Selo Travels Europe

Saturday, July 26 .... We loaded the bus for a day trip to Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. Bratislava is a pretty city located along the Danube River, just inside the Slovakian international border.  Martin gave us a brief city tour and then we had free time to explore the shops and cafes.

When we arrived back at our hotel, we prepared for a visit to the only Ukrainian Catholic church in Vienna … St. Barbara.  It is the oldest Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the western side of the former Iron Curtain.  It was established in 1783 by the Austrian Emperor Josef II.  We were greeted by Father Sergiy who explained to us a little about the parish life, and as well, about the church building.  We then participated in a vesper service with the small congregation.  During our visit to the church we met Daniel, who was originally from Ottawa.  He was in the seminary in Ottawa, and is now living in Vienna and attending St. Barbara.

After the church service the dancers, who were already in their Volyn costumes, walked to the nearby Vienna Central Square.  Here we organized ourselves and performed our popular Volyn Dance .. in a FLASH MOB! … near St. Stephen's Cathedral!!  Hundreds of curious onlookers gathered to take in the performance.  The dancers received very encouraging rounds of applause during the dance.  Tourists from around the world … China, Australia and Ukraine (to name a few) … were anxious to have their picture taken with the dancers in their colourful Volyn costumes.  An incredible experience!

Later that evening, we spent our last night in Vienna by strolling down a street near our hotel that was full of shops and restaurants.  We enjoyed some window shopping and a late night supper.  Tomorrow we head for Slovenia and Croatia.

Arriving in Bratislava, Slovakia across a suspension bridge with a revolving restaurant atop.

Visiting the markets in Brataslava.

Emily and Scott walking to the Central Square in Brataslava.

Brataslava has very picturesque, narrow, cobblestone streets lined with historic buildings.

Lexie poses with a 'live' statue!

Emily flashes a smile as we gather in the hotel lobby for our visit to the Ukrainian church, and as well, a performance.

Selo Ukrainian Dancers visit St. Barbara Church ... the oldest Ukrainian Catholic Church west of the former Iron Curtain.

Father Sergiy greets the dance group in front of the elaborate iconostas.

Selo joined the small congregation for a vesper service.

The dancers make their way to Vienna's central square. 

The dancers, dressed in full folklore costume, walking the streets of Vienna, aroused a lot of curiosity from onlookers!

Hmmm .... this looks like a good spot to kick up our heels!

OMG! .... Selo does a FLASH MOB at Vienna's Central Square near St. Stephen's Cathedral!!

Curious onlookers start to gather by the hundreds!

Camera's are flashing! ... people are cheering! ... the enthusiasm of the dancers brings the ever growing crowd to quite an ovation!! 

A few tears of pride are seen in the eyes of the dancers' parents.

Once in a lifetime experience!

(Check back to this blog in the coming days for a link to a YouTube clip of the event.)

Capturing the moment with a pose in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Just as quickly as they arrived ... the dancers slip away from the flash mob and await their bus for a ride back to the hotel.

What a way to end our last day in Vienna!

Tomorrow we head for the Istria region of Croatia, along the coast of the Adriatic Sea.