Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine

EAT, PRAY, LOVE ON BOARD THE AVALON ENVISION

Cruise along the majestic Danube River on board Avalon Waterways’ newest suite ship.

- BY ILONA KAUREMSZKY

Tucked away from the famous banks of the Danube River some cruise guests on board Avalon Waterways’ newest suite ship are peering at cave rock formations that appear more like flowers, witches and perhaps even Niagara Falls.

“See there’s Niagara Falls,” laughs Attila our Hungarian guide whose quirky humour has intrigued one of our group members who happens to be Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestsellin­g author of Eat Pray Love and the godmother of Avalon’s newest river ship, the Avalon Envision.

As our local guide narrates stories in one of the three cave systems we are visiting on this shore excursion, the experience turns

from awesome to beyond amazing. First, Budapest sits atop an underworld of more than 200 caves that burrow deep beneath the Buda side. Who knew? And there I am edging past tight crevices, giant corridors, ascending steel staircases, and standing by ancient shell fossils with Liz and her mom, Carole, and sweetheart, Simon.

Throughout this subterrane­an world bouts of silence could deafen until an angelic voice erupts into Leonard Cohen’s classic, Hallelujah. And there’s Liz swaying to the melody, eyes shut, and adding her own earthly layer of vocals. Other voices soon fill this rocky chapel of sound in a beat of love.

A CHRISTENIN­G

As I sail on board the Avalon Envision on a thrilling three-day Danube River cruise, I realize there are delightful moments to be experience­d on a river-cruise christenin­g ceremony.

It’s spring and Budapest is abloom in seasonal colours. Ranked as the No. 1 European destinatio­n in 2019 by Brusselsba­sed European Best Destinatio­ns, the central European capital, which beat out Paris, Berlin and London, buzzes with activity. I observe spa lovers relaxing at one of many thermal hot springs like the Gellért Thermal Baths decorated in mosaic Zsolnay porcelain tiles. I watch museum goers enter the newly restored Museum of Fine Arts and foodies tour the Great Market Hall in Pest. Then there are the sightseers checking out the popular city districts while we cruisers anticipate the big moment.

In the distance, the Buda Hills and the regal Buda Castle with the turrets of the Fisherman’s Bastion evoke a fairy tale setting overlookin­g the romantic Danube River. Together, they create a memorable backdrop to an inspiring river ship debut. “We come from the water, we are made of the water, we are drawn to the water. Our lives are rivers meant to be explored and enjoyed,” Liz relays at the blessing. Before the bottle of Hungary’s finest Törley sparkling wine smashes over the bow she announces, “Onward! I christen thee the Avalon Envision.”

ON THE DANUBE

Over three days there are ample delightful opportunit­ies. For Liz, the cruise engaged her Eat Pray Love instinct in new ways. The eating segment began on her first night in a Budapest café where she enjoyed goulash, dumplings and beer with her mother. “I don’t think it has to be any fancier than that,” she offers but points out the culinary offerings on board are packed with intense

variety. One night I dine on roasted duck breast (sült kacsamell) and herb-crusted veal tenderloin. There are other meal options in the ship’s Avalon fresh program, which is included in the à-la-carte dining menu.

For love, it meant introducin­g her new sweetheart, Simon, to her parents for the first time, “bringing these people together whom I care about and giving them this beautiful environmen­t in which to get acquainted.” For pray, she notes, before our interview, she had meditated for 45 minutes with her balcony window open—a unique river ship design and an industry first.

ENVISION EXPERIENCE­S

For onshore excursions, Avalon Waterways offers a new Avalon Choice program to satisfy three sightseein­g styles: Discovery for hands-on learning, Active for highimpact fun and Classic with expert guides.

To channel a Liz Gilbert vibe on board the Avalon Envision, some of us sign up for active excursions as Liz did. We can head to the Buda Hills for eye-opening cave tours or paddle in one of the canoes provided by the cruise company on a quiet nature-rich stretch of the Danube with family and loved ones.

One morning with the Hungarian Parliament only metres from our docked river ship, I am off to explore the picture-perfect building on a Classic tour. Avalon guests are led by local tour guides and receive VIP treatment. Before heading into the Gothic Revival and Renaissanc­e Revival landmark, we stroll past historic landmarks like St. Stephen’s Basilica and take time at the Szamos Café to sample the Hungarian sparkling wine, Kreinbache­r Brut Classic with its light grapefruit notes. It’s no surprise this bubbly won a gold medal at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championsh­ips. Yum!

We shuffle into the North Wing avoiding the queues which translates to more free ship time later. We see the Golden Staircase, the Congress Hall, and the Dome Hall that is home to the Holy Crown of King Saint Stephen, considered Hungary’s founder. Two rotating guards carrying a sword stand at attention protecting the nation’s most important national icon. Our tour guide rhymes off a list of building statistics and facts from the 40 kilos of gold to the Domed Hall’s 96-metre height, a number that symbolizes the country’s founding. In 1896, Hungary celebrated its millennial anniversar­y of 896 with monumental grand urban designs that included the inaugurati­on of the parliament building.

Back in my Panorama Suite, it’s easy to dream big. For eat, pray, love moments, you could linger inside your spacious wall-towall, floor-to-ceiling windowed quarters, sipping a cappuccino, watching the world go by as you bury your toes beneath your Egyptian super-combed cotton bed sheets and European-style duvet.

Perhaps it’s time you indulge in some eat, pray, love moments on the Danube aboard the Avalon Envision.

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 ??  ?? OPPOSITE: Exterior of Avalon Waterways’ new ship, Envision. BELOW: Godmother Elizabeth Gilbert poses in front of Avalon Waterways’ new ship, Envision, with crew on board. Avalon Waterways
OPPOSITE: Exterior of Avalon Waterways’ new ship, Envision. BELOW: Godmother Elizabeth Gilbert poses in front of Avalon Waterways’ new ship, Envision, with crew on board. Avalon Waterways
 ??  ?? LEFT: A view of an elegant Panorama Suite on board Avalon Waterways’ new ship, Envision. Avalon Waterways
LEFT: A view of an elegant Panorama Suite on board Avalon Waterways’ new ship, Envision. Avalon Waterways

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