Nuremberg...last stop

We are in Nuremberg today... and we have not told you all about our day yesterday in Regensburg... we will update you more later... we did find the synagogue in Regensburg and was able to go in and meet locals! It was wonderful and moving! The most amazing part.. and we will post pictures soon.. was meeting the author of a book we bought about his life and his survival of the Holocaust. When we were in the synagogue we were taken to him.. and met him .. and spoke to him! He spoke beautiful english and was so happy to meet us! It took our breath away!

Today we drove thru Nuremberg which was the center of the Nazi Rallies! It was very difficult to see! The city was 90% destroyed during the war and has been reconstructed. We are spending most of our time in the old city that is surrounded by a Medieval Wall and Mote! There is also a Medieval Castle here that was built in 1300's and Debbie is so HAPPY to finally get to see a castle!

We are having a wonderful time and can't believe it is our last day! We can't wait to tell you more and encourage you to experience this amazing journey thru time down the DANUBE!!!

We will be posting our pictures soon!.. so please come back to see Regensburg, the synagogue and Nuremberg.

We fly home tomorrow... and look forward to seeing and talking to you all!

Thank you for following our explorations thru Hungary, Austria, and Bavaria!!!

Thursday in Passu, Bavaria

Today was one of our favorite stops. Passau is in Germany and right on the border of Austria. Passau is actually in Bavaria. What a beautiful peaceful place. The history dates back further than most due to its location on 3 rivers! This town dates back five thousand years!!

There is a University here and a beautiful Cathedral! It is a modern city that reflects it's vibrant history!

Our Day in Melk

Melk is known for its Abbey and is the spiritual and cultural centre in Austria for over 1000 years! The town started as the residence of the ruling family and then became a Benedictine monastery in 1089. For over 900 years, monks have lived and worked in the Abbey. Since 1978, restorations of the Baroque buildings have been taking place in order to meet the needs of the local school in the Abbey as well as the visitors and cultural events that take place in the Monastery. This is one of the most important buildings in baroque style in Europe!

The highlight of the tour of the Abbey is the church which is considered the most beautiful baroque structure north of the Alps. Another extraordinary piece is the library houses over 100,000 leather bound books and is growing. There are also two huge globes constructed in 1690 one of the constellations and one of the earth.

The view from the Abbey overlooking the valley of the Danube is breathtaking and the town below is quaint! We enjoyed shopping and watching the local people shopping in the open market.

As we sail from Melk to Linz we went through several locks. To experience this unique waterway system is a treat. As the water rises and lifts the riverboat up and over the dam, the view changes and the landscape becomes even more beautiful. Along the way we pass small villages, snow peaked mountains and exquisite castles!

Our Day and Night in Vienna

We started our day with a city tour of beautiful Vienna, the capital of the Republic of Austria. We were surprised that such a modern the city could have so many old buildings throughout. The architecture was breathtaking! We learned that Vienna is, in every respect, the political, economic, and cultural center of the country.

Our first stop was the Belvedere Palace which houses the Austrian Gallery. The Austrian painters of the 19th and 20th century are the focus of this gallery. One of the major works shown here includes Gustav Klimt’s THE KISS!

Next we stopped at the infamous St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The cathedral of St. Stephen was built between 1263 and 1511 and is the symbol of the city of Vienna. Its tower stands 450 feet tall, making it one of the most impressive churches in Europe. From the Cathedral spanning all around is the town center, or Stephansplatz, where you can find famous Viennese cafés, designer shops, boutiques, and museums.

We spent the afternoon in the Stephansplatz and lunched at a famous café called Gerstner, which opened in 1847 as a small pastry shop in the heart of Vienna. This café earned the highest honor of d as Royal-Imperial Court Confectioner in 1873. The pastries are not only delicious, they are pieces of art!

Vienna is a bustling city, which is one of the many reasons it is one of the most popular destinations for tourists who enjoy the cosmopolitan yet nostalgic flair of Austria.

The highlight of our day in Vienna was a fantastic Strauss and Mozart concert at the Auerberg Palace where Mozart not only played but lived there for a short time while composing. It was a perfect combination of the symphony, ballet and opera; a musical treat that gave us a taste of the Viennese culture that has influenced so many!

sailing from Budapest to Vienna

As we left Budapest after a lovely day touring – seeing so many old buildings and new influences! We saw the largest synagogue again and drove through the old Jewish quarter! One of the most shocking and moving memorials to the Hungarian Jews lost in the Holocaust was a line of cast iron shoes along the Danube representing those who were shot and thrown into the Danube by the Nazi’s.
Another reminder of WWII was the only building in Buda that has not been restored. You can see it in one of our pictures. It still has shots in the exterior and is a must see in the Castle Hill part of town.
The Architecture and bridges are fantastic to see and the history is overwhelming as we walked the little narrow alley ways in Buda. We shopped a bit and had a croissant and realized that we were in a magnificent place that needed to be visited again!
Now we are on the river sailing towards Vienna and the view from our window in our room is spectacular. It went from flat lands to mountains in a blink. All of the sudden we saw old homes, small villas and little towns surrounded by snow peaked mountains.
As we sail, on one side we see Hungary and the most unbelievable Medevil Cathedral that is lit up majestically, the other side is Slovakia – truly remarkable!
It is getting dark and we are looking forward to Vienna! Stay tuned for more later!

