Virtuoso Insights - October/November 2008 - (Page 36) Budapest’s majestic parliament Building. Slice of life: café Sacher’s world-famous chocolate torte. T hat same afternoon, we arrived in Vienna for our overnight stay. Because I wanted to get the most out my visit here, my Virtuoso travel advisor had arranged for a half-day, private walking tour of Vienna’s famed city center, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My knowledgeable and incredibly well-connected guide was able to get me a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Hofburg Palace, and we sat in on a training session for the majestic Lipizzaner stallions at the Spanish Riding School. I also joined the ship’s shore excursion to Vienna’s royal hunting grounds and, of course, had to stop in at the Café Sacher for a slice of its world-famous torte. The next morning, we arrived in Esztergom, home to the largest church in Hungary, which is modeled after St. Peter’s in Rome. While wandering its quaint streets, I picked up a hand-embroidered wall hanging — a real bargain, and one of my most treasured travel mementos. Within a few hours, we arrived in Budapest; this stunning city, which stretches for some eight miles along the river’s banks, is a must for any world traveler. Eight striking bridges connect the right bank and medieval city, Buda, with the left bank and “modern” city, Pest. From the top of Castle Hill to the center of Heroes’ Square, I adored every inch of this magical metropolis, also named to the UNESCO World Heritage List. A stroll through vibrant Central Market Hall and a latté at Café Gerbeaud, one of Europe’s oldest and most illustrious coffeehouses, are musts. more Danube on page 38 P 36 Virtuoso insights
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