Mom + Danube River Cruise

dates: 9/ 9/19- 9/20/19
total distance: 11,930 by plane, bus, boat and foot

people: mom (aka Mother, Mamacita, Lonnie)

My mom is kind, fun and strong. Her retirement travel dreams were destroyed by my fathers' Alzheimer’s and death. But the universe (god, karma, fate...) offered her a break and available travel-partner-in-crime (me), to continue checking off destinations from her travel bucket list. 

On our river cruise, which is basically a boatload of retired-couples, I was lucky to connect with two similarly-aged-women, Jodie and Lauren, who had lost their fathers and were travelling with their mums (Jodie was Australian).

​Mothers and daughters have a unique bond and over time the lines blur making it indistinguishable to know who is caring for whom. Travelling together makes it easy to enjoy each other’s company, escape comfort zones, and explore the world while providing uninterrupted access to assess physical and emotional wellbeing of the elder!

River cruising is comfortable and easy:

• Every detail is planned in advance, requiring zero effort
• Small ships never feel crowded, and make it easy to pop on and off
• You literally sit, in a comfy chair, and watch the world go by
• Marvel at human engineering, as you navigate 12 locks in the river - the giant container doors open magically to reveal the next section of the journey
• Multiple cities can be visited in a day, adding to the opportunity for adventure

By the end of the cruise, the names of the charming small towns blur together, while Prague, Vienna and Budapest are easily recalled. While I can’t name each port, these towns have become strategically restored and commercialized, wisely checking the boxes as UNESCO heritage sites to increase tourism and job opportunities for their residents.

I would take another river cruise with my mom since she meets the age requirement, or with my friends in a decade - when we are mature enough to fit in!

place: Danube River Prague to Budapest

Avalon Danube Dreams Eastbound cruise from Prague to Budapest
Highlights + local phrases by city

our adventure begins:

Prague, Czech Republic
Nazdar, Prague! Hello, Prague… as we begin the 12-day adventure with a bus and walking tour of your beautiful cobblestone streets and mixed European architecture.
Must see:

• Prague Castle and Charles Bridge
• Astronomical clock – historic and unique – arrive early for a good spot to watch the hourly show
• Stumbling stones, brass markers placed at the doorstep of homes throughout Europe, honoring the people who were taken from these locations and sent to concentration camps. 
• Old Town, Jewish Quarter were interesting. Next time would do a deeper tour of the Jewish Quarter or a holocaust tour.

Regensberg, Germany
Ich verstehen nicht... I don’t understand why I had never heard of this delightful city, which oozed:

• Historic charm within it’s well maintained, medieval walls and fortress
• Youthful vibe courtesy of the local university
• Great restaurants and shopping

​Passau, Germany
Guten Morgen… Good Morning, Passau, as sunshine sparkles over the waters in this picturesque town where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet. This town has experienced historic flooding recently, and my favorite memory is our cute guide in his authentic German shorts. 

​Linz, Austria
Danke... Thanks, Verena, our amazing guide for the Highlight of Salzburg + Sound of Music inspired tour. Salzburg was elegant and inviting, touristy and popular. The crowds made it impossible to find seat at one of the charming outdoor cafes, so we settled for an outdoor seat and flavorless meal at one of the unpopular spots.

Salzburg travel tip = watch the Sound of Music before the tour so you are fresh on all the locations!

​Melk & Durstein – Wachau Valley, Austria
Konnen sie das bitte aufschreien… Please write it down, if you hope to remember the differences between these towns where winding cobblestones streets, fairytale castles, and stories of royals vs. conquerors begin to blur together.

​Vienna, Austria
Guten Tag!... Good Day, Vienna, a pristine and well maintained – mostly under restoration - European city where we enjoyed Vienna’s schnitzel, strudel and Schonbrunn Palace, one of the many examples of Hapsburg excess.

​Bratislava, Slovakia
Zbohom… Goodbye couldn’t come soon enough, since we arrived into the port of Bratislava on a cold, dark, rainy day. My impression, likely influenced by the weather, sent me back onboard after the walking tour instead of exploring this post-communist town. Apparently the museum is wonderful, but I can’t confirm or deny.

The Slovakian guide shared an incredible story about her fear to pursue freedom after the Berlin Wall collapsed. She was unsure if she was free or if this was a communist trick as she carefully approached border and stepped across it. Fearing she would be shot or arrested, only to burst into tears when the guard smiled and said “Welcome to Austria”.

​Budapest, Hungary
Kerem… Please arrive into Budapest by boat, as the unique landmarks of both Buda and Pest are revealed for your delight and you get to cross under the glorious bridges connecting the cities. Egeszsegedre!... Cheers, as we sampled Hungarian wines in the neighboring Etyek wine region and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Cyrano’s. When I return to Budapest, I’ll try a mineral bath spa and check out the communist statue park outside of the city limits.

What I loved:

• Amazing weather, sunshine enhanced the beauty of the towns and countryside
• Exceptional tour guides brought each town to life, blending personal stories with historical facts
• Punctuality, German influence on full display, everything started on time and was efficiently run
• Stateroom beds faces a wall of windows, which slide open turning the room into a balcony
• Local food + wine was showcased in the dining room throughout the voyage

What I didn’t love:

• European 2-prong outlets forcing me to rely on the ship-provided hairdryer, hanging my head out the window would have dried my hair faster
• Onboard entertainment was an Andrews sisters style singing group vs. local cultural talent
• Avalon had an app, but the daily schedule wasn’t on it, so we had to manages endless pieces of paper