Oberammergau 2010
Pre-arranged Itineraries

Depart the United States aboard your overnight trans--Atlantic flight to Europe.  The night will pass quickly, and you will soon be landing in Copenhagen.

DAY 2
ARRIVE COPENHAGEN

Welcome to Copenhagen! After passing through necessary customs formalities, you will be met by your Tour Director and transferred to your hotel.  Welcome to Denmark's cosmopolitan capital city, Copenhagen, which has a modern and graceful appearance.  With its music, canals, friendly people and delightful Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen is truly a city to remember.  From the alluring lights of the waterfront to the mellow light of dawn which breaks in the early morning, Copenhagen is a bright and shining city.  It is hard to imagine that Copenhagen is an ancient colony, inhabited over 5000 years ago by Stone Age hunters and fishermen who watched the waves splash over the shore which is now the main shopping street.

DAY 3
COPENHAGEN

Breakfast at your hotel.  Your morning sightseeing tour is a smorgasbord of sights -- Christianborg Palace, Town Hall, the Stock Exchange -- world's oldest still in use -- the Round Tower, Gruntvigs Church, National Museum, the Royal Theatre, and the ever--popular Langelinie Promenade with the statue of the Little Mermaid.  One of Europe's great monarchies, Denmark boasts some dazzling Crown Jewels which you'll see at Rosenborg Castle.

The afternoon is yours to explore Copenhagen on your own.  The Stroget is the shopping street with a personality all its own.  It is the shortest and liveliest kilometer you have ever walked, connecting Radhuspladsen to Kongens Nytor, and appropriately referred to as the heart of the city.  Take your time experiencing the freedom of walking in the pedestrian street gazing at the amazing variety of surrounding shops.  Or visit the Craft Center, certainly worth a day of top--notch browsing.  Pay a visit to Amalienborg Palace where the changing of the guard takes place at noon (when the king is in residence).  Visit the fruit and flower markets or the many museums -- like the Glyptotek Museum.

DAY 4
COPENHAGEN – FERRY - BERLIN

This morning you will have an early breakfast at your hotel.  Following breakfast, board your motorcoach for the drive to Berlin. Winding--up your stay in colorful Copenhagen, today your travels take you back into Germany.  You first board your ferry at Rodbdyhagn crossing the Baltic sea to Puttgarden on the German side.  Continue south through the German countryside to Berlin. 

 
DAY 5
BERLIN

Breakfast at your hotel.  Morning sightseeing tour.  Among Berlin's many historical treasures are majestic Charlottenburg Palace with its restored apartments of Prussian royalty and the Victory Column, a city landmark erected to commemorate the Franco Prussian War. There are also the imposing Reichstag, a historic building in the midst of the all brand new constructed government buildings and the Olympic Stadium, where Jesse Owens raced to glory in 1936. The Schoeneberger Rathaus, site of John F. Kennedy moving "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Centuries old churches and monuments. One of the highlights is your drive along the boulevard "Unter den Linden." Starting at the Brandenburg Gate pass famous buildings such as the State Opera House, the Humboldt University and the Cathedral ending at Alexanderplatz with its TV tower.  

The afternoon free for individual activities. We suggest visiting the Museum Island with its famous Pergamon Museum and the Old Museum which is the temporary home for the bust of Queen Nefertiti (1350 B.C.), one of Berlin's great celebrities. Or enjoy the atmosphere at the main boulevard Kurfuerstendamm with Europe's second largest department store, Kadewe.

DAY 6
BERLIN – MUNICH

Breakfast at your hotel.  Today’s drive takes you south to Munich.  The oldest name for this town is Munchen, meaning home of the monks.  Munich was, in fact, founded as a Benedictine monastery, but quickly developed into a center of trade in the 12th century.  Today Munich is important in industry, commerce, finance and the arts.  Time is free upon arrival in Munich.

DAY 7
MUNICH

Breakfast at your hotel. Munich froths with good German beer and Bavarian friendliness.  To capture that mood you'll start the day with a morning sightseeing tour -- a drive to Koenigsplatz, a view of the University, Odeons Square, and the Marienplatz with its neo--Gothic City Hall, boasting the famed glockenspiel.

You have the afternoon free to enjoy Munich as you wish.  Old trees, grassland, shady seats beside winding paths. . .this is the Englischer Garten.  The museums are numerous, among them the Deutsche Museum, the Alte Pinakothek and the Haus der Kunst.  Or you may enjoy a visit to Nymphenburg Castle, surrounded by the beautiful Botanical Gardens.  For the shoppers, you will find good buys in woodcrafts, clocks, sweaters, and naturally, a wide selection of beautiful beer mugs!

