Travel With Me Tuesday: Arrival in Vienna

It was quite a treat to be back in Vienna, a truly cosmopolitan city. The smaller towns were lovely in their own right but give me a major city any day.

Travel With Me Tuesday: Heidelberg

While I went exploring in Frankfurt, he went on a tour of Heidelberg.

Travel With Me Tuesday: Day 6 Frankfurt

One of those days where we each went our own way. I chose modern Frankfurt.



He was off to Heidelberg which you'll see next time.

Travel With Me Tuesday: Day 6 Frankfurt & Heidelberg

A day when I stayed in Frankfurt and he went off to Heidelberg. Both worth seeing.

Travel With Me Tuesday: River Cruise Day 5 Rudesheim

Travel With Me Tuesday: A Full Day in Budapest

On this day, we had a tour of the State Opera House, pastry and coffee at Gundell Restaurant, free time and lunch on our own, and then a visit to the village of Szentendre.  A good day and I was glad all this was done in chilly weather not hot. Sightseeing is best done in not-hot weather but that's not the opinion of my husband. However, he knows to pack and dress sensibly after many trips. Layers, lad, layers.

Last week I left you at our arrival at the Opera House. While we are both somewhat philistine in regard to endless museums, having had enough of them in our younger adult days, he is still entranced by any opera house and wants to see it ALL.  Pas moi. I will give you a taste of our numerous photos.

No, it wasn't a crime scene, but to preserve the carpets and wooden floors we wore these booties. Not a bad idea and probably cheaper than endless washing and waxing.

A truly grand house, just the way one imagines an opera house to be. We were being led at the same time as a group of students. I wondered how interested they were but then on a school trip you need to take notes and be ready to report back in your classroom.

Our guide was quite pleasant and you'll note that she is dressed warmly and we mostly still had our coats on. No need for heat for touring.

This is the kind of decoration that I can take in very small doses. My husband loves over the top stuff.

We meet the students again, and we all meet Bela Bartok of course.

Finally we are ready to go and you'll note the paddle that she carries, not to spank, but to indicate we are an American group of English speakers. As if no one could tell ...

Back on our bus, we headed out to Gundell's, a place I was anxious to visit. The drive was beautiful and it was still mid morning on a Saturday so not a lot of people out yet.

Our guide, a young Hungarian who had grown up in Budapest, told us that his grandfather used to take him to this park below when he was young and when there was a political speech being given, grandpa took him away. Grandpa had little faith in Communism and remembered Hungary pre WWII. Our guide had an interesting family...

No ice skating for us though I used to skate as a small child and wonder if that contributed to my weak ankles.  Below, we arrive at Gundells.

 By now I realized my camera, my phone i.e., had a dead battery and so I had to rely on his photos.

Alas...the restaurant was not really open and only opened for us so it was rather strange sitting in an empty place with only our relatively small group. Kind of eerie...

However, the palacsinta (pancakes) were wonderful and had the place been full of others enjoying a coffee and dessert the occasion would have been different. I also remember this kind of pancake, crepe, from my childhood but many of our group seemed to feel it was rather odd. It was also still rather early and an afternoon visit would have been better I suspect. As for me, there is never a wrong time for chocolate.

Gorgeous table settings and I'm sure dinner here would be an very special experience. I wonder how long this place was out of reach for the majority of people in the city...

We were lucky to get this shot as the person we asked to take our photo was not at all used to an iPhone.

Finally I get a self portrait and show the tiled ladies' toilet area. I always love it when you have the solid wooden doors for each stall. Pure elegance.

Next week, you'll see our afternoon.

Travel With Me Tuesday: Budapest, We Leave the Boat

Day 2 in Budapest started early with our suitcases outside out door at 07:45. Naturally, we ate breakfast and then said Goodbye to the Vantage boat.  These days in Budapest were an optional addition to the trip so 'our group' was much smaller now.

Off the boat and up the ramp to a waiting bus which would take us on to a full morning's worth of sightseeing.

The morning drive through the city had me looking at the buildings and trying to remember how the city looked when we visited in 2008. Some looked the same, just cleaner, while others looked more recent.

No time for the Central Market but then again we had no cooking ability either. But I remembered how much good was available on our last visit.

We were told that some beautiful buildings were being converted into high priced apartments. Some were sold and others were still for sale. Not all the full shutters were open this morning.

The late autumn morning was still overcast but sun was promised.

Our first stop of the day was to be the Hungarian State Opera House.  We had been to the Opera here before but naturally the man of the house wanted to know it all!

Next will be the inside and more!

Travel With Me Tuesday: Hello Budapest!

Our cruise actually was ending in Budapest but we took the extra day package as we had enjoyed our time in the city a lot back in 2008 and were interested in seeing the changes. Our morning was spent cruising the Danube with overcast weather. Pure November.

From breakfast on, there was commentary from our guides in the lounge. It was a slow and dreamy morning and in some ways it felt like going back in time. Vienna is pure 21st century but Hungary?? It still struggles. Blocks of flats along the river looked as if they harkened back to the Soviet era but we couldn't be sure. I wondered if waterfront was now commanding high prices as it does in so many places.

Towns were starting to appear and this was the sign that Budapest would soon be visible. Yes, there was the majestic Hungarian Parliament building as noon approached.

A still day for classic reflection images. Below is Buda, the oldest and original part of the city with its steep hills, Castle and Cathedral.

And on the opposite bank of the Danube, is the more modern Pest.

While docked, we had our lunch on board. I was really in the mood for something simple AND french fries.

After lunch, we went  for a tour of the city (I didn't take any photos of some reason.) and got back in time for dinner.  Yes, cruises mean food! 

Dried beef with a lentil salad. Yummy!

A light beef soup with 'Kraughterschoberl".  Surprisingly,  for once, we both had the same entree - river trout.

Our final dinner desserts aboard ms DiscoveryII were ice cream with pumpkin brittle for me and "Dobos Torta" for him.

 AND a birthday cake for one of our friends! as well as farewell to a chef who really catered to our every wish. A sweet ending to be sure. However there was still a bit of work to do...

We had to pack most of our things to be ready to put our suitcases out for the 8am transfer to our Budapest hotel. Finally,it was time to say goodnight to a sparkling Budapest.