmas markets.

Regensburg, Germany

The town of Regensburg is located on the northernmost point of the Danube River. It started out as a Roman town, has a medieval bridge the crusaders crossed on their way to the Holy Wars (which is guarded by an impressive watch tower), and has a good old town area. Anne’s favorite hat maker is here, so we find this one of our favorite Bavarian towns.

Passau, Germany

Built on a tapering peninsula of land, the old town portion Passau is right on the German and Austrian border. Three rivers join here—the Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz. On the high banks of the Danube, a fortress dating back to the 1400’s, overlooks the old city center. There are several impressive churches worth a visit.

Melk & Dürnstein, Austria

Melk is famous for its impressive, huge abbey. It was built in the 11th century.

One of the awesome scenic waterways of Europe is the Wachau Valley. Here are 2 pictures :

Later as you cruise through the other great scenic waterways of Europe, the Wachau Valley, you will arrive in the charming village of Dürnstein. The blue tower of the Abbey, the cute little shops, and the castle ruins on the hillside, make this a favorite of many river cruisers.

Vienna

The capital city of Austria, once the capital city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is a city of impressive palaces, great museums, and good food. It is also known for the great composers of classical music, and many go to concerts while on their cruise.

Bratislava

The capital city of Slovakia is a fun place to visit. Located at the border of Austria and Hungary, this is a new country (it declared independence in 1993), as much of its history it was in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the part of the Czechoslovakia. The symbol of Bratislava is the fortress that overlooking the city. It is also known for its whimsical bronze figures, which delight cruisers in the old town area.

Budapest

By far the most impressive city on the Danube, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a town we love to visit. It is really two towns—the high town of Buda that overlooks the banks of the Danube and Pest on flat land. They are united by several bridges, but the chain bridge is the most important and is a symbol of the city. Both have some awesome structures—among them Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion (Buda side) and the Parliament building (Pest side). Once you visit, you will want to come back.

Our Final Thoughts

This is a grand route and a chance to see a lot of Europe in a hassle-free way. For many, it is the trip of a lifetime, as you can see by the port stops.

Availability on this route, due to the number of ships dedicated to this route and the extra 7 days added to the itinerary, sometimes make it hard to find space, so if you are considering taking this cruise, we advise you to act quickly, so you won’t be disappointed—a year or more is a good idea.

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 give 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 27, 2022

French River Cruise Ports

Beaune's Hotel Dieu

Hank Schrader

October 27, 2022

French River Cruise Ports

Beaune’s Hotel Dieu

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

We just finished escorting some great clients on an AmaWaterways river cruise. The route was the Essence of Burgundy & Provence. In Burgundy, I took a tour to the famous Hotel Dieu.

This stunning place was a medieval charity hospital. It was commissioned and paid for by Nicolas Rolin, the chancellor of Burgundy and his wife, Guigone de Salins. Construction started in 1443 and was completed 8 years later.

So, let’s explore together and learn about one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in France,

Overview

By the time of the construction of the hospital, the people of Burgundy were suffering from the Black Death (plague) and the religious Hundred Years War. Estimates were that 75% of the population were destitute and many were sick.

There were few opportunities for health care during these times, so this is a rather unique facility.

The Courtyard

The tiled roof and courtyard area are just stunning. The glazed tiled roof was a symbol of prestige and wealth and these colorful patterns have earned an architectural style that has become to known as “Burgundian”. Here are some photos:

Notice the quality of the workmanship—very intricate

The workmanship is excellent and the details are everywhere

The inside courtyard, where the entrance leads to the Great Hall of the Poor

The Pauper’s Ward (The Great Hall of the Poor)

It might be hard to understand how innovative this place was in the middle ages. Normal care came by doctors visiting the sick at their homes, but few could afford care at home.

This is the largest room of the building. Each bed held 2 or more persons (our guide told us men and women were often placed in the beds together—I guess if you must go it might be nice to have a little pleasure first). This practice ended in 1658 when King Louis XIV (the Sun King) donated enough money to separate men and women.

