University of Idaho Choral group

PROGRAM: 15th-28th of May 2010: Austria, Czech Republic and Germany

15 May: Departure USA

Coach transfer from University of Idaho in Moscow to Seattle Tacoma Airport

Pick-up time: 4:30 AM Continental Breakfast will be available

Depart SEA on AF flight 309 at 1:50 PM

16 May: Arrival Munich (D)

Arrive Paris CDG at 8:35 AM

Connect to AF flight 1722 at 10:20 AM

Arrive Munich at 11:55 AM

After your arrival have a guided sightseeing tour through the historic centre of Munich, the capital of Bavaria. We will visit the most interesting sights, such as the opera house (outside), the Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, the famous Hofbräuhouse and the Königplatz in the city center of Munich where you encounter buildings in the old greek style (greek temples). You will visit the Ludwig- and Prinzregentenstreet with the victory gate and other famous buildings. Furthermore you will see from the outside the most interesting castle of Munich, Castle Nymphenburg with its gardens. It was the former summer residence of the Bavarian Kings.  

Nowadays Munich is one of the most important industrial cities of Germany, and also one of the cities with the highest economic power in Germany. To exemplify this, opposite of the Olympic stadium you will find the new BMW World and Museum, two new buildings with high architectural significance.

Welcome dinner and Overnight in Munich.

Hotel Azimut or similar – near city center and public transportation

17 May: Salzburg – Performance (B) – (90 miles – approx 2 hours driving time)

Transfer to Salzburg

Have a guided sightseeing tour in Salzburg in the city of Mozart. Admire the magnificent Mirabell Gardens, the mighty Hohensalzburg Fortress, the picturesque spires that dominate the city's skyline, the Domplatz - a baroque glory surrounded by the Residenz Palace and the St. Peters Abbey, the Getreidegasse - Salzburg’s busiest lane, the beautiful Mozart square – known as the heart of Salzburg hosting Mozart’s memorial, Mozart’s birthplace – the house in which Mozart was born in 1756 but also the St. Sebastian church which is worth seeing, especially due to its cloisters and tranquil cemetery.

Singing performance in the Mirabell Gardens

Overnight in Salzburg

Hotel Hafnerwit or similar (Hotel located in lovely small town of Hallein, near Salzburg – Hotels in city center of Salzburg are quite expensive.)

18 May:  Salzburg - Salzkammergut (B, D) – (30 miles each way – approx 1 hour driving time)

Today we will drive to the wonderful lakes of the Salzkammergut, some of which are Unesco Natural World Heritage. One of the most important lakes is the Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangssee) surrounded by huge mountains providing you with impressive views. Next to the lake we will have a stop to visit the picturesque village of St Wolfgang. It is in this area that the rural movie scenes of “The Sound of Music” were filmed.

Transfer back to Salzburg for dinner and overnight in Salzburg

19 May: Wachau Valley – Vienna (B, D) – (200 miles – approx 4 hours driving time)

On the way to the Wachau Valley we will head to the Mondsee and have a stop to see the church, in which movie scenes of “Sound of Music” have also been filmed.  Afterwards continue on an excursion to the Wachau Valley, a landscape of high visual quality and a UNESCO World Heritage site since the year 2000.  It is the most impressive region along the river Danube in the heart of Austria. Pass by medieval castles, picturesque towns, massive abbeys and the most well known sights in the Wachau such as the town of Dürnstein and Spitz. The Wachau is a stretch of the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems, which preserves many traces of its evolution since prehistoric times skirted by the ruins of medieval castles, baroque abbeys and picturesque vineyards.

Drive to Vienna (Dinner at your Hotel or at a typical Vienna Heurigen, which is a typical wine tasting locality offering traditional food specialities.

Overnight in Vienna at Delta Hotel or similar (near city center and public transportation)

20 May: Vienna – Performance (B)

Vienna is still considered music capital of the world. It was the home/living city of the most important musicians, such as Mozart, Johann Strauss father, Johann Strauss sun, Beethoven, Franz Joseph Haydn, Johann Sebastian Bach and Franz Schubert. Nowadays you find three opera houses in Vienna, the state opera is with its professional performances (each day a different one) and with the best orchestra of the world (the Vienna Symphony Orchestra) known worldwide. In addition there are some Musical Theaters and Theaters out of which the Burg theatre is considered the most important one in the German speaking world.   

During a guided sightseeing tour in this city of music see the late-19th-century Ringstrasse which today is one of the biggest and most beautiful boulevards of its kind, lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks such as the Hofburg - originally a medieval castle which was extended to a magnificent residence, the parliament, with its Greek statues, the state opera, the Burgtheater, the university of Vienna and the Art- and Natural history museum. Admire the St. Stephen's Cathedral - the heart and symbol of Vienna for centuries and Austria’s most eminent gothic edifice situated in the city centre.

