Day 29 Budapest: Wednesday 8th July

It was an early start to get packed with our bags outside our cabin in order to be loaded onto the buses. Still time for a final breakfast, though I always have an identical breakfast so it was not particularly special!

We all slept for a good deal of the 2.5 hour journey to Budapest. Our bus went directly to the Marriott which was convenient. The water level in the Danube is low and relatively few boats were moving around.

The ramp across to one of the many floating docks. It’s normally flat!

There were at least 2 Avalon boats still moored when they shouldn’t be. Hopefully they will get going soon. Barbara and her daughter Lucy are still en route to Budapest and have had no communication from Avalon so hopefully their cruise will depart on Saturday as expected. There is supposed to be some water released from Austria on Friday so that will help.

We had to unload onto the street and were one of about 4 buses doing so. Lots of cruise boats are just moored with or without people on board.

Pauline’s friend Ria’s husband, Greg was in Budapest for the last day of a 2 week train trip around eastern Europe with his brother. Pauline only discovered that when Ria phoned her on the bus and it was nice to meet Greg when we got off. He couldn’t check into the Ibis until 3pm so was happy to team up with us for a couple of hours.

We couldn’t get into our room so dropped off our bags at the Avalon office (which is in the Marriott lobby) and had a wander down the street.

The pigeons on top of the heads of these founding fathers (or whomever) made me laugh.

We had lunch at Budapest’s most famous cafe. It is certainly very grand. We had probably the most expensive and certainly the best Caesar salads ever and coffees.

Then a walk to find a pharmacy as I have either got conjunctivitis or something stuck in my eye. I got some eye drops and they seem to relieve the discomfort.

Greg was able to check into his hotel at 3 and was hanging out for a shower after a long train journey from Turkey.

We walked along the river a bit with Pauline and then back to our hotel.

A bronze sculpture that stretches 30 or 40m along the riverfront and is a memorial to those executed and thrown into the Danube towards the end of WWll.

It was warm but extremely windy so the outdoor cafes were not an option.

Pauline had to leave for the airport at 3.30 so we had a departure drink with her and then did minimal unpacking.

With an excellent downstream view to the liberty memorial. All the rooms at the Marriott have river views so it’s an excellent accommodation option.

Dinner at the Marriott was pretty good but not outstanding. We’ve been spoilt by Avalon.

Next it’s off to Germany for motoGP. This is a trip of many very different experiences. 😍