Architectural Styles of European palaces,
castles and churches observed during tours:
1050 – 1200 Romanesque:
Symmetrical floor plans, some simple, round arches set on pillars.
1150 – 1450 Gothic:
Style includes ribbed vaults, pointed arches and flying buttresses that
give a lacy but strong structural skeleton with elaborate stain glass.
1450 – 1600 Renaissance:
‘Rebirth’ period influenced by Greek and Roman antiquity and
considered harmonious, symmetrical and formal.
1550 – 1775 Baroque:
Renaissance style but highly ornamental with dramatic frescoes, sculpted
plastic decorations and gilding.
Czech Republic, because members of
our group had ancestral connections.
So, Al and Vilma Pinheiro arranged for
a chartered bus to take us all there.
After a good night’s sleep, we
enjoyed a full day of touring Prague
including a four-hour walking tour
that captured all the highlights. That
evening, Tom and I went to a Mozart
Dinner in the Boccaccio Ballroom at
the historic Grand Hotel Bohemia.
The evening was amazing with a three-
course dinner, exceptional performers,
and a setting that was breathtaking.
What a perfect end to a fantastic
adventure.
As a final note, the Gilroy Library,
through the Santa Clara County Library
system, has a huge collection of books,
audio tapes, and movies. Many items
can be downloaded onto an electronic
device. Wanting to learn more about
the places I visited, I found “The Great
Courses Library Collection” through
RBDigital and accessed it through the
library system for free. There are a
full range of courses taught by college
professors and other professionals. “The
Rise of Rome” by Professor Gregory
S. Aldrete provides a rich, historical
perspective of what we experienced
on our river cruise.
So, as Dr. Seuss would say, “You’re
on your own. And you know what you
know. And YOU are the one who’ll
decide where to go...”
With this in mind, Tom and I have
already reserved our cabin for a river
cruise in France in 2020.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
1725 – 1775 Rococo:
Rooms have elegant furniture, sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and textiles.
The elements are seen in both European and Russian palaces.
1775 – 1875 Neoclassical:
Symmetry, columned porticoes, triangular pediments, and domes that
reflect early Greek and roman architecture.
1890 – 1910 Art Nouveau:
‘New art’ celebrated natural, organic lines but was short-lived since
ironwork was used and coincided with the onset of WWI.
Itinerary:
Description of the river geography:
The Rhine River:
The river begins as a trickle in the Swiss Alps. From there, it flows 820
miles through several countries to the North Sea. Upper Rhine carves out
Germany’s borders with Switzerland and the beautiful French Alsace. The
Middle Rhone crease the canvas of the forests, vineyards and castles. The
Lower Rhine leads into The Netherlands and the scenic Rhine River Delta.
The Danube:
The second longest river in Europe, the Danube begins its journey in
Germany’s Black Forest and runs through 10 countries to the black Sea. The
Danube basin gave rise to some of the earliest human cultures on earth. It
courses through several cultural capitals: Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and
Belgrade, and through some of Europe’s most breathtaking regions, including
Austria’s Wachau Valley and the towering gorges between Romania and Servia.
february/march 2019
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