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Effortlessly Cruising the 'Blue' Danube, 2007

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The Culture, Cuisine, & Fellowship Was Memorable!!

Source: Dave Hagen
1 Mar 08

Tom & Norma Elmquist arranged for Patty & I to enjoy a Danube River cruise with them in September, 2007. It was an incredible journey allowing us to see many new places in Eastern Europe where we hadn't been before. We saw Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, many of them all spruced up and freshly joined up with the European Common Market. The cities and their culture and cuisine were extremely enjoyable and the crew on the cruise ship were so gracious and accommodating. It was a great trip that will live forever in our memories!!

We met a number of interesting folks on the cruise. It was easy to do because these river cruise ships are small and personal in comparison with the overwhelming ocean-liners you'd find in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. We were especially blessed with the opportunity to meet a lovely and fun couple from Sydney, Australia named Chilly and Debbie Pustetto. Chilly's Italian heritage showed up noticeably in his sense of humor and mischievousness, and it's obvious that Debbie's gracious social skills have been sharply honed over the years in reining the ol' man in from time to time!! We had a great time exploring Europe with the Elmquists and the Pustettos!!!

Highlights of our daily stops along the cruise, which went upstream from Budapest to Regensberg, then a bus ride across to Prague, included: Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Nuremberg, Regensberg, and Prague itself. We traveled through a couple dozen locks along the way in very high water (due to torrential rains the week before) such that furniture on the upper deck were often removed and passengers (if allowed there) had to crouch down to avoid getting swept away when traveling under bridges!!