Depart in the morning for a short cruise along the Danube to see the most spectacular scenery in this Wachau-Nibelungengau region. After our cruise, we will stop for lunch in Krems and then we will drive to the ruined fortress of Dürnstein. It was here that Richard the Lion-Hearted was held captive on his return from the Third Crusade. For those feeling the fortitude of Richard, a climb to the top yields the best possible view of the Danube River. For the less ambitious members of the group, the lower slopes have a number of private wine shops (Wachau Region) in the homes of the local vintners. There the Austrian new wines (equivalents of French beaujolais nouveau) may be tasted and purchased.

Continue by bus to Vienna, where we will have an informal walking tour of the old city.

We will now have an opportunity to explore Austria's capital city and the center of the Habsburg Empire. We will also investigate how this old-world city was the birthplace (along with Paris) of Modernism. In this city at the turn of the century, Sigmund Freud, the composer Arnold Schönberg, philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, painters Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka, and architects Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos all worked and interacted. Together, they set out to define the modern world as we know it.

Our morning tour of Vienna will emphasize Viennese music and culture, especially the opera. Walk the Ringstrasse and visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, the largest Viennese church, sections of which date from the 11th century. This cathedral is a fantastic example of Austrian medieval architecture.

In the afternoon, tour the royal palace, the Hofburg, one of the largest and most impressive royal palaces in the history of Europe. Here is Die Schatzkammer (Royal Treasury) which contains the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire dating to 962 AD.

After dinner, attend a theatrical performance at the Burgtheater on the Ringstrasse. This remarkable theater, which specializes in light opera, was built by Gottfried Semper and decorated with Klimt murals. It was Freud's favorite theater.