Belfast - capital of Northern Ireland

Belfast (from Irish: Béal Feirste, meaning "mouth of the shoal") is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the fourteenth largest city in the United Kingdom and second largest on the island of Ireland. It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly.  Belfast was granted city status in 1888. Historically, Belfast has been a centre for the Irish linen industry (earning the nickname "Linenopolis"), tobacco production, rope-making and shipbuilding: the city's main shipbuilders, Harland and Wolff, which built the well-known RMS Titanic, propelled Belfast on to the global stage in the early 20th century as the biggest and most productive shipyard in the world. Belfast played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, establishing its place as a global industrial center until the latter half of the 20th century. Industrialization and the inward migration it brought made Belfast, if briefly, the biggest city in Ireland at the turn of the 20th century and the city's industrial and economic success was cited by Ulster unionist opponents of Home Rule as a reason why Ireland should shun devolution and later why Ulster in particular would fight to resist it. Today, Belfast remains a center for industry, as well as the arts, higher education and business, a legal center, and is the economic engine of Northern Ireland. The city suffered greatly during the period of conflict called the Troubles, but latterly has undergone a sustained period of calm, free from the intense political violence of former years, and substantial economic and commercial growth. Belfast city center has undergone considerable expansion and regeneration in recent years, notably around Victoria Square. Belfast is also a major seaport, with commercial and industrial docks dominating the Belfast Lough shoreline, including the famous Harland and Wolff shipyard. Belfast is a constituent city of the Dublin-Belfast corridor, which has a population of three million, or half the total population of the island of Ireland.

Waterford - Ireland's oldest tourist destination, founded by the vikings in 914AD.

Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland. A walled city of Viking origins, it retains much of it's medieval character together with the graceful buildings from its 18th century expansion.

Waterford is the home of Waterford Crystal, the world-famous hand-crafted, cut glass product. The Waterford Crystal Visitor Center is home to the largest collection of Waterford Crystal in the world and the guided tours offer access to all areas of traditional crystal production. Waterford Museum of Treasures comprises three magnificent museums chronicling over one thousand years of history. It is both a treasury of gold, bronze, silver, crystal and historical documents and a treasure trail that takes you through 1000 years of Ireland's oldest city. The Treasures of Viking Waterford in Reginald's Tower - the Chorister's Hall will open in 2012 and house the Medieval Treasures, and the recently renovated Georgian Bishop's Palace tells the story from 1700 to 1970.

The parameters of the 10th century settlement can be clearly identified in The Viking Triangle. Reginald's Tower is the oldest civic urban building in Ireland. The elegant Chamber of Commerce building, Christ Church Cathedral, the City Hall and the Bishop's Palace are prime examples of beautiful 18th century architecture.

Ecclesiastical landmarks include St. Patrick's Churches, Black Friars, St. Olave's Church and Greyfriars - .
The Church Of Ireland Christ Church Cathedral, and the Catholic Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity were both designed by Waterford architect John Roberts (1714 - 1796).

The Edmund Rice International Heritage Center commemorates the founder of the Christian Brothers, Edmund Ignatius Rice.

The Granville Hotel was the home of the 18th century patriot, Thomas Francis Meagher before passing to the great transport entrepreneur, Carlo Bianconi.

Confirmed Venue: Theatre Royal, Waterford

The Greeley Chorale travelers will have the opportunity to perform in the Theatre Royal in Waterford on Sunday, June 2nd 2013. 
Located in Waterford city's historic quarter, the Theatre Royal is one of Waterford's longest running arts and entertainment venue. It is part of a row of iconic buildings such as the Bishops Palace, Christ Church Cathedral and the City Hall building. Together, they form an architecturally impressive and historic quarter.
 
