Day 9 (Saturday)
Prague - Salzburg

After breakfast this morning, you journey southward from Prague through the rolling green hills and medieval towns of Southern Bohemia. Germans and Czechs have lived together on this land for centuries; since the end of World War II, the area has been considered a "close family relation" to nearby Austria and Bavaria. You stop in the town of Tabor, named after a Biblical mountain and settled for the sole purpose of receiving Christ on his return to earth in the Second Coming. You have lunch in Cesky Krumlov – a town that is described in UNESCO’s World Heritage List as "second only to Venice in terms of its beauty and cultural significance". Postcards of this village will never do it justice. The picturesque, narrow, winding streets cling like ribbons to the hills as they follow the terrain around and down to the Vltava River that, in turn, winds around it. Standing watch from above is the majestic castle of the Rozmberk family (one of the wealthiest and oldest noble families in the area).

Your journey continues southward into Austria, across the Danube, to Salzburg. The enormous gray castle on the hillltop, Hohensalzburg, looms over the city; it was home to prince-bishops in the 13^th century. The modern town is spread along one side of the beautiful Salzach River; the old town, bristling with domes and church spires, sits across the river, just below the intriguing Hohensalzburg.

Overlooking the Salzach River, your hotel, the Hotel Sacher – has an elegant staircase leading up to an atrium with palms, ferns and intricate stonework. It is a perfect place to relax and sip some Austrian hot mulled wine. This afternoon, you stroll through the Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt) in the main square. A beloved Austrian tradition, this is an occasion for families to get together specifically to make decorations for the holiday – advent wreaths, hand-dipped candles, tree ornaments, spice bouquets – which are then brought to market. Artists and merchants bring the old-fashioned holiday spirit to life.

Tonight, you dine à la carte in one of the local restaurants featuring typical dishes such as smoked pork, baked carp, or roast beef. For dessert, try the delicious souffle, Salzburger Nockerl, that is a classic from this area. (B,L,D)

Salzburg is magical, a fairy-tale town of charming old houses set along narrow streets, whimsical wrought-iron signs, men clad in lederhosen, and women wearing multi-colored dirndls. Its name evolves from the mining of salt – the "white gold" that historically supported the region. There are many magnificent architectural treasures here; and fortunately, numerous historical buildings have been restored rather than replaced.

You see St. Peter’s Abbey, founded in 696, and the 17^th-century Cathedral with its three bronze doors symbolizing faith, hope, and charity. Just up the hill, you visit the Hohensalzburg castle-fortress. Begun in 1077, it was enlarged and remodeled (with the addition of state rooms) over many centuries; there are sweeping views of the city and the countryside from the terrace. Salzburg is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; although the local citizenry didn’t offer much encouragement during his lifetime, today they are pleased to recognize him. At his birthplace on Getriedegasse, you see where Mozart composed the majority of his early works. In the mid-1960s, music of another variety graced Salzburg with the filming of "The Sound of Music".

Tonight is Christmas Eve – "Froehliche Weihnachten"! You dine à la carte at the hotel from a menu specially prepared for the occasion. As part of your celebration, you have the option to attend an evening Christmas Mass in the Old Town. (B,L,D)

After your Christmas morning breakfast, you set out through the lake district for Vienna, capital of Austria. The landscape is dotted with farms, low rolling hills, and high mountains. Numerous images come to mind when thinking of Vienna – magnificent architecture along wide boulevards, elaborate imperial palaces, coffee houses offering delectable pastries, crystal chandeliers, lace curtains, Baroque mirrors, choirboys with angelic voices, the Danube River, Strauss’ waltz, and elegant shops.

Upon your arrival in Vienna, you check into the Hotel Imperial, which was once the city’s most prominent ducal palace. The spacious opulence of the Baroque marble lobby, with its glittering chandeliers, offers a vivid picture of "old Vienna" when this was the Württemberg Palais. The wealth of antiques, tapestries, polished marble, crystal, and glossy honey-toned wood provides an elite, yet warm, setting. This evening, you dine from the à la carte menu, pampered by an attentive staff and entertained by the strains of classical music. (B,L,D)

For six centuries, Vienna was the residence of the imperial court, and the influence of the Habsburgs remains clearly evident. Now the seat of the neutral federal government, it enjoys considerable prestige. Set in the Danube River valley, with the hills of the Vienna Woods creating a northern and western border, the city is built on both sides of the Danube. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with its glorious tiled roof, is at the heart of the old city in the Innere Stadt, which is encircled by the Ringstrasse. It was built on the site of a 12^th-century church – the main entrance of the original structure was incorporated into the present building.

You visit the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) – favorite residence of the Habsburgs – and see the imperial apartments as well as the treasury. There is ample time this afternoon for shopping for items such as porcelains, enamelware, and needlepoint in the shops along the pedestrian-only thoroughfares of Kärtner Strasse, Graben and the Kohlmarkt; the numerous cafes will also tempt you with coffee and pastries. This evening, you go to a typical Viennese wine tavern (Heuriger) to sample the local specialties for dinner. (B,L,D)

Today, you visit the sumptuous Baroque Schönbrunn Palace, constructed in the late 1700s; it was home to Empress Maria Theresa (as well as Napoleon). Painted in Maria Theresa’s favorite shade of yellow, there are 1,441 rooms (including a chapel and a theater). In 1918, in the Blue Chinese Salon, the last Habsburg emperor, Charles I, abdicated; and the palace became the property of the new republic. Later, in the afternoon, you have the opportunity to stroll through the city to look for your own treasures to purchase to bring home.

This evening, you drive a short distance outside the city into the countryside to an elegant hunting lodge for dinner. (B,L,D)

Your journey comes to an end as your tour manager escorts you to the airport for your flight back to the USA. (B)