This was not a place of recovery; it was a place for the poor to die as peacefully as possible and there were constant reminders of salvation awaited the faithful. Today we would call this a hospice. Here are some pictures:

More of the bed area—there are 28 beds in this part of the hospital for the poor

The ceiling of the Great Hall of the Poor

The Chapel

The chapel’s location allowed the patients to attend mass while in bed.

The stained-glass windows let the world know that the two patrons are included in the art provided this place for the poor.

The art work over the alter area of the chapel

St. Hugue Ward

This was award for more wealthy patients who might have a better chance of surviving.

Notice the difference in the more wealthy area of this hospital—the paintings are more about hope and recovery than the Great Hall of the Poor

St. Nicolas Room

This room has displays of medical instruments used during this time.

Kitchen

The kitchen area is very well preserved.

Pharmacy

The nuns who staffed the hospital grew herbs in the second courtyard area gardens and these medical remedies were stored in pottery jars.

More of the storage of medicines in the pharmacy

The second courtyard area where the nuns would grow herbs

Treasured Art Works

Among the magnificent art works on display are the Story of Jacob, The Last Judgement by Roger van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement (Flemish artist), and the Prodigal Son tapestry.

The folding portion of the original alter. The 2 donors are on the outside pane;s

A tapestry telling the legend of St. Eloi. According to the legend, the horse in the tapestry refused to be shod and it was believed the animal was possessed by demons. He cut the horses’ leg off, shod the severed leg and then performed a miracle by reattaching the leg back on the horse, who was now demon free.

Burgundy Wine

The hospital is supported in part by a 60-acre wine vineyard. There is a wine auction at the Hotel Dieu in November, that is famous for the barrels of high-quality wine sold (Sotheby’s organizes and conducts the auction). It raises significant money to help preserve this great museum and important historical site. It is the most famous wine charity auction in the world.

The wine is primarily Pinot Noir, with some chardonnay. The exceptional vineyard is premiers’ crus and grand crus—the best wine produced in this region.

A display about the wine grown by the Hotel Dieu vineyard

A display about some of the barrels auctioned off—these are top wines, including one of my favorites, Pommard.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a great place to visit. It is a fascinating look back into health care in the middle of France. This place was a wonderful tour on our cruise, and we highly recommend it.

We hope you enjoyed this report, and hope you want to visit here also—we are ready to help as needed.

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

Hank Schrader

October 19, 2022

Europe River Cruise

The Chef’s Table on Our 2022 AmaCello Essenence of Brugundy & Provence River Cruise

Hank Schrader

October 19, 2022

Europe River Cruise

The Chef’s Table on the AmaCello in 2022

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

The Chef’s Table on Amawaterways is always offered during their cruises in Europe and Egypt. It is always included with your cruise fare at no extra charge.

It is a multi course specialty dining venue in a separate place on the ship.

So, let’s explore together and learn about the menu and the dining experience on the AmaCello in 2022.

Overview

The Chef’s Table has seating for 28 and has a chef who prepares all 7 courses in a demonstration kitchen. There are 3 waitstaff along with the chef to make this tasting menu a special occasion.

Here are some pictures:

4 Great folks preparing and serving our meal. From left to right Tanja (Croatia), Stelyan (Bulgaria), Petra (Romania) and Chris (Romania).

Here are pictures of our 7 Course Meal and descriptions of the wonderful food for each course:

Chef’s Welcome Course 1

Concasse Heirloom Tomato ~Mozzarella Carpaccio- Basil Oil- Olive Powder

Get The Taste—Course 2

Grilled Tiger Shrimp~Tahini Humus-Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

Tease The Senses—Course 3

Cauliflower Veloute~ Pine Seeds- Ginger Oil- Dried Figs

From The Rivers—Course 4

Pan Fried Salmon Trout Fillet ~Pumpkin Mash- Braised Radish

Riesling White Wine Sauce

Sorbet—Course 5

Raspberry Sorbet ~Sparkling Wine

Country Spirit —Course 6

Argentinian Beef Short Ribs~ Natural Jus- Horseradish Purée- Sweet Potato Fondant- Heritage Carrots - Broccoli

From Heaven —Course 7

Salty Carmel Chocolate Tart ~ Lime Macron- Cherry Sorbet- Fresh Berries

Wine Pairing

Chateau Belle Cure—White Wine

This white wine from the Bordeaux , France region is a Semillion-Sauvignon Blanc Blend.

