West to East

 Vienna - definitely a stately city. with lots to see and do.  It is a very bike friendly city and very bike safe!

Keeping the citizens safe

Central Vienna - it is a very spacious city - makes other places feel claustrophobic

We took a bicycle tour of the city which allowed us to get orientated and to learn a little about the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the Hapsburgs which had such an influence on Europe. In fact they controlled so much of Europe that when the Opera House was built in Budapest Franz Joseph gave approval only on the condition that it was smaller than the Vienna Opera House.


It was raining as we left Vienna and our first foray into Eastern Europe was grey and gloomy which we thought fitting.  Our major thoughts as a result of visiting Slovakia was the obvious economic stagnation that took place under the Soviets - while the rest of Europe rebuilt and enjoyed the economic good times after the war the soviet countries really got left behind and this is obvious in the basic infrastructure that we take for granted.

Just off the main square in Bratislava

a bit further up the road

 waiting for coffee - overlooking Bratislava

To be fair - there is development and this is a brand new development of apartments and shopping centres in Brataslava beside The Danube

In Hungary we cycled through the flood plains of the Danube which is the breadbasket of the area and while the quality of the bike paths has deteriorated quite signficantly we really love this place.  The villages are small and relatively prosperous and we rode through fields of sunflowers and corn.

 Golf club in rural Hungary - thought this could be the design for RFGC's new club house!!

 A quite village just over the border from Slovakia

 This was the first place we stayed in Hungary - broke the bank - 30 Euros/ night

 A tiny village - roads were broken asphalt with pot-holes to be feared, or were mud and puddles

 Estergom in Hungary - the view from the Slovakian side of the river

Estergom is one of the oldest cities in Hungary, first settled in the stone age,  occupied by the Romans, the Magyars moved in the the 10th Century, it was then invaded by the Mongols in the 11th C, taken by the Tartarss in the 13thC, and invaded by the Turks in the 16th C.    It's been described as "Hungary's Rome" and the Basillica there is truly breathtaking - and until we rolled in we didn't even know it existed!!  It was one of those special places you come across when travelling that make you realize how wonderful and varied the world is...

The view from our dinner table just outside Budapest

We were in Budapest for 4 nights and we love it.  It has a very laid back bohemian feel and is packed with history - from the Celts, the Romans, the Tartars through to the Hapsburgs, then to the Soviets.  So much has happened in this city and this country, it is teeming with atmosphere and it has re-invirgorated our travel lust - feels like travel of yore, when we have no real idea what we will come across next.

Budapest really comes into its own at night - as you can see!

A view of the Buda side - the river runs through the middle and this gives a special feel.

From the the Buda side, looking down on Pest - from the palace - this is the chain bridge - a well known landmark

A view of the Parliament Buildings on the Pest side - from Fishermas Bastion

An art installation in the lake close to Heros monument - we took this with Holly in mind

A string orchestra in St Stevens church - really enjoyed this - sound great - a beautiful setting

On the first days ride south of Budapest - we rode for almost 2 hours beside the Danube.  There were weekend places on both sides of the river and this was one of the many private fishing platforms that line the riverbanks

Still beside the river.  I would love to have a weekender here - it was such a laid back place - really loved as well from all appearances

A ferry crossing on our ride toward the border of Croatia.  We arrived at the road 3 km from the ferry only to be confronted with No Bicycle signs - what to do - ignore them - we were quite perplexed as there was no other way to access the ferry and the otherside of the river which was where we wanted to go!  This wouldn't happen in Germany!

We left the Danube just before the border with Croatia and are now cycling to a Hungarian playground - Balaton Lake.  The roads we are travelling on are rural and quiet, it continues to be a great ride.

In general it seems that at the end of every day there is something new and interesting to talk about and learn from.  And every new day there seems to be something interesting to look forward to.  It seems to just keep coming......

  We will take a train to Budapest on 19th of August and then we will take the train to Prague on the 21st.  We are waiting for a gypsy to tell us if Sean and Les will be in Prague to, it is hard to know as Mr Wain and Ms Rowlands are vaciliating (how strange).  We fly home on the 26th..  Not long really, which is both good and bad.  Home - it is always nice to have a home to go to!