The history of the Theatre Royal dates back 220 years to its beginnings in 1810. However, even before that a Playhouse and Assembly Rooms were established in the 1700's due to the rise in prosperity in the city. It was here that the first performances were held. From 1779 on, the development of the theatre can be traced alongside historic events both at home and abroad. Then, in the early 1800's, the Playhouse was upgraded in the west wing of the City Hall building. The 20th century brought the introduction of cinematograph performances.
Photos courtesy of Theatre Royal website.

Confirmed venue: Ulster Hall, Belfast

On Saturday, June 1st 2013, the Greeley Chorale will perform a joint concert with the Donaghadee Male Voice Choir in Ulster Hall, Belfast. 

Ulster Hall was built in 1859 and opened in 1862. It was openend to provide the expanding city of Belfast with a larger multi-purpose venue. Even though larger concert halls have been opened in the city since then, Ulster Hall has remained a popular venue.

Belfast Corporation bought the building in 1902 and the Hall has been host to famous figures from the beginning: from Jenny Lind and Caruso to Charles Dickens and John McCormack, from Lord Carson and the Dalai Lama to Barry McGuigan and the Rolling Stones.

During World War II, the Ulster Hall was used extensively as a dance hall in order to provide entertainment for the American troops stationed in Northern Ireland. A shipment of American white oak planking later mysteriously arrived in Belfast to refurbish the dance floor.  

Moreover, the Mulholland Grand Organ in the Ulster Hall is one of the oldest examples of a functioning classic English pipe organ. 

Helpful Tips: Map of Ireland

 
Dear Greeley Chorale travelers, 
In preparation for your upcoming journey to Ireland, here a few links to helpful information:

The Official Tourism Ireland Website

Maps and Brochures of Ireland

Explore Ireland through videos

Discover Belfast with Incantato Tours

Even though Northern Ireland's capital is a smaller city of around 300,000 inhabitants, it has a unique history and a rich culture. Trace Belfast's 300-year history back to its humble origins and explore the original 1660s street layout or remarkable examples of Victorian architecture found in buildings such as the City Hall or Albert Clock Memorial. 
Some other notable events throughout the city's long history include:

• The invention of air conditioning by Belfast's Sirocco Works in the scope of which the Royal Victorian Hospital became the first building in the world to be fitted with AC.
• Belfast-educated Sir Hans Sloane, who was responsible for first creating milk chocolate. 
• William Drennan, who first coined the expression 'Emerald Isle' in 1796.
• The discovery of carbon dioxide by Joseph Black, son of a Belfast wine merchant, whose principles were used by James Watt to develop the steam engine. 

Once home to the Irish linen industry, tobacco production, and rope making, Belfast also became the site of ship building after locals developed a boat building trade at the mouth of the Lagan river. It is no surprise, then, that one of Belfast's most famous affiliations is to the Titanic, the concept for which was developed in Belfast in the early 1900s. Now the world's largest visitor experience, the Titanic Museum is located next to the historic site of the Titanic's construction and tells the story from her conception, through her construction and launch, to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end.

The Gathering 2013 - Discover Ireland with Incantato Tours

If you want to find out the inspiration behind U2, James Joyce and Riverdance, and connect with the Land of Saints and Scholars, you are invited to join The Gathering. An unprecedented event for the Irish and the Irish at heart, The Gathering 2013 is a yearlong celebration of the wonders of Ireland in a long lineup of festivities, bringing Ireland's culture, music, arts, sports, and heritage fully to life. Whether you are Irish in ancestry or in spirit or have a curiosity about Ireland's history and people, 2103 is a great time to be visiting the Emerald Isle. Everyone is invited to experience the home of so many stories and songs as the people of Ireland will be the focus of the events in their communities, towns, and villages. Enjoy traditional Irish food, kiss the the Blarney stone, have a go at hurling, sample Atlantic seafood in Galway, or feel the wind ruffle your hair on the Cliffs of Moher. 
With over 70 million people worldwide claiming Irish ancestry, The Gathering provides an opportunity to visit Ireland and reconnect as communities throughout the country showcase and share their Irish culture and  traditions. The event begins on New Year's Eve in Dublin. Afterward, The Gathering is meant to be a people-led project as everyone is encouraged to create local gatherings of their own, inviting friends from around the world to come and see what The Gathering is all about. 

