History and culture bring visitors to Prague

Scenic sights of Prague from our dinner cruise on the Vltava River.

One of the reasons for choosing our AmaWaterways Danube River Cruise was that we could include a three-day pre-cruise visit to Prague, Czech Republic.  This well-preserved medieval city is a destination that attracts crowds (six million people a year--tourism is the main industry), but we had heard raves about the city and wanted to put it on our itinerary.

Enjoying the sights from our evening river tour.

Our first evening there, we scheduled a dinner cruise on the Vltava River, the city's main waterway, which gave us a good overview of the city at a slower pace. Our hotel was located in Old Town, a section of the city in which no new buildings are allowed, the better to preserve the character and architecture that people come to see and appreciate.

Ancient clocks still function.

Although Czechoslovakia was a republic in 1938, the Nazi occupation brought a lot of suffering and neglect to the city. When the Communist regime ended peacefully in 1989, restoration of historical and cultural buildings began.

You can take a city tour by bus to get acquainted with Prague; most will offer stops along the way. Or take a free walking tour. Many of these meet in the morning near the 600-year-old Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square for a half-day tour. You’ll get an overview and some history of several main sites like Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, and Jewish Quarter.

As you walk on your own, head towards the river to visit the John Lennon wall. As Communism was declining in the 1980s, students painted grievances on the wall and wrote John Lennon lyrics to promote love and peace. If you wish to join the sentiments, it’s okay--tourists are allowed to write or paint on the wall, too.

Street musicians hang out at the John Lennon wall in Prague.

While you’re near the waterfront, take time to relax and dine in one of the area restaurants or cafes. When you’re ready to head back towards the city center, you can walk across the famous Charles Bridge, which connects Old Town and New Town.

Tour as many cathedrals as you
have time for. They are all beautiful.

Charles Square features seven churches; and while you may not enjoy touring that many ancient cathedrals, it’s worth checking out one or two. Few still have services, since religion isn’t prominent in Prague, but most are beautifully decorated in a traditional Catholic manner.

People-watching is a cherished past time at Old Town Square, It’s full of tourists and locals, and you’ll be entertained by any number of musicians. From jazz to bagpipes, a wide variety of street musicians love performing in the Square.

Exquisite interiors are a hallmark
of Prague's cathedrals.

If you’re in the Square on the hour, listen for the Astronomical Clock chimes and watch puppets appear briefly in the open doors of the tower. For some reason, hundreds of people line up to see this attraction, even though there’s not much to it. Still, take time to observe the artistry of the clock, regarded as one of the most beautiful in Europe.

Whether you’re Jewish or not, the Jewish Quarter is worth taking time to see. Hitler intended to make it a museum commemorate what he expected to be an extinct Jewish race, so he saved it from destruction during World War II. Ironically, now the modernized synagogues and historic graveyard honor what was one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe.



The Jewish quarter keeps alive the history and culture
of this population.

For contrast, walk down fashionable Paris Street (Pariszska) and window shop the luxury boutiques with famous brand names. It’s a well-kept, contemporary area that contrasts with the historic old town section. Our last day in Prague, I found a beautiful locally made crystal bowl to remember our visit to this remarkable city.

Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier

 

Welcome to Vilshofen, Germany

Beautiful reflections on the Vils River in Vilshofen, Germany

One of the most delightful stops on our Danube River cruise on AmaSerena was Vilshofen, Germany. The town lies on the edge of the southern Bavarian Forest where the rivers Vils and Woffach flow into the Danube. That location has given it the name of “three-river city.”Another claim to fame is that Vilshofen is where beer was first brewed using the “pilsner” method.

Reflections of the church and city
buildings in Vilshofen.

Note the date of 1376 on an
original building in Vilshofen.

Walking to the rivers and the old town is easy because it’s located just steps from the dock. Take time to stroll in the historical center, noting sculptures and the tall 17^th century tower of City Hall. Look for dates on buildings and consider stopping to see the gallery at City Hall and ornate St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.



The most imposing structure is the Benedictine abbey of Schweikberg, with its twin towers overlooking the town, although we didn't go there. Located above town on a hill, today 40 monks live in the monastic community.

"Jazz" sculpture in Vilshoften, Germany.

What we found most fascinating were the many pieces of art scattered in the city center (accessed by walking down the main street), and along the Danube River (accessed by a broad waterfront path).

As avid photographers, we searched for “The Frame Project,” a popular spot on the right bank of the Vils River (across the bridge) for snapping beautiful pictures of the church and clear images of colorful reflections from across the river.

"The Frame Project" is a popular picture spot.

Among the sculptures we saw in the old town were: St. Sebastian in front of the Catholic Center, St. Florian in front of the City Tower, the well in front of City Hall, “The Book of Wisdom” in front of the Parish Church, “Meeting” in front of the bank, and a modernistic piece called “Jazz” on Vilsvorstadt, a side street.

