Aura Prague Travel Agency Presents
Central Europe–The Contrast of Centuries
 
Krakow and Auschwitz, Poland–4 nights ● Tatry National Park, Slovakia–3 nights
Bratislava, Slovakia–1 night ● Vienna, Austria–4 nights
Prague, Czech Republic–4 nights
  
4 July to 20 July 2017
  
The price  is $2950 (double occupancy) plus air fare
  
THE SEVENTEEN-DAY TOUR, FROM 4 TO 20 JULY ALLOWS AMPLE TIME TO  .  .  .
                    ● explore the medieval sites of Krakow and its fabled Wawel Castle,
                         ● visit the former Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland,
                              ● hike in the Tatry National Parks in the northern part of Slovakia,
                                   ● stroll through Bratislava’s quaint old town,
                                        ● sample Vienna’s splendors, like the Museum of Art and Schönbrunn Palace,
                                             ● meander through Prague's medieval streets, castle, and Jewish Quarter.

Prague's Castle or Hrad as Seen from the Moldau or Vltava River
The Prague Castle once housed Czech kings and now
is the seat of the president of the Czech Republic.


WHAT THE TOUR INCLUDES
● Accommodation is in three- or four-star hotels, based on double occupancy.  The single supplement for those not wishing to share a room or are unable to do so because of an odd number of participants is $530.
● Included are all breakfasts and eight additional lunches or dinners–one in Krakow, three in the Tatry National Park, one in Bratislava, and one in Vienna, and two dinners in Prague.
● A professional historian will escort the tour and provide insight on the development of politics and culture.  The tour members also will benefit from the knowledge and experience of an expert regional guide.
● Travel between cities will be by private motor coach.
● Participants receive the Vienna Card for transportation and discounts and a limited number of mass transit coupons in Krakow and Prague.
● Participants will receive historical background and travel tips before departure.
● College and university students have the possibility of earning 3-6 credits in history from the University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, at the undergraduate or graduate level, for an additional cost. We can cooperate with professors at other institutions to award credit from other universities.
● There will be guided tours, lasting part of one day or parts of two days, in Krakow, Vienna, and Prague.  Afterward, participants will have time to explore individually.  A brief tour will take place in Bratislava.
● Admissions are included for at least three venues: the Castle and Cathedral in Krakow, Auschwitz Concentration Camp, and the Castle (Hrad) and Cathedral in Prague.  Participants may purchase other admissions.
● This is a great way for individuals, families, and friends of any age to see Europe.

Bratislava's Castle
The Castle in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital that
once was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary


ABOUT THE TOUR GUIDES: The tour guides, Dan Miller and Lenka Kocková, not only provide information about the attractions in each city but elaborate extensively on the history, culture, cuisine, and architecture of each location.  Join them as they explore four of the great cities in Central Europe, roam the forests in the Tatry National Park of Slovakia, and visit the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp of the Nazi regime.

Dr. Daniel E. Miller (Ph.D., 1989, University of Pittsburgh) is a professor of history at the University of West Florida in Pensacola and the author of several books, chapters, and articles in English and Czech.  He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Central European as well as Balkan, Russian, German, and Modern European history.  A course introducing architectural history to graduate students in the UWF public history program also is on his list.  Dr. Miller's research deals with agrarian politics and the maintenance of democracy in Czechoslovakia between the two world wars.  He has made numerous research trips to Central Europe and has traveled widely throughout Europe.  Since 1990, he has led eight tours to Central Europe, several since 2001 with Ms. Kocková.  He is near fluent in Czech and has a command of German and Slovak.  Read more about Dr. Miller at CentralEuropeanObserver.com.



Ing. Lenka Kocková (Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University, ČVUT, 1988) is the proprietor of Aura Prague Travel Agency, based in Prague, Czech Republic.  For two decades, she has led small and large group as well as individual tours in Prague, Czech Republic, and Central Europe.  Her clients include individuals, businesses, travel agencies, government entities in the Czech Republic and the European Union, schools, and associations throughout Europe.  In addition to Czech, her native language, Ms. Kocková is near fluent in German and English, has an excellent command of and Russian, and has a basic knowledge of several other languages.  Read more about Aura Travel and Ing. Kocková on Facebook at Aura-Prague-Guides.





