This was our first river cruise and we had looked forward to it for over a year. Everyone we ever talked to about river cruising raved about them. While we had a good time, I'm not sure that I would be in a great hurry to do another one. It would have to be a super deal for me to go on another river cruise!...or maybe just better weather....
The boat, the Viking Aegir, is new. It is very pretty but I found many drawbacks. The cabins are very tiny. Granted, we had the least expensive cabin, but they all seemed tiny. The plumbing was horrible!!! There is only one lounge so even though there are only 190 passengers, you still felt crowded. If the weather had been better, there would have been some outside areas to sit that would have helped.
The staff was wonderful. George, the Program Director, was always available and very helpful. Marius, our waiter, was very accommodating and funny! The food was good, for the most part, with foods from the region we were in on the menu. There was no problem bringing our own wine...in fact, we brought it up to the bar in the lounge and the waiters would pour our wine for us....try that on an ocean cruise!!
Cruising down the river is so peaceful. The little towns we stopped in have so much history and we did enjoy visiting them. I do feel a little like "if it's Tuesday...it must be Belgium". This blog will be great to help me remember what I saw where!
We saw so much devastation, especially in Eastern Europe, from WW II and from the communist occupation ...so much is still there. I really learned so much...the people for the most part were friendly....Belgrade was not my favorite place.
We loved Budapest. I wish we could have spent a few days there. It is a lovely city and so much to see. We just didn't have enough time. The same for Bucharest ....wonderful city. Romania seems less like a third world country than other countries in Eastern Europe. Probably would have liked Vienna better if it wasn't snowing...
Monday, April 22, 2013
Bucharest
Monday, April 15th
This morning we said goodbye to Rich and Delia....
Another beautiful day so we decided to walk the Calea Victoriei and explore more closely some of the sights we saw on the bus tour on our first day in Bucharest.
Kretzulescu Church is an Eastern Orthodox church in central Bucharest, Romania. Built in the Brâncovenesc style, it is located at one of the corners of Revolution Square, next to the former Royal Palace.
The church was commissioned in 1720–1722 by the boyar Iordache Crețulescu and his wife Safta, a daughter of prince Constantin Brâncoveanu. Originally, the exterior was painted, but since the restoration work done in 1935–1936 (under the supervision of architect Ștefan Balș), the facade is made of brick. The frescoes on the porch date from the original structure, while the interior frescoes were painted by Gheorghe Tattarescu in 1859–1860.
The church, damaged during the November, 1940 earthquake, was repaired in 1942–1943. In the early days of the communist regime, Kretzulescu Church was slated for demolition, but was saved due to efforts of architects such as Henriette Delavrancea-Gibory. More renovations took place after the Bucharest earthquake of 1977 and the Revolution of 1989. To the side of the church now stands now a memorial bust of Corneliu Coposu who was a leading symbol of anti-communist resistance in Romania for nearly half a century.
Revolution Square (Romanian: Piaţa Revoluţiei) is a square in central Bucharest, on Calea Victoriei. Known as Piața Palatului (Palace Square) until 1989, it was later renamed after the 1989 Romanian Revolution.
The square also houses the building of the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party (from where Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife fled by helicopter on December 22, 1989). In 1990, the building became the seat of the Senate and since 2006 it houses the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform.
Prior to 1948, an equestrian statue of Carol I of Romania stood there. Created in 1930 by the Croatian and American sculptor Ivan Meštrović, the statue was destroyed in 1948 by the Communists, who never paid damages to the sculptor. In 2005, the Romanian Minister of Culture decided to recreate the destroyed statue from a model that was kept by Meštrović's family. In 2007, the Bucharest City Hall assigned the project to the sculptor Florin Codre. The statue now stands in front of the Library of the University of Bucharest.
The Memorial of Rebirth (Memorialul Renaşterii in Romanian) is a memorial in Bucharest, Romania that commemorates the struggles and victims of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, which overthrew Communism. The memorial complex was inaugurated in August 2005 in Revolution Square, where Romania's Communist-era dictator, Nicolae Ceauşescu, was publicly overthrown in December 1989.
The memorial, designed by Alexandru Ghilduş, features as its centrepiece a 25-metre-high marble pillar reaching up to the sky, upon which a metal "crown" is placed. The pillar is surrounded by a 600 m² plaza covered by marble and granite.
