Cruising, Viking Style
A Viking Cruise down the Danube River is wonderful any time of the year I imagine, but in December it is especially beautiful. The Christmas Markets in Vienna and Salzburg were my favorites, although there were wonderful crafts in the outdoor holiday markets in Budapest, in Bratislava, Slovakia, and in Passau, Germany as well.
At a small shop in the Castle Distrct of Budapest, I got some lovely hand-beaded felt angel ornaments for the tree, along with some egg-shaped wooden treasures, all hand-painted by local Hungarian women. The Castle District, including Fisherman's Bastion, is breathtakingly beautiful! As was the view of Budapest by night along the Danube. The illuminated Parliament Building is a sight we won't soon forget!
Our luggage didn't arrive in Budapest with us, in fact it was four days before my husband and I were reunited with our suitcases, necessitating a quick trip to what we discovered was a gorgeous mall in Bratislava, Slovakia! And in that gorgeous mall, I found a wonderful Christmas shop and immediately purchased two fairly large, but quite delightful, Santas! (I'd worry about how I was going to get them home later).
The Christmas Markets in Austria produced the biggest bounty for me, however. In Vienna, in the shadow of St. Stephen's (magnificent) Cathedral, I bought the most beautiful glass, hand-painted ornaments. The lady wrapped them for me and packed them securely in a special box, which I babied in my carry-on baggage all the way back to the states! But by far the biggest thrill in Vienna was walking past the stable (which looks more lika a fancy palace!) where the Lippizan Stallions are housed--just in time to see them being transferred to the training ring across the street. They have to be the most beautiful horses in the world!
In Salzburg's Christmas Markets, I found some adorable woodland-themed Santas, and promptly bought three of them. Fortunately, they were much smaller than the first two I'd purchased in Bratislava! Salzburg has to be one of the most beautiful cities on earth. I would love to have had another day--or two--to spend there. One is not enough to experience the splendor that is Salzburg.
We spent some of our last evening of the cruise in Passau, Germany, searching for a carry-on bag to transport our new Santas home. With the help of our traveling companions, we found the perfect bag--and the rest is history! I managed to make it home with all my Christmas treasures!
It was our very first Viking Cruise, but I sincerely doubt it will be our last!
