A Taste of the East

This tour was organized by Tradewings Travel & Tours based in the Philippines. I am posting their itinerary and additional info plus photos and videos. A work in progress.

March 27 Manila – Munich

Depart Manila on a prestigious airline. Enjoy in-flight meals and entertainment.

March 28 Munich (D)

Arrive Munich, upon arrival you will meet an English Speaking Airport Assistant and then transfer to hotel for check-in.

Hotel: Leonardo Residenz

Dinner: Kam Lung Restaurant

Photo by MrTopf

March 29 Munich – Nuremberg (B,D)

After breakfast, start your city tour of Munich, heart of Bavaria and its regional capital. City tour includes the Olympic Stadium and New Town Hall with its Glockenspiel. Then proceed to Nuremburg. Upon arrival group, will have a brief orientation tour of the city followed by dinner. Check in at hotel.

Hotel: Nestor

Dinner: Peking Restaurant

Olympic Stadium and Park in Munich, Germany. Photo by Hamza Hidri

The delicious apple green color of the seats at the Olympic Stadium.

Funny how the seats can take your breath away.

Photo by Daveybot

Note: Check out what we did at Nuremberg.

March 30 Nuremberg – Prague (B,D)

After breakfast, early morning departure for Prague. We cross the border of Germany and proceed to the Czech border for our entry to one of the most beautiful cities in Europe… Prague.

Hotel: Crown Plaza

Dinner: Hong Shun Restaurant

View Larger Map

After dinner, some of us headed for the bar at the Crown Plaza to enjoy Czech beer. I don’t drink beer but it must have been the combination of the Pilsen and the company that made me drink an entire glass without smirking!

March 31 Prague (B,D)

Welcome to one of Europe’s most beautiful cities — Prague. Today, visit some interesting attractions such as the Prague Castle and the Jewish Town hall with its Hebrew clock and its Jewish cemetery await the inquisitive traveler. On the list is also a visit to Charles Bridge, Astronomical Clock situated at the Old Town Hall. Here, you can shop for some Bohemian crystal, for which the Czech Republic is famous for.

April 01 Prague  – Dresden – Berlin (B,D)

After breakfast, proceed to Berlin passing by Dresden, once an important cultural and commercial metropolis featuring Germany’s then most impressive architecture. Dresden was practically wiped out within two nights of air raids in February, 1945. The city never really got over that shock, but was eventually resurrected. Nowadays, it is marked by hard contrasts: most of the famous buildings have been restored or rebuilt from scratch. You will have the city tour of Dresden before proceeding to one of the important cities of Germany, Berlin.

April 02 Berlin (B,D)

Full day tour with a local guide. She takes us through the recently unified city and shows us the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag; Germany’s future parliament Building. We then drive along Unter den Linden, pass the State Opera House and Alexanderplatz. Postdam and Sanssouci Palace and entrance to Pergamon Museum. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

April 03 Berlin – Warsaw (B,D)

After breakfast, motor coach to the border of Poland. Upon arrival in Warsaw you will be transferred to a local restaurant for dinner. Then check in at your hotel.

April 04 Warsawa (B,D)

After breakfast , our local guide will tell us about the tormented, often tragic history of this important gateway city between East and West. See the medieval Stare Miasto (Old Quarter) with its market square and 14th-century Cathedral of St. John, the “wedding cake” Palace of Culture and Science, neoclassical Lazieniki Palace, and the remnants of the Jewish ghetto. In the HISTORICAL MUSEUM a moving film shows the city before and after wartime destruction. Afternoon free at leisure.

April 05 Warsaw -Krakow – Wieliczka – Krakow

After breakfast, depart for Krakow and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the historic city. The renaissance Royal Castle at Wawel, the gothic St Mary’s Basilica, and the historical trade pavilions of the Cloth Hall.

Transfer to Wieliczka Salt Mines. This mine, a centuries old tourist attraction, cannot be compared to anything else in the world. The mine has been visited from its beginning by the famous and the mighty of this world. Kopernik, Goethe, Humboldt, Paderewski, Mendelejew, Baden Powell, Karol Wojtyla – who later became Pope John Paul II, ordinary people and crowned heads of state, all have visited this remarkable site. Later back to Krakow for dinner.

April 06 Krakow – Czestochowa – Auschwitz – Krakow (B,D)

This morning, visit Jasna Gora, the monastery near Czestochowa, and admire its Black Madonna, which is venerated as the “Queen of Poland” and has become the country’s national symbol

Next, stop in Auschwitz to visit what is left of the concentration camp, a chilling reminder of the Holocaust. Evening arrival in Krakow.

April 07 Krakow – Budapest (B,D)

After breakfast, cross the border into Hungary and head to Budapest. Budapest possesses a rich and fascinating history as well as a vibrant cultural heritage. Recognizing the unique value of its traditions it has managed to maintain its magic and charm, and is rightly known as the Queen of the Danube.

April 08 Budapest (B,D)

Start your sightseeing tour this morning with the visit to the superb murals in the Church of St. Matthias beside the Fisherman’s Bastion, from where we have a perfect vista of the beautiful Parliament Building. We view the Royal Palace of Buda, and then cross the Danube to the Pest district, where we visit Heroes Square and drive along Andrassy Boulevard.

April 09 Budapest – Vienna (B,D)

After breakfast, cross the border into Austria. Upon arrival in Vienna, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in then dinner at the local restaurant.

April 10 Vienna (B,D)

After breakfast, city tour of Vienna to see the State of Opera House, the Hofburg, the Parliament, the Town Hall and the Ringstrasse — the famous Ring Boulevard with its monuments — and view the Giant Ferris Wheel a the Viennese amusement park called the “Prater”. Later, visit the State Apartments of the Schonbrunn Palace and its garden – the former summer residence of the Habsburg. Rest of the day is free at leisure.

April 11 Depart Vienna

Transfer to airport for your flight back to Manila.

April 12 Arrive Manila

Arrive in Manila after a memorable tour. Home Sweet Home !!