The statue of the sitting man...represents Iuliu Maniu (1873-1953), leader of the National Party in Transylvania and later of the Peasant Party and prime minister for three terms. As the most prominent adversary of the Soviet influence he ended up in a political prison where he died after 6 years of imprisionment.
The Romaniam Atheneaum built by french architect, Albert Galleron, represents one of the architectonic jewels of Bucharest.
Biserica Stavropoleos (The Stavropoleos Church) Religious that shelters a collection of old icons (18th century), as well as fresco fragments recovered from the churches demolished during the communist regime.
Lunch at Caru' cu bere
We had a good day exploring the city. Think we would enjoy spending more time here. It is really a beautiful city. Now it's back to the hotel to pack up and get ready for the trip home.......
This morning we said goodbye to Rich and Delia....
Another beautiful day so we decided to walk the Calea Victoriei and explore more closely some of the sights we saw on the bus tour on our first day in Bucharest.
Kretzulescu Church is an Eastern Orthodox church in central Bucharest, Romania. Built in the Brâncovenesc style, it is located at one of the corners of Revolution Square, next to the former Royal Palace.
The church was commissioned in 1720–1722 by the boyar Iordache Crețulescu and his wife Safta, a daughter of prince Constantin Brâncoveanu. Originally, the exterior was painted, but since the restoration work done in 1935–1936 (under the supervision of architect Ștefan Balș), the facade is made of brick. The frescoes on the porch date from the original structure, while the interior frescoes were painted by Gheorghe Tattarescu in 1859–1860.
The church, damaged during the November, 1940 earthquake, was repaired in 1942–1943. In the early days of the communist regime, Kretzulescu Church was slated for demolition, but was saved due to efforts of architects such as Henriette Delavrancea-Gibory. More renovations took place after the Bucharest earthquake of 1977 and the Revolution of 1989. To the side of the church now stands now a memorial bust of Corneliu Coposu who was a leading symbol of anti-communist resistance in Romania for nearly half a century.
Revolution Square (Romanian: Piaţa Revoluţiei) is a square in central Bucharest, on Calea Victoriei. Known as Piața Palatului (Palace Square) until 1989, it was later renamed after the 1989 Romanian Revolution.
The square also houses the building of the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party (from where Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife fled by helicopter on December 22, 1989). In 1990, the building became the seat of the Senate and since 2006 it houses the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform.
Prior to 1948, an equestrian statue of Carol I of Romania stood there. Created in 1930 by the Croatian and American sculptor Ivan Meštrović, the statue was destroyed in 1948 by the Communists, who never paid damages to the sculptor. In 2005, the Romanian Minister of Culture decided to recreate the destroyed statue from a model that was kept by Meštrović's family. In 2007, the Bucharest City Hall assigned the project to the sculptor Florin Codre. The statue now stands in front of the Library of the University of Bucharest.
The Memorial of Rebirth (Memorialul Renaşterii in Romanian) is a memorial in Bucharest, Romania that commemorates the struggles and victims of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, which overthrew Communism. The memorial complex was inaugurated in August 2005 in Revolution Square, where Romania's Communist-era dictator, Nicolae Ceauşescu, was publicly overthrown in December 1989.
The memorial, designed by Alexandru Ghilduş, features as its centrepiece a 25-metre-high marble pillar reaching up to the sky, upon which a metal "crown" is placed. The pillar is surrounded by a 600 m² plaza covered by marble and granite.
The statue of the sitting man...represents Iuliu Maniu (1873-1953), leader of the National Party in Transylvania and later of the Peasant Party and prime minister for three terms. As the most prominent adversary of the Soviet influence he ended up in a political prison where he died after 6 years of imprisionment.
The Romaniam Atheneaum built by french architect, Albert Galleron, represents one of the architectonic jewels of Bucharest.
Biserica Stavropoleos (The Stavropoleos Church) Religious that shelters a collection of old icons (18th century), as well as fresco fragments recovered from the churches demolished during the communist regime.
Lunch at Caru' cu bere
We had a good day exploring the city. Think we would enjoy spending more time here. It is really a beautiful city. Now it's back to the hotel to pack up and get ready for the trip home.......
