Christmas Markets On The Elbe: The Bastei & Scenic Sailing

 December 9

What a great and full day we had today!  We woke up to be sailing along the Elbe and headed down to breakfast.  By 9am we'd docked in Bad Schandau ("Bad" in German means Spa - so this is a tourist spa resort town).  But our adventure took us up into the sandstone mountains to what's known as Saxony Switzerland - even though it's in Germany.  Apparently many years ago two painters from Switzerland thought this area was so like their home country Switzerland that they did multiple paintings and nicknamed the area "Saxony Switzerland" and the name stuck!  We drove high up into the area before disembarking and beginning our walking tour.  As high as we were, and from the pictures you'd never guess, but to get to the scenic bridge we had to go D-O-W-N 100 steps!  Which of course meant we had to come back UP those same steps.  WHEW!  This was the first part of the adventure for today......

What a great way to start the morning - sailing down a European River!

Welcome to the Bastei

First look at the scenic Bastei

Providing the narration to the highlight video

It's THE photo-op of this itinerary

The scenic overlook - NOT my cup of tea :)

Ideal spot for a group pic

The "Rock Castle" - six years ago my sister & I climbed up and around here and it was quite anxiety-producing.  And as proof - two years ago this was closed down as too dangerous!  I wasn't repeating the visit!

Photo op for Pam & Bob

A natural "door way" through the mountain

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The second part came after lunch as we embarked on an afternoon of scenic sailing.  This was one part of the trip I was VERY much anticipating because six years when on this itinerary with my little sister we were unable to sail, so we couldn't see the "underside" of the Bastei or the quaint villages and medieval castles along the Elbe.  As we sailed the trip was narrated by our great Program Director "CJ" who told us that this specially designed Viking ship for the shallow Elbe River could navigate if the water level of the river was a mere six inches deep!  YOWZA!  Passed a lot of scenic sights topped off by the Bastei.  TO ME....the best part (marginally because it's all great) of a Viking River Cruise is the cruising like this.  It was a bit nippy despite the weather being "unseasonably" warm for this time of year.  So the crew provided everyone with hot chocolate, and that was followed by the hotel manager offering to spice up the hot drink with a shot of whiskey - of course I did, it's all part of the experience!

It's a tough life, but I'll do it - take one for the team :)

And around the bend we go

The first "castle" of the day

Villages line the river

This is a significant castle....because during World War II when Dresden became a frequent target of the bombings the people moved all the important artifacts and stained glass windows from the medieval church to this castle for protection!

Chatting via FaceTime with our grandson in Orlando while sailing :)

The final castle of the afternoon

The Bastei from the "underside."  Note the lookout on the top left and mid-photo you can see the bridge where we had our picture taken this morning!

We sailed the rest of the day and ended up in Dresden.  After dinner we will visit the Dresden Christmas Market and I'll have those pics for you tomorrow!  What a great day!

Christmas Markets On The Elbe: On The Beyla

 December 8

This morning was our last in Prague and we spent three hours touring the Jewish section of the city.  So much history dating back over 1,000 years and of course the horrors of the Holocaust.  We visited three different synagogues, one of which had the names of every Czech that lost their lives in the Nazi concentration camps.  Quite a tribute.  And we walked through a cemetery that dated back to the 1300's.  It was explained that often times in the past bodies were piled as much as 30-deep and every square inch of the ground was covered with the original tombstones.  Returned to the hotel and had time to grab lunch at a local restaurant before we headed on the bus for our ship, the Viking Beyla.  We arrived late afternoon after about an hour and forty-five minutes weaving thru the Czech countryside.  And THE BEST NEWS - we found out that the water levels were still high enough that we will be sailing the entire way.  That had been in question and often times this itinerary has limited, if any sailing - as when my sister and I were here in September of 2019.  

After checking in we unpacked, put up our door decoration and met Bob & Pam for pre-dinner drinks.  The captain and officers came out for our orientation and the captain was great.  You'd have to have been there to see his antics to appreciate the humor, and have been on board a Viking ship previously.  But trust me, it was awesome.  Had a wonderful dinner - as always - and met two new couples.  The one in particular, our age, told us they'd been married just 2 1/2 weeks.  What an amazing story they shared.  Topped off the day with a Christmas tree decorating party with egg nog & mulled wine while everyone was invited to creatively decorate an ornament and put it on the tree in the lounge.  We set sail tomorrow morning and have our first excursion in Germany tomorrow as we will climb high atop the sandstone rock formations of the Bastei!