DAY 8
MUNICH - OBERAMMERGAU

Breakfast at your hotel.  Today you will continue on to Oberammergau.  It is in the Bavarian Alps, and is known throughout the world for the Passion Play presented here every 10 years.  The advent of Hitler interrupted the performances, but they were resumed in 1950. The natives of the town are skilled wood carvers, and a school is maintained here for instruction in the art.  Upon arrival, time is free for you to take a leisurely stroll about the town. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

DAY 9
OBERAMMERGAU

Breakfast at your hotel.  Today you will have the exciting opportunity to see the 41st production of the Passion Play.

For the 41st time since 1634 Oberammergau is preparing to keep the solemn promise of their forefathers to reincarnate the life and bitter suffering of Our Lord.  A village in Ammertal is once again being dominated by its great play:  The Passion.  The pious and faithful loyalty to its tradition gives the village the strength to demonstrate once again that the play still has the same validity as 356 years ago and that it has become a unique event in Germany, not only of cultural significance.
In the year 1633 when the Black Plague stopped short of the little mountain village, the inhabitants took an oath that they would stage a performance of the Passion of Christ every ten years.  And the story goes that from that moment on, the village was spared from the black death.

Already in 1634 the inhabitants of Ammergau fulfilled their oath.  They kept their promise and performed the Passion Play every ten years right up to the present.  The Play depicts the story of Christ's Passion beginning with entry into Jerusalem and ending with the resurrection and transfiguration.

The performance will last an entire day.  It begins at 2:30 in the afternoon and will end at 10:30PM.  The evening dinner break lasts three hours from 5:00PM until 8:00PM.

The text for the Passion Play was written between 1850 and 1860 by the parish priest Alois Daisenberger from Oberammergau.  The Daisenberger version is the fourth largest text period in the 356 year history of the play.

The music for the Passion Play was written in 1815 by the Oberammergau school teacher Rochus Dedler.  Employing a large choir and orchestra, his compositions still compass the entire play today.

DAY 10
OBERAMMERGAU –  LUCERNE

Breakfast at your hotel. then it’s on to Lucerne in Switzerland.  Lucerne, capital of its canton and one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, is extremely popular as a lake resort.  It is at the foot of Lake Lucerne or the Vierwaldstaettersee, in the cradle of historic Switzerland.  The city's medieval heritage is evident in the fortifying walls and towers, the old churches and quaint houses and the unusual covered bridges that span the Reuss River.  Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

DAY 7
LUCERNE

Breakfast at your hotel.  Imagine the ideal Swiss town and you've imagined Lucerne.  Medieval walls, a covered wooden bridge, and the Lion Monument are on the agenda of your morning sightseeing tour of this quaint city.

The remainder of the day is then free for personal activities. You might like to take an excursion to Mount Pilatus.  The perfect, unforgettable Mountain Circular tour by aerial cablecar and cogwheel railway, this excursion offers a superb view of Lucerne, its lake and the majestic panorama of surrounding Swiss Peaks.  Or you may wish to stroll along beautiful Lake Lucerne or the city's parks which are like gardens.  For the shoppers, browse along the streets to see chocolates and pastries arrayed as if they were jewels.  Good buys are of course watches, handcrafts, toys, cameras and chocolates.  Dinner and overnight at your hotel.  Dinner and overnight in Lucerne.

DAY 12
LUCERNE – PARIS

Following an early breakfast you will drive through the French countryside to the “City of Lights”, Paris.  Still the world's most photogenic city, there is not a corner that isn't a delight to walk through.  Where else could you find a welcoming cafe on every block?  You're never far from a landmark, be it the River Seine, the Eiffel Tower or the impressive Champs--Elysees.

DAY 13
PARIS

Breakfast at your hotel.  The city of the Can--Can, boulevardiers and artists looks as lively as its reputation.  Your morning sightseeing tour shows you the spice of its life: the Opera, Place de la Concorde, Champs--Elysees, les Invalides and Notre Dame Cathedral. The afternoon is free for further exploring or shopping.  In a city where even the handkerchiefs have fashion, you'll certainly enjoy the great department stores, as well as the designer boutiques.  For art lovers, the Louvre Museum is an absolute must.

DAY 14
PARIS – U.S.A.

Breakfast at your hotel.  It is time to bid farewell to Paris and be transferred to the Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport for your return flight home.

DON'T WAIT ANOTHER 10 YEARS!