My toddler and I love this video! It's a lesson in music (Strauss' waltz, interpreted by a famous conductor who's fun to watch); and geography, too, as it follows the course of the Danube River from Black Forest to Black Sea... Not that my toddler is ready to grab an atlas, but-- someday. In the meantime, she enjoys the music and scenery, as well as the conductor's enthusiasm!
Since I'm not geographically savvy, I had to look up the significance of many places and images. Here are a few that were unfamiliar to me:
Donaueschingen: Traditionally, the Danube's source is a spring at Donaueschingen castle in the Black Forest-- but more accurately, it's the "Danube confluence," where the rivers Breg and Brigach flow together to form the great river. The video first shows the castle spring (so picturesque!), and then the two streams joining in the forest.
Schlögener Schlinge: The "Danube Loop," in Austria
Wachau Valley: A truly beautiful part of Austria, known for its wine and architecture, including monasteries... Among other things, Dürnstein was the site of King Richard's captivity (remember the Robin Hood legend?).
Golubac: A 14th-century fortress, now Serbian (it changed hands repeatedly), that controlled river traffic through the Iron Gates
Eisernes Tor (Iron Gates): A series of narrow river gorges dividing the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains, as well as the states of Romania and Serbia
Danube Delta, a reedy wetland area, mostly in Romania... The river ultimately discharges into the Black Sea.
Using a map to follow along with this video might be a terrific activity for children, don't you agree? Certainly I've learned something!
Of course, one can also simply enjoy the beauty... This journey never grows old, and it mellows me every time.
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