I woke up to the sound of thunder crashing. It kept up for some time, but only a few sprinkles, however now at 9:30 it is overcast and cool. Gail slept in, I had to wake her for breakfast, which was our usual croissant, cappuccino and she got a fruit smoothie. Of course, we used the rest of our breakfast allowance to purchase a bottle of wine for that evening. We caught the metro under the river, grabbed a bus to save us walking up castle hill, got out at the end of the hill and started walking. Pretty impressive church, cute colorful houses lining the streets, statues and fountains, including a king who thought he was on par with god, guessing from the gold halo and pose. History doesn't really change much, our last couple kings… er, I mean presidents, seem to think they are god, or at least anointed or something. A common theme at the European castles and some churches. We are more European than we wish to admit.
We stopped for a snack at a self service take away then headed into the castle itself. The castle was huge, but not real ornate like some. There is the gigantic statue of the Turul Bird, a King on a Horse, and we saw the changing of the guard as we happened to be in the right place at the right time. We hiked off the hill, caught the metro back, transferred and started walking along the river, past the holocaust memorial (empty brass shoes on the edge of the river) and down the big tree lined promenade through town. We stopped at Bohêmis Bistro for a great glass of red wine, and tapas: foie gras with truffle, and shrimp for me, eggplant tartar for Gail. Ummm, really good. We continued slowly on walking and looking and then close to our hotel we came across the largest Jewish Synagogue in Europe. Behind it is a metal weeping willow tree, the thousands of leaves have the names of holocaust victims on them and they flutter in the wind.
We make reservations on a one-hour Danube river cruise boat for tonight, at 22:45 (glass of champagne included) a new experience for me as I have never been on a sightseeing boat. So we will have to eat dinner early at 20:30 to be sure to make the cruise.
A little down time in the room (I sit out on our little patio overlooking the café until it starts to rain, and then I don't come in until I am actually getting wet) then a nice little dinner of salad and lime grouse for me, cucumber and yogurt for Gail. It is weird feeling to be sitting inside a café eating. We eat outdoors at the cafes so many times, that I can remember the few times we have ever eaten inside. It is dry and very warm, we are all crammed in just like out on the sidewalk or patios, the crowd is buzzing happily and the smells from the kitchen intoxicating. Today is the first day of the whole trip I am wearing jeans, and I am actually going to wear my fleece to the river tonight. Over six weeks of heat, sweat and sun, and finally now, 21 July I am wearing these useless warm weather clothes I cursed every hot day walking to the bus. You just never know. Last year we really could have used more warm clothes, this year more cool ones. But it is all good.
We bundle up, walk to the Danube where the boat is waiting, (with blankets to huddle under) and enjoy a quiet, smooth ride looking up at the lights while sipping champagne. It is after midnight when we return and flop into bed. No BBC this evening!