Traveling Huntleys

Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.

Michael Huntley

Belgrade, Serbia

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Last Updated: May 2026

Belgrade, the vibrant capital of Serbia, is a city that has been conquered, bombed, and rebuilt more times than almost any other in Europe — and yet it pulses with a confidence and energy that is entirely its own. As the Uniworld River Duchess rounded the bend from Vukovar and Belgrade came into view, Sandy and I were immediately struck by the dramatic silhouette of Kalemegdan Fortress rising above the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. We visited two of Belgrade’s most remarkable landmarks — the Kalemegdan Fortress and the Karađorđević Dynasty Palace — both of which offer deep insights into the city’s rich and often turbulent past.

The Royal Palace grounds and formal gardens, Belgrade, Serbia
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Vukovar, Croatia

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Last Updated: May 2026

Vukovar is a city in eastern Croatia, located on the banks of the Danube River near the border with Serbia. It is best known as a symbol of resilience and suffering due to its pivotal role in the Croatian War of Independence, but its history and cultural significance extend much further — back through Habsburg elegance, Ottoman occupation, and prehistoric settlements that gave the world one of archaeology’s most extraordinary artifacts. Sandy and I sailed from Budapest aboard the River Duchess as the Danube widened and the landscape flattened into the broad agricultural plains of Slavonia. Arriving in Vukovar felt different from the great imperial cities we had visited upstream. This was a city that had been through something — and had chosen, deliberately and with considerable courage, to come back.

Sandy Huntley with colorful local musicians in theatrical costume, Vukovar, Croatia
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Budapest, Hungary

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Last Updated: May 2026

Budapest, the vibrant capital of Hungary, is a city that beautifully blends history, culture, and stunning architecture along the banks of the Danube River. Known as the “Pearl of the Danube,” Budapest offers visitors a rich tapestry of experiences, from medieval castles to lively markets and world-renowned thermal baths. Sandy and I sailed from Vienna aboard the River Duchess and were fortunate to spend several days in Budapest — long enough to truly feel the city rather than merely pass through it. Many of our fellow travelers departed here at the end of their cruise, and watching familiar faces say their goodbyes on the dock was genuinely touching. Only twenty of us stayed on board to continue the journey east as new passengers came aboard, bringing fresh energy and a new chapter to the trip.

Sandy Huntley on the Buda side sitting beside a fountain, Budapest, Hungary
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Vienna, Austria

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Last Updated: May 2026

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a city where imperial history, artistic brilliance, and modern vibrancy blend seamlessly. Nestled along the banks of the Danube River, Vienna has long been celebrated as a center of culture, music, and architecture — a city that shaped European civilization for centuries and continues to draw visitors from around the world with an almost irresistible pull. Sailing from Weissenkirchen along the Danube aboard the River Duchess, Sandy and I watched the landscape transition from Wachau vineyard terraces to suburban riverbanks and finally to the glittering skyline of one of Europe’s great capitals. Arriving in Vienna by river felt like the most fitting possible approach — unhurried, panoramic, and deeply romantic.

Belvedere Palace and Museum statue in the formal gardens, Vienna, Austria
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Weissenkirchen, Austria

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Last Updated: May 2026

Weissenkirchen stands out as one of Austria’s most enchanting small towns. Despite occasional confusion with similarly named places in Germany, Weissenkirchen is firmly rooted in the heart of the Wachau Valley in Lower Austria, nestled along the northern banks of the Danube River. The Wachau Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a narrow, dramatic stretch of the Danube where vineyard terraces cling to hillsides, medieval ruins crown the ridgelines, and apricot trees blossom pink in spring. Sandy and I had been watching the scenery grow increasingly beautiful as we sailed the River Duchess downstream from Passau, and Weissenkirchen arriving through the morning mist was one of those moments that stops the conversation and makes you simply stare.

Grape sculpture in Weissenkirchen, Wachau Valley, Austria
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Passau, Germany

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Last Updated: May 2026

Passau is nestled in southeastern Bavaria at one of Europe’s most dramatic geographic intersections. Known as the “City of Three Rivers” (Dreflüssestadt), Passau sits at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers near the Austrian border — a location that has shaped its history as a powerful trade hub, an episcopal capital, and one of the most distinctively beautiful Baroque cities in Germany. Sandy and I sailed aboard the River Duchess from Regensburg as the Danube grew wider and the countryside more dramatic, arriving at Passau with its pastel-colored buildings tumbling down to the water’s edge and the twin towers of St. Stephen’s Cathedral rising above everything. Even from the ship, it was immediately clear this was a special place.

Sandy Huntley, a beautifully carved wooden door of Jesus Christ at a church in Passau, Germany
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