Europe 2010: Kalocsa, Hungary - Rousse, Bulgaria
Europe 2010: Kalocsa, Hungary - Rousse, Bulgaria
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Day 21 - August 23: Kalocsa & Pécs, Hungary (Monday)
From Avalon: Kalocsa was founded by St. Stephen in 1009 as an archbishopric and has a most turbulent history. The Archbishop’s Palace and the Kalocsa Cathedral dominate this quiet town that is best known for paprika and folklore art. Learn how paprika has been grown and prepared through the ages at the Paprika Museum.
Weather: Sunny, about 90F - getting warmer
Breakfast: On the Ship Lunch: On the Ship Dinner: On the Ship Comments: Today we learn about paprika on our morning tour to Kalocsa. Of course there is also a visit to a church, the Kalocsa Cathedral. We also make a stop to learn how the people used to live.
Jeanne wanted to buy some paprika but she was not too happy with the selection at the Paprika Museum. We had some free time in town and found a supermarket where they had the right stuff.
We return to the ship for lunch and then depart on another tour - which was not in the original schedule. The was visit to Pécs, a town about 1.5 hrs. away, which is famous for it's "Necropolis" - Roman burial ground. Quite a complex, underground.
We rejoin the ship, which has moved to Mohacs, Hungary while we were gone.
Click to see a larger Picture (except Coat of Arms)
Kalocsa
Coat of Arms- - - - - - - - - - - - Kalocsa Cathedral - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kalocsa Cathedral - - - - - - - - - - - The Old Homestead - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Old Homestead - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Paprika Musuem - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pecs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Necropolis" - Roman burial ground - - - - - - - - Pecs - - - - - - - - - - - Pecs - - - - - - - - - Back Home - - Daily Schedule Top | Back to Index | Next Stage
Day 22 - August 24: Novi Sad, Serbia (Tuesday)
From Avalon: Overlooking the city of Novi Sad with a spectacular view of the Danube and surroundings is Marshal Vauban’s unconquerable PETROVARADIN FORTRESS. Dramatic events in the recent past have shaped both the present and the future of this region, resplendent with natural beauty and a proud history. Enjoy an included sightseeing tour of this interesting town.
Weather: Sunny, about 90F
Breakfast: On the Ship Lunch: On the Ship Dinner: On the Ship Comments: We tour at 8:30 am, which starts with a look at the Petrovaradin Fortress, which is just a drive-by - not too exciting if you ask me. Most of the time is spent in a walking tour of Novi Sad. Nice town, and they fixed up the pedestrian zone with new pavement - for once no cobble stones. They spruced it up because the European Basketball Championships will be held in Novi Sad in the near future.
In Serbia it is illegal to use Euros, but they have exchange places around town so we can easily get some local currency for small purchases.
Before dinner we get an excellent presentation of what happened to Yugoslavia recently and after dinner the "Belgrade String Quartet" played for us.
Click to see a larger Picture (except Coat of Arms)
Novi Sad
Coat of Arms- - Time to Tour - - - - The Fortress - - - - - - - - - Novi Sad - - - - - - - - - - Always Another Church - - - - - - - - - - - - - Novi Sad - - - - - - - - - - Break Time Daily Schedule - - - - - - - - Dinner & Another Birthday - - - - - - - - - - String Quartet - - Top | Back to Index | Next Stage
Day 23 - August 25: Belgrade, Serbia (Wednesday)
From Avalon: The capital of Serbia is situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers. A local expert will be proud to show you its main sights, which include the city’s principal landmark, Kalemegdan Fortress; St. Sava, the world’s largest Orthodox church; and Marshal Tito’s tomb and monument. The city center has a lively pedestrian area and charming outdoor cafés.
Weather: Sunny, about 82F
Breakfast: On the Ship Lunch: On the Ship Dinner: On the Ship Comments: There is a tour of Belgrade this morning, but we skip it. While I don't remember anybody getting sick on the cruise to Vienna, several people have come down with the flu or whatever, and this morning I don't feel that good - so I really didn't want to be stuck on a bus in case it got worse.
So we had nice leisurely morning on the ship. We have been doing some laundry in our cabin, as have many others, which works pretty well although it does take a long time to dry. Looking ahead at the end of the trip Jeanne decided to have a couple of my shirts done by the laundry on the ship. Amazingly they returned them before lunch - pretty good service. Not cheap, though.
