Discover historic and culinary delights of cosmopolitan Amsterdam by cruising its famous canals while enjoying coffee and Dutch apple pie
INSIDE REICHENSTEIN CASTLE Perched above the Rhine town of Trechtingshausen, this
thousand-year-old place of legends was built in the 11th century and made home to Rheinbodo, a noble knight, and his castle guards. But as time went by, Rheinbodo’s descendants strayed off the noble path, preying on travelers along the Rhine. After a siege, the castle was burned – “for all of time,” per a Habsburg emperor. But that was not to be... for centuries later it’s been given new life, with a drawbridge, cannons, a hall of knights and scores of stories – and as the setting for your Day 4 sparkling dinner.
PROST! Centuries of brewing
tradition lie behind the clean, subtle taste of a Kölsch, the beer brewed only in Köln and served in tall, narrow glasses, by a köbe, a waiter wearing a long, blue apron and a leather money
pouch. Moderately alcoholic, it’s said to be a beer meant to be drunk quickly, which is why glasses will keep coming until you tell him to stop! It’s a Köln tradition – so lift your glass and wish your fellow travelers, prost!
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control passed from one country to the other and back again, a distinctive Alsatian culture arose. It’s reflected in the two languages and unique vibe of the city. Strasbourg is home to the charming canals and half-timbered houses of La Petite France; stately city residences; a Gothic cathedral; and plenty of winstubs, traditional Alsatian beer pubs. The skyline includes the modern offices of the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights; along with Geneva, Strasbourg is one of only two European cities with these kinds of international institutions. You may choose to spend the rest of the day in Strasbourg or visit the German resort town of Baden-Baden, on the edge of the Black Forest, and the Caracalla Spa for an afternoon of wellness treatments and relaxation. Spa facilities include whirlpools, waterfalls, counter-current pools, massage jets, and pools of warm water sourced from natural springs. Add in a sauna complex with both hot and cold rooms (some wellness treatments require an additional cost) and you’ll feel like a new you at the end of your visit. Meals BLD
7. LUCERNE, MT. PILATUS, OR ALSACE & BASEL Welcome to Switzerland! You have a choice of three onshore excursions today. If you choose to come with us to Lucerne, one option is to spend the day in this “city of lights,” seeing its landmark sights: the Kappelbrücke, a covered wooden footbridge crossing the Reuss River that dates back to the 1330s; an octagonal Water Tower once used as a prison; narrow lanes, and lovely squares, like the Kornmarkt, Weinmarkt, and Hirschenplatz. In Altstadt Lucerne, skinny cobblestone lanes lead to town squares lined with houses painted with frescoes. Another possibility is to head to the heights of Mt. Pilatus aboard a cable car, climbing from Alpnachstad at the edge of Lake Lucerne to the very top of the mountain – Oberhaupt– nearly 7,000 ft. high. Getting to the top is definitely part of the fun,
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