Day 7 - Budapest

Our last day was spent in Budapest. We took a bus tour of the city with several stops. First stop was Heroes' Square with the Millennial Monument.

The second stop was the Citadel. It was built as a military fortress and has fabulous views of the city.

Budapest - Divided by the Danube

The Buda side of the city
This is the older side of the city and the hilly side.
It is on the west bank of the Danube.

The Pest side of the city.
This is considered the modern side and is the flat side.
It is on the east bank of the Danube

The next stop was also on the Buda side of the river to visit Matthias Church.

Matthias Church

Matthias Church

Parliament - Seen from the wall beside Matthias Church

In the evening, the guys had a concert at Budai Reformatus Gyulekezet, a Reform Church.

Budai Reformatus Gyulekezet

What happens when you forget the drum? You use a drum stick and drum on the pew.

Dan with our wonderful tour guide, Marta

Day 6 - Vienna

We returned to Vienna after Eisenstadt for a concert at St. Stephen's Cathedral.

After lunch, we drove to Budapest for the rest of our time in Europe.

Day 6 - Eisenstadt

We spent the morning in Eisenstadt, where Joseph Haydn lived and worked.

Haydn's House

Esterházy Palace
Prince Mikolós Jósef Esterházy appointed Haydn as assistant conductor in 1761 and musical director in 1766.

Esterházy Palace

Haydn Hall in Esterházy Palace

Chapel in Esterházy Palace

Eisenstadt had a large Jewish population before WWII. They used to close the roads on the Sabbath in order to keep people from entering or leaving the Jewish Quarter on the religious day.

Bergkirche - Hill Church in Eisenstadt

Haydn's tomb in Bergkirche

Bergkirche

Bergkirche

Day 5 - New Year's Day in Vienna

After a bit of a later start, we drove from Mödling to Vienna. First stop was Belvedere Palace.

Gardens at Belvedere Palace overlooking Vienna

After Belvedere Palace, we drove further into Vienna. We visited Vienna Palace and then had some free time to view the sites on our own.

Vienna Palace

Ruins near the Vienna Palace

Vienna

One of Mozart's houses when he lived in Vienna - It's the only house of his that still exists

St. Peter's Cathedral

Day 4 - Mödling for New Year's Eve

We arrived in Mödling (just to the South of Vienna) a little before dinner time. We had a fabulous Gala Dinner at the hotel.

After dinner we were able to decide how we wanted to celebrate. One option was to stay at the hotel and watch the fireworks just outside the front of the hotel. Another option was to walk up a nearby hill and watch the Vienna fireworks from there. A few people also decided to head into Vienna to watch the fireworks from there.

Day 4 - Brno

We left Prague behind this morning. Our first stop was Brno. Brno is the 2nd largest city in the Czech Republic, though much smaller than Prague. We walked around the city, the guys sang a song at the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, and we ate lunch.

Old Town Hall

The Brno "Dragon" - Read the Legend here

The Brno Wheel - Read the Legend here

Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul

Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul

Day 3 - Terezin

After lunch, we drove to Terezin. This was built as a Fort in 1870. It was later turned into a prison and during WWII, the Nazi's used it to imprison Jews and other people they did not like.

Entrance 

The wall around it shows that it was originally built as a Fort.

Inside the courtyard of the prison.

Day 3 - Prague

The guys sang during Mass at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows.

Church after Mass

We then had some free time to explore close to the church and get some lunch.

Christmas Market near the Church

St. Wenceslaus (Also known as Good King Wenceslaus in the Christmas song)