We started the day off bright and early today. Actually I woke up at 3:30am and couldn't go back to sleep. I tried for an hour and then opened the curtain so I would have enough light to finish reading the book I had become engrossed with. The name of the book is "Stolen Innocence" by Elissa Wall and is about the girl who got Warren Jeff put in jail for arranging her marriage with the Fundamentalist Mormons at age 14. It really made me mad. It was totally fascinating.
We served ourselves a real nice buffet breakfast here in the hotel. Fortunately it was included in our room rate. We like all those all-you -can eat affairs. We were picked up by a taxi and taken to our open air bus tour of Budapest. It was a two hour tour that took in all the major spots. The day was perfect weather wise (maybe just a little too hot) and gave us a good overview of this very beautiful city. It was followed by a 2 hour boat ride on the Danube taking in the sights from a different perspective. It was enjoyable too.
After that we finally took on the metro (subway) system and got ourselves to the "House of Terror". This building had housed the Nazi party leaders and told about all the atrocities that took place in the building. It was as sobering as expected. It seemed as though most of the staff were hold overs from that era because they lacked many of the friendly graces we had thus far experienced in Budapest.
From there we went on to supper. After discussion and searching we ended up in a restauarnt off the main "walking" street. We were the only ones in the dining room because we wouldn't eat in the bar where they wanted to put us, but we couldn't take the smoke. A 3 person musical ensemble of violin, guitar and bass came in to serenade us. They were very good and with us being the only ones in the room Bill and Ken were very friendly with them. Before you know it they brought in a CD of themselves and were anxious for both of us couples to buy one. Bill said yes immediately and when we asked the price and they said the equivalent of $32 I knew we had been taken. Of course Bill insisted on paying them and asked them to play a few more songs for us so we'd at least get a little more for our money. Ken and Nancy wouldn't buy one.
We made our way back to the hotel via public transportation. I think I've figured out the metro now so can get around just fine. That's it for now. Bill is already on the bed snoring (fully dressed).
3 comments:
So when you say it's hot, how hot is it? Like 75 and that's too much for you guys? Also, can you tell us how much things cost? I know the dollar is weak every where it seems so what is it like in Budapest?
I look forward to checking in after work to see if you have posted info on your trip. Glad you had a lovely day--summer has arrived on Cape Cod today--it was gorgeous. I think Boston was very hot today.
What kind of food are they serving you for your evening meal--anything unique to the country?
Hope you had a good sleep--it took Charlie and I several days coming home to adjust to the time change--didn't seem to have a problem while we were there.
All is well--Mom goes to the Podiatrist tomorrow.
The news has declared Barack Obama the winner of the primary!
You know, I have to candidly admit something that I just shared with Camille a few minutes ago: I love the blog, but it seems to cheapen the fact that you're half-way around the world!!! It seems as though you guys are still in Norfolk. Whatever happened to the days of communicating once or twice while a person is in Europe, and then hearing - for the first time - all the exciting tales of the adventures??
This is not to discourage you from writing of course, just a reflection of the times we live in!!!
Wish we were there with you so much!
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