Our family had an earlier start today as we had booked a chamber music concert. It is an annual special event held each early January in the Golden Hall of the 900 year old Fortress Hohensalzburg. Works by Mozart and Strauss as well as others are performed by internationally-renowned soloists in a 1.5 hour concert. It was very well done.

The cousins tapped out of the concert and walked through the Mirabelle Gardens and visited the Natural History Museum while Beck visited the Christmas markets. They then grabbed some lunch and headed to Untersberg to meet us for a cable car ride up the mountain. Most of the experiences we have enjoyed here are covered by the Salzburg card (which also provides us with free transport).

We didn’t have time for lunch before we met them at 2pm, so once we all headed back down the mountain we went back to the Old Town for an early dinner. The boys had wanted to eat at the Goldene Kugel yesterday because they served Augustine beers but couldn’t get in, so we thought we might have more chance at 4.30 in the afternoon!

After more weiner schnitzels (and large Ox-burgers!), we explored the Christmas markets briefly again before they close tonight, and took three pretzels home for dessert.

The hotel owners again gave us access to and served us beer and cups of tea in the Baroque Room for the evening, allowing us to gather and play card games and discuss tomorrow’s plans.

We also asked the ones who braved the fireworks last night what it was like – they said they saw far more illegal fireworks let off than offical ones! They walked back to the Old Town and found a good spot near the bridge to watch the fireworks, but then found themselves in the line of fire when people around them started letting off fireworks, resulting in some people with singed clothes and near misses! 😳 The conclusion was once again that Sydney does NYE far better!