PUBLIC LECTURES (Lectures are not required to participate in the tour.  All times are 10.00 am-12.00 pm):
● Saturday, 14 January 2017, A Tale of Medieval Kingdoms
● Saturday, 28 January 2017, The Habsburg, Hohenzollern, and Romanov Empires
● Saturday, 11 February 2017, Experiments in State Building, 1918-present
● Saturday, 4 March 2017, Traveling in Central Europe
The lectures will be in the Department of History, Building 50, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL  32514. Those participants who are not in Pensacola will receive a packet of written information.  Any participant can contact Dr. Miller by phone or e-mail to discuss any aspect of the tour.  The lectures are open to the public and are not only for those going on the tour.  See the contact information or e-mail miller-dem@CentralEuropeanObserver.com.

Vienna, with St. Peter's Church (left) and Stephansdom (right)
Vienna, with St. Peter's Church (left) and Stephansdom (right).



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR: The prices for the basic tour package assume a minimum of ten participants. Each participant will book transportation by air from their preferred point of departure to Krakow, Poland, and from Prague, Czech Republic, to their preferred destination in the United States. Participants may make their own reservations, or they may contact Cyndy Hendricks at Adventure Travel in Pensacola at 1.866.478.6250, ext. 5202, or cyndy.hendricks@adtrav.com. Because participants will book their own air fare, deviations are permitted. This is a great way to travel to other destinations in Europe before or after the tour. The price of the tour does not include air fare trip cancellation insurance, which is available through your travel agent or booking service, or any other form of cancellation insurance. It does not include transportation to and from airports in the United States, but it includes one scheduled trip from the airport in Krakow to the hotel in Krakow and from the hotel in Prague to the airport in Prague.  Those who miss or can not make the scheduled trip to or from the hotel and airport must arrange their own transportation. Gratuity and porterage are not included in the price of the tour.  Museum admissions and other incidentals, other than those noted, are not included in the tour price. In March 2017, participants will receive instructions about wiring payments through their banks to the tour agency in Prague. United States citizens must have a passport that will remain valid for six months after their return to the United States. Visas and inoculations are unnecessary.  The tour operators reserve the right to make minor changes in the itinerary.

Strbske Pleso Lake in the High Tatras, Slovakia
Štrbské Pleso, one possible destination for participants hiking in Slovakia's Tatry Mountains.



UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE CREDIT: Participants may register for three or six undergraduate or graduate credits in history through the University of West Florida in conjunction with this tour.  Interested participants must make arrangements with Dr. Miller for a directed study or “Overseas and Field Study in History” (HIS 4955 or HIS 6956).  Typically, students read several books over the course of the regular summer semester and submit notes on the readings for the professor to evaluate.  Dr. Miller will cooperate with professors at any institution for students wishing to receiving undergraduate or graduate credit from universities other than UWF.

DETAILED ITINERARY (transport between cities is by private coach unless otherwise noted):
4 July–Arrival in Krakow, Poland (departure from the US on 3 July); short walk (time permitting); dinner
5 July–Touring in Krakow and free time
6 July–Free time in Krakow
7 July– Visit to Auschwitz Concentration Camp for a self-guided tour (professional guides available for a fee)
8 July–Transport to the Tatry National Park, Slovakia; dinner
9-10 July–Hiking in the Tatry National Park, Slovakia, or a visit to the quaint city of Poprad, Slovakia; dinner
11 July–Transport from the Tatry National Park to Bratislava, Slovakia; short tour in Bratislava; dinner
12 July–Free time in Bratislava; transport to Vienna, Austria; dinner
13 July–Touring in Vienna; free time
14-15 July–Free time in Vienna
16 July–Transport to Prague; dinner
17 July –Touring in Prague; optional tour of the Jewish Quarter; free time; dinner
18-19 July–Free time in Prague
20 July–Depart Czech Republic for the United States and arrive in the United States

AIRLINE ARRANGEMENTS: The tour begins in Kralow, Poland, and ends in Prague, Czech Republic.  Participants are to book their own flights to and from Europe, but they may use their own travel agent or contact Cindy Hendricks, at Adventure Travel, in Pensacola, FL, at 1.866.478.6250, ext. 5202 or at cyndy.hendricks@adtrav.com.  In the past, some participants took the opportunity to do additional traveling in Europe.  Some started in London, United Kingdom, and made their way to the beginning point of the tour.  Others left Prague, at the conclusion of the tour, and traveled by train to Dresden and Berlin, Germany.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For additional information about the tour, contact

Daniel E. Miller
Department of History
University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL  32514
Phone: 850.474.2067
e-mail: dmiller@uwf.edu or

Cracow's Main Square, with Mary's Basilica and Cloth Hall
Krakow’s Old Town Square, with the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and the Town Hall Tower (Wieża ratuszowa).