This is a lot cheaper and much more exciting and exhilarating than a trip to LOURDES, yet you enjoy daily entrance to the equivalent healing waters. The owner of this family run enterprise has decided against selling the water or selling out, so enjoy this privilege while you can.

The secret to LOURDES, and other healing centres, is in the nature of the water itself: it is scientifically known as ‘clustered water’ and its incidence is increasing. Japanese research scientists from the University of Kyushu in particular operate a continuous program for assessing its effects. It was the subject of a German television program in December 2000 and is often referred to these days as the "Lourdes" of Germany. These energizing waters, the pollution-free environment and quietness of the countryside all contribute to active recuperation, stress-reduction, relaxation and a revitalization of the physical body. Recovering from a serious health problem would be a valuable additional benefit to this tour, and there are many testimonies from those who have been ‘cured’ of various serious illnesses including cancer by partaking of these waters, just like those who make the pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The spa is found in an idyllic small village about 700 metres above sea-level in the wooded country in Northern Germany, known for its pure air as well as its remarkable waters. Accommodation at the spa itself is in short supply so other accommodation may be substituted according to availability at the time.

This is not a resort of the ‘Rich and Famous’ - there are many ‘spas’ in Germany and elsewhere in Europe which charge exorbitant fees, especially for their ‘rejuvenation’ processes - which is also made available here as Professor Aslan’s world famous Gerovital. This and other therapies, such as ozone treatments, are provided under medical control by private arrangement and at extra cost.

This is not a ‘Rick Steves’ tour: we stay in comfortable, accredited accommodation in small towns, rather in the big cities, therefore our cost is considerably less than that of the average escorted tour: these hotels pay us NO commission - we even have to pay for the guide’s accommodation! Apartments are often available at a surcharge. Groups are small and limited to 15 - 20 individuals: there are no specified age limits but accompanying children must be controllable at all times. There are no children on most tours.

To allow you as much freedom as possible, there are few organised meals other than breakfast, so that you are free to indulge in your particular cuisine. With local transit passes in some areas, you are also free to choose the most convenient day and time for sightseeing - or join the organised excursion. On rail excursions one has to travel together in both directions, otherwise there is no regimentation. Long-distance travel by rail is in 1st class for maximum comfort and relaxation.

The guide for this trip speaks German fluently, has travelled widely and published many leading articles on health, healing and other topics, and his knowledge is available free of charge during these trips.

In addition to the SPA we have included a variety of exciting trips, depending upon season, mixed with relaxing days sitting by the River Rhine.

These include a visit to the fabulous city of Vienna, the most livable city in the world; visiting one of the original coffeehouses; a cruise on the River Danube (if on a Monday, this will probably be the dinner cruise "The Sound of Johann Strauss"), the River Rhine and the River Mosel; to Trier, Germany’s oldest city (over 2,000 years old), known at one time as "the second Rome" and once the largest town North of the Alps; to the incredibly picturesque villages on the Rhine, such as Bacharach; to ancient Standing Stones in the Sauerland; to the monastery of the acclaimed St Hildegard of Bingen; and a shopping expedition to fashionable Düsseldorf. All at an attractive price, with breakfast included daily.

NOTES on some of our DESTINATIONS

BACHARACH
One of our planned stops is in one of the most picturesque villages on the Rhine. Two minutes walk to your bench on the Rhine, where steamers call all day long including the only remaining paddle-steamer, the Goethe. Bacharach is a walled town, so walking along the wall can be an interesting experience: houses and hotels are actually built into the wall - as well as the railway, so we avoid these accommodations! It dates back to pre-Roman times. This is wine country but there is one elegant coffee-shop in town. This is also slate country, so the town walls and most of the buildings are made of slate, which is almost indestructible. Some of the numerous eating places are owned by local vintners. Ruins include the Castles Stahleck and Stahlberg, built about the year 1200, and the 11th century Wernerkapelle (chapel).

BOPPARD
In the valley of the famous Loreley, in one of Germany's greatest forests, Boppard is one of the country's most famous beauty spots; set on the meanderings of the Rhine, from one vantage point the river appears as four lakes. Bad Salzig, a famous spa, with two wells known for Glaubersalz (Epson salts), is a district of Boppard, a Roman settlement dating back to the 2nd century. The picturesque promenade (see picture) along the Rhine is an enjoyable three kilometres long. Das Bopparder Teehäusje "1001 Nights" is a tea shop worth visiting: it is one of the oldest buildings in the town, just off the promenade by the market square.

