29.9.24
6.45am alarm and off to brekkie, I don’t do well with only 6 hours of sleep. Thankfully the espressos are very strong.
First stop metro 2 to the war memorial.
I really need to do some background reading regarding the war. Instead I know everything about Hungarian cakes.
Our lovely receptionist at the Star City Hotel said we really must travel on Metro 1,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Line_M1_(Budapest_Metro)
It was lovely.
We did our usual trick of getting off at the wrong station to see the Opera House. I mean, how hard could it be..
It wasn’t in the same league as the one in Vienna, but pretty grand all the same.
We walked past the very impressive St. Michaels Church. We were going to go in but as there was a service going on so we stood quietly looking.
The church bouncer said we couldn’t stand on the threshold. We took a step back. He asked if we were Catholic, no said Carol at which point we were shooed away. I said to him ‘and thats how wars start’.
I really wanted to go back and take his photo. Not to do anything with it necessarily, but Carol didn’t let me. So instead I decided I’m going right to the top, the Pope.
From there we went to the market hall as it was closed yesterday, we’d had to make do with a look around Aldi.
It was a little disappointing as not many stalls open, but pleased to see it as another tick on the list.
I had seen online that there are ruin bars, we ran out of time yesterday, or so we thought!
I really didn’t think they would be open in the daytime. It was fabulous. This one was in the Jewish Quarter.
I also wanted to see the Shoes on the Danube in the daylight. The craftmanship is incredible, they’re metal, but so lifelike.
Time for a coffee break, before heading back to the hotel to collect our luggage and go by Bolt to Kelonfeld bus station for our Flixbus back to Bratislava.
It was a bit of a panic, we were watching the map on the dashboard and would be on time if there were no dramas.
Eeek.. There was a bus there headed for Paris and they told us the Bratislava was next. Phewww we made it. Panic over.
Actually we more than made it. I got 13.40 and 14.40 muddled. We we an hour early. Even worse I could have had an extra hour in bed.
Nothing for it but to go to Starbucks, more coffee and some very good chocolate cake with peanuts on the top.
Our bus was on time and a couple of hours later we were in Bratislava. We knew exactly where we were staying and walked off a teaspoon of cake.
With some intrepidation we boarded the Botel Gracia.
Apart from the stony faced, slowest ever, possibly public hating receptionist, we were very impressed with our cabin/ room. There was ample space. We explored upstairs then went to the Eurovea shopping mall, to visit Primark.
I was very happy to also find they sell powerbanks. A bit late now, but I’ll be better prepared next time I travel.
A pair of pjs, fluffy socks, and some undies later it was time to eat.
The upstairs food court had a great selection. I got a huge €6.90 Chinese buffet, Carol found veggie curry. It was all delicious.
Back on board the Gracia we went up to the bar, decaff for me, Prosecco for Carol. The bar prices were very reasonable.
We were both very tired. We’d walked another 16km today!