Carol Padgham-Albrecht and Teddy Albrecht will be in Vienna during our stay and have graciously planned a walking tour of Inner City Vienna as well as several concerts, tours of places of interests, etc. for all who are interested.

Singing performance at St Stephens Cathedral

Overnight in Vienna

21 May: Vienna - Performance (B)

Guided tour of Musical Vienna with a visit to the House of Music and Beethoven’s apartment.

We will see the state opera, the statues of the most important musicians, and we will also be on the footsteps of the Vienna Boy Choir and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – which you will know from the annual New Year Concert, watched by the whole world. In the afternoon visit of the castle Schönbrunn, a Unesco world heritage sight. It is one of the most significant monuments of Austria and has very impressive Gardens!

Another performance of the choir in Vienna in front of the Schönbrunn Castle

Overnight in Vienna

22 May:  Transfer Prague (B, D) – (185 miles: approx 3.5 – 4 hours driving time)

We will depart to Prague with a stop in Telc (another world heritage of Unesco).

Dinner and overnight in Prague at hotel Ariston Patio or simlar – in very center of city

23 May: Prague - Performance (B)

In the morning, depart for a half-day sightseeing tour in the music city Prague.

Enjoy fairytale like views of Prague’s skyline from the Charles Bridge – a 14th century stone bridge linking the two sides of Prague, Old Town and the picturesque Mala Strana with its lovely ancient townsmen houses. At the end of the bridge you will find the Mala Strana Bridge Tower being the main

entry point to Mala Strana. See the Jewish Quarter and view the Astronomical Clock, the Bethlehem Chapel, and the Wenceslas square - one of the main city squares and the centre of business and cultural communities in the New Town of Prague.        

Singing performance at St Veits Cathedral with participation in sacred pieces sung during Holy Mass

Program: Four Motets – Veni Sanctus Spiritus, Creator Spriritus, Confirma Hoc, Deus

Plus 15 minute concert by the group

Overnight in Prague

24 May: Prague (B, D)

After breakfast, visit Prague castle situated on top of the Hradcin hill. Prague Castle is the most popular sight in Prague. Within the complex admire the grand towers of the St Vitus Cathedral. Constructed in the 9th century by Prince Boøivoj, the castle transformed itself from a wooden fortress surrounded by earthen bulwarks to the impressive form it has today. Visit the

Dinner and overnight in Prague

25 May:  Prague to Dresden (B, D) – (95 miles – approx 2.5 hours driving time)

We will leave the Czech Republic and enter Germany. Head to Dresden, also a world heritage site of Unesco and have a half-day guided city tour including a visit to the Semperoper, the most important opera of Germany. In the city centre we will find impressive buildings such as the Zwinger (one of the most important baroque buildings of Germany), Frauenkirche, Grüne Gewölbe and a lot more.

Dinner and overnight in Dresden at hotel Ibis in center of city

26 May:  Berlin – Performance (B) – (120 miles – approx 3 hours driving time)

Transfer to Berlin. Enjoy an orientation tour in Berlin, a city of contrasts and contradictions, full of excitement and forever evolving which can be seen in the countless historical and modern attractions. Monuments of Prussian grandeur rub shoulders with reminders of a divided country alongside stunning new architectural developments.

Overnight in Berlin at hotel Ramada Globus – near city center and public transportation

27 May: Berlin (B, D)

Part for a sightseeing tour through Berlin and visit all the marvelous sites of the city dotted all over. See places such as the Alexanderplatz - a former market place which was named after the Russian Czar Alexander the I in 1805, the Berlin Cathedral - the largest Protestant church in Germany, the Brandenburg Gate - over 200 years old it is Berlin’s most famous landmark that once symbolized the division of Berlin and Germany yet today is a national symbol of unity, the baroque Charlottenburg Palace, the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery, Bebelsquare and many more. Also visit the East side gallery - a colorful collection of political and poetic murals from countless artists from all over the world who painted the dreary 1.3 kilometer long wall. It is the longest monument for peace and reconciliation in Berlin. Finally view Checkpoint Charlie - the single crossing point for foreigners and members of the Allied forces during the time of the DDR, where the “Friedrichsstadt” neighborhood was divided by the Berlin Wall.

Farewell dinner and overnight in Berlin

28 May: Departure

Transfer by coach to Berlin airport.

Depart on AF flight 1135 at 6:55 AM.

Arrive Paris CDG at 8:40 AM

Connect to AF flight 306 at 10:30 AM

Arrives Seattle Tacoma at 11:45 AM

Coach transfer from Seattle airport to Moscow Idaho

PRICE PER PERSON sharing in a double room: $3400