Northern Ireland: the Giant's Causeway

In 1986, UNESCO named Ireland's first World Heritage Site: the Giant's Causeway, a mysterious geological formation on the North-Eastern coast of Ireland. 
The site is an area of approximately 40,000 interlocking, hexagonal basalt columns that are neatly packed together and form a jagged headland which points towards Scotland. 
Visitors can walk along the columns as they form stepping stones that disappear downward into the sea. 
Science, myth and legend surround the Giant's Causway, the latter of which is the most colorful. It is said that the Causeway was the stomping ground of a giant who lived in the area two thousand years ago. Perhaps you may discover the chimney to one of his houses or the boot he left lying by the beach?
In the newly opened Visitor's Center you learn that, according to geologists, the site is believed to have been formed some 50-60 million years ago and is the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.
Often described as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Giant's Causeway was documented as early as 1693 and realistic sketches of the site were published in 1740. 
Not far from the Giant's Causeway, you will also find the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge. Traditionally the bridge was erected by fishermen over a 75-foot deep and 66-foot wide chasm in order to check their salmon nets. 
Anyone brave enough to cross is sure to be rewarded with a fantastic view. 

Aran Islands - an Incantato Favorite

The Aran Islands lie just outside Galway Bay and not far from the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland. The three islands, Inis Mor Island (Big Island), Inis Meain Island (Middle Island), and Inis Oirr Island (East Island) are famous for their geological formations, historical monuments and their linguistic and cultural heritage. 
Inis Mor is the largest of the three, comprising about 7,600 acres. Here, you can find several ancient stone forts and churches, one of the most impressive of which is Dun Aengus. This semicircular fort rests on the edge of a cliff and consists of an inner court surrounded by a wall 20 feet high and 16 feet thick at the base. 
There are about 1,100 inhabitants on Inis Mor, making it by far the most populated of the three islands. The main village and also main harbor is Kilronan. 
The middle island, Inis Meain, is said to be the most untouched of the islands. Here you can experience the natural, cultural and traditional way of life of the islanders. Inis Meain has about 200 inhabitants, 300 flowering plants, as well as a wide variety of nesting birds. Here, too, you will find ancient stone forts, one of the oldest of which is Dun Fearbha from the 4th century AD. It is an unusual structure as it is more square than circular like the rest of the forts on the islands. 
Inis Oirr, the east island, is also the smallest of the three with only 1,400 acres and 300 inhabitants. There is a large three-story castle dating back to around 1585, as well as several ruins of churches to be discovered here.

About Travel Insurance- Make sure you are protected

Incantato Tours strongly recommend getting travel insurance for your upcoming journey. Not only are you covered medically should anything happen when traveling, but with TravelGuard's policies, you also protect your investment should you have to cancel or interrupt the trip. Last not least, there is also coverage for delayed and lost luggage etc.
Here is a direct line to purchase travel insurance online and can you do so with your credit cards and also select the option that is best for you.



In the meantime, have a look at the most comprehensive coverage option The Protect Assist Gold below.

Protect Assist (Gold) -

Comprehensive Travel Protection for the World Traveler

Trip Cancellation JUST ADDED! - Trip Cancellation due to employment loss or layoff if employed with the same employer 1 year or longer Trip Interruption and Travel Delay Emergency Medical and Emergency Medical Transportation Baggage and Travel Document Protection Baggage Delay and Lost Baggage Tracking NEW - Cancel For Any Reason option now available NEW - Cancel For Work Reasons option now available NEW - Children age 17 and under covered at no additional cost IMPROVED -Trip Cancellation limit increased to $100,000 (from $15,000), IMPROVED - Trip Interruption coverage increased to 150% of Trip Cost IMPROVED - Travel Delay required hours reduced to 5 hours (from 12) ProtectAssist special features: Best coverage for Weather Related Cancellations Pre-existing Condition Exclusion Waiver* Default/Bankruptcy Protection* $50,000 Flight Accident Insurance* 24-Hour "LiveTravel" Travel Agency Emergency Cash Transfers Identity Theft Restoration