Synagogues of Prague

Note the walls - covered with names

Close up of a portion of a wall

Video of cardboard replica of ancient Prague - took ELEVEN years to complete

Close up of one medieval cardboard street

View of the cemetery

From another angle

We've arrived on board the Beyla

Veranda stateroom #223

The decorated door

Ornaments on the tree created by Beyla guests

Our ornament - decorated with four previous Christmas Market trips

Tomorrow's destination, the Bastei

Christmas Markets On The Elbe: Prague

 December 7

After the long travel day we were out last night and in fact I had to wake up to an alarm, and had to wake Kim up so we'd have time for breakfast before heading out on our "Panoramic Prague & Christmas Markets" excursion which left at 8:20am.  We took a short bus ride through Prague, across the river and stopped in the Old Town to begin our walking tour.  We strolled the the festive streets of medieval Prague and eventually arrived at the famous Charles Bridge just as the sun broke through to warm up the chilly lower 40's temps.  Passing several shops featuring Christmas souvenirs & food, we stopped at one where there was a basket of "Little Mole" souvenirs.  I learned on last year's Danube Christmas Markets trip that the Little Mole is the Czech version of Mickey Mouse and every child who grows up here watches his adventures on cartoons.  I bought a Little Mole last year (and a pair of Little Mole socks!).  Once we arrived in the Old Town Square we saw the famous Astronomical Clock.  I remembered the story our guide told us that when the clock was completed the emperor had the clock's architect blinded so he could not create another one.  But the designer had the last laugh as he snuck in one night and dismantled the workings of the clock and would not guide the repairs until the king paid him handsomely!  We had free time to explore the market where the four of us had a sausage sandwich - delicious!  Walked all over the market and for the first time in visiting Christmas Markets all over Europe, not a single seller of the traditional mulled wine offered it in a souvenir mug.  So SO disappointed not to get my souvenir mug, but had the wine anyway.  After walking around, the four of us decided to be adventurous and walk back to the hotel (about 15 min) on our own.  Only were lost for a short period of time :O but were back within 25 minutes, so not bad.  Pam, Bob & I headed out shortly afterwards to visit a smaller Christmas Market just minutes from the hotel that had been recommended by the local Viking guide who had pointed out their mulled wine came in so many flavors and her most favorite was the blueberry.  Less than three minutes to this market where not only did they have all the varieties of wines, BUT it DID come in a souvenir glass, albeit plastic and not a mug :)  Tomorrow is our final day in Prague before heading to our ship.  We have a morning excursion thru the former Jewish ghetto and then will head out around 2pm for the Viking Beyla to check into our veranda staterooms! 

On the bus, let's go!

Christmas shops along the walk thru the Old Town

The creek below the Charles Bridge

Kim by a Gingerbread shop

Our first tour of the trip

The river from the Charles Bridge

Walking the Charles Bridge

The two bridge towers frame the Jesuit Church domes

Overlooking the river from the Charles Bridge

The Little Mole - 2024 Danube Christmas Cruise, the Little Mole purchase

King Charles

Who's the reflection in that Christmas ornament?

The Astronomical Clock of Prague

Pretzel-themed Christmas Tree

Approaching the Christmas Markets in Prague

The first cup (non-souvenir, booooo!) of mulled wine!

The first Christmas Market of the day

Arriving at the Main Square Market

The Prague Christmas Market

Blueberry Mulled Wine in a souvenir cup!

Samples of the Christmas Market booths

The massive Christmas Tree in the main square market

Christmas Markets On The Elbe: Arrive In Prague

 December 5 - 6

Our big adventure began Friday evening when our car service from Avanti Limos arrived at 8pm.  We were at Miami International Airport by 8:40 and at our gate by a little after 9pm.  Unfortunately our flight to Prague, originally scheduled for 10:40 was delayed to 11:30pm departure.  As we were waiting for the boarding to begin I pulled out my book and opened it up to read the introduction.  A couple weeks ago while flying to visit my family in Ohio I sat beside a gal who was reading a book.  I looked over and asked, "Is that the new Dan Brown book - is it as good as the DaVinci Code and all the others?"  Oh yes she replied.  So I bought it to read on the trip.  I open the jacket cover and look at the VERY FIRST sentence....

Yes, a large portion of the book is set IN PRAGUE where we are headed.  How ironic!  Got on board and by the time we were airborne it had to be well past midnight.  But the cabin crew still served a small, warm meal about 45 minutes into the flight.  By then Kim and I had been up W-A-Y past our bed time and had no problem falling asleep.  We both slept until we were in the final hour of the flight - could not have gone smoother.  BUT....because of the delayed start our layover time was now a bit tight.  We speed-walked to the gate and as we arrived they were calling for Zone 1 to line up, and we were zone 2!  Saw them out the window load our luggage so I knew that wouldn't be a problem.  Arrived about 15 minutes late in Prague.  A short wait for the luggage, came out (without any customs check like we'd had in Paris) and were immediately met by the Viking representative.  Several other couples, including our friends Pam & Bob had arrived in another terminal and so we had a private car pick us up and take us to the Hilton Prague Old Town which is just minutes from the medieval town square and the large Christmas Market.  We met our program director "T.J." who will be with us here at the Prague hotel, on board the Viking Beyla, and with us at the hotel in Berlin.  Had just been introduced to his assistant, the local guide, Carla who was preparing to make dinner reservations for us when Pam & Bob walked in.  After heart-felt greetings we rejoined Carla and made our 7:30pm dinner reservations for a place a short walk away.  Up to the room for about 15 min then back to the lobby at 7pm to meet our pals.  A brisk walk in the mid-to-upper 30's weather felt great and we had a wonderful meal while we caught up with one another.  Headed back to the hotel where it was now about 9:30pm and we were all ready to call it a day!

Tomorrow we have a full morning (four plus hours) walking tour around Old Prague and that will include our first Christmas Market!

Our private car service courtesy of Avanti Limos takes us to MIA

The Paris airport decked out for the holidays as we hustle to our gate

Arrived in Prague, luggage in hand!

The private car provided by Viking drops us off at our hotel

Our hotel, the Hilton Prague Old Town conveniently located RIGHT in the heart of the Old Town & the Christmas Markets

Holiday decorations in the hotel lobby

That gingerbread house looks delicious!

More lobby decorations

So great to be sharing this holiday adventure with Pam & Bob!