September 13-28, 2010
Personally planned for a unique combination of wonderful spiritual and historical places and led by Reverend Tom Condon and Gunter Walter, this trip is unbeatable. The performance in Oberammergau, Germany only occurs every decade in honor of a promise made by the villagers in thanksgiving for having been spared the plague hundreds of years ago. Turkey is a country not to be missed with the layers and layers of history that can only come from being the land located between the East and West of the world and a place walked by so many early Christians and visited by St. Paul.

Special Included Features to Note: 

Trip Itinerary:

SEPT 10, FRI: USA-MUNICH, Germany

SEPT 11, SAT: MUNICH. Airport welcome by your tour director, then transfer to your downtown hotel. The balance of the day is free for resting or get acquainted with Bavaria’s lively capital on a leisurely walking tour with your guide. This evening enjoy first a beer at the famous Hofbrauhaus, then sit down for a special Welcome Dinner with wine at a popular restaurant. (D)

SEPT 12, SUN: MUNICH. Labeled as the “secret capital“ of Germany, Munich is one of the country’s most festive cities. Enjoy a stroll to the National Opera, the famous Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s open-air food market, Theatiner and Maximilian Strasse- the city’s elegant shopping district, visit the austere interior of St. Peter’s Church before listening to the musical chimes of the Glockenspiel. Highlight this morning is the Treasury of the Residence Museum, a collection of priceless crowns, royal insignia and unique porcelain, jewels and goldsmith work from nine centuries. The afternoon is set aside for a drive through the Bavarian countryside to enjoy the picturesque farms adorned with flowers and crosses, ever-changing vistas of pretty lakes and snow covered mountain peaks. Before returning to Munich enjoy a cruise on Lake Tegernsee which is one of the loveliest of the Bavarian lakes, with huge peaks seemingly rising right out of the water. (B)

SEPT 13, MON: MUNICH. After a leisurely breakfast we drive east to Lake Chiemsee, known as the “Bavarian Sea“ and one of the Bavarian Alps’ most beautiful lakes. The lake’s main attraction is the island Herrenchiemsee (gentlemen’s island), site of one of King Ludwig II’s three palaces. Begun by “Mad King Ludwig“ in 1878, the castle was to recreate the grand palace of Versailles which Ludwig so adored. Admire the state bedroom, the crystal chandeliers, the frescoes of the vaulted ceilings and above all- the Great Hall of Mirrors which is unquestionably the most splendid room in the palace and the most authentic replica of Versailles. In the afternoon enjoy a train ride through lovely Bavarian countryside on our way back to Munich. This evening dinner will be served in one of the city’s great beer garden restaurants. (B,D)

SEPT 14, TUE: MUNICH. This morning why not come along on a short drive bringing us to Dachau, where Nazi Germany’s first concentration camp was built. Originally designed for the detention of German political opponents of the Hitler regime, the camp was soon flooded by tens of thousands of deportees, the majority of them Jews of diverse nationalities. See the English version of a documentary film first then tour the museum which outlines the punitive penal system established there by the Nazis.  Back in Munich enjoy a free afternoon for individual activities. (B,D)

SEPT 15, WED: MUNICH-OBERAMMERGAU. After an easy-going morning drive south through picturesque Alpine foothills past mountain lakes and country farm houses to Linderhof, a little jewel of a palace, another one of the Fairy-Tale King’s creations. As with all of his castles, he hoped to copy the grandeur of earlier eras in architecture, history and myth. Designed in the style of the 18C, it served as a background, along with its Moorish pavilion and its grotto, for the romantic fancies of the young king. Our next stop is the Wieskirche, a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo. The splendor of gilded stucco, wood carvings and vividly colored frescoes is overwhelming – Dominikus Zimmerman, the architect, was so pleased with the result that he spent the last ten years of his life in a small house near the church.  A short drive brings us to the Passion Play Village of Oberammergau. (B,D)

SEPT 16, THU: OBERAMMERGAU. The morning is yours to relax, enjoy shopping for woodcarvings, admire the beautifully decorated houses or simply take in the special spirit of this village so scenically set at the edge of the Bavarian Alps.  This afternoon and in the evening witness the Passion of Christ performed by amateur actors, who were either born in Oberammergau or have lived there for the past 20 years. In the last festival year (2000) some 2,200 of the 5,300 inhabitants were involved either on stage or backstage. (B,L,D)

SEPT 17, FRI: OBERAMMERGAU-MUNICH. Our first stop this morning is Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany’s top Alpine resort. Famed as the site of the fourth Winter Olympic Games in 1936 it has kept some of the charm of an ancient village and even today you occasionally see country folk in traditional customs walking down the streets. Next is Mittenwald, a picturesque village of traditional Bavarian houses with balconies and overhanging eves. Especially noteworthy and photogenic are the painted walls of the houses – even the Baroque church tower is covered with frescoes. After a break for lunch drive north past Lake Walchensee back to Munich where the balance of the afternoon is free and tonight is the time to enjoy a special Farewell Dinner with music and wine at Gunter’s favorite restaurant. (B,D)

SEPT 18, SAT: MUNICH-USA or MUNICH-ISTANBUL. This morning transfer to Munich airport either for your daylight flight back to the USA or go on with the flight to Istanbul where we continue with the second part of the tour. (B)

Trip Price:

Land cost: Oberammergau plus Turkey: $4950.00 per person sharing a twin room. Single supplement:  $850.00
NOTE: Ask for second brochure describing Munich/ Oberammergau trip without Turkey if a shorter trip is needed. Or ask for a price for Turkey without the Germany portion. 615-525-8889 or 615-386-9876.

Prices based on minimum group size of 20 and exchange rate the time of printing- summer of 2009. 

Airfare:
Belle Meade Vacations will be happy to issue tickets at the least expensive rate and best schedule available in coach or business class.  Travellers are welcome to arrange their own air using mileage seats or upgrades. Please contact our agency BEFORE booking independent tickets because  round trip hotel/airport transfers are included only at set flight times.  Taxis are readily available at the airport for other flight times.  For information please call: 615-525-8889.

DEPOSIT TO RESERVE SPACE:
$600.00 per person before Sept. 1 2009.

Insurance:  On receipt of deposit, trip cancellation medical/baggage insurance will go into effect and is non-refundable.  This covers illness or death in immediate family of traveller or traveller’s roommate and with this group rate, covers pre-existing conditions of a medical nature only.

CANCELLATION: 
• Deposit is non-refundable. After final payment, all monies become non-refundable. Insurance will be offered.