Sad farewells and new beginnings

So here we all were in the hotel foyer saying our goodbyes. The Insight Vacations ‘Grand tour of Italy and Sicily’ had come to an end! And we were on our own! No more Brad to lead us into unknown terrtiories. We had to make and follow our own decisions! Ahhhhh! And no more Max! Our trusty bus driver. Big hugs all round again…and a few shed tears and we were off!

Rome to Budapest via Athens! Yes we land in Athens for one hour. I asked the air hostess if the flight was leaving on time as we had another flight to connect with. Her answer was I am sure you will be okay. We land in Athens and are directed to the gate we need to board the next plane…and the gate leads directly to the plane we had just gotten off! Naturally we were going to be okay…it is the same plane!..she could have told me that and then Judy could stop worrying (I wasn’t worried of course!) Anyway out came the cameras and we take as many photos as we can (in the departure gate) to prove that we have been to Greece…even if we haven’t even left the airport!

Our next worry was finding our way to the Hotel in Budapest when we land. But that was easy peasy as well. The airport has buses that run to the various areas of Budapest. All you have to do is pay the fare and tell them where you are staying. We boarded the right bus and away we went. To think that the transit from Rome to the Hotel in Budapest was our biggest concern…and yet it was as calm as anything. All three of us were delighted and ready for the next stage of our journey.

We wandered the local area and found that we were just a few blocks away from a street of restaurants. Entree at one, main meal at one, dessert at the last. And at the end we had savioured food from the local Hungarian dishes. Goulash is delicious and the Chocolate pancakes so yummy!

on the plane to Budapest!
on the plane to Budapest!
Amazing building on our way to tea at Budapest
Amazing building on our way to tea at Budapest
The street not far from our Hotel in Budapest
The street not far from our Hotel in Budapest
First course
First course
Budapest has very unusual money!
Budapest has very unusual money!
Between restaurants
Between restaurants
Dessert time :-)
Dessert time 🙂

We decided that the hop on/off bus was the best option to see Budapest the next day and weren’t disappointed. Budapest is lovely and has some amazing buildings and things to see. We found out that Buda is the flat area and Pest is the hilly area across the river. We went over to Pest and took some very good shots of the whole area from a lookout on a hill. We also had a lovely bowl of Goulash there…I could eat Goulash for every meal. It is a bit like a beef stew but a lot runnier…like a soup. Big chunks of veges and meat! Yum!

Looking through the archway. The place was crowded with people
Looking through the archway. The place was crowded with people
Through the palace
Through the palace
Budapest gardens
Budapest gardens
great view of the gardens and buildings
great view of the gardens and buildings
A lovely ceiling
A lovely ceiling
A Museum???
A Museum???
On the hop on/off bus at Budapest
On the hop on/off bus at Budapest
Dolls..dressed in local clothing
Dolls..dressed in local clothing
Another view of Pest from Buda
Another view of Pest from Buda
Great views
Great views
another good view
another good view
And these too
And these too
These took my fancy
These took my fancy
Look at the view behind us. We were amazed at how pretty Budapest looked
Look at the view behind us. We were amazed at how pretty Budapest looked
The view of Pest from Buda
The view of Pest from Buda
Fabulous architecture
Fabulous architecture
Underground
Underground
Underground caves
Underground caves
Cathedral with an amazing roof
Cathedral with an amazing roof
Cathedral at Buda
Cathedral at Buda

Teresa had really wanted to go to Auchwich, but we really didn’t have time to go up to Krakow in Poland. When she found out that Budapest had a tour available which was all about the holocaust, we made that our next stop. Once again a very sad but memorable reminder of just how cruel humans can be to each other…when you add prejudice and hatred together! We came out to see a statue of the iron curtain and were just taking our photos, when Daniel and Marysia walked along the path! Yay…now our second part of the holiday was really about to start…and I loved reconnecting with my second to eldest and his lovely fiance 🙂

At the Holocaust Museum
At the Holocaust Museum
The iron Curtain
The iron Curtain
Judy and Teresa at the iron curtain
Judy and Teresa at the iron curtain
Another pleasing view
Another pleasing view
Yay...we have met up with Daniel and Marysia!
Yay…we have met up with Daniel and Marysia!

Life couldn’t get better!

 

 

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