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It was the same in 1854 for another virtuous, aristocratic girl named Elisabeth who lived in Bavaria, Germany. The very shy bride was only 16 when she wed 23 year old Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria who soon also became the King of Hungary. Joseph reigned over the largest empire in Europe, outside of Russia. He too was introduced to Elisabeth after first meeting her older, more sophisticated sister. Like Prince Charles he chose to marry the younger sister. Joseph also refused to give up his dalliances outside of marriage, crushing the confidence of his young bride. The naive, very beautiful and kind Queen Sisi, so nick named by Europe's press corp of the day, was the most popular woman in all of Europe because of her stunning looks and dedication to helping the poor, especially the poor in Hungary. She deliberately hired and promoted workers from Hungary in her husband's kingdoms despite the fact her mother-in-law, the formidable Archduchess Sophie, was totally against it. Shy and unsure of herself Sisi eventually crumbled under the strict court rules.
Constantly feeling unappreciated by the Royal Family Sisi starved herself to protect keeping her 19.5 inch waist and good looks. She survived on thin broth and conducted fanatical exercise routines lifting dumbbells and rings. Her behavior today would be diagnosed as anorexia. After a nervous collapse, Sisi spent as much time as she could away from the "prison fortress castle" in Vienna. She loved most of all to cruise and be in Corfu, Greece, because there she was not hounded by hundreds of scribes (press writers).
Both Royal beauties visited hospitals and charity wards unannounced to hold hands with the dying and speak to patients about their needs. Both thoughtful young women irritated their mother in-laws because they paid too much attention to "commoners." They both bore children for their unfaithful husbands and even more mystifying is they both died violent, unexpected deaths at young ages.
If you like learning history this is your cruise. Norwegian cruise ship The Pearl departs May 31, 2025, from Athens to visit 11 ports of call. It cruises from Greece to Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. An airline ticket from anywhere in the USA to board ship in Athens on May 31st and fly home from Venice on June 11, 2025, will cost about $1300 round trip. A deposit of $500 secures any cabin for 2 guests. Every cruise price quoted is ALL INCLUSIVE per person paying for the cabin, all meals, nightly live entertainment, ALL DRINKS including alcoholic beverages, plus wine and beers, ALL TIPS for all cruise attendants and waiters, all TAXES, ALL FEES, along with Free Wi-fi and it includes $10,000 travel insurance coverage per person. Call to book now. Time is running out.
NCL Cruise on Norwegian Pearl
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