We decide to take a walk on the pier and we find some people selling arts & crafts. We still had some money left over from yesterday and since this is our last stop in Serbia Jeanne took all the money and asked what she could get for it. They didn't speak any English but this they understood!
Turned out I was fine - but I still enjoyed a leisurely day with no tours. Since I didn't take any pictures I'll show some pictures of the ship.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Our Cabin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Lounge - - - - - Walking around the Restaurant Breakfast Lunch Menu - - Dinner Menus - - - - - - - - - - Breakfast Buffett - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Some of the Crew - - - - - - - Daily Schedule Top | Back to Index | Next Stage
Day 24 - August 26: Cruising - Iron Gates (Thursday)
From Avalon: The Serbian fortresses of SMEDEREVO and GOLUBAC and the TRAJAN TABLE marking the Roman conquest of Dacia are impressive sights on the right bank of the Danube. The most spectacular scenery must surely be the dramatic gorge of the IRON GATES, a narrow and formerly very dangerous passage dividing Europe’s Alps in the northwest from the Carpathians in the southeast and forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania.
Weather: Sunny, about 86F
Breakfast: On the Ship Lunch: On the Ship Dinner: On the Ship Comments: Today is the only day which where we cruise all day - no stops. One of the cruisers said to me she thought most of the cruise would be like this. Some people don't know what they are buying - it does pay to do a little research - or at least read the brochure.
And we go through our last two locks. We went through 72 locks on the cruise - many of them at night. Most people are "locked out" and "churched out" and maybe 'castled out" - we've seen too many :-).
The wheelhouse will be open in the morning and the cruise director talks about the area that we are cruising through on the sun deck. See description above from Avalon above
For some reason the safety drill was held today. This was the second drill we had since we had new cruisers joining in Vienna. They usually have these on the first day - I have no idea why they did this so late.
Tonight after dinner the crew put on a show again. Some of the people who have seen the crew show on the first part of the trip skip it, but most of it is new material.
Most pictures are from the "Iron Gate" and they are presented without comments.
Click to see a larger Picture
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Crew Show - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Crew Show - - - Daily Schedule Top | Back to Index | Next Stage
Day 25 - August 27: Svistov, Bulgaria - Excursion to Veliko Târnovo &
Arbanassi - Rousse (Friday)
From Avalon: A comfortable ride from Svistov is the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Târnovo. Situated on three hills surrounding the Yantra River, the city was a natural fortress with ancient stone houses clinging to the steep slopes. The oldest part is Tsarevets Hill, home of the Royal Fortress, palaces, and the PATRIARCH’S CHURCH. The historic village of Arbanassi is best known for its ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM and the outstanding collection of frescoes in the CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY. Rejoin your ship in Rousse.
Weather: Sunny, about 94F
Breakfast: On the Ship Lunch: At a Hotel Dinner: On the Ship Comments: Today we are off on an all day tour. The ship stops at Svistov but only for us to get off, then it goes on to Rousse where we'll catch up with it.
Our first stop is at a hotel in Veliko Târnovo where we can get coffee, water, etc. and use the restrooms. These towns still have a lot of work to do to overcome the communist influence and neglect. But I guess are working on it.
Next we go to Arbanassi, a small village only a few miles from Veliko Târnovo. We visit a house to see how people used to live and we tour the Church of the Nativity. Unlike any church I have ever seen. We couldn't take pictures - use the link if you are interested.
Back to Veliko Târnovo for lunch at a hotel. After that some people took the bus to a nearby castle, but we decide to stay in town and do a little shopping. The bus came back for us later and we went to Rousse to catch up with the ship and the cruisers who skipped this tour.
After dinner we were entertained by a "Folklore Performance".
Click to see a larger Picture (except Coat of Arms)
Veliko Târnovo
Coat of ArmsRousse
Coat of ArmsAt the Dock - - - - - - Rest Stop - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At the Hotel for the Rest Stop - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Old Homestead - - - - - - - - - - - - Church Lunch Castle - - - - - - - - - Walking & Resting - - - - - - - - - - - Old Apartments - - Welcome Back! - - - - - - - "Folklore Performance". - - - - - - - Daily Schedule Top | Back to Index | Next Stage