The characteristics are a dry wine with aromas of tropical fruit and flowers, light, well balanced, fruity and a slight creamy aftertaste.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir—Red Wine

This wine is from Bourgogne, France and 100% Pinot Noir.

The wine characteristics of this medium light coloed, dry bodied Pinot wine are soft blackberries, cherry and strawberry fruits with just a hint of smokiness.

A Grand Celebration

We were honored to help our dear friends Linda and John Howard celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Here are 2 pictures—the first with their son Ben and his wife Judith and the special cake the staff onboard prepared and presented them at the end of the meal. The second is the Howard’s and Alt’s before the start of the meal.

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a meal!

I think you can see why we are in the business—it just is awesome to help folks experience fine dining, good tours on a luxury cruise ship like the AmaCello.

We hope you enjoyed this report and we would be delighted to help have wonderful experiences like ours on the AmaCello.

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.

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

Hank Schrader

October 6, 2022

French River Cruise Ports

11 Great Things to do in Lyon

Hank Schrader

October 6, 2022

French River Cruise Ports

11 Great Things to do in Lyon France

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 good chance to learn more about Lyon, France. Lyon has two great rivers running through it. They are the Rhône and the Saône Rivers.

Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France, has Roman ruins and a very good old town. The historic section of town is known as Vieux Lyon (“Old Lyon”). The Old Town is on the Saône River.

Lyon is fun, we really enjoyed the old town area and its narrow streets and colorful bouchons (small bistros) with their trademark red and white checkered table cloths.

So, let’s explore together and find 11 great things to do in Lyon.

***Saône***.River view of the old town area

3 River Cruise ships on the Rhône River.

Notre-Dame Basilica—ornate church built in 1872 as a tribute to the Virgin Mary on the orders of the bishop of Lyon for sparing the city of Lyon during the Prussian-Franco War. Free. Located on Fourviere Hill above the old town. Here are 2 pictures:

Roman Theaters and Gallo-Roman Museum—there are 2 ancient Roman theatres here along with excellent artifacts from the Roman time in Lyon. Among the highlights is a bronze chariot from 7th century BC. Good explanations of exhibits in English. Closed Monday. Admission charge. (www.musees-gallo-romains.com) Located on the Fourviere Hill above the old town—there is a funicular to get up the steep hill.

The Old Town

The best thing to do is just wander around. Here are 3 pictures—showing the winding streets and lanes. The second picture is what moving day looks like in the old town.

Shopping—shop in Vieux Lyon. Lyon is renowned throughout Europe for silk, especially silk scarves.

St. Jean Cathedral—has a 700 year old astronomical clock. This cathedral was built between the 12th and the 15th centuries, and its exceptional stained-glass windows date from the same era. Its apse is a masterpiece of Lyonnais Romanesque architecture. A highlight is the Flamboyant Gothic chapel of the Bourbons. On the front portals are medallions depicting the signs of the zodiac, the Creation, and the life of St. John. Located in Vieux Lyon.

Traboules—these serpentine passageways were shortcuts that linked the old town’s 3 main streets. Wandering these paths will allow you to discover courtyards, lovely loggias (covered walkways open on one side) and arches.

Museums and Workshops

Atelier de la Solerie—workshop demonstrating handmade silk printing and screen printing. Free. Closed Sunday.

