While our track record is 'doing it alone', we decided that organised tours were probably a good option. The EASTERN EUROPE PANORAMA TOUR was really quite fantastic. We had a great group including folk from America, New Zealand & a few from Australia. Our tour guide was amazing. Thomas is a man with a most extensive knowledge and a great sense of humour to boot. Our bus driver Juri, was the best we ever encountered and, with due respect to the skills of the other drivers we used over the past couple of months, took the prize for the most careful and skilled driver. Here is a pic of Carol, with Thomas & Juri - lucky fellows!!
Our first day took us out of Vienna and across the border into Hungary. Having visions of what it must have been like during the days of the 'Iron Curtain' it sort of was an anticlimax not see evidence of this. You know, watch towers, barbed-wire etc. It all looked perfectly normal. I am sure it was nothing like that in the oppressive days.
Shortly after crossing the border into Hungary we stopped for a 'comfort stop' and men found out what our ladies have been telling us for years - Pay to use a toilet! This one was relatively cheap. About 50 cents Australian. There was much worse to come!
Of course seeing a sign that forbade photos to be taken was an incentive to do just that. We probably will now no longer qualify for entry into Hungary. Pity. We liked Hungary and Budapest especially. By the way, our tour guide told us that manning (for the women libbers that means WOMANNING) the toilets was one of the better paid positions in Eastern Europe. After our own experience, we believe him.
Our first proper stop was at a place called Gyor where we had lunch. For us however, it was an urgent trip to an optometrist as my glasses were in a bit of a mess. I sat on them in Vienna. Not good !!! They were badly out of shape and required gentle surgery. With sign language we got our message across and walked out 20 minutes later much relieved and having parted with the princely sum of A$1.40. Wow! We enjoyed a quiet moment near the water and had lunch by ourselves as well as walked a little in this delightful little town. Have a look; you can even spot Carol in the first pic:
The weather wasn't looking too great, but Thomas informed us that his wife told him over the phone that Budapest would be clear of rain. As it turned out, it rained heavily by the time we reached Budapest and the poor weather stayed with us for the duration of the Budapest stopover. That didn't stop me from exploring Budapest by myself (Carol wasn't feeling up to it). Crossed from Pest to Buda across the Danube. Immediately over the bridge I spotted this Cave Church and very much enjoyed visiting it. It was really was quite unique:
The following day we toured Budapest. It is a most interesting city and we would love to go back and have a detailed look there. Our visit coincided with a visit from President Putin of Russia and that in turn made sure that the traffic was duly interrupted. His party certainly traveled in a huge convoy of police and security vehicles. Anyway, we came to see Budapest and enjoyed the city tour including a visit to the Coronation Church, which was most interesting both inside and outside:
Also near the church there was the amazing Fishermen's Bastion with great views of the city, and of course we had to prove that we were there:
The afternoon saw us bus to St Andrews, an old village well outside Budapest. It took us past some significant Roman ruins dating back to the first century AD The bus could only take us so far. The rest was by 'shank's pony'. There was a great deal of interest here including:
1. It was a Serbian village until the Serbians fell out of favour and were deported
2. Visited the smallest Synagogue in Europe, built by Estee Lauder's son in as a memorial to their family
- Budapest had a very large Jewish populations before World War II. In fact, as we traveled past the Danube we were struck by hundreds of brass shoes along the waterfront and were told that they depicted the shoes of murdered Jews. Sobering indeed!
3. Delightful little streets with hidden shops
4. A great little museum, and lots more.
The evening saw us spending time with the Gypsies who entertained us wonderfully.
Part of the deal was that one could drink us much wine as desired. We were all very good little tourists. We were intrigued by the way the wine was served. Here have a look at this:
While we were enjoying ourselves, our tour guides continued planning our next outing.
It had been quite a day and we haven't told you everything! But left me finish with the post-Gypsy visit back to Gellert Hill, overlooking Budapest - and it wasn't raining!!
Certainly pretty!After that, we were a happy busload of tourists that sang their way back to the hotel, ably led by - of course, Carol.
Next chapter will see us on our way to Poland. Hope you are enjoying this little glimpse!
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