Our Day in Buda and Pest...

Enjoy our pictures of Pest and Buda! We had a great day --- and was able to explore both sides of the Capital - first Buda and then Pest. You will see us enjoying the old city on a sunny day! Stay tuned tomorrow for our adventures in Vienna!

Amy and Debbie Arrive In Budapest...

Hello to you all! We have safely arrived in Budapest after a very quick and easy flight! We are so excited to be here! The ship is beautiful and our room is lovely! On our way, we stopped by the largest synagogue in Europe! The Donahy Street Synagogue was closed...and we got a great picture of Debbie in front of this beautiful old building! PLEASE NOTICE... IT IS SNOWING!!!!

We were greeted when we landed into Budapest with a snow blizzard and lots of bunnies! The people are so kind and we are ready to rock and roll! Stay Tuned for our daily adventures and pictures!!!! We will be in Budapest all morning touring and will report back then!

We sail for Vienna at noon on Monday.. which is 7 hours ahead of you! Bon Voyage From the Viking Europe!!!

Debbie and Amy at Our CruiseOne Conference this Fall

Hello friends. The picture you see is the two of us at our Annual CruiseOne Conference on board the NCL Pearl! We had an amazing conference! Not only did we learn a great deal, we were honored for our sales this year of over $750,000! Our dear friends in the picture, Sandy, Alex and Stuart all work for CruiseOne and we had the most fun together!

Please remember we leave on Saturday, November 10th for Budapest. We will be sailing on board Viking to sail along the Danube. We will be posting our daily adventures along with pictures.. so check in every day for something new!

Celebrity Launches New Deluxe Brand Azamara Cruises

Celebrity launched a 710-guest ship which introduces an entirely new, deluxe cruise brand: Azamara Cruises. Designed to offer exotic destination-driven travel experiences, Azamara Cruises, consisting of Azamara Journey, which set sail May 5, and sister ship, Azamara Quest, which enters service in October, will present a more intimate onboard experience, while allowing access to the less-traveled ports of call experienced travelers want to visit. ”We created Azamara Cruises to target an area of the market that we believe is underserved, and an area this product is ideally suited to fill,” said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, parent company of Azamara Cruises. “This new line falls into what we consider the deluxe category, a category between premium and luxury.

According to Azamara Cruises President Dan Hanrahan, who also is president of Celebrity Cruises, “Azamara Cruises is expressly designed for travel enthusiasts who appreciate what a cruise vacation has to offer, but are looking for something a little different, and a little more special. And what’s special about Azamara Cruises is its distinctive combination of impeccable service, exceptional cuisine and off-the-beaten-path destinations, with truly immersive excursions.” Complementing the exotic Caribbean and Europe itineraries for Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, previously announced under the former Celebrity Expeditions banner, Hanrahan says, “Azamara Cruises itineraries will not only take travelers to some of the most desirable locations in the Caribbean, but will immerse them in Asia, and even transport them around the world.” Itinerary details for Azamara Cruises to Asia and world cruises are yet to be announced, but once finalized, the line expects to visit more than 200 ports, most of them new to cruise travelers in over 70 countries.

While delving deep into the history and culture of remote destinations larger ships can’t reach, guests sailing with Azamara Cruises also will enjoy a more exclusive guest experience. Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest offer butler service in every stateroom and suite, as well as concierge-style amenities, including fresh-cut flowers, fresh fruit, Elemis toiletries, complimentary use of Frette cotton robes, two complimentary pairs of slippers, plasma TVs and plush European bedding. Despite the ships’ smaller size, each offers two specialty restaurants: On Azamara Journey, the Mediterranean-influenced Aqualina, and the stylish steak and seafood restaurant, Prime C. Guests staying in suites will receive two nights of complimentary dining in one of the two specialty restaurants, while guests in staterooms will receive one. The ships will not require formal attire for dining, and will feature open seating in the main dining room. Azamara Cruises also presents a wine bar with a spectacular wine cellar offering wine and champagne tastings, seminars, and mini-pairings of food and wine, in addition to its standard menu of fine wines by the glass or bottle.

Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest offer an enhanced emphasis on spa and relaxation, with treatments many cruise travelers have never experienced. Guests in suites can enjoy certain spa services in the privacy of their room. Both ships also will offer an outdoor spa relaxation lounge and an aesthetics suite offering acupuncture, laser hair removal and microdermabrasion. An onboard excursion expert will not only help guests select shore excursions based on their personal interests, but also will serve as a destination guide, offering information about the culture and history of each port of call.

Beginning 4/9/08, Azamara Cruises is offering FREE air for all ‘08 Europe sailings and ‘08/’09 season Asia & South America itineraries (based on availability; guests pay air tazes & fees). For more information, visit our website... www.pondervacations.com

Welcome to Cruising with Amy and Debbie!

Welcome to Cruising with Amy and Debbie. We will be sharing our travel experiences with you along with fantastic information on leisure travel! Please join us! Please also look for our daily diaries when we sail on board the Viking River Boat Cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg. We Sail on November 11th! Thank you for joining us!