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This will be a very personalized trip to Central Europe where we'll
experience these diverse countries as insiders. We have wonderful hosts
who not only speak English but are key people in the vibrant traditional
music scene of their country. Because of the unique nature of this trip
and the size of the places we are staying, trip attendance will be very
limited. Following is our tentative itinerary which is always subject to
change so we can be open to spontaneous events. This just touches on some
of the exciting things we will be doing . . . We hope you can join us!
- Saturday, October 12 - Depart USA
- (Optional arrival in Vienna)
- Sunday-Tuesday, October 13-15: VIENNA
- Our tour officially starts tonight with our welcoming dinner at the
oldest wine tavern in Vienna where we'll meet friends and be serenaded
with music. Our hostess with the absolute mostess is Milica who for years
ran the Vienna Folk Festival. Needless to say, she will be our perfect
connection here in Vienna. Our hotel is located right in the heart of the
Old Town of Vienna just off St. Stephen's Square. Monday morning will
start with a personalized trip to Vienna's newly opened Museum of Sound.
Our next two days we'll have plenty of free time for sightseeing and
wandering the cobbled streets, seeing the famous Spanish Riding School,
exploring the magnificent palace or just drinking coffee and enjoying fine
pastries at the most famous coffeehouses in the world. An invitation to
the home of Vienna's most famous art nouveau artist and evenings free for
opera or music will make our time here complete.
- Wednesday-Friday, October 16-18: SLOVENIA
- Travel to Slovenia, known as the Green Treasure of Europe and indeed
it is just that. Slovenia is half the size of Switzerland, tucked into a
mountainous corner between Austria, Italy, Hungary and the Mediterranean
(Venice is only 50 miles away!). It has gorgeous mountains, lush
vineyards, beautiful lakes and friendly people. We'll visit Ljubljana,
the capitol of Slovenia, whose Old Town is built on an ancient hilltop
castle alongside the banks of the river. Our hosts for this trip will be
"Alligator" who owns the local record store and the famous Slovenian
musician Andrej Sifrer. Andrej is of legendary status here in Slovenia
being the most well known and loved songwriter and performer in the
country (the Bob Dylan of Slovenia!).
One of the many highlights of our time here is a trip to Predjama Castle
whose rooms are connected by secret passages and the Postojna Caves. Take
a tram into the deepest reaches and walk through winding trails inside
these most popular caves in all of Europe. One of the most beautiful
things about Slovenia is its spectacular mountains and the world renowned
Lake Bled with its picturesque island in the middle. We'll enjoy a
spectacular drive to visit Lake Bohinj, Slovenia's largest lake, and the
unspoiled mountains of Triglav National Park.
- Saturday-Sunday, October 19-20: BELA KRANJ / OTOCEC CASTLE
- We drive out to the countryside to the area which is the most famous
region for the traditional music of Slovenia. We'll visit a working eco
farm which specializes in handmade linens and cloths produced in the
traditional way. This is the real deal as they have preserved this soon to
be lost culture. Traditional musicians will greet us and we'll have lunch
and local wines before our hands-on demonstrations of how the farm works.
Tonight check into the unique Otocec Castle on its own island in the
middle of the Krka River. We have the entire castle to ourselves and
tonight we will enjoy a fabulous medieval banquet. Sunday is free to relax
on the castle grounds, have an informal lunch at the courtyard cafi or
take a trip to the nearby thermal spa or the Carthusian Monastery. This
evening, we'll visit a local winery for a Slovenian country-style dinner
of local foods.
- Monday-Thursday, October 21-24: BUDAPEST
- Travel into Hungary and the exciting city of Budapest and check into
the historic Gellert Hotel overlooking the Danube and bustling Gellert
Square. The Gellert is an Art Nouveau masterpiece and certainly the most
famous hotel in Budapest. One of the features of the Gellert is that it
houses the ornate Art Nouveau Gellert Baths which are the most popular of
Budapest's renowned thermal baths. Tonight we will have dinner at a
beautiful traditional Budapest restaurant to sample the local specialties.
We will meet the exuberant Daniel Hamar who is the leader of the Hungarian
band, Musikas, the most influential traditional band in the country. We
could not have a more wonderful and knowledgeable host than Daniel!
Start your day the Hungarian way with a soak in the natural thermal waters
in the Gellert Baths. The hotel has its own private elevator leading
directly into the baths and this is an experience not to be missed.
Free time to explore this great city... take a walk up to the Gellert Hill
from where you can view both hilly Buda and the flat Pest side of the
Danube River. Spend some time walking through the old cobbled Buda Castle
district and enjoy the fabulous view from Fisherman's Bastion. Walk along
the Danube, take in a museum, sip an espresso at a coffee bar or head down
to the Central Market Hall to pick up some hot paprika. We have been
invited to Daniel's house in the countryside to join him at his home which
has been completely restored in the traditional Hungarian way. We will
join Daniel and his family for a BBQ, visit the fort up the hill from the
village and stop in at the local potters's studio. On Wednesday night
Budapest is alive with the gypsy music at many of Budapest's lively dance
hauses. For our last night in Budapest, we've been invited to a special
jam session at a tiny local club with some of the musicians and dancers of
Musikas... a very special treat.
- Friday-Sunday, October 25-27: PRAGUE
- We board our First class compartment for our romantic train journey
from Budapest to Prague. On this three country day we'll travel through
Slovakia before entering The Czech Republic while watching fascinating
towns and country-side go by, so have your passport ready!
Our lovely hotel here in Prague is The Maximilian,
which is located down a cobbled street just off the 11th Century Old Town
Square in the heart of the most beautiful section of the historic Old Town
Prague. The Maximilian is a small boutique hotel managed by Dagmar, a
fascinating woman who has great stories of Prague before and after the
"change" in the Czech Republic, who will join us for our welcoming dinner
at a local traditional restaurant.
Spend your time sightseeing here in Prague. It's worth it! Prague is one
of the most breathtaking cities in all of Europe and so we end or trip on
a very high note. Every hour you can gather in the Old Town Square to hear
the famous Astronomical Clock chime and see intricate mechanical figures
perform above the zodiac signs (no Small World here). Everywhere you look
there are museums and art galleries and beautiful art nouveau touches as
this was the home of the famous artist Mucha. Prague is also experiencing
a true renaissance and has an incredibly vibrant music, art and theater
scene. We will offer tips and tickets for some of the best events. If you
are an opera fan, you can get box seats for a quarter of the price they
would cost elsewhere in the world.
- Monday, October 28
- Our tour officially ends today, but you can extend your trip for a
few extra days if you like.
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