Comprehensive non-insurance travel services* automatically included with plan!With the ProtectAssist plan, every customer also has access to these valuable travel services when they travel:· Arrangements for last-minute flight changes· Hotel finder and reservations· Rental car reservations· Emergency medical assistance· BagTrak® -- lost baggage tracking· Pre-trip health and safety advisories· Live e-mail and phone messaging to family and friends· Cash transfers· Airport transportation· Golf course reservations· Event ticketing· Floral services· Identity Theft restorationBusiness Assistant* (available when Optional Cancel for Work Reasons coverage is purchased)

*Non-Insurance services are provided by AIG Travel Assist.

Eligibility
Citizenship: All Nationalities
Residency: United States
New York, Oregon, and Washington residence please call to purchase
Some rider options are not available and other restrictions may apply
Destination: Worldwide
Ages: All Ages
Max Trip Length: 365 Days

Intriguing Ireland – a first itinerary for the 2013 Greeley Chorale performance tour

Here is a first itinerary for the upcoming journey:

Day 1, Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Overnight flight to Ireland

Day 2, Thursday, May 30
Arrive Dublin Airport – Transfer to Belfast
After meeting your Incantato Tour Manager and driver at Dublin airport, your group continues by deluxe coach to Belfast – the heart of Northern Ireland. Enjoy and orientation tour and Irish food at the pub welcome dinner.

Day 3, Friday, May 31

Causeway Coast

The Giant’s Causeway is Ireland’s only World Heritage Site and there is so much to see when visiting this stretch of the North Antrim coast: sandy bays, craggy headlands and dramatic ruins. The really brave among you may want to take a walk on Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge during this full day excursion with a traditional lunch in the fishing village of Ballintoy. Afternoon return to Belfast or stop in Donaghadee to meet with the Men’s Choir.

Day 4, Saturday, June 1

Belfast sightseeing and first concert

Travel back in time as you learn more about Belfast’s rich and turbulent history. You will see the Titanic Quarter and Museum, Queens University, the Botanic Gardens, as well as the famous Wall Murals in the Falls and Shankill areas. The afternoon is at leisure for individual exploring or to relax. Evening concert at a prime Belfast venue, possibly joined by the Donaghadee Men’s Choir.

Day 5, Sunday, June 2

Via Monasterboice to Waterford

Bid farewell to Northern Ireland as you travel to Waterford. En-route, stop at the ruins of Monasterboice (Irish: Mainistir Bhuithe), an early Christian settlement founded in the late 5^th century and important center of religion and learning. The site is most famous for its 10^th century high crosses regarded as the finest in the whole of Ireland: the crosses feature biblical carvings of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

Day 6, Monday, June 3

Waterford Walking Tour and Concert

Embark on a tour of Ireland’s oldest city: Waterford. Present your next concert alone or with a local choir in one of the two beautiful venues.

Day 7, Tuesday, June 4

Leisure Day in Waterford

There is a lot to see and do in this welcoming water-front city. Your Incantato Tour Manager and coach are at the Greeley group’s disposal for activities in town or nearby. And the Waterford Crystal attraction is open, too!

Day 8, Wednesday, June 5

Scenic route to Killarney with stops

Experience the magnificent countryside and stunning grounds of Blarney Castle as you make your way further south to Killarney with stops en-route. Orientation tour upon arrival. May we recommend a horse drawn carriage ride through Muckross Gardens?