Museum of Fine Arts--The former Benedictine abbey was built between 1659 and 1685 in the Italian baroque style. Today, it is home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which has an outstanding collection of paintings and sculpture. Closed Tuesdays. Admission charge. Metro Stop Hotel de Ville. (www.maire-lyon.fr)

Museum of Fabrics and Decorative Arts--In the 1739 Lacroix-Laval mansion by Soufflot (architect of the Panthéon in Paris), the Musée des Arts-Décoratifs contains furniture and objets d'art from the 17th and 18th centuries. The medieval and Renaissance periods are also represented. Closed Mondays. Admission charge. Metro stop Bellecour. (www.musee-des-tissus.com)

Resistance and Deportation History Center—this museum has displays and videos telling the story of the French Resistance. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission charge. Metro stop Jean Mace, turn right on avenue Berthelot and walk 5 blocks.

Lumiere Museum--Film buffs from all over the world come here. The famous Lumière family, including Antoine (1840-1911), Auguste (1862-1954), and Louis (1864-1948), once lived in Lyon. The brothers were chemists, industrialists, and motion-picture pioneers. In Lyon, they founded a factory for producing photographic plates, paper, and chemicals. They invented the Lumière process of color photography and the Cinématographe, an early motion picture camera, in 1895. Closed Monday. Admission charge. Metro stop Monplaisir-Lumiere on Metro D. (www.institut-lumiere.org)

Dining—Lyon is the gastronomical capital of France. Among the best options are bouchons (small bistros) often their red and white checker-squared tablecloths. Local specialties are plentiful and vary from the creamy cervelle de canut (fromage blanc with herbs) to salade Lyonnaise with greens, soft-boiled eggs, bacon cubes and croutons. Here are 2 pictures of bouchons and the most famous food market in Lyon:

One of the 70 stalls of Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse market place

Getting Around

If you are coming by TGV get off at the second station, Gare de Perrache (takes 2 hours from Paris).

A network of Métro lines, trams, and buses branch out to serve the city. A plan de poche (pocket map) is available at any office of TCL (tel. 08-20-42-70-00; www.tcl.fr), which handles all forms of mass transport. Tickets are valid on all forms of public transport, costing 1.60€ for the average ride or else 13€ for a carnet of 10 tickets. Most short-time visitors may want to purchase a Ticket Liberté day pass for 4.40€. For a cab, call Taxi Radio de Lyon at tel. 08-72-10-86-86).

Our Final Thoughts

Wow—what a great guide We have 50 guides for interesting cities in Europe.

We hope you enjoyed this report.

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

Hank Schrader

September 29, 2022

Best Value Travel

Why Do We Travel?

Hank Schrader

September 29, 2022

Best Value Travel

Why Do We Travel?

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 topic I have wanted to write about for a long time. I’m not sure I’m really qualified to list all the reasons we travel but our interactions with dozens of clients does give us a little insight on why we travel.

I wrote about travel opportunities a few weeks ago, but this a more in-depth look at why we travel and a little bit about 5 travel styles.

So, let’s explore together and learn about why we travel.

Experiences

In some form or another, when we travel, we seek experiences. Experiences change us.

It could be as simple as doing nothing, clearing our minds, relaxing.

It could be active—hiking biking running or other physical activity.

It could be seeing new places, learning about the culture.

It could be achievement—visiting a high number of countries, continents, or polar explorations, or even visiting space.

It could be a combination of any or all of these.

It could be celebrating a milestone, or a bucket list item.

The means of transportation could be the experience—a luxury train, a river or cruise ship or a pilgrimage.

The only thing all these have in common is that they change us in some form—it is personal development. Some folks like to call this transformational travel.

Since we all experience travel differently, let’s explore this idea a little further and see how travel can provide us some personal development.

I’m going to take 5 ideas about travel styles and travel attitudes to examine how you can use these ideas to enhance your travel experiences and help you get more out of your travel. By using some of our travel styles and travel attitudes as a method, I hope it will help us to probe why we travel.

Perhaps, one of these styles is your preferred way to travel, but my guess is most of you will see yourself in several of these travel styles. We have experienced all 5 styles.

Can you imagine a more relaxing place like this garden in Vienne, France?

