Winter travel is always tricky. If not planned correctly, you could end up in your room because of bad weather… or even worse, have your entire holiday ruined by boisterous crowds and neverending lines. When you land in Budapest, despite the cold you are met with a warm reception. A Mercedes is waiting to take you to your hotel. The drive through the city reveals a marvelous combination of architecture: palaces and castles, bridges and of course… The River.
Your exploration of Budapest begins in the Royal Palace. For sheer size it is awe-inspiring. Admiring the art and learning about its history would take more than just a visit. However, there is something remarkable: no tourists! Your guides have chosen the best times, and got you into restricted areas, that let you take in the true colours of the palace. You find yourself in a celebratory mood, to say the least. A quick visit to Faust Wine Cellar turns into a memorable evening with Barbara and Gabor. The Pálinka ran a little too freely, perhaps.
To wash away all grogginess, Géllert thermal baths are just what you needed. After a morning of relaxation and recovery in gorgeous Art Nouveau pools, your appetite is, so to speak, sharp. Fortunately, Budapest harbours some of the best cafés in the world. The virtuoso sounds of Liszt catch your ear here and there. The city is a whirlwind of beauty, and it rises in crescendo to a memorable evening. At the Opera House, you are ushered to your seats as the merry chords of Strauss take you on a journey of Hungarian motifs.
The city of Prague is covered in a white veil. She looks beautiful, as if she were ready to stage a fairytale. The Clementinum is a complex of buildings, centuries old, that harbours some of the most precious treasures of mankind: books. As your guide, you get none other than the Director of the National Library. He leads you to halls, and labyrinthian libraries that have inspired more than one tale. Midway through the tour, the director of the Slav Library joins in. Between the two, they could point you to almost any secret. The Astronomical Clock is treasured by the city of Prague. Not many get to see the inside mechanisms, only the watchmaker, and yourself.
The morning begins with a masterclass by the country’s best puppet maker. It is a subtle performance art and you unveil many of its trade secrets. The beautiful figures come to life before the stage, and dance with a grace that moves you as if they were flesh and bone. However, you must retire early. You need to prepare and change, because the evening holds the climax of the season. During February, the gorgeous halls and salons of Prague are lit with the romanticism of balls and dances. This year, the highlight is The Czechoslovakian Ball. Needless to say, it is a strictly White-Tie affair. The music and the dance intertwine with the clinking of the champagne cups, and the sparkling diamonds. It is a dream, an extasis, to find yourself still in the grasp of Winter, so deeply in love.
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