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Day 1: Tue. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT
TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT TO GERMANY.
Day 2: Wed. ARRIVAL INTO FRANKFURT....our coach will be
waiting to take us to MAINZ which is located on the
banks of the Rhine River. Above the roofs of the
half-timbered houses in the old city rise the six towers
of St. Martin's Cathedral, the most important Catholic
cathedral in the country after Cologne's, which dates
back to 975 A.D. If time allows, you may want to visit
the Gutenberg Museum which is a unique memorial to the
city's most famous son. Overnight in Mainz for two
nights. ( B, D )
Day 3: Thur. This morning we will take a short cruise on
the Rhine River to Rüdesheim...with its old courtyards
and winding alleyways lined with timbered houses.
Rüdesheim is the epitome of a Rhine wine town. The
vineyards around the village date back to the Roman
emperor days. The full-bodied Riesling is produced here,
as well as brandy and sekt. Afternoon return to Mainz. (
B, D )
Day 4: Fri. This morning we will be departing for
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which means "Red Fortress
Above the Tauber”. This is so because the town is
located on a plateau overlooking the Tauber River. It is
famous for being a well preserved old medieval town, a
destination for tourists around the world. Free time
this afternoon to explore on your own. Overnight in
Rothenburg. ( B, D )
Day 5: Sat. This morning we depart for
GUNZENHAUSEN....Frankenmuth's Sister City for 50 years.
There will be a welcome ceremony upon arrival and you
will be meeting your host family with whom you will be
staying the next four nights. The biggest festival of
the year begins this day, the Kirchweih, which is the
celebration of the anniversary of the founding of the
church. This will be their 611th Kirchweih festival. We
have reserved seating to hear the youth band play and
enjoy the opening ceremonies including the welcome of
guests after which we will follow the parade to the
Kirchweih festival grounds for the tapping of the first
keg by the mayor. ( B, D )
Day 6: Sun. This morning we will attend the Sister City
Anniversary church service with our host families. In
the afternoon we have reserved seating for the
traditional Shepherd's dance in the town square. This
evening we will be their honored guests at the banquet
celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Frankenmuth -
Gunzenhausen Sister City Partnership. ( B, D )
Day 7: Mon. This afternoon we have reserved seating once
again in the town square for the big Kirchweih parade.
The remainder of the day is free to spend with your host
family, exploring Gunzenhausen, or at the Kirchweih
festival grounds. ( B )
Day 8: Tue. This morning we will take a short ride to
the village of KALBENSTEINBERG. We will tour Wiesinger's
fruit distillery, where locals bring their fruits to be
distilled into liqueur or brandy. Next we will visit the
town of SPALT, famous for growing noble Spalter hops
used in beermaking...and later tour a hops farm. ( B )
Day 9: Wed. We say farewell to Gunzenhausen...and we
depart for Waldenbuch, a small village south of
Stuttgart where we will visit the Ritter Sport Chocolate
Factory. Continue on through the Black Forest area. ( B,
D )
Day 10: Thur. Continue this morning to Strasbourg,
France....often referred to as the "Crossroads of
Europe". Its famous cathedral, the Cathedral of
Notre-Dame has catered to both Catholic & Protestant
congregations. Remainder of the day free. ( B, D )
Day 11: Fri. An early departure for the beautiful city
of Rouen, a thriving port on the River Seine. Our next
stop Bayeux which was the first town to be liberated by
the Allies in 1944 and was fortunate to escape war
damage. Remainder of the day is free. Overnight in
Rouen. ( B, D )
Day 12: Sat. Continue this morning to Caen where we will
visit the Abbeys aux Homes. In the 11th century, Caen
became the favored residence of William the Conqueror.
Despite the destruction of three quarters of the city
during World War II, much still remains. He built two
great abbeys and a castle on the north bank of the River
Orne. ( B, D )
Day 13: Sun. Today we will make a day's excursion to the
Normandy Beaches where the Allies landed on June 6,
1944. U.S. troops landed on Omaha and Utah Beaches while
the British and Canadian troops landed on Gold, Juno and
Sword Beaches. There are British, German and American
War cemeteries at LaCambre, Ranville and St. Laurent-sur-Mer.
War museums at Bayeux will provide background on D-Day
and the ensuing Battle of Normandy. ( B, D )
Day 14: Mon. This morning we will visit the "Abbey of
Mont St. Michel"...perched on a rocky isle in the Gulf
of Saint Malo. It is one of the most enchanting sights
in France. It is on the frontier between Normandy and
Brittany, Mont-St.-Michel grew from a humble 8th century
oratory to become a Benedictine monastery that had its
greatest influence in the 12th & 13th centuries. The
monastery was a renowned center of medieval learning.
Depart later in the day for Paris. ( B, D )
Day 15: Tue. Morning sightseeing tour of the great
sights of PARIS....we will view the Arch de Triumph,
Eiffel Tower, Concord Square, Notre-Dame Cathedral,
Champ-Elysees plus more....all from the coach. Afternoon
boat trip on the River Seine. ( B, D )
Day 16: Wed. Free day for any optional activities that
you may want to do...perhaps explore the Louvre's
collection of European paintings, visit the Notre-Dame
Cathedral or do some last minute Parisian shopping.
Farewell dinner this evening. ( B, D )
Day 17: Thur. Depart this morning to the Charles de
Gaulle Airport for our flight to Detroit. Our coach will
be waiting to return us to Frankenmuth. ( B )
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