Idea #1 We Take the Same Trip Every Year—It’s Our Travel Style

All travel experiences are different, even if we take the same trip every year.

For example, my West Point Classmates (we graduated in 1971—yes, we are old!) get together once a year for a 4-day golf shoot out. In truth, although some are very competitive golfers, most go to see the old friends and classmates, retell old stories and the format doesn’t change much, but each trip is different since we change the location of the event and not all can attend every year.

So. what does this example accomplish for most of us—we get to see the folks who are important to us.

Even the same trip every year leads to personal development, much the same taking the same river cruise over the same route does—every trip is different and so are your experiences,

Every year, we try to explore our Scottish heritage during a Highland clan gathering in the Estes Park Scottish festival. We have now been there 5 times and plan to continue this wonderful festival. Here are two pictures of us there:

Idea # 2 Our Travel Style Will Require an Attitude Adjustment

Travel always broadens our prospectives. It can be fun, stressful, freeing, relaxing, or demanding.

Some love the planning process; others want nothing to do with it. We always ask how our clients feel about the travel planning process versus the actual travel. We usually find the best attitude adjustments happen when we both get involved in the planning process.

But it is out client’s attitude towards these 2 facets of travel determine how much we get involved to do it all for you or get help and collaborate with you.

One attitude adjustment is control and for some the hardest factor in personal development when traveling. We often must give up control of our routines and are forced out of our comfort zone but gain a new understanding of a new place.

Attitudes are about feelings—what did you love about your last vacation? What did you hate or dislike? Many of our feelings may not be that strong but if we want personal development, we must express our feelings about travel.

Perhaps we can help you make several attitude adjustments and provide you growth by assisting you with new experiences during your travels.

One of our most memorable trips was attending a cooking school in Wales, for Anne’s 60th birthday celebration.

Idea # 3 Your Travel Style Requires You to Dream Big if You Want Great Experiences.

One of my favorite questions to clients is where do you want to go? Followed by where do you need to go?

Why is this important? We all have travel dreams, but it is what we want to accomplish by our travels that is the need question.

Do you want to follow your ancestral family in a new location?

How about a luxury train ride?

Maybe mysterious, ancient Egypt?

Perhaps, the Vienna New Year Balls, dressed in elegant gowns and tuxedos?

We don’t always know your big dreams but are ready to help you get there someday—you must dream big if you want significant personal development.

I’m not sure either us really ever believed we would visit Egypt one day—we did dream big and made it happen!

Idea # 4 This Travel Style Requires Most of Our Clients to be Resilient—they can overcome travel barriers.

The 2020 and 2021 were some of the most challenging times we have faced in our travel business. Somehow, a few traveled, many rescheduled and we all emerged better.

Maybe the problem is not enough time, travel costs, feeling we aren’t up to the physical demands of travel, family and/or health concerns—the list could go on and on if you let it.

Barriers can be overcome in most cases—sometimes we must delay our plans a little but to give in is just wrong, in my opinion.

We can usually find a solution and the result will benefit both of us.

What are the obstacles to achieving your big dream—money, time, fear? Let us know—we understand and usually can help you overcome these barriers.

You may wonder why I would choose the picture of this iconic castle in Switzerland as an example of a barrier. The story is we had a flight from Amsterdam to Geneva cancelled and we had to take 4 different trains to get to our hotel after our overnight flight from the US. We finally arrived at 0200 to our hotel—even seasoned travels like us have to overcome barriers!

Idea 5 Your Travel Style Requires You to Adapt and Grow

Travel really does change us, especially if we embrace the opportunity. I will never forget my first trip to Europe—I fell in instant love with the Old World and have been returning for 51 years.

Another good example is—I never knew about how good a vacation a river cruise is for most of our clients until my first in 2009 and now 95% of our sales are river cruises.

Just as we have adapted to the changing environment of travel, we can help you adapt and grow in your travels.

We have the knowledge and experience to help you grow, you just must want to change.

Maybe you need a nudge or two to take that first step—we can help you overcome your inhibitions and help you grow.

