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Budapest, Prague and Vienna entice the sophisticated visitor with three different cultures and more travel experience than can be imagined. Of course, the Travel For Teens approach is ideal for absorbing these wonders because each traveler creates the trip that is most special and unique on an individual basis. Activities involving music, art, food, dance, history, and natural beauty can be combined to craft your own unique, unforgettable trip! |
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American travelers gain a new perspective when they spend time in places where freedom has been newly gained. The intense sacrifice that went into gaining that freedom is felt poignantly by the average citizens and this shows in their everyday perspective of life. WHAT YOU'LL SEE, DO, AND LEARN IN EASTERN EUROPE |
Visit the building that served as the Party headquarters for the Nazis and then became the base of the Secret Police under Russian rule, now a very compelling museum. See the rooms where Hungarian citizens were subjected to torture and death on a widespread basis. Talk to the remaining survivors of these dark days and gain an appreciation for the ultimate victory of the human Spirit. Visit the second biggest synagogue in the world, cook Hungarian goulash with a private citizen, meet the youth, eager to know about life in other parts of the world. |
A nice massage later and we are ready to hit the town for a nice dinner in a restaurant and some nightlife, safely in the company of the very cool Travel For Teens counselors. They will keep you safe and help you learn the customs, but they will feel like a cross between big brothers and best friends as they do so. Seven hundred-year-old Matthias Church was the scene of the coronation of Hungarian kings. The famous bridge connecting the two sides of the cities is the spot from which to see the sun set on the Parliament building. Descend onto the island in the middle of the Danube and try to imagine today's convent as yesterday's Turkish harem! Attend the opera in Europe's most impressive opera house, enjoy an amazing farewell dinner. |
A museum to the famous war horses of the Spanish Riding School, complete with a visit to the stables is on the option list as is exploring the palace of the Habsburgs. St. Stephen's Church offers the finest Gothic Architecture in Austria and a climb to the top of its tower brings spectacular views. The requisite boat tour along the Danube is touristy but dreamy as well. Shopping in this most romantic city, a cup of cafe mit schlag (whipped cream) with a slice of Sacher Torte, invented at the Hotel Sacher make a memorable day. Or, take an optional excursion to Salzburg* and walk in the footsteps of the Von Trapp family, in a "Sound of Music" adventure. We will also visit the World Heritage site of Bratislava, where you will experience Slovak village life. |
 PRAGUEOur final stop is Prague, where Bohemian crystal is famous... justifiably so... and you will be able to visit a shop which makes it. It is even possible to cut some glass yourself and buy it for the folks at bargain prices. Prague castle which majestically crowns the city could not be fully explored in an entire day. Its courtyards include one of the most significant Augustinian chapels in the world and we will have the opportunity to attend high mass for those who want to. One day is reserved for an optional visit to Terezin, a waystation camp for 150,000 Czech children who were ultimately sent to die in the deathcamps. It is not an uplifting experience, but it is sobering in a way that is unforgettable and important. |
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Walk the length of Wenceslas Square, not a square at all, but a street and the site of the beginning of the Velvet Revolution, the bloodless change from Communism to Democracy as the Soviet Union collapsed. Yes, it is the same King Wenceslas as the Christmas carol and you will learn his special place in history and the controversy that surrounds that place today. His statue is prominent in Prague, majestically overseeing the square some don't feel he deserves and others feel is his rightful place. You will learn traditional dance and music in a setting that is called by some one of the most European cities in Europe and your last unforgettable night of dining and clubbing will be a fitting finale to our most cutting edge trip. |
| *Small additional tuition |
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© 2008 Travel for Teens, LLC, All Rights Reserved tel: 1.888.457.4534 |
Come with us to Bohemia and live for a time in a world changing so rapidly it will be unrecognizable within a few years. From the glittering domination of the Habsburg Dynasty to the cold fist of Nazi occupation and the Iron Curtain, to the excitement of today and the bright, compelling future, time plays a role that is an important aspect of this unique cultural exploration opportunity.
A LITTLE HISTORY 
After a glorious past as capital of a Roman province, key city in the Turkish Empire, stop on the Orient Express and a proud Bohemian heritage, Hungary fell under the rule of Nazi Germany during WWII. Its citizens were deported, forced into labor and deprived of all freedom. Liberation from the Nazis brought the next wave of oppression, Communist rule under the Russians. A brief attempt at rebellion in 1956 lasted 2 weeks before being crushed in a Tiananmen Square type response by the Russians. 
Visit the homes of Franz Liszt, the great nineteenth century composer (see his furniture, scores and instruments) and Bartok, important 20th century composer. Learn the folk music and dancing that inspired the legacy of the gypsies, shop in some of the most unique places in Europe. 
Hungary sits on a network of hot springs and for centuries was a destination for the healing of disease. The Turks built a lavish bath (pool) with detailed tilework lining its domes. Relax with the locals floating in the hot pools of mineral water... in Budapest ending ones day at the baths is part of the routine. 
VIENNA
Prague is proud of its native son, Antonin Dvorak, who brought Prague the prestige that comes with having a native citizen who changed the face of music. You will meet and mingle with the locals, both kids and adults. The street cafes and night life will thrill you.