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Overview:
Festive Dresden and Golden Prague! Two dramatic cities
welcome you to their pre-Christmas festivities. A guided city tour and
orientation, by bus and on foot, brings you to the center of Dresden,
relishing its reconstructed beauty and the seasonal delights. You will take
note of the palaces, the spired and domed churches and the magnificent
“Semper Oper”. Free time will allow you to snack and shop your way around
the downtown area on the Elbe River with its Christmas stalls, or take in a
museum visit.
After arrival in Prague, the city of Slavic legends comes alive as
you join a local guide for a walking tour
around the castle, cathedral and Old Town. From
atop the hill at the castle you will see the “Golden Prague”, with over 500
church spires and the silvery winding ribbon of the Vltava River. Prague’s
castle is the largest preserved fortress from the middle ages in all of
Europe. Personal time can be spent wandering off the beaten track into
Prague’s side streets and courtyards, visiting the Advent market, or into
the old Jewish Quarter, and many of the city’s churches. Perhaps you will
be tempted by the crystal and garnet shops, or the windows full of
traditionally painted decorations and unique table linens. Street musicians
and performers liven the atmosphere – so be sure to keep some change
available!
In Karlovy Vary, your time is your own. You can fulfill your
grandest dreams of crystal chandeliers and stemware or look for the Russian
Orthodox Cathedral and other significant architectural gems in this city
that has been part of the European “Grand Tour” for centuries!
Itinerary:
Day 1: Our tour begins with departures for our overnight travel to
Dresden.
Day 2: We arrive at in Dresden after a stop for an early
breakfast (not included). We
enjoy a city tour -
partly by bus and partly on foot – seeing the city from the streets, squares
and avenues. You are on your own for lunch and
the afternoon hours, meeting again in the later afternoon for travel to
Prague and your hotel overnight. After checking into the Dorint
Hotel Don Giovanni and
freshening up, you have a group dinner (included).
The hotel has planned a short musical evening for you with highlights from
Mozart’s famous opera, “Don Giovanni”, and perhaps others of his operas.
Day 3: After breakfast in your hotel (included), travel by
bus downtown and explore the castle area and Old Town with a local guide.
Free time for lunch and the afternoon hours allows plenty of time to explore
the sights and the Advent market stalls. Return to the hotel by Metro or
Tram and enjoy the rest of the day on your own. You are free for the evening
to pursue your own plans: theater, opera, discos, a dinner cruise or repose. Taxi service
is available from the hotel lobby and our tour guide can assist you in
making arrangements.
Day 4: After your breakfast (included), we depart and
travel directly to Karlovy Vary to take advantage of the luxury town’s shops
and hospitality. A walking orientation opens the way for your personal
explorations in this world-famous spa resort. Shops and sights are open for
you to visit. Purchases are possible for crystal, chandeliers, garnet and
amber jewelry and much more!
We begin our journey homeward in the afternoon
with a dinner stop in Germany, arriving at our points of departure around
10:30 p.m.
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