Explore More - Epic Expedtions

62 VIKING.COM EXPLORE

62 VIKING.COM EXPLORE MORE

TRAVEL Clockwise, from facing page: The colorful rooftops of Vienna; Bamberg’s Old Town Hall; the famed Benedictine abbey of Melk that is truly relaxing and feels like you are a million miles from home and work. Life happens at a much slower pace somehow, despite being able to take in so much of Europe. I do not know how Viking does it, but it really works. Our adventure started on the Rhine with an exploration of the charming 17th-century streets and canals of old Amsterdam. I had visited the city before, but this time there was something truly special about being on the water and a real part of the whole city scene. The Rhine continued its natural course into Germany, and we went with it, spending the next eight fantastic days cruising through some of Europe’s most utterly breathtaking scenery, all while making the most of the wonderful hospitality, excellent facilities and delicious food on board. It does not matter how old you get or how far you have traveled across the many countries of the world; nothing quite prepares you for the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the Middle Rhine. Dramatic cliffs, hilltop castles straight from the pages of Sleeping Beauty, and quaint riverside towns boasting gabled houses and cobblestone squares really do still exist in this magical land that time appears to have forgotten. It is a place I will certainly not forget in a hurry. Sharing the experiences of each day with other guests on board was one of the loveliest things about my cruise. I met some wonderful, like-minded people, and thanks to the intimacy of our Viking Longship, I had the opportunity to enjoy their friendly and interesting company throughout the voyage. There were no fixed seating plans at dinner, so we were free to share the food and conversation with different people on different nights, which kept the atmosphere informal and gave everyone the opportunity to meet new people. Other notable German highlights were stopping off for a beer in Germany’s oldest inn—the Inn of the Giant—in Miltenberg, seeing the magnificent frescoes in the Bishops’ Residenz in Würzburg, tucking into sausages at the Old Sausage Kitchen in Regensburg, and shopping for gingerbread and pink pepper chocolate in Passau. Once on the Danube, we sailed into spellbinding Austria, where we encountered countless “cameraready” moments between Melk and Krems and a fabulous tour of the culturally rich and history-packed capital, Vienna. The end of this most memorable of journeys was marked by a moment I will cherish forever. Standing out on the top deck of our Longship, there was music playing gently in the background. I had a glass of wine in my hand and was looking up at the inky black night sky, illuminated by a thousand twinkling stars, as we sailed into the beautiful and historic city of Budapest. It was a truly magical experience and an absolutely wonderful way to end our 15-day adventure cruising through Europe’s majestic and enthralling waterways. GETTING THERE: The 15-day Grand European Tour river journey sails from Amsterdam to Budapest, or in reverse. EXPLORE MORE VIKING.COM 63