Hi everyone!
Our last night in Vienna we changed into our uniforms and headed to the gala finally of Summa Cum Laude Festival. After the winners concert featuring orchestras and choirs from Canada, Slovenia, Germany, Australia and even China, we went to the Mayor's grand hall with beautiful gold, blue and silver ceilings to have dinner and mingle with the other competitors. We took lots of pictures, traded pins, good luck charms and other multi-cultural bobbins. It was the experience of a lifetime that will not be forgotten.
We woke up early, checked out of our hotel and headed out for Salzburg. After 2.5 hours we stopped at an iron mine in Erzberg. We had lunch outside under a clear blue sky at the bottom of the mountains. Driving through the mountains was an experience that will stay with us forever! Seeing the clusters of villages all with red roofs in the valley below, the enormous green mountains with streams running down them.
After lunch we headed to the mine where we all put on sunshine yellow jackets and hard hats and then we climbed aboard the huge sunshine yellow truck. the big tonka truck bed that normally carries huge rocks was rigged to take passangers. We climbed higher to the top in the sunshine and saw little lakes in the mountain created by mining.
Next we went to visit the largest monestary library in the world....and boy it was beautiful with domed painted ceilings, white walls decorated with gold moulding. There were 2 floors with a hidden staircase. some of the books date back to 1522! The monestary is still active with 37 monks although we didn't meet any.
We reached the hostel in Salzburg a little late so it was a quick settle in, dinner and a rehearsal before bed. 9 days down and 5 more to come. Look our Salzburg. The Mississauga Children's Choir has arrived!
Later gators!