Day 9, Thursday, June 6

“Ring of Kerry” – Pub Concert

Encircling the Iveragh Peninsula, the “Ring of Kerry” is a must-do excursion. The captivating mountain and coastal scenery is dotted with slate-roofed fishing villages. Have fun at a private sheep herding demo. Upon return to Killarney, prepare for a fun music pub concert and dinner.

Day 10, Friday, June 7

Adare – Glenstale Abbey – Dublin

Next stops en-route to Dublin are the historic village of Adare and Glenstal Abbey where you will hear the monks sing a Gregorian Chant. Afternoon arrival in the Irish capital city for an orientation tour followed by check-in and evening at leisure.

Day 11, Saturday, June 8

Dublin sightseeing – Lunchtime Concert

Your full-day tour of Ireland’s capital city includes Dublin’s famous Georgian Squares, St. Stephen’s Green, as well as Trinity College and the Book of Kells Exhibition. Your lunchtime concert at St. Patrick’s Cathedral is confirmed. A fun farewell show dinner concludes the day.

Day 12, Sunday, June 9

Return flight home or continue on extension tour

Depending on your schedule, part of the group will be boarding the transfer to Dublin airport for the first set of return flights home. The remaining part of the group may embark on the optional extension tour which includes trips to Galway and the Aran Islands, as well as more time in Dublin. 

Lunchtime concert at St. Patrick's Cathedral is confirmed for Saturday, June 8

What better way to end the Greeley Chorale's 2013 Performance Tour than with a lunchtime recital at the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, the largest church in Ireland, on Saturday, June 8th?

Built in honour of Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral stands adjacent to the famous well where tradition has it Saint Patrick baptized converts on his visit to Dublin. A church was built on this site in 1191 and in 1991 they celebrated 800 years of worship. The present building dates from 1220 and throuhout the years it has been extended again and again.
Today, the Cathedral is the National Cathedral for the Church of Ireland (Anglican). The basis of the present building was built between 1191 and 1270, though little now remains of the earliest work beyond the Baptistry. Much of the work was overseen by Henry of London, a friend of the King of England and signatory of the Magna Carta, who wa
s also involved in the construction of Dublin's city walls and Dublin Castle. The tower (Minot's Tower) and west nave were rebuilt between 1362 and 1370, following a fire. In 1560, one of Dublin's first public clocks was erected in "St. Patrick's Steeple".
Throughout its long history the cathedral has contributed much to Irish life, and one key aspect of this relates to the writer and satirist Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels, who was Dean of the cathedral from 1713 to 1745. Swift took a great interest in the building, its services and music and in what would now be called social welfare, funding an almshouse for poor women and Saint Patrick's Hospital.
The Choir School, which was founded in 1432, supplied many of its members to take part in the very first performance of Handel's Messiah in 1742. It continues and although originally all-male, now also admits girls; a Cathedral Girls' Choir was founded in 2000 and sings once or twice a week. The Organ of St. Patrick's Cathedral is one of the largest in Ireland with over 4,000 pipes. Parts of it date from a Renatus Harris instrument of 1695. It was restored in the 1890s and in 1963.

The Irish and their love for traditional food

When asked about Irish food, almost every response will include two things – Irish Stew and Corned Beef with Cabbage. And almost every visitor to Ireland is surprised to find that neither is featured all that commonly on restaurant menus!

In fact, corned beef is not traditionally Irish at all – but Bacon and Cabbage is. This is also true for Irish stew, which has been recognized as the national dish for at least two centuries. A poem from the early 1800s praised Irish stew for satisfying the hunger of anyone who ate it:

Then hurrah for an Irish Stew 
That will stick to your belly like glue.

That isn’t to say that such dishes are no longer eaten, they are, but they are homely dishes, served to family, rather than ones which would be chosen on an evening out. And so their appearance on a restaurant menu is a rarity.

Most traditional Irish foods use simple, basic and fresh ingredients. Many have been given a modern twist by a new generation of chefs or incorporated into dishes that better suit the tastes of a more widely travelled population.