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Bucharest and Translyvania
Sunday, April 14th
Today, we had a private tour to Transylvania arranged thru Balkin Trails. Our guide, Catalin was great! It is so much nicer to have only 4 people on a tour instead of 40!!
Peles Castle
King Carol I of Romania (1839–1914), under whose reign the country gained its independence, first visited the site of the future castle in 1866 and fell in love with the magnificent mountain scenery.
Peleș Castle had its official Royal Ball of Inauguration on 7 October 1883. King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth lived in Foişor Villa during construction, as did King Ferdinand and Queen Mary during the construction of Pelişor Castle. King Carol II was born at the castle in 1893, giving meaning to the phrase "cradle of the dynasty, cradle of the nation" that Carol I bestowed upon Peleș Castle.
After King Michael I's forced abdication in 1947, the Communist regime seized all royal property, including the Peleș Estate. The castle was opened as a tourist attraction for a short time. It also served as a recreation and resting place for Romanian cultural personalities. The castle was declared a museum in 1953. Nicolae Ceauşescu closed the entire estate between 1975 and 1990, during the last years of the Communist regime. The area was declared a "State Protocol Interest Area", and the only persons permitted on the property were maintenance and military personnel. Ceauşescu did not like the castle very much and rarely visited.
After the December 1989 Revolution, Peleş Castle was re-established as a heritage site and opened to the public. In 2006, the Romanian government announced the restitution of the castle to former monarch Michael I. Negotiations soon began between the former king and the government of Romania, and have not concluded yet. The castle is on lease from the royal family to the Romanian state. Peleş Castle receives between a quarter and almost a half million visitors annually.
The entrance hall
Nice horsey......
King Carol I office
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth and her youngest child.
Beautiful marble fireplace
Music room
How would you like to be invited to dinner here?
Sinaia Monastery...
A great example of Romanian religious architecture. Situated in the Prahova Valley, the monastery gave its name to the nearby town of Sinaia. The monastery consists of two courtyards surrounded by low buildings. In the centre of each courtyard there is a small church built in the Byzantine style. One of them—"Biserica Veche" (The Old Church)—dates from 1695,
while the more recent "Biserica Mare" (The Great Church) was built in 1846.
The monks possess a library that is a repository for valuable jewels belonging to the Cantacuzino family, as well as the earliest Romanian translation of the Bible, dated 1668.
Prince Mihail Cantacuzino founded the monastery upon his return from a pilgrimage to Mount Sinai. The first buildings were completed between 1690 to 1695. It was designed to serve as a monastery as well as a fortified stronghold on the route from Brasov to Bucharest.
The initial plan was for the monastery to hold 12 monks, to imitate the Twelve Apostles, but in time the number of monks grew.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (although it is one among several locations linked to the Dracula legend, including Poenari Castle and Hunyad Castle), it is marketed as the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with Vlad III, voivode of Wallachia, the putative inspiration for Dracula. As discovered by the Dutch author Hans Corneel de Roos, the location Bram Stoker actually had in mind for Castle Dracula while writing his novel was an empty mountain top, Mount Izvorul Călimanului, 2,033 m high, located in the Transylvanian Kelemen Alps near the former border with Moldavia.
The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.
Our guide, Catalin, leading us up to the castle
Bran Castle was built in the 14th century by the Transylvania merchants as a military fortress to defend the area against frequent Turkish attacks. After 1900, it was donated to the Romanian Royal Family and it became the favorite place of Queen Marie.
Queen Marie's bedroom
Pictures of Queen Marie in Romanian dress...as Queen...and as a nurse during the war.
Secret staircase to the 3rd floor...That's Rich almost to the top.
Room at the top of the secret staircase
A little windy and cold
On our way to the restaurant for lunch
Good food......Good beer
View from the deck of the restaurant over the valley with Bran Castle in the distance.
Views of the village of Brasov from an overlook....we decided against a walking tour of the town because of rain showers.
We ended our day with a "potty stop" at a gas station.....there was only one unisex....I was in the bathroom ....Delia and Charlie were right outside the door...I THOUGHT GUARDING THE DOOR....guess not!!!! Next thing I know this guy opens the door....we all laughed hysterically !!!! Guess you had to be there to appreciate the situation ....it is a bathroom stop I will never forget!!!
