National
Czech & Slovak
Museum & Library
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
 
CELEBRATION TOUR OF CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
 
Highlighting Music, Architecture, Art, History and Wine
 
Hosted by
GAIL NAUGHTON
President of the National Czech & Slovak
Museum & Library
 
OCTOBER 10th – 20th, 2004
Sunday, October 10
USA - PRAGUE
Departure to Prague
 
Monday, October 11
PRAGUE
Upon arrival your tour director will welcome you. Board your private motorcoach for a panoramic city tour including the Charles Bridge and Old Town before checking into your hotel. You may want to start exploring this magical city on your own. Your welcome dinner will include a festive folklore show. (D)
 
Tuesday, October 12
PRAGUE
After breakfast enjoy a guided tour through Prague featuring Wenceslas Square, named for the patron saint of Bohemia and site of the country’s most dramatic historical events. Visit Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, a Gothic beauty noted for its bronze gates and stained glass. Also see Strahov Monastery, with its remarkable astronomical clock and renowned library. This afternoon is free to explore Prague on your own. Tonight you will be guests at the National Museum for a private tour and reception, followed by a joint concert by Red Cedar Chamber Music of Cedar Rapids, and Quartetto Telemann of Prague. They will perform the original "Spillville Variations on a Theme by Dvorak" on the marble steps of the museum. After the concert you are treated to a gala dinner. (B, D)
 
Wednesday, October 13
PRAGUE
Enjoy your day at leisure in Prague with time to shop for folk art, crystal, garnets, puppets, books and more in the winding lanes of Old Town. Alternatively, sign up for the optional day-long excursion to Veltrusy, Nelahozeves and Melnik in Bohemia. Visit the Renaissance Nelahozeves Castle, which includes the home of the famous Czech composer Antonin Dvorak. (B)
 
Thursday, October 14
PRAGUE - CESKY KRUMLOV
Your first stop this morning is the village of Holasovice. A UNESCO world heritage site since 1998, this village features harmoniously planned and excellently preserved rural architecture. Peasant dwellings with picturesque stucco gables provided the backdrop for the filming of Smetana’s "The Bartered Bride." Your next stop will be Cesky Krumlov, the beloved historic town, noted for its Renaissance Town Hall and Chateau, consisting of 40 buildings and the Church of St. Vitus. Your last stop of the day will be to tour the romantic Castle Hluboka, built in pseudo-Gothic style from 1839 to 1871. The castle is home to valuable furniture, collections of tapestries, weapons, glassware, porcelain and paintings. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Stekl on the grounds of Castle Hluboka. (B, D)
 
Friday, October 15
CESKY KRUMLOV - BRNO
After breakfast depart to Telc. Rebuilt after a fire in 1530, the triangular town center is untouched by modern architecture. Art and architecture lovers will appreciate the Baroque houses and the Romanesque Church of the Holy Spirit from the early 13th century. Lunch is on your own in this charming town. Continue on to Zd’ar-nad-Sazavou for a special visit to an artist’s studio to watch art glass being created. You travel on to Brno, the Moravian capital of the Czech Republic. If time permits, explore the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul from the 11th and 12th centuries, the Capuchine Monastery and the Parnas fountain in the center of the Cabbage Market. (B, D)
 
Saturday, October 16
BRNO
(Lednice & Valtice excursion)
Today you explore the picturesque area south of Brno. On the Austrian border is the UNESCO protected Lednicko-Valticky area, a landscape dominated by the twin residences of the Liechtensteins, one of the most powerful landowning families in the country until 1945. The Liechtenstein family peppered the countryside with neoclassical temples and follies, such as Lednice, throughout the 19th century, as a display of their wealth and taste. You will see the extravagantly neo-Gothic chateau and grounds, now a pleasant park, which features a 200 ft minaret. You will also visit the small city of Valtice, again dominated by a fascinating chateau, and sample the Moravian wines in the wine cellar and National Wine Salon. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in this authentic town, in this famed wine-growing region. As a special treat for dinner we will enjoy the hospitality of one of our own NCSML members in his newly-restored home in nearby Podivin. This will be a unique and fun evening. (B, L, D)
 
Sunday, October 17
BRNO – LOW TATRAS
Depart this morning for Slovakia and a relaxing stay at a lodge in the Low Tatras. You stop in Cicmany, a charming village nestled in the snug Rajcanka Valley, famed for a 200-year-old custom of painting its wooden cottages in patterns based on traditional embroidery motifs. Each cottage is smothered in a simple, largely abstract, decorative mantle of white snowflakes and flowers. Stop to view the world-famous Rajec Bethlehem nativity scene, as you continue on to one of Slovakia’s favorite and most visited mountain areas, the Low Tatras. You have time this afternoon to stroll through this beautiful scenic area or simply relax. Tonight be entertained at dinner with a folkloric show featuring music and authentic Slovak costumes. (B, D)
 
