pinkbirdflies

Train from Vienna to Salzburg….The Sound of Music and birthplace of Mozart!! 

Shonbrunn Palace was beautiful inside the state rooms and the grounds just lovely…sampled some of the finest Viennese apple strudel and a ‘Melange’ coffee (double shot cappuccino) to get the energy to explore the Belvedere Palace which had a beautiful collection of Klimt paintings on display in the gallery, including The Kiss, Girlfriends and Judith. Lovely dinner overlooking the lights of Vienna.

Took a train from Budapest in Hungary across the countryside to Austria and the city of Vienna…used the Hop on Hop off bus to get an overview of the sights and monuments of this beautiful city…explored the most unusual Museum which included the Photographic exhibition of Linda McCartney, before tackling the biggest Wiener Schnitzels at Figmueller which is famous for them!

Spent the morning taking the waters of the Gellert thermal baths including the hottest steam room I have ever been in….the baths are old, famous and ornately tiled. Spent the afternoon on a Segway tour ‘hooning’ around the central city sights which was really good fun. Checked out one of the ‘Ruin Bars’ in the old Jewish quarter…very funky and happening! An amazing culture has developed in Budapest post communism and the city has a great vibe, good food and drink and friendly people embracing’western, capitalist’ culture and way of life.

Checked into the Danubius Gellert Hotel on the banks of the Danube, an amazing palatial building with interiors untouched from the sixties I’m sure…got the grand suites and all..feeling very posh by Budapest standards! Cate, Jenny’s friend from France, joined us for the weekend….visited the central market with all its paprika and sausage displayed! Explored Buda Castle Hill and had an exceptional wine tasting experience including ‘ice wine’. Hungarian wines ar e very good indeed. 

Explored shops.. got a great haircut…St Stephen’s Basilica with the Black Madonna and the Budapest Buddha Bar and night lights..

Flew from Corfu via Athens to Budapest arriving to a cold, windy 13 degrees! Interesting taxi ride into the city..very eastern bloc looking! Arrived at Hotel in Buda which is on one side of the Danube and Pest is on the other. Met Jenny McArthur in our hotel apartment which is exactly like something out of George Orwell’s 1984 book…rag mats and the smell of boiled cabbage..even a mirror where Big Brother could even still be watching…Lovely dinner of Hungarian Veal and their cucumber and sour cream side dish! Explored the city via a walking tour…Vorosmarty Square, Erzsebet and deak Squares, St Stephens Basilica,  across the Danube via the Chain Bridge climbing up to the Royal Palace and Matthias Church and Fishermans Bastion. 

Left Paxos taking the ‘Flying Dolphin’ hydro foil back to Corfu…wandered the streets of old town appreciating the Venetian architecture and decent coffee!

Went exploring and found old tombs of unknown origin…hand made stone cisterns to catch and store precious water…coffee on the waterfront and squid at loggos…

Ancient Christian church…sandy bay…ubiquitous “Greek Cappuccino”…Mythos beer and fresh calamari…