We chose this cruise because of the destinations. We had been to Berlin once and needed more. The history of the places on the way brought back memories of things I had read or seen on television, but were pigeon-holed away in a deep dark recess somewhere. It was interesting to see how these stored away things came together, with new learned places and events like pieces of a puzzle in my knowledge of WW II and post WW II.. We had just seen a movie with Tom Hanks about the Gary Powers and the Glienicke Bridge exchange and there we were walking on the bridge. With a photo in my pocket of my US Army dad at Templehof Airport during the reconstruction after the war, there I was scores of years later, standing as close as possible in his same footprints at the Airlift Memorial. Left us speechless. We had been on the Danube, and Budapest was one of our favorite cities. Well, after being in Praque the jury is still out, which city wins out. Then there was the unbelieveable Salt Mine and the sobering Auschwitz and Birkenau at Krakow. Also my relatives came from near the Krakow area in a place that no longer exists. Warsaw completed a new found appreciation and respect for the people of Poland and what they have had to endure.

The hotel accomodations, food, service, tour director, guides, and people we toured with also made this trip EXCEPTIONALLY wonderful.