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Central Europe Discovered: Prague, Bratislava and Budapest |
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Program Number: |
15596RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
15 nights |
| Location: |
Czech Republic/Slovakia/Hungary
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| Price starting at: |
$3,319.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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| Meals: |
38;
14 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 13 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian; Gluten Free |
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Home to Europe's oldest Jewish ghetto, one of its youngest national capitals and the world’s largest medieval castle, these Central European nations have more to offer than mere superlatives. Trace the history, culture, economics, art and architecture that define and unite these nations, and learn about the amiable split between the Czech Republic and Slovakia and the continuing evolution of all three countries.
Highlights
• Informal meetings with local residents offer personal insight into daily life in Central Europe.
• Enjoy lunch at the Benedictine Wine Cellar of the Brevnov Monastery.
• An excursion to the Great Plain, a most typical Hungarian landscape, introduces the traditional village of Ócsa.
Activity Particulars
Walking on cobblestone streets.
Date Specific Information
6-5-2013, 9-4-2013, 10-9-2013, 5-14-2014, 6-4-2014, 9-3-2014, 10-15-2014
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
10-2-2013
This program date is an Activity Level EASY. This program will involve less walking and additional coaching. Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few stairs, stand for up to an hour, get on and off a motor coach easily and walk a few blocks indoors or out.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
10-8-2014
This program date is an Activity Level EASY. This program will involve less walking and additional coaching. Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few stairs, stand for up to an hour, get on and off a motor coach easily and walk a few blocks indoors or out.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Prague (Czech Republic), 6 nights; coach to Bratislava (Slovakia), 2 nights; river cruise to Devin; coach to Budapest (Hungary), 6 nights; departure.
Overnight flight from the U.S.A. | 1 night | Arrival Prague (Czech Republic) | 6 nights |
In the Golden City, Dr. Zdenek Barta and other scholars lead an inquiry into the many facets of the city’s past and present. See the Charles Bridge, adorned with 30 Baroque statues, and hear about the Czech Republic’s economic development. Discussions on Prague architecture highlight city excursions to the Prague Castle, Lesser Town and Old Town Square. In the village of Kutna Hora, learn about its historic silversmithing and its cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a classical concert at one of Prague's many famous music venues.
Coach to Bratislava (Slovakia) | 2 nights |
Prior to 1919, Bratislava was known as Pressburg, though the Slovak capital has been a mixing pot of various nations for centuries. Visit Old Town for a taste of the capital's elegance and charm, as well as Devin Castle, founded in the 13th century, for a panoramic view of the town.
River cruise to Devin | Coach to Budapest (Hungary) | 6 nights | Departure |
University professors discuss the arrival of tribes in the Carpathian Basin and present-day Hungary, including health care, education and culture. Explore the Castle District of Buda, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the small town of Ócsa, whose 13th -century church and village center reflect traditional rural life. Learn about Jewish heritage in Budapest and hear what some residents really think about the nation’s conversion from communism to capitalism. Sample dishes made with the mild paprika pepper.
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Accommodations
Prague: Three-star hotel in heart of the Old Town and five-minute walk to Wenceslas Square. Bratislava: Four-star hotel in city center and just a 10-minute walk from Bratislava Castle. Budapest: Boutique hotel in center of city and close to the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Synagogue and the Danube River.
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Tomas Brychta
| | A native of Prague, Tomas Brychta has been a coordinator, leader and instructor of Road Scholar programs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia since 1992. He is the owner and CEO of Scantravel, an agency focused on educational services for foreign visitors to the Czech Republic, and is also the owner of the Hotel Petr in Prague. Travel is a passion for Tomas, and he has not only visited almost all of Europe, Egypt, Turkey, Uganda, India, North America, the former Soviet Union, and New Zealand, but speaks Czech, English, German, and Russian. When not spending time with his family, Tomas enjoys hiking, skiing, swimming, yachting and, of course, Road Scholar programs! | | | | Zuzana Petrášková
| | Zuzana Petrášková is a native of Prague. She studied art history at Charles University and obtained her master’s degree from the University of Economics in Prague in 1981. She has shared her enthusiasm for art, history, and architecture on Road Scholar adventures since 2004. In her spare time, Zuzana loves to read literature, learn about history and art, ski, design jewelry, and create her own artwork. She loves travelling and has visited Turkey, North Africa, China, Hong Kong, the U.S., Russia, the former Soviet Union, and almost all of Europe. Zuzana currently lives in Prague with her two children. | | | | Miklós Vörös
| | Miklós Vörös is a sociologist and cultural anthropologist, cultural heritage and cultural policy expert, and adjunct professor at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Budapest, Hungary. He graduated from the Karl Marx University of Economic Sciences in Budapest and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago, and is currently writing his dissertation which will complete a Ph.D. in cultural history from the University in Pécs. He has published extensively in Hungarian, English, and German, edited three volumes in the fields of anthropology and cultural sociology, and acted as a cultural policy expert and consultant in government institutions and non-governmental organizations. Miklós has been a Road Scholar lecturer since 1998 and thoroughly enjoys the discussions that follow his lectures on Hungarian social history and contemporary politics. | | | | Zoltán Pogátsa
| | Zoltán Pogátsa is currently working as an international political economist, focusing on issues relating to Central Europe and the Balkans. He has an M.B.A. and M.A. in political science and international relations, Southeastern European studies, and sociology. He earned his Ph.D. in 2004 in contemporary European integration from the University of Sussex in Brighton. He has lectured at various universities in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Ireland. | | | |
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