Budapest:
Tuesday, November 12



  • Sleep until 9:00 - walk to hotel down the street still under construction - standard meat and bread breakfast - workers finish as we arrive - a four-year-old boy talks in the little voice of a happy kid
  • Down the big hill to the Danube - left about a mile - take funicular up to Castle Hill
    Castle Hill Funicular View from the Top Matthias Fountain
  • Much has been reconstructed here - older pieces were damaged by way in some cases - bullet holes from 1945 are visible in walls of one building
  • Walk among shops with "handmade" souvenirs and clothing - rather pricey
  • Cathedral of St. Matthias is 15th century - beautiful roof and spire, but populated inside
  • Looking for restaurant in the guidebook - experience the strange street-numbering practices - finally located a locked, seemingly vacant restaurant - oh, well
  • Backtrack to another restaurant - sit with Tokais wine and Muskovy Plate - good food, but unspectacular
  • Great view of Parliament building as we descend via funicular - take Metro to train station - sun setting fast by 3:30 - buy train ticket to Ljubljana - now about transit visa through upper Croatia - okay, says after-hours staff at U.S. Embassy
  • Heading back through Pest business district - planning to come back out with a guide at night - stop for groceries, get bus, go home, arrange for night taxi and unload stuff - nope, gonna stay in, snack, sleep - outta here at pre-dawn!

    Wednesday, November 13