Prague: the Jewel of Eastern Europe 28° 32° June 4-12, 2021 80° 79° 78° 77°
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Prague: The Jewel of Eastern Europe 28° 32° June 4-12, 2021 80° 79° 78° 77° Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic, is bisected by 32° 36° 76° the Vltava River. Nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires,” it is known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock, which gives an animated hourly show. Completed in 1402, the iconic, pedestrian Charles Bridge is lined with statues of Catholic saints, recalling its past as the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. The Czech Republic is one of Europe’s recent success stories. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, it has celebrated its freedom and independence with wide sweeping reforms and a new-found economic prosperity. Much of this progress reached its peak when, on May 1st 2004, they were admitted to membership of the European Union. Much of its charm, however, lies in the history and cultural wealth that its ancient position in Europe created. While our tour focuses on the capital city of Prague, we will also explore the rural side of the country with excursions to the provinces and a dinner cruise along the Vltava River, that for so long dominated the region’s commerce. This then is truly one of the jewels of Eastern Europe. Prague Program Highlights reserve early! • Welcome dinner evening of arrival; • Walking tour of Prague around Wenceslas Square and the Old Town with its famous Astronomical Clock atop the 14th-century Town Hall. We’ll continue through the Jewish $3,699 Ghetto to St. Nicholas Church and stroll along the banks of the Vltava River to the Charles $ 920 Single Supplement Bridge; Per person, based on double occupancy • Excursion into the beautiful Czech countryside today to Karlovy Vary, a magnificent old Does not include international air spa town beloved by the European nobility. Walking tour and a visit to Moser Glassworks, established in 1857; • Visit Terezín, an 18th-century Austrian fortress, which later became a World War II _______ ___________________________________________ transit camp for Jewish people, many of whom were later transported to Auschwitz Tour; Title Name (as it appears on passport) • Explore Dresden where we’ll see the recently restored Frauenkirche and visit the New _________________________________________________________ Green Vault Museum; Affiliation(s) _______ ___________________________________________ • Visit the 17th-century Konopištê Castle, the last residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Title Name (as it appears on passport) of Austria, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered _________________________________________________________ World War I; Affiliation(s) Explore Prague with a tour of the Lobkowicz Palace, a part of the Prague Castle complex _________________________________________________________ • Street Mailing Address (no P.O. Box number please) housing the Lobkowicz collections of paintings, ceramics, arms and armor and original musical scores and enjoy a lunchtime concert; _________________________________________________________ City • Dinner cruise along the Vltava River this evening ____________ _______________________ - _____________ State Zip Code ____________________________________________________ Email Address ____________________________________________________ Telephone: (Home) ____________________________________________________ Telephone: (Mobile) Program reservations require a Program Inclusions deposit of $850 per person. o Enclosed is my/our deposit check(s) for Hotels: 7 nights’ accommodation in first-class hotels in Prague , including all $_________ as deposit. hotel taxes and service charges; Make check(s) payable to: Discover Europe o I/We authorize you to charge my/our deposit Coaching: All ground transportation as detailed in the itinerary; of $_________ to: Meals: Breakfast daily, 3 lunches, 3 dinners; o Visa o MasterCard Baggage: Porterage of one large suitcase per person; ____________________________________________________ Card Number Entrances: Entrance fees to all sites included in the itinerary; _____________ Guides: Discover Europe Tour Director throughout; Exp. Date ____________________________________________________ Tickets: Tickets to two concert performances and a dinner cruise Signature as it appears on credit card S Airport Mail to : Transportation: Arrival and departure airport transportation is provided as long as it Discover Europe 95 Adams Street falls within the specified times Keene, NH 03431 or call 1-866-563-7077 Californias. The city also served as the capital of the territory for over 100 years. The mission is still standing today. The beautiful hacienda-style hotel is located on the waterfront. Monday 03/08/2021 Loreto La Mision (BL) The island-studded portion of the Sea of Cortez facing Loreto is protected by the Loreto Bay National Marine Park. Take a boat to encircle dramatic Coronado Island which offers azure waters, interesting geology, a colony of sea lions, and more. Return to Loreto for lunch and head for the mountains! The city is surrounded by the impressively rugged peaks of the Sierra de la Giganta, providing the scenery for one of the peninsula’s most beautiful side excursions, a drive along steep walls to San Javier Mission and village. Known as “the jewel of the missions,” San Javier is one of the best preserved missions, proud of its original orchard planted by the missionaries. Stop at a goat ranch to learn about life on a ranch and the process of making goat cheese. Practice hands-on tortilla making for your cheese and beans snack. The evening is free to enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice. Tuesday 03/09/2021 San Ignacio La Huerta (BLD) The variety of scenery makes the drive between Loreto and San Ignacio particularly interesting; giant Cardons dominate the landscape on the way to San Ignacio. Drive along the crystal blue waters of Bahia de Concepcion, with a stop at one of its unspoiled beaches, where you can see mangroves rich in bird life. Continue to Mulege, a mission settlement on a riverbed lined with palm trees. In Santa Rosalia visit the old French Quarter and the Boleo mine museum to learn how the French established this copper mining town and brought over the prefabricated iron church designed by Mr. Eiffel that is still standing today. North of Santa Rosalia, depart from the blue waters of the Sea of Cortes and climb one of the steepest grades in the peninsula leading to a plateau and to the “Tres Virgenes” volcanoes, cones of red lava rock dotted with gracious white elephant trees. Stop to bird in the highlands among prickly desert vegetation before arriving to San Ignacio, a charming town that developed around its imposing 18th century mission, still in use today, in the midst of a lush, tranquil oasis and a plaza filled with Indian Laurel trees..