Irish traditional cuisine is a peasant cuisine and food in a poor household is never wasted. There is nothing that illustrates this so well as the pig. Few ordinary Irish households in the past would have eaten beef – this was a food for the rich – but many kept a pig and it is said that they ate every part of it except for the grunt. Crubeens or pig trotters, tripe (pigs stomach) and drisheen (a blood sausage) were all popular dishes and are still eaten in parts of the country, notably Cork.

Irish people are still extremely fond of their fried breakfast, which always includes pork sausages, bacon rashers and black pudding (another type of blood sausage). In addition to that, breakfast is rather elaborate and typically includes orange juice, porridge, cereals, eggs, the traditional soda brown bread, toast, as well as tea.

 

When talking about Irish food, it is impossible to go without mentioning the potato. They are eaten boiled, mashed, fried, chipped and baked, mixed with cabbage or scallions to make colcannon or champ, made into potato cakes and used to top pies and thicken soups or stews. It’s common to find potatoes cooked two ways on the same dinner plate. It’s not all about dinner either. The food that Irish people miss most when they are overseas is Tayto, an Irish brand of potato crisps. Irish people are very fussy about their potatoes. Typically a supermarket will stock at least 5 or 6 different varieties, often many more, with the varieties changing depending on the season and each suited to a particular method of cooking.

Of all foods, the humble spud is certainly the most traditional. The Irish may not be dependent on them in the way they were in the past but there are a lot of Irish people for whom a dinner without potatoes is not a dinner at all.

The Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is one of Ireland's most visited areas. It has spectacular scenery, monuments, towns, traditions, and archaelogical treasures. Visitors are brought back in time while the towns along the Ring of Kerry have all the comforts of today. From Killarney to Kenmare you will find a selection of the finest accommodation and restaurants which can compete with the rest of the world. The Ring of Kerry is part of the unspoilt region of Ireland and has attracted visitors for many years. It is a region for golf, water sports, fishing, cycling, walking, and riding. Some of the finest beaches in the world are located here. Do not miss the beautiful Ring of Kerry
on your visit to Ireland.

Welcome to Dublin

Dublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. Originally founded as a Viking settlement, it evolved into the Kingdom of Dublin and became the island's primary city following the Norman invasion. Today, it has one of the fastest growing populations of any European capital city. Dublin is a historical and contemporary cultural centre for the island of Ireland as well as a modern centre of education, the arts, administrative function, economy and industry.
The writings of the Greek astronomer and cartographer Ptolemy provide perhaps the earliest reference to human habitation in the area now known as Dublin. In around A.D. 140 he referred to a settlement he called Eblana Civitas. The settlement 'Dubh Linn' dates perhaps as far back as the first century BC and later a monastery was built there, though the town was established in about 841 by the Norse. "

City Facts about Killarney

A beautiful landscape will await you when stopping over in Killarney. Killarney (from the Irish: "Cill Airne" meaning "church of sloes") is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St. Mary's Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey, Lakes of Killarney, Torc Waterfall and Gap of Dunloe. Killarney was awarded the "Best Kept Town" award for 2007 in a cross-border competition jointly organised by the Department of the Environment and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council. Owing to its natural heritage, history and proximity to the Dingle Peninsula, Skellig Michael island and its location on the Ring of Kerry, Killarney is a popular tourist destination.
"There's only the one Killarney" is a song that was recorded by Irish tenor, Patrich O'Hagan. The song was written by Irish songwriter, Dick Farrelly, who wrote the words & music. Killarney appears in another song, titled, "How Can you buy Killarney", written by Kennedy, Steels, Grant and Morrison, the song was recorded by Joseph Locke among others.

Impressions from Ireland

Tourism Ireland - lots of info about Ireland

This is the new logo from Tourism Ireland, the agency responsible for marketing Ireland as a travel destination.