COCHEM
One of the principal wine towns of the Mosel, with its famous wine academy, Kloster Ebernach (the monks knew what they were doing!). Burg (Castle) Cochem towers over the town: the ruins of Castle Winniburg date back to 1250.

DÜSSELDORF
A major modern metropolis on the lower Rhine, a cultural centre, with high fashion shops (Königsallee) as well as numerous shopping centres and streets, a convention centre, numerous parks, expensive hotels, Schloß Benrath (Benrath Castle), major airport and railway station, and the famous "Altstadt" - Old Town.

KOBLENZ
Standing at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Mosel, the city is a major centre and stopover for Rhine cruises. The Beethoven collection is found in the house where his mother was born. The castle Stolzenfels lies about 5km south of the town and was built about 1250, rebuilt 1842 and is today a monument to the culture and lifestyle of the 19th century. The fortress Ehrenbreitstein has looked out over the Rhine from its high perch (118 m) over the city since its beginnings in the year 1000. Enjoy the promenade on the Rhine as well as the Mosel.

NORDENAU
The Spa is off the beaten track, deep in the hills of the Sauerland, and that always entails changing trains for the nearest station, which is ten minutes from the Spa. There are numerous small villages and some famous lakes in this area, all reachable by bus, for which a regional bus pass is issued to each participant.

It is anticipated that there will be a great many people awaiting entrance to the spa, so this may make planned activities difficult. One may opt therefore to make one's own arrangements for sightseeing or join a tour group any day.

RÜDESHEIM
Intriguing small shopping centre with lively lanes running back from the Rhine, the most famous of which is the Drosselgasse. In one of the shops here you can find the world's largest cuckoo-clock. The town lies on the right bank of the Rhine and still in wine country. The Abbey of St Hildegard, a Benedictine convent, lies behind the town on the Rupertsberg. Built in 1900, it replaced the original, which dated back to 1147. Built on the ruins of that original, the parish and pilgrimage church St Hildegard is worth a visit. A reliquary procession is held in her honor every year on the 17th day of September. Hildegard was a remarkable woman who lived 900 years ago and wrote most intriguing books on religion and healing, despite opposition from the Church - which went as far as the Pope, and despite the fact that she had never been educated - not to mention that she was also a woman!.

The ruins of Castle Ehrenfels include an outpost (the "Mouse Tower" or Mäuseturm) in the middle of the river which was used to collect tolls.

The Niederwald Denkmal, or Germania Monument, has fabulous views of the surrounding countryside and the Rhine and can be reached via cable car and chairlift.

TRIER
A most fascinating town, it dates back to pre-Christian times, was known as Roma Secunda - "the second Rome" - and the largest settlement North of the Alps. The Porta Nigra - or Roman Gate - still stands today, almost perfectly preserved. Its university dates back to 1473. The Main Market, next to the cathedral, has been its centre since medieval times.

There are three Roman Baths - the Imperial Baths (Kaiserthermen), Barbara Baths (Barbarathermen) and the more recently discovered Forum Baths. Other sights worth seeing are the Roman Bridge (dates back to 144 AD), the Basilica - the largest surviving single-room structure from Roman times.

VIENNA
Hotel Fürstenhof is directly opposite the Westbahnhof (railway station) and is right downtown, convenient for shopping. A full buffet breakfast is supplied daily until 10 a.m. The Vienna Card allows 72 hours of unrestricted travel throughout Vienna and is provided to every participant. A full day of sightseeing in this elegant capital can include the Schönbrunn Palace (one of the most colourful of European palaces), the Opera House, the Hofburg and Belvedere Palaces, St. Steven's Cathedral, the Prater (famous amusement park with extensive gardens) a miscellany of monuments to musicians, composers and inventors and many other wonderful historic buildings. In the evening a visit to one of Vienna’s famous coffee-houses. The New Year's concert in Vienna is sold out more than a year in advance.

If we are here on a Monday between 27th May and 30th September, at 7 pm we will enjoy a musical dinner cruise on the Danube - "The Sound of Johann Strauss", which includes a 3-course dinner on board.