Vienna: July 11: Schloss Schonbrunn

This is the Palace. It's a replica of Versaille. Maria Teresa REALLY liked Versaille. She wanted one for herself.

The grounds around the palace. We did the grounds first so we could wear out the boys enough to sleep while we tour the inside of the house. This plan worked beautifully!!

Eamon constantly had his hands in the gravel and was always looking for sticks to play with.

A view of the grounds up to the Glorietta, a pretty terrace on the hill.

The back of the palace.

There was a very cool playground in the gardens with a lot of unusual play structures. As you can see, Gio had a blast!

This thing is crazy! Notice Gio in the belly of the mechanical bird. Ming was moving it up and down for him.

The maze. Lucky it wasn't too complex. We followed Gio the whole way.

That thing Gio is standing on rocks back and forth and makes the water squirt up. This was a big hit with the boys!

The boys getting lots of attention at the restaurant from the Taiwanese tourists!

The view from the Glorietta.

Vienna: July 10: Inner Stadt Tour

The outside of the Secession museum. Pretty, isn't it? I love these bowls.

This is the incredibly ornate Opera House. 

There are stars in the sidwalk surrounding the Opera House with the names of the House directors.

Gio really wanted to take a picture of this trash can.

Ming and Gio squeezing orange juice at a local grocery store.

Gio's pic of an ad for these hazelnut chocolate truffles. They're everywhere in this part of town. We got some and, of course, Gio was a fan.

This is St. Stephans church. The spire is incredibly larege. Notice the tiled roof. 

Mozart was married here.

And his kids were baptized here.

Gio's photo of me while reading our guidebook.

A gaudy memorial to thank God for ending the plague, erected by the Emperor Leopold.

A very touristy street.

Exhausted boys.

Eamon checking out the Roman Ruins.

These are the Roman ruins which are right outside the Hapsburg Palace.

A fountain at the end of the palace.

Budapest: July 9: Szechenyi Baths, Hero's Park, Central Market

This is the outside of the Szechenyi Baths. We couldn't actually bathe there as it's not recommeded that children under 14 go. We were hoping for a tour, but it's not really worth it. But, at least we got  to see the outside, which is quite pretty and impressive.

Hero's Square

Pretty fake castle in the park. 

Gio expertly riding the subway.

Eatiing more ice cream. Gio got a flavor called Rose. It really did smell and even taste like roses smell. Gio chose it after trying a few different flavors. But, he abandoned it after trying Ming's sour cherry flavor.

I got fig and Lavender Chocolate. Unexpectedly yummy.

Gio eating Ming's sour cherry and cinnamon apple. Notice his chocolate mouth which he got from tasting my lavender chocolate. Gio will try it all!

Pretty peppers in the Central Market. We had to come here again so Chris and LiLi could see it.

Eamon choosing a cheese to go with his apricot.

It was pretty hot that day so the boys LOVED these misting fans. They were giggling like crazy!

The boys checking out a construction site.

Some typical Pest architecture, big and grand.

The boys trying on some paper crowns that Ming got on a castle tour with his colleagues.