Friday, May 30
Depart for Europe from Chicago. Overnight flight to Amsterdam. The eight hour flight comes complete with evening meal, in-flight movie, a brief time to sleep, and breakfast.
Saturday, May 31
Arrive at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Tour of the open air museum Zaanse Schans, where we will see traditional Dutch crafts being made. Check into hotel for an afternoon nap. Tour of the Bavokerk and the famous Mueller organ which Mozart played when he was just 10 years old. Next three nights at the hotel Lion d’Or in Haarlem.
Sunday, June 1
Sunday morning worship will be with the Haarlem Doopsgezinde (Mennonite) congregation. The Hesston College Chorale will provide special music. An afternoon tour of Haarlem will include the Frans Hals Museum, one of the most important Dutch painters of the Golden Age. Evening concert by the Hesston College Chorale - their final concert.
Monday, June 2
Early morning tour of the Aalsmeer Flower Auction, the largest flower market in the world. Then into Amsterdam for a canal cruise, and possible tours of the Anne Frank House or the Rijksmuseum. The afternoon will conclude with a tour of the Singelkerk, at one time the largest Mennonite church in the world. Again, the Hesston College Chorale will sing a brief concert in this wonderful space.
Tuesday, June 3
Today we head across the Afsluitdijk to Friesland. Highlights will include visiting the Menno Simons monument outside of the village of his birth, Wittmarsum, and a hidden church at Pingjum near the church where he first served as a priest. We will also visit the Tichelaar pottery factory in Makkum, founded my Mennonites. Overnight in Leeuwarden.
Tour update from Kimberly Kropf
Wednesday, June 4
On to Germany where we will stop in Cologne to see the largest Gothic cathedral in Germany. Also an ancient Roman outpost, Cologne is an interesting mix of ancient and modern Europe. Overnight in Lahnstein.
Thursday, June 5
A cruise on the Rhine river today will take us past some of the most scenic sections of the river, with numerous castles and vineyards. A stop in Neuwied will connect us to the more recent Mennonite story of the Umsiedler, the Russian Mennonite immigrants who arrived in Germany in large numbers during the 1980s. We then head into France and our next two nights in Strasbourg.
Friday, June 6
We spend the day in the beautiful city of Strasbourg exploring the cathedral, museums, and wonderful shops in this capital of the Alsace.
Saturday, June 7
Today we travel through one of the most scenic areas of the Alsace, called the “Alsatian Wine Route.” Old castles and flower-lined streets in quaint villages such as Riquewihr and Kaysersberg make this a day to remember. Overnight in the Swiss city of Friedegg.
Sunday, June 8
We will worship this morning with the oldest Mennonite congregation in the world at Langnau, in the Emmental. In the afternoon we will visit the Trachselwald castle, where Anabaptists were held prisoner. Then into the Alps and the village of Wengen for the next two nights.
Monday, June 9
All day is spent in the Berner Oberland, at the foot of the Jungfrau mountain. This is a wonderful day to hike, take a train to the top of the Jungfrau, or simply relax in this beautiful Alpine village.
Tuesday, June 10
Today we bid farewell to Wengen and head back down into the valley to visit Trümmelbach Falls, the largest accessible glacial waterfalls in the world. Then we head to Lucerne, with its famous covered bridges. Overnight in Lucerne.
Wednesday, June 11
Our last full day in Europe, we head into Zurich and see where the Anabaptist movement began. We trace the paths of Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and Georg Blaurock. Final evening in Lucerne to reflect and pack for the journey in the morning.
Thursday, June 12
Group departs for the United States from Zurich.