Monday, October 18
LOW TATRAS – BRATISLAVA
You make your way to Bratislava this morning, with a stop in Banska Bystrica. This town is best known as the cradle of the Slovak National Uprising against the Nazis. You will have a private tour of the fascinating museum commemorating this event. Lunch is on your own in the handsome Old Town center. Enjoy an afternoon city tour of Bratislava, Slovakia’s historic capital city on the Danube. Included are visits of the Bratislava Castle dating from the 10th century, St. Martin’s Cathedral, Michael’s Gate and the ruins of Devin castle, situated at the confluence of the Morava and Danube Rivers. (B,D)
 
Tuesday, October 19
BRATISLAVA (Modra excursion)
This morning you discover the beautiful landscape of the Little Carpathian Mountains. You visit Modra to explore some of the locally owned ceramic shops. You also stop in the lovely wine-growing area of Pezinok. Stop at a local cellar and taste the local wine. Pezinok is so focused on wine making, that the town even has a statue of two vintners working at a winepress. Afternoon on your own to tour and shop in Bratislava. Tonight is a farewell dinner in a wine cavern restaurant with a local gypsy band. (B, D)
 
Wednesday, October 20
VIENNA - USA
This morning after breakfast you must bid a fond na shledanou and do videnia to this wonderful area, as you go to Vienna to board your return flight to the U.S.A. (B)
TOUR INCLUDES
*Round trip air transportation from Cedar Rapids, Iowa**
*9 Nights accommodation in first and superior tourist class hotels with private bath
*9 Daily buffet or continental breakfasts
*2 Lunches
*8 Dinners
*Sightseeing tours as per itinerary
*Entrance fees as indicated in itinerary
*Services of English speaking tour escort throughout the tour
*Local guides for all sightseeing tours as indicated on itinerary
*Transportation by deluxe motorcoach (with air conditioning)
*All hotel taxes and service charges
*Baggage handling
*Tickets to a concert at the National Museum

NOT INCLUDED

*Tickets or admissions to theaters, shows, operas and other cultural events except as noted above.
*Telephone communications
*Laundry services
*Passport fees
*Insurance
*Other items of a personal nature
*Motorcoach driver gratuities
*Tour director gratuities
PRICE
$3,299.00 per person/double occupancy
In addition, $150.00 donation to National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library to support the visit of Quartetto Telemann for their premier concert with Red Cedar Chamber Music at the NCSML, October 2 & 3, 2004.
$599.00 single supplement
 
DEPOSIT
Deposit: $250.00 per person due at time of booking. Plus the $150.00 contribution to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
Final payment due: August 3, 2004
**Air departure from other cities:
$75 deviation fee plus the difference in current air rate.
Tour rate is based on a minimum of 30 passengers
Tour rate is based on currency exchange rate as of January 9, 2004 and is subject to change.
CANCELLATION POLICY
From deposit to August 2, 2004 $ 250.00
From August 3 to August 25, 2004 $ 1,000.00
From August 26, 2004 to Departure No Refund
 
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is highly recommended and is available through Carlson Wagonlit Travel/Destinations Unlimited. The insurance premium is non-refundable.
 
VALID PASSPORT REQUIRED
Travelers must be in possession of a valid passport issued by the country of their citizenship. US passports must be valid beyond April 2005. United States citizens do not need a visa for travel in Czech Republic or Slovakia. Different requirements may apply to those holding passports from other countries. Please advise if you are holding a passport other than the United States.
 
RESPONSIBILITY
Destinations Unlimited, Inc. dba/Carlson Wagonlit Travel, The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Rail Europe, Select International, United Airlines, Inc., Lufthansa German Airlines, and all applicable airlines, hotels and tour operators accept no responsibility for services on any aircraft, boat, motorcoach, automobile or any other conveyance used in connection with this tour, nor for additional expense due to delays, loss or accident to traveler or baggage occasioned by sickness, war, weather, quarantine, or from whatsoever cause. Any such loss or expense is the responsibility of the traveler. Air schedules are subject to change at any time. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the well being of the tour passengers. If, after tour departure, the services included in the tour cannot be supplied, or there are changes in an itinerary for reasons beyond their control the tour operator will arrange for the provision of comparable services. The right is reserved to refuse anyone as a member of this tour at any time.
 
For more information contact:
Lee Buhr
5020 Council Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1359 or 1-800-391-1359
Fax: (319) 393-7616
E-mail: lee@duagency.com
Check out our website:
www.duagency.com
 
Return to NCSML Home Page
 
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
30 - 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5904
Phone: 319-362-8500 · Fax: 319-363-2209
 
This page was updated October 20, 2005