"Wave of the Danube meets wave of the Vils River" is one of
the sculptures for which Vilshofen is noted.

Once our interest was piqued, we decided to find additional art pieces pictured in our city brochure. These included “Wave of the Danube meets wave of the Vils River” and “Danube Tree,” a striking piece that represents the Danube from the beginning to the end in the Black Sea with all its side rivers.

Larry enjoying his Oktoberfest treats.

Having enjoyed a delightful “Oktoberfest” celebration (with umpah music, pretzels, and beer) provided the previous night by the friendly folks in Vilshofen, we were glad for the opportunity to spend a pleasant morning wandering through this quaint town before sailing on to Passau.

Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier

Cruising the Danube River on AmaSerena

I had never been on a river cruise but had heard many good things about this mode of travel. So last summer Larry and I booked the Romantic Danube cruise on AmaWaterways, a fascinating journey from Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary.

AmaSerena in its maiden season on the Danube River

We added the pre-cruise option from Ama to spend three days in Prague, Czech Republic before boarding the ship. Afterwards, we chose to spend three more days in Budapest on our own before heading home.

There’s much to like about sailing on the storied Danube. Sure, the distance the ship traveled in seven days could have been driven in five hours. But this slower method of travel allowed us time to explore towns small and large along the way.

When choosing a river cruise, it’s important to consider the company and the ship. AmaWaterways is one of the premier river cruise companies with a reputation for excellent service. Sure enough, the staff was accommodating and eager to make sure we had a good time and our needs were taken care of.

The ship

Most cabins have two balconies on AmaSerena



AmaSerena, the ship we chose for this trip, launched shortly before our August 2015 cruise, so we knew it would have the most advanced features. One that appealed to us was the Twin Balconies concept, an indoor French balcony with floor to ceiling windows (we never tried to see if it opened), and a private outdoor balcony with two chairs and a small table.

Even though we like an outdoor balcony we found that it wasn’t as useful (on this particular cruise, at least) as we had anticipated. Since ships on popular cruises like the Danube often dock at ports two or three deep—and very close together-- sitting on the balcony wasn’t an option (unless you wanted to welcome someone from the other ship to your room!).

Public lounge area on AmaSerena

Also, since most traveling was done at night, we didn’t use the balcony because it was dark (and we were sleeping!). Besides, the observation deck is easy to get to, so most passengers found that a better place to gather and watch the passing countryside. AmaSerena carries a maximum of 164 passengers, so it’s easy to mingle and make friends. Everything on the ship is just steps away—and I’m not sure anyone used the elevator.

Our cabin was a generous 235 square feet with ample storage for our clothes and necessities. A granite desk and spacious bathroom—with a window so we could see outside while brushing our teeth—were pleasant surprises.

Fine wines are included with meals

Public lounge areas, dining rooms, and outdoor spaces were beautiful and comfortable. Afternoon tea featured an array of sandwiches and sweets; tea, coffee, water, and a healthy drink-of-the- day were always available. The main dining room offered buffet style breakfast and lunch, although ordering from the menu was always an option. Beer and wine were included with meals.



Dining at the Chef's Table is a special amenity for guests

As a special treat, guests could sign up to dine at the Chef’s Table (no extra charge), an intimate restaurant at the end of the ship with a private chef preparing dishes in view of the diners—and gorgeous views of passing scenery through large picture windows. 

Chefs prepare dishes in full view of guests.

Activities for guests

Biking along the Danube near Durnstein.

One of the first river cruise lines to put bicycles on board for guests to use, AmaWaterways carries a fleet of more than two dozen bikes and plenty of safety helmets. We made use of these in Melk, riding on a path along the Danube for 12 miles. On some cruises passengers may be allowed to venture on their own; however, we were required to remain on the group tour as we pedaled along the riverside bikeway.

Sightseeing in Salzburg, Austria



We participated in the included small group excursions led by local guides at each port to learn about the culture and heritage of each region. We still had time for independent exploration, shopping, and activities like attending an organ concert on our own in Passau. Special “slow walker” and “late riser” excursions were offered as were additional options that we found to be fun and educational--worth the extra fee.

Like most travelers, we're used to being “connected,” so we were delighted with how well the ship’s complimentary Wi-Fi and high-speed, in-room Internet worked. No more time-consuming log-on processes or scrambling to find hot spots when on shore.

Dining was always a highlight of the day.

We were too busy to try out the beauty salon or in-room entertainment like movies on demand or travel videos. Same for the massage and fitness center--we got our exercise walking miles each day!

As for the itinerary and what we did on our Danube River cruise, I’ll cover these in several follow up articles.

Note: This trip was funded entirely by the writer, and opinions are her own.

Photos from AmaWaterways and Larry and Beverly Burmeier