Here is a post card I sent my parents in 1971 after my first visit to Paris. As you can see, I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower on 26 July 1971.

Our Final Thoughts

So, what is our role in why you travel?

For us, it is simple—we like to help you get better vacations by providing you trips that 1) will exceed your expectations; 2) help you make wise choices; 3) eliminate hassles and 4) help you get the best value for your money. All of these are personal development from your travel experiences or transitional travel.

I think you can see why we are in the business—it just is awesome to help folks have a great vacation. Regardless of your travel style, we can make it a better experience.

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.

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

Hank Schrader

September 15, 2022

Best Value Travel

Why Read Our Blog--What's in it for Me?

Hank Schrader

September 15, 2022

Best Value Travel

Why Read Our Blog—What’s in It for Me?

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

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

After writing our blog for over five and half years, I started to reflect on why we write about travel. I think it is a fair question to ask—why should you read our blog? Most of you are very busy and often are overwhelmed by emails and online information about travel.

So, why should you take the time to read our blog? Let’s explore this thought together and decide if you should or should not read our blog!

Some Stunning Statistics

A lot of folks this year so far have visited our website. Here are the totals from our Squarespace Analytics Report for 2022 so far:

· Visits 32,579
· Unique Visitors 28,429
· Pageviews 39,742

So, a lot of folks have visited our website and most come from search engines. Why are they coming to our website? The answer is our blogs and content on our website.

The Starting Point—What is the Purpose of Our Blog?

For me this is a simple answer—our purpose is to make you a better-informed traveler who may need our services. Sounds simple but it really is much more complex in my mind.

I think there are 4 parts of making you a better-informed traveler.

First, we want to teach about what good value travel is.

Second, we want to inspire you and help you visualize your next trip.

Third, we want to provide objective advice, so you can make wise travel choices.

Forth, we want to help you decide if you should trust Visit Dream Destinations, LLC to plan your trip?

So, let’s evaluate our blog and see if it is worthwhile for you to read our blog and if we deliver on the 4 parts of making you a better-informed traveler.

Our Role as Teachers About Good Value Travel

Good value travel is making the most of your travel dollars. It is about memorable experiences. It is about reduced hassles on the trip. We write often about these topics. The blog has 7 subtopics. We write about Ocean Cruising, Europe River cruising, Europe Travel, Europe Destinations, Best Value Travel, Travel Planning and Our Travel Philosophy.

The River Cruise Blog Archives on our website is excellent place to learn if river cruising is the right trip for your vacation. The topics in this section are Our River Cruise Services, River Cruise Line Comparisons, River Cruise Routes, River Cruise Advice and River Cruise Reviews. Our comparisons of river cruise companies and Europe River Cruise route Guides are especially strong—we are number 1 on Google for both topics.

On our website we have all our blogs under these categories, so you can find travel or destination advice easily. We try and write about the advantages and disadvantages of travel to help understand about the suppliers and their benefits to help you achieve your travel goals and how we can guide you to make wise choices.

There is one common theme in each topic –We try to write with the viewpoint of:

Do they care about me and what I need as a traveler?

In our blogs, we try and establish what we consider as a good relationship with our readers. We want our readers to think of us as friends who may become clients and help them decide if they need our services.

If we take the next step in our relationship to client and travel consultant, we still maintain the friend’s mantra. We treat each of our clients as friends, because we don’t sell travel to clients—we sell travel to friends. There is a big difference—how your trip goes makes a world of difference to us.

We like to say we are small enough to deliver personalize service but big and experience enough to get you just the right trip. We try to match you to just the right experience and make it logical, realistic, and affordable in your price range.

Don’t get us wrong—we do not sell on price—we sell on value. We try to demonstrate how valuable you are to us in many ways but how many other travel professionals have a Traveler Hall of Fame? We are proud we could help you travel, and we want to share with others your joy and satisfaction.

