Funny Finnair

[Cessna 180]

Thursday, I drove up in to the mountains and visited a cave and had a general drive around. Ended up on a tour with a bunch of school kids all in Hungarian. Haha

A German couple I got chatting too in the pool the day prior recommended I go to this restaurant. They had relocated to Eger as the thermal water does wonders for their arthritis. Go figure...

Yummy, tender Venison with some delicious fresh, warm bread.

 

[Cessna 180]

Friday, I departed for Gyor. I was meeting up with an old friend and work college who now resides in Vienna.

I passed over the Danube and enjoyed another days drive. I stopped in this town called Esztergom . I walked around here for a couple of hours and crossed the Danube again, this time by foot into Slovakia. I suppose technically I have now been to Slovakia.

I really liked this place and wished I was staying here the night. However Gyor was not to disappoint.

 

[Cessna 180]

Arrived in Gyor and hoofed it across to the train station to meet Tom. We had not seen each other for many years so obviously we needed to visit the pub.

Spent the next couple of days just wandering around visiting the many bars and cafes catching up on old times, there seemed to be endless streets lined with them! As well as another thermal pool. This one was not so good.

I did not get many pictures here for whatever reason, however there is one of me drinking from some random tap on the ground. I did notice a lack of taps and toilets at a lot of the places I went through. I suppose if one does not drink much water then there is less need to have a leak.

 

[Cessna 180]

Sunday morning, I bid Tom farewell, and I was back in the trusty red rocket bound for Lake Balaton. I followed the Lake south to Kezthely and Heviz. A lovely Moldovin couple met me at another well-equipped accom. Not much English was spoken but I think (hope) both sides were happy with the situation. It turned out this was just up the hill from the lake and more hot swimming. When I say hot I should probably say warm. As much as these places were amazing, they were no Taupo or Rotarua.

Kezthely reminded me the most of a country town in Aus perhaps of all the places I visited. Plenty of free standing homes on decent sized blocks. I am not saying I did not see this anywhere else, but this place stood out to me. Also another massive castle type place. I never really did learn what this one was about. I wonder with a few weeks of hindsight If I had just seen so much amazing hand built architecture that it was all starting to seem a bit less impressive. I wish I did take a tour of this place. It had the most beautiful grounds and gardens too. This one was so big it did not fit in one picture.

Anyway, Tuesday morning I was finally going to Budapest proper. (my original planned destination) I was intending to go there on my Poland trip in 2020 but that morphed into something quite different.

 

[VPS]

Little red car and part of my daily diet.
Traded some cash I had left and felt rich.

some great photos you have. Those strawberries look delicious. When I was in the UK recently I went through a punnet of raspberries at least every other day

 

[Cessna 180]

some great photos you have. Those strawberries look delicious. When I was in the UK recently I went through a punnet of raspberries at least every other day

Oh yes, haha. The strawberries started on day one in Bucharest and were everywhere after that.

 

[craven morehead]

Oh good. I am in your area, possibly flew over your house a couple of times on the weekend...

I finish work on Monday and will then have 7 days off.

 

[Cessna 180]

I finish work on Monday and will then have 7 days off.

Oh buggerr. I have done not much the last few days and will be departing Sunday Morn at this stage. Our schedules never seem to line up!

 

[craven morehead]

Oh buggerr. I have done not much the last few days and will be departing Sunday Morn at this stage. Our schedules never seem to line up!

Let me know next time you're heading this way, and we'll make a plan

 

[Cessna 180]

Anyway, Tuesday morning I was finally going to Budapest proper. (my original planned destination) I was intending to go there on my Poland trip in 2020 but that morphed into something quite different.

Another lovely drive along the edge of Lake Balaton and through some more cute little towns.

Back at the airport I traded the red rocket in. As much as he annoyed me with lack of performance and poor road manners, it had been my trust companion for a week and I was a little sad to see him gone.

There is a city express bus that runs pretty regularly, just tap ones card and off we go. A bit like sky bus in MEL I suppose, seemed to work pretty well. A nice drive through the ‘burbs and into town. A short walk to another decent Apartment with another strange checkin procedure.

Back on foot I was soon crossing the Mighty Danube once more and enjoying the impressive structures.

The next morning my friend Chris from Perth turned up for a few days sight seeing himself.

 

[Cessna 180]

We spent the next couple of days walking around and being tourists. Taking photos inside this Basilica seemed to be accepted. So I joined in.
For the life of me though I cannot seem to get a good picture compared to what is available on the internet anyway. I just enjoyed being there and reflecting on how they could have built such a thing with all the intricate detail. This city seemed a lot busier than Bucharest which I think is a similar size, more touristy anyway. Hard to quantify I know, when only there for a few days.

These random bank teller machines were everywhere on the side of the road, a bit like the coffee machines in Ruse.

Thursday morning realization had hit me that I had 24 hours left until the long trip home. My ticket originally had me with an eight hour layover in Hel, which was my choice thinking I had get out and have a look around for a few hours. There was a later flight available and I decided this would be better use of my time if I could change and just enjoy a few more hours in Budapest.

Somehow, i managed to get through to Qantas fairly promptly and spoke with an agent (possibly African or Fiji) who was able to change me on to the later flight with no points change fee but an $13 fee. I was not in a position to argue or complain and shortly the new ticket was emailed and all was good.

 

[Cessna 180]

Well sadly, this is kind of it I suppose. Last day in Hungary and off to the airport to where this story began.

I am very grateful for all the encouragement, the likes and the positive comments on this little blurb.

As a post script, I have already booked a redemption to Dubrovnik with the intention of visiting Albania next May. I visited about a tenth of the places on this recent trip that I intended too, so hopefully I can get a bit more in before this amazing area of the world gets on every one else’s radar and the prices go up. Also thanks to AY before they put their taxes up to everyone else’s level.

 

[VPS]

Thanks for the TR and safe travels home