Wednesday, September 5, 2018

European River Wine Cruises!



Cruises include wine tastings, shore excursions and more. You'll be treated to unlimited, specially selected local wines during lunch and dinner. These change daily and are paired with locally-inspired menus, crafted by award-winning Executive Chefs.

Did you know we can partner with your favorite local winery to have their wines featured on your group European Wine Cruise?

France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal and more!

Wonderful wines, elegant cuisine coupled with unparalleled scenery. These cruises are even better than you may have imagined. 

How would you like to take one of these cruises for FREE? Bring 10 or more people with you on a cruise and YOU can sail for FREE! Get your group together and contact us.

*If you are a winery, talk to us about having YOUR wines featured on a European River wine cruise and expose new people the world over to your brand. 


Sail Away Travel/Texas Music Cruises
www.texasmusiccruises.com
419-492-4368






Customized Italy



You won't find the real Tuscany by the Leaning Tower.  The true Tuscany thrives away from the tourist track. In this Tuscany, you won't just see the sights--you'll savor the soul of Italy: baking focaccia at a chef's hilltop villa, slumbering inside a medieval castle, sipping Chianti in a winery's stone cellar, biking atop Lucca's historic walls. Tempted by Tuscany yet? 

Tempt your taste buds with Chef Marcello on a 10 day journey through Southern Italy. We will unearth together the soul of this land - from eating street food in Naples to sipping wine on the slopes of Mt Vesuvius. You'll taste the Italy that tourists never experience. Trip highlights include: mozzarella-making, cruising around Capri, viewing Pompeii's ruins, and limoncello tasting!




Plunge into Puglia at the Grotta della Poesia.

This limestone grotto shelters calm, clear waters. Locals and visitors alike dive here into a shimmering blue cove. Protected from wind by the nearby cliffs, the grotto pampers swimmers with still Mediterranean water. Located between the exquisite towns of Lecce and Otranto, it's haven is where Puglia becomes visual poetry.
This salt water swimming hole is a favorite among locals. As an unmarked spot, it lures mostly visitors in-the-know – guaranteeing an authentic, uncrowded day by the sea. Pack a picnic of local favorites, like focaccia or burrata cheese.


SCALA DEI TURCHI, SICILY

Picking one beach in Sicily is like picking a favorite Italian dish. How do you choose just one? As the largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily teems with inviting coastline. Just a half hour’s drive from ancient Greek ruins, the Scala dei Turchi is unlike any beach in Italy. Wind-carved cliffs, baked white in the sun, bleed into a sea the color of the sky. Sunbathers bask on the bleached rocks, dipping in warm, transparent seas.
The Scala dei Turchi sea cliffs attract luxury travelers from Italy, the U.S. and N. Europe. Up-scale accommodations can be found in the nearby town of Agrigento -- also home to the spectacular Greek ruins of the Valley of the Temples.


MARINA DI CAMEROTA, CILENTO

Found in the southernmost part of Campania, Marina di Camerota is part of the Cilento National Park. Since 2000, it’s won awards each year for its pristine waters. Built into the rugged hills, Marina di Camerota is home to soft, sandy shores. Visitors might swim in the light blue sea, cruise the coast with a ship captain, or learn to make pizza with a local nonna. As part of a national park, beaches here are unspoiled – immersing you in natural, timeless beauty.
The Cilento region is home to over 700 square miles of protected land and sea -- ensuring that its waters and villages will stay untouched for years to come. This area also makes the best mozzarella in Italy -- you can tour a mozzarella farm here, tasting hand-shaped cheese.


OTRANTO, PUGLIA

Otranto, on Puglia’s east coast, is one of Italy’s loveliest seaside towns. Otranto is famous for light blue water, stone cliffs and charming whitewashed homes. Strolling Otranto’s promenade, you’ll spot fishermen hauling in the day’s catch and sailboats bobbing in the bay. Otranto also boasts one of Puglia’s sandier beaches, Spiaggia Azzurra – appropriately named for its clear blue cove. It’s the perfect spot to laze the day away by the sea. 
Some of the best swimming near Otranto is reachable only by boat. Travelers can enjoy a small-group or private boat excursions from Otranto's port, dropping anchor at remote beaches for a refreshing swim.


Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Great Italian Cities with Oberammergau 


About this trip:
12 nights accommodation
18 meals
12 hot buffet breakfasts  6 dinners

Witness the glory and grace of God as you explore some of the most important Christian sites in the world and watch the poignant performance of Christ's life and death in Oberammergau. 

Oberammergau Passion Play is a passion play performed since 1634 as a tradition by the inhabitants of the village of Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany.



It began all the way back in 1633

Oberammergau was suffering from the Bubonic Plague. The surviving villagers appealed for Divine intervention to save their families. They vowed that if God were to spare them, they would perform a Passion Play every ten years. They say not a single person fell victim to the Plague after that. Keeping their promise, the people of Oberammergau performed the first play in 1634 and have continued to do so throughout the centuries.


Today, many of Oberammergau's residents still take part in this powerful work of art featuring dramatic performances, beautiful music and choral accompaniment.


The residents of Oberammergau will again perform The Passion Play in 2020. We will be there, sharing in the magnificence of this performance with a variety of itineraries that showcase the charm and beauty of central Europe. Will you be there?


Sightseeing Highlights

City tours in Rome, Assisi, Florence, Bologna and Venice.
Cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice.
Orientation of Pisa, Italy and Innsbruck, Austria
See the ancient sites of Rome
View Santa Croce Basilica and the Duomo in Florence
The leaning tower of Pisa the Byzantine St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
Visit St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum in Rome
and the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.

The Colosseum
The Vatican Museums
Trevi Fountain
St. Mark's Square
Venice
The Sistine Chapel
Basilica of St Francis Assisi
                                                         Michelangelo's David
                                                Neuschwanstein Castle - Munich, Germany


Be inspired by the magnificence of Michelangelo at The Vatican Museums and enjoy an exclusive visit up the spiral staircase designed by the famous architect Donato Bramante in a part of the Vatican not open to the public! (Day 2)

Witness the exquisite craft of glassblowing on Giudecca Island, a delicate tradition that generations of Venetian craftsmen have perfected over centuries. (Day 8)

Enjoy local Tuscan cuisine with Count Miari Fulcis on his 15th century organic olive oil estate in the Tuscan hills, used as a location for many famous films like "Room with a View" and "Tea with Mussolini".  (Day 6)

Local specialists will be included for sightseeing in Rome, Assissi, Pisa, Florence, Bologna and Venice.

Always included: 
Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals
Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Hand-picked insider experiences
Optional experiences and free time
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
An expert driver
All hotel tips, charges and local tax
VIP entry into many sights
Itinerary


Day 1
Arrive Rome (3 nights)
Day 2
Rome sightseeing and at leisure
Day 3
Rome at leisure
Day 4
Rome - Assisi- Florence (3 nights)
Day 5
Florence sightseeing and at leisure
Day 6
Florence - excursion to Pisa
Day 7
Florence - Bologna- Venice (3 nights)
Day 8
Venice canal cruise and orientation
Day 9
Secret Venice walking tour and visit to the Rialto Food Market
Day 10
Venice - Innsbruck
Day 11
Innsbruck - Oberammergau (2 nights)
Day 12
Oberammergau Passion Play Performance
Day 13
Oberammergau - Munich, Germany 
Depart Munich


Available dates:

08May2020 - 20May2020

15May2020 - 27May2020

29May2020 - 10Jun2020

Price: $3515 per person tour
          $1060 per person Oberammergau
Total: $4575 per person

$200 per person deposit due within 7 days of booking

an additional $200 deposit by Feb 1, 2019

Oberammergau portion must be PAID IN FULL by September 30, 2019

(Please note that space for Oberammergau is extremely limited.  If you have any interest, it is best to request space as soon as possible with the initial $200 per person, non-refundable deposits.)


All services in Oberammergau are provided by a local agent, and hotel details for the Oberammergau portion of the trip will be advised by the Travel Director during the trip.
Passengers who pay in full by January 31, 2019, can save 10% from their land cost per person. This promotion can be withdrawn at any time. Let me know at time of booking/deposit if passenger(s) would like to take advantage of this discount and we will add it if it is still applicable.