Whether you are looking for Things to See and Do in Ireland, or would just like a quick overview of the landscapes Ireland has to offer, Tourism Ireland's website can offer plenty of travel information in preparation for a visit.

Recommended Itinerary for the Greeley Chorale: "Musical Discovery on the Rhine & Moselle"

The core of your 2013 Performance Tour to Germany, Strasbourg (France) and Basel (Switzerland), will be the 8-day river cruise aboard the TC Bellevue, a four star deluxe vessel with all the amenities of a similar hotel, but the great advantage that it travels along with you on the rivers Rhine and Moselle.

Here is a closer look at the day to day itinerary with a tentative itinerary and performance opportunities. Once we have a better understanding of the choir's proposed repertoire for the tour, we can get into more detail about venues, exchanges and other musical opportunities.

Day 1 - Dates between June 1 and August 1, 2013 - Saturday to Saturday
Welcome aboard in Cologne
Once you set foot on the TC Bellevue, you will fall in love with the elegant river cruises many features starting with the elegant, spacious foyer and reception area, the five star gourmet dining rooms, the spacious sun deck with jaccuzzi and loungers and last not least your all outside cabins with panoramic windows. The crew will welcome you aboard and after some time to rest, a special welcome dinner will be served.

Day 2
Charming wine-country - Castle Concert
Visit the village of Cochem and present a highlight concert at its main attraction: the Reichsburg. Like many castles in the valley, the original 1027 castle was laid to ruin by Louis XIV's army in 1689. Rebuilt in 1868 in the neo-Gothic style, its medieval ramparts and turrets create a dramatic backdrop for the town and features several venues for an incredible performance. After tasting several of the local wines, continue your journey on the river with more stunning scenary on either side. 

Day 3
Historical Mainz - Performance at the Cathedral

Mainz is located on the left bank of the Rhine, across from the Rhine's intersection with the Main River. It is thought that there may have been wine-producing vines in the area even before the coming of the Romans in 38 B.C., although it was from that time that the regions of the Rheingau and Rheinhessen became widely known for fine viticulture.At the beginning of the Christian era, a bridge connected the settlement on the Rhine's left bank and the Roman fortifications opposite. In the 8th century, the town became a primary archbishopric. Over the centuries, church politics and a series of wars shuffled control of the city back and forth between the French (who called it "Mayence") and various German factions. Today Mainz is a bustling city, with a prosperous trade in wine and other businesses. Most visitors will be interested in the relatively compact Altstadt, which has been restored tastefully and carefully. Above the roofs of the half-timbered houses in the Altstadt rise the six towers of St. Martin's Cathedral, the most important Catholic cathedral in the country after Cologne's. It dates from A.D. 975 but was continually rebuilt and restored, reaching its present form mainly in the 13th and 14th centuries. Below the largest dome, a combination of Romanesque and baroque styles, is the transept, separating the west chancel from the nave and smaller east chancel. Many of the supporting pillars along the aisles of the nave are decorated with carved and painted statues of French and German saints. The Greeley Chorale may be the featured guest choir for Mass at Mainz Cathedral and/or present a formal concert here, in the 1,000-year-old cathedral crypt or another historical venue. Among the most impressive furnishings in the sanctuary are rococo choir stalls and an early-14th-century pewter baptismal font.

Day 4
Kehl and Strasbourg - Mass at Cathedral Notre-Dame
Why not venture into France and visit the capital of the Alsace region, Strasbourg with its stunning cathedral is a must-see destination for the Greeley Chorale and offers yet another amazing performance venue.

Day 5
Gruezi in Switzerland - Basel visit and performance opportunity
The third-largest city in Switzerland, Basel stands on the Rhine at the point where the French, German, and Swiss borders meet. At the entrance to the Swiss Rhineland, Basel is the capital of the half-canton of Basel-Stadt. On its borders are the French Vosges, the German Black Forest, and the Swiss Jura Mountains. Grossbasel (Greater Basel) lies on the steep left bank, and Kleinbasel (Lesser Basel) is on the right bank. The old imperial city stood at Grossbasel. The two parts of the city are linked by half a dozen bridges, plus four ferries powered by river currents.