Learn more About our hall of Fame

Inspiration

We try in our blogs to help you visualize your next trip. We often talk about our experiences during our travels so you can see if that trip would fit into a trip you might like to take. There are many pictures in our blogs, most taken by us, to help you visualize the trip in your mind. Many of you recognize the great pictures Anne takes to document our travels and that is perhaps the best feature of our blogs. She really makes the places come alive! Here are some of my favorites:

Burg Eltz in Germany near the Mosel River

Sailing the Rhine River in the famous Rhine River Gorge area—two of the 40 castles on this section of the Rhine.

If you want to see more of our travel pictures, please visit our Pinterest page—it has over 4,500 pictures (www.pinterest.com/visitdd).

Our emphasis is always the best possible experience within your price range, and we hope these pictures help inspire you to visit a new place or experience a new culture, help celebrate a milestone in your life, or have a bucket list trip you have always dreamed about.

Objective Advice

I recently read that 62% of business bloggers outsource their blog! I was stunned—their blog may have good content but what that tells me they are too busy to provide first-hand information. How reliable and objective is that? Trust me, we write our own blog and the only guest writers are our clients. It’s funny to me that we get requests and offers from others to write about subjects that have nothing to do with travel to post on our blog—it is crazy that we would even consider this, but the pitches will continue.

With over 25+ years of experience selling travel to many satisfied clients, we know both what you need to make your travel experience better and the knowledge of what is available to match you with just the right vacation.

We have extensive first-hand knowledge and do comprehensive research on trips. We have planned hundreds of successful trips to delighted clients and we are eager to plan yours. Would you like a little proof?

A wine tasting on a Rhone River Cruise in 2016 on AmaWaterways—this is one of Anne’s favorite pictures of us. We have taken 22 river cruises and 2 more planned for this year.

Ask for one of our 50 Europe City travel guides—we wrote them, not some other person or company—just go to our website, click on the region of Europe you want to visit and then click on the city, and we will send you the guide (if you are not a current client there is a limit of 2 guides). We have visited 44 of 50 cities we write about and have awesome pictures to go with these guides.

Or click on one of our many PowerPoint presentations on our web site or visit our Resource Section of our website to get travel tips (www.dreamdestinations.com).

We also have 51 river cruise port guides available on our website—they are also free by request but again there is a limit of 2 if you are not a current client.

There is one common thread here—almost 98% is our own pictures or written by us—in truth, it would be hard to find many travel professionals who have been to so many of the places we sell. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know we know our stuff. As I used to say as a coach, when evaluating good football players, “he is the real deal!” Well folks, we are the real deal!

Should I trust Dream Destinations LLC to Plan My trip?

Trust and integrity are valuable traits and, in my judgement, in short supply in our country. Too many make promises they can’t or won’t keep.

My whole life has been devoted to service after graduating from West Point—20 years as a US Army Officer, 20 years as a coach and teacher and 25 years helping others travel to the right location.

My graduation at West Point in June 1971.

This picture was taken at Ft. Ord when Anne and I were first dating in 1986.

Anne is equally dedicated to trust and integrity—she always thinks about what is best for our clients, every single time. We think trust is the cornerstone of our relationship with you.

We try to under promise and over deliver a great travel experience for you. We strive to make your travel experience better by helping you make wise choices, eliminate hassles, and help you get the best value for your money. You are never on your own when you trust us to help you and ever year, we solve complex problems in the planning phase and during the trip. I like to say we are just an email, text, or phone call away.

In short, while working with us, we want to provide a trip that will exceed your expectations. I guess the best thing we can provide you is some comments by some of our clients. All over the website is testimonials from our friends who we have helped travel through the years.

We are proud to have helped them and look forward to helping as many as possible in the future.

Our Final Thoughts

We hope our blog is worth your time to read. As you can see, there is much more than these brief thoughts to describe the value of our blogs.

I think we help you become a more informed traveler by being good teachers, providing inspiration, providing objective information, and developing trust. If our blog has helped get more knowledge about travel, then we have done our job and the blog is worth your time to read.

Thanks to the many who take time out of their busy lives to read the blog—we love you folks!

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 51 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

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.

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

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