Eastern Europe Amazing Race - JUNE
Faculty: Adam Puckett and Craig Inglesby
Class meeting time: Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Trip Dates: June, 2024
Highlights
This tour will highlight the beauty of Central and Eastern Europe while understanding how the Romans, Austro-Hungarians, and Soviets have helped shape the region. We will start our trip in the culturally, historically and artistically-rich city of Prague where we will visit castles, cathedrals, drink heavenly coffee, interact at town markets and take in a concert.
Moving east, we will take a train ride to Hungary and stay in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Budapest. While there we will see incredible architecture, visit thermal baths, shop at markets, and visit castles and cathedrals.
We will work our way back west as we work our way through Austria, beginning with a stay in Vienna and working our way through the Austrian Alps and to the stunning town of Salzburg. While here we will take a bicycle ride through the story of the Von Trapp family, hike up to the Eagle’s Nest, visit sites of Mozart, and enjoy the mountain air.
Moving north, we will enter the Czech countryside and stay in the quaint, beautiful walled city of Cesky Krumlov. The center of the city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will step back in time to the 14th century as we stroll the perfectly preserved labyrinth of laneways with numerous renaissance homes and buildings. We will tour the Minorite Monastery and the exquisite Church of St. Vitus. We will complete our circle as we head back to Prague and prepare for our flight home.
Tentative Itinerary
| Day 1 | Fly from PDX to Prague |
| Day 2 | Hotel in Prague: Arrive in Prague (around 1:35pm), settle into the hotel and then take a City Tour (Walking or Bike Tour) |
| Day 3 | Hotel in Prague: Tour Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge |
| Day 4 | Hotel in Prague: Anthropoid, Free Time |
| Day 5 | Hotel in Prague |
| Day 6 | Hotel in Budapest: Travel from Prague to Budapest (shy of 7 hours by train). Bike tour of city. Tour Charles Bridge, Buda Side |
| Day 7 | Hotel in Budapest: Tour Pest Side, Szechenyi Bath and Pools |
| Day 8 | Hotel in Budapest: Travel from Budapest to Vienna (approximately 3 hour train ride); Tour of city |
| Day 9 | Hotel in Budapest: Schönbrunn Palace; Vienna Classical Concert at St. Peter’s Church |
| Day 10 | Hotel in Vienna: Museum Choice Day (choose from 1 or 2 of the many museums available throughout Vienna |
| Day 11 | Hotel in Vienna |
| Day 12 | Hotel in Vienna: Hike the Lammerklamm Trail in the morning; free afternoon |
| Day 13 | Hotel in Salzburg: Travel from Vienna to Salzburg (approximately 3 hour train ride); Bike Tour of the City |
| Day 14 | Hotel in Salzburg: Sound of Music Tour |
| Day 15 | Hotel in Salzburg |
| Day 16 | Hotel in Cesky Krumlov: Travel from Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov (2.5 hrs by bus). Climb Mt. Klet; free afternoon to visit one or two of the many museums. |
| Day 17 | Hotel in Prague (by airport): Travel from Cesky Krumlov to Prague (2.25 hrs by bus) |
| Day 18 | Fly from Prague to PDX |
