Style Magazine June 2024

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organ concert at the Dürnstein Abbey (Stift
Dürnstein). Sound like a wonderful, relaxing
day? My description doesn’t do it justice.
Esztergom
Located at the Danube Bend, the most
photographed part of the river, we visited the
castle ruins of Visegrád, the formal royal seat of
Hungary. It’s places and tours like this that you
find yourself short on adjectives. Let’s just say it
was spectacularly beautiful with an enthralling
history—an experience not to be missed.
Budapest
My first time in Budapest was over two
decades ago, and I was interested to see
the changes. First off, I can tell you that the
one constant is the exquisite architecture.
Visiting cities like Budapest, Prague, Vienna,
and so many others remind me that our own
U.S. history and architecture are so young in
comparison.
Budapest is, without a doubt, one of my
favorite cities to explore. The Jewish Quarter
and Great Synagogue, the Castle District, the
Royal Palace, and what may have been my
favorite visit of the trip: the Hungarian State
Opera House. Riverside put together a miniopera
performance for our group that was
simply superb. And the tour and history of the
main hall was breathtaking; photos don’t do it
justice—you must see it for yourself.
We did our own walking tour on day two,
exploring the Great Market Hall and checking
out all the terrific shops the city has to offer.
There were so many excursions to choose
from: the Royal Palace of Gödöllő, St.
Stephen’s Basilica, Kossuth Square, and the
Hungarian Parliament Building, to name a few.
Having visited Europe extensively, I can say
without question that Budapest resides near
the top of “my favorite European cities” list.
Bratislava
This was our second time in this city, the last
being 22 years ago. We found it then to be
a city, like many in Eastern Europe at that
time, transitioning from being behind the iron
curtain, to one breaking out and finding the
light of freedom. It’s a wonderful thing to see,
as it’s another jewel of Europe.
Our walking tour was about two hours
and allowed us to soak in the city—one full
of history and architecture—that are both
familiar and yet so different.
Melk
Our tour in Melk was the perfect way to see
our Christmas cruise come to an end. Baroque
architecture, a stunning abbey, and spectacular
views of the Wachau Valley. A perfect ending to
a wonderful Christmas vacation.
Bottom right photo by Terry Carroll. Other photos courtesy of Riverside Luxury Cruises.
90 stylemg.com | JUNE 2024 | /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags