Travel Tales: The Viking Sky

The Romance of the Danube

I think it was fate that brought me to the

Viking Sky.  We always said we would

celebrate our 20th anniversary with a trip

to Italy, but I just wasn't feeling the love

for that at the time.  It seemed too touristy.

So we procrastinated and by then it was

time to celebrate a ~ milestone~ birthday

for me and we still had no idea where we

would go.  Then a friend showed me a

brochure for a Viking River cruise and we

talked about the Christmas Markets and

how we always wanted to go to them, that

day I went home and my brother had sent

me a link about a Viking River cruise and

then ads started popping up on my computer.

I thought this is a sign to check this out. I pitched

the idea to Mr. Wonderful and we were signed

up within a few days.

We had flown to Budapest a few days

before the cruise so we could tour the

city ourselves and hopefully adjust to the

time change by the time we got onboard.

Budapest is a beautiful city on the Danube

River.  The theme of this cruise was to tour

 the Christmas Markets along the Danube.

Budapest was our first taste of a European

Christmas Market.  This one is filled with

handcrafts ~ ceramics, woolens, woodcraft,

jewelry.  Sadly, I held back in buying since I

didn't know what was to come.  I've told Mr. W

I must go back to get the things I've missed.

When we checked in on the Viking Sky

we were given a light lunch in the lounge.

We happened to sit near 2 couples and

started chatting and we all just hit it off,

we spent the next week dining, touring

and having fun together.

On Viking River Cruises nearly all of

the shore excursions are included in the

cost of the trip.  If you should go make

sure you take advantage of them, they

are very well done, you are given

headphones so you can hear the knowledgable

guides without having to stand right beside them.

We had a late night departure from Budapest

with everyone on the top deck to see the

sweeping views of the city at night.  As we slept

we traveled to our next stop,  this is sooo much

easier than having to pack and drag your luggage

to the train, etc.  The next stop was Brataslava,

Slovakia.  This is where my Grandfather left from

to begin his journey to America as a young teenager,

so it was especially nice for me to see.

The next stop was Vienna, Austria.

What a beautiful city, we went on the

scheduled tour and then walked around

on our own.  Everywhere you turn is another

beautiful sight.  One of our favorite memories

is having lunch at an outdoor wurst stand. 

We couldn't understand the menu so we saw an

older couple with a wurst that looked good and

pointed at their food, then pointed at the menu

and they let us know what the item was.  They

then invited us to share their table with them.

Since we didn't speak the same language all that

was said was "ya, es goot" but we smiled and

 laughed and I will never forget them.

In Vienna, don't miss the Christmas

 Market at the Royal Palace, try to get there

as night is falling to see the beauty in sun and

then in darkness when the Christmas lights

really shine.

And don't forget to pick up a few items

for your Holiday decorating.

The next morning we took a snowy hike

through the charming village of Durnstein.

We enjoyed lunch as we cruised

through the scenic Wachau Valley.

That afternoon we toured the

spectacular Abbey at Melk.

The church there is very grand.

The next day was spent in Salzburg, we

toured a park where The Sound of Music

was filmed and saw Mozart's home.

This was the best market to buy

glass Christmas ornaments.

Our final stop was the beautiful town

of Passau, Germany.  The  week went

by so quickly because we were busy eating,

touring and having fun.  But yet, we really

bonded with our fellow travelers, there are

people I will know for the rest of my life that

I met on this trip.  A river cruise ship is much

smaller than an ocean liner so you really get

to know your fellow passengers.

You may ask ~ travel on a boat in winter?

It did snow everyday, but it just added to

the ambience.  We put on our boots and our

wool coats and if you find you are still cold,

go to the local market and buy a scarf, hat,

gloves or wool socks.  Right now, I have on

a pair of angora wool socks from Germany,

I love them. 

I wish I could be back on the Viking Sky

for another tour of the Christmas markets

but that will have to be another year.

I highly recommend it, and if you should

go, tell them I sent you.