The town was a Roman fort in A.D. 374, named Basilia, and was later ruled by prince-bishops for about 1,000 years. The Great Council met in Basel between 1431 and 1448, during which time a pope was crowned here. After Basel joined the Swiss Confederation in 1501, it became a Protestant region. During the onset of the Reformation in 1529, it served as a refuge for victims of religious persecution. They flooded in from Holland, Italy, and France, bringing renewed vitality to Basel and laying the foundation for the city's great golden age in the 18th century.

As one of Switzerland's most important cultural centers, Basel saw the development of the printing press and the book trade. In 1516 Erasmus, the great Dutch humanist and writer, published here the first edition of the New Testament in the original Greek. He is buried in the cathedral. Other notable Basel residents were the painter Holbein the Younger, who made portraits of Erasmus; the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who taught at the University of Basel; Theodor Herzl, who addressed the first Zionist World Congress here in 1897; and Jacob Burckhardt, a native, who achieved fame with his history of the Italian Renaissance.

Today the cultural traditions of Basel live on in its many museums (27 in all), art galleries, and schools. The city has become known as an international marketplace for art and antiquities. In 1967 its citizens voted by referendum to purchase two well-known works by Picasso, The Seated Harlequin and The Two Brothers. Picasso was so moved that he donated four other paintings to Basel.

Performance venues for the Greeley Chorale are galore in this city - from churches, to traditional concert halls and even excellent venues within one of the many museums. 

Day 6

Breisach and the Black Forest Region
There is so much than to see and experience than the cuckoo clocks and impressive dense forests of this region - last not least joint ventures with a local orchestra or choir to be explored as your river cruise will be staying overnight here. A side trip back into France, namely to the charming village of Colmar is an exciting opportunity.

Day 7
Magical Rheingau: Ruedesheim & St. Goarshausen

Legend says that when God was looking for a place to set up Paradise, the sunny slopes between the Taunus Mountains and the Rhine nearly won the prize. Today the Rheingau is the kingdom of another god: Bacchus. Nearly every town and village from Wiesbaden to Assmannshausen is a major wine producer. The names suddenly seem familiar -- Bingen, Johannesburg, Rüdesheim, Oestrich -- because they're featured on the labels of many wines.

The Rheingau is also rich in old churches and castles, as well as landmarks. The Niederwald Monument, on a hill halfway between Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen -- it can be reached by cable car from either town -- is a huge statue of Germania, erected by Bismarck in 1883 to commemorate the unification of Germany. Below it, on a small island at the bend of the Rhine, is the Mäuseturm (Mouse Tower), where, according to legend, the greedy archbishop of Mainz was devoured by a swarm of hungry mice. But the real attraction of the Rheingau is the cheerful character of the wine villages and their people. Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen are the most visited towns.

We leave it up to you to add a final concert in either Ruedesheim or St. Goarshausen today - alternatively the Greeley Chorale could also just take a day off to enjoy the scenic views from the ship, walks through small towns and last night least the sumptuous farewell dinner aboard. 

Day 8 - either Saturday, April 13 or October 26, 2013
Auf Wiedersehen aus Koeln - Bid farewell from Cologne
As the cruise comes to an end, your river cruise brings you back to where you started, the city of Cologne. After breakfast, you will be asked to disembark and your journey can continue straight to the airport or with an extension.

We would recommend to start the journey with a 2 to 3 night stay in either Amsterdam, the Heidelberg area or another musical city where you can recover from the long journey and also have the opportunity for a first performance. Incantato can also propose selected additional overnights at the end of the cruise for those among the group who have more time to continue the journey after the cruise ends.