Today, we had a private tour to Transylvania arranged thru Balkin Trails. Our guide, Catalin was great! It is so much nicer to have only 4 people on a tour instead of 40!!
Peles Castle
King Carol I of Romania (1839–1914), under whose reign the country gained its independence, first visited the site of the future castle in 1866 and fell in love with the magnificent mountain scenery.
Peleș Castle had its official Royal Ball of Inauguration on 7 October 1883. King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth lived in Foişor Villa during construction, as did King Ferdinand and Queen Mary during the construction of Pelişor Castle. King Carol II was born at the castle in 1893, giving meaning to the phrase "cradle of the dynasty, cradle of the nation" that Carol I bestowed upon Peleș Castle.
After King Michael I's forced abdication in 1947, the Communist regime seized all royal property, including the Peleș Estate. The castle was opened as a tourist attraction for a short time. It also served as a recreation and resting place for Romanian cultural personalities. The castle was declared a museum in 1953. Nicolae Ceauşescu closed the entire estate between 1975 and 1990, during the last years of the Communist regime. The area was declared a "State Protocol Interest Area", and the only persons permitted on the property were maintenance and military personnel. Ceauşescu did not like the castle very much and rarely visited.
After the December 1989 Revolution, Peleş Castle was re-established as a heritage site and opened to the public. In 2006, the Romanian government announced the restitution of the castle to former monarch Michael I. Negotiations soon began between the former king and the government of Romania, and have not concluded yet. The castle is on lease from the royal family to the Romanian state. Peleş Castle receives between a quarter and almost a half million visitors annually.
The entrance hall
Nice horsey......
King Carol I office
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth and her youngest child.
Beautiful marble fireplace
Music room
How would you like to be invited to dinner here?
Sinaia Monastery...
A great example of Romanian religious architecture. Situated in the Prahova Valley, the monastery gave its name to the nearby town of Sinaia. The monastery consists of two courtyards surrounded by low buildings. In the centre of each courtyard there is a small church built in the Byzantine style. One of them—"Biserica Veche" (The Old Church)—dates from 1695,
while the more recent "Biserica Mare" (The Great Church) was built in 1846.
The monks possess a library that is a repository for valuable jewels belonging to the Cantacuzino family, as well as the earliest Romanian translation of the Bible, dated 1668.
Prince Mihail Cantacuzino founded the monastery upon his return from a pilgrimage to Mount Sinai. The first buildings were completed between 1690 to 1695. It was designed to serve as a monastery as well as a fortified stronghold on the route from Brasov to Bucharest.
The initial plan was for the monastery to hold 12 monks, to imitate the Twelve Apostles, but in time the number of monks grew.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (although it is one among several locations linked to the Dracula legend, including Poenari Castle and Hunyad Castle), it is marketed as the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with Vlad III, voivode of Wallachia, the putative inspiration for Dracula. As discovered by the Dutch author Hans Corneel de Roos, the location Bram Stoker actually had in mind for Castle Dracula while writing his novel was an empty mountain top, Mount Izvorul Călimanului, 2,033 m high, located in the Transylvanian Kelemen Alps near the former border with Moldavia.
The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.
Our guide, Catalin, leading us up to the castle
Bran Castle was built in the 14th century by the Transylvania merchants as a military fortress to defend the area against frequent Turkish attacks. After 1900, it was donated to the Romanian Royal Family and it became the favorite place of Queen Marie.
Queen Marie's bedroom
Pictures of Queen Marie in Romanian dress...as Queen...and as a nurse during the war.
Secret staircase to the 3rd floor...That's Rich almost to the top.
Room at the top of the secret staircase
A little windy and cold
On our way to the restaurant for lunch
Good food......Good beer
View from the deck of the restaurant over the valley with Bran Castle in the distance.
Views of the village of Brasov from an overlook....we decided against a walking tour of the town because of rain showers.
We ended our day with a "potty stop" at a gas station.....there was only one unisex....I was in the bathroom ....Delia and Charlie were right outside the door...I THOUGHT GUARDING THE DOOR....guess not!!!! Next thing I know this guy opens the door....we all laughed hysterically !!!! Guess you had to be there to appreciate the situation ....it is a bathroom stop I will never forget!!!
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