Budapest

Well I have finally worked it out, I couldn't post as the site was in magyar, the Hungarian language!  We arrived in Budapest yesterday afternoon after travelling through Slovakia from Poland.  Slovakia is a very pretty country with only 5 million people.  It must look like a traditional Christmas Card when it snows.

On our last night in Poland we went to a dinner with folk dancing.  We were encouraged to join in and many of us did.  There were vodka shots all around, beer and wine.  The meal was very good and a great time was had by all.

Last night we went to a dinner cruise on the Danube.  The city of Budapest is very pretty by night with all of the old buildings lit up.  We had dinner on the way up the river and on the way back sat on the top deck and took in the sights.  Today we went on a trip around and had a look at those sights.  We went to Parliament house which is a fantastic building - huge and expensive.

At lunch time we ate in this small village of artists where we were then able to do some shopping with embroidery and ceramics etc.

Tonight it is a Be My Guest dinner where we go to a Hungarian vineyard and eat there - and I dare say there will be free wine again.  We have been very well fed on this leg of the trip, not having to buy one meal.  I am sure we have gained weight - thank goodness for stretchy pants!

One of the laides had a nasty fall today with the uneven cobblestones in the old sector of this city.  They called an ambulance and she went to hospital where they stitched her knee back together.  It was a very nasty cut - lots of blood.  It is so easy to trip on the cobblestones.  You either have to walk and watch where you are going or stop and take pictures or look at things - you can't do both together.

The Folk Dancers

Parliament House

The Palace

We are in the Ramada Hotel here.  It is very nice but Pam and I have managed to make it look like a Chinese laundry with wet clothes hanging from ever spot possible - even the floor lamp and the television!  I washed my socks and dried them with the hair dryer in the top.  They sure looked funny, something like a contraceptive I think!!!