By Denise F for "Together We Sing" in Central Europe Choir Tour with Pepper Choplin on Sep 29, 2025
It was such a unique experience to tour three countries and sing Pepper Choplin's Religious music (and other composers) with people from all over the US. Met folks who were in MY church choir which I'd never met before, which was strange. Having the 'Blue Luggage Tags" helped us identify group singers immediately after we got off the plane and collected our bags.
The hotel accommodations were especially good, esp. Arabella Jagdhof (4 Star). Only wished I had known to bring a swimsuit. Maybe mention that tidbit when planning next trip. (Pool available).
Food was plentiful, much to choose from, staff very accommodating. There was a mix up at the Arabella Jagdhof hotel one evening after we got back one evening. None of our keys opened the rooms. We had to return to front desk and have them re-keyed. Showers stopped midway through a PM shower. Don't know reason.
Bus drivers were excellent. Tour guides very informative. Made sure we stayed safe crossing streets, stayed together, etc.
Especially enjoyed the Trick Fountains & Gardens. Ornate cathedrals (Baroque Style), exquisite architecture of buildings, and beautiful countryside with mountains and lakes made for a lovely ride.
Hitler's Eagles Nest was interesting, although I enjoyed the bus trip up and back the best. Viewing the valley below was great.
Meeting singers from all over the US was fun and made new friends. But the most exciting part was the concerts which we all worked so hard to accomplish to make Pepper proud. The beautiful painted cathedrals and gilded statues was so grand, Acoustics amazing. Barry (pianists) did such a superb job of playing his best (on different keyboards each time and an occasional tech issue which no one was ever aware.
Kudos to Krista, Andrea and Constance for making this trip memorable, exciting and worthwhile. I did learn that if I do another trip, I would definitely prefer a single room. I need time to decompress and get ready for the next day. Having a roommate would have made that a bit more challenging. Luckily, I had a double room to myself so it worked out great for me.
This was such a wonderful experience! I went solo and had a great time connecting with new people and visiting these beautiful cities. The tour guides and accommodations were fantastic and the performance spaces were truly spectacular!
Couldn't have asked for a better experience! Our tour guide, Jitka Strnadova, was exceptional. So knowledgeable and personable. Our bus driver, Zoltan (sp) was so accommodating and every place we stayed was beautiful. 100% best vacation ever.