| explore | 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 <strong>2024</strong> | /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags
Top right two photos courtesy of Riverside Luxury Cruises. Other photos by Terry Carroll. Ports aside, the onboard experience was unparalleled. Every member of the crew was attentive and eager to please; the service impeccable; the dining first class; the on-board entertainment, gym, pool, and spa impressive; and the cabins clean and comfortable. Riverside has jumped into a competitive business with notice and aplomb and deserves all the accolades it’s receiving. Bravo, Riverside Luxury Cruises! For more information, please visit riverside-cruises. com. JUNE <strong>2024</strong> | stylemg.com 91