Cesky Kromlov to Budapest
Cesky - Krumlov at 9:00 - off to Budapest - shuttle bus arrives - Daniel is an entrepreneur- another driver - much more talkative - he and John chat all the way to Linz - two other passengers - Aussies.
Again road quality and countryside improves as we cross the border - green neat pastures, extensive forests - lovely hills and valleys - arrive in Linz - clean but clinical - not sure about the town but the little we saw of it did not inspire. Pickup our tickets for the Austrian rail journey - very efficient and helpful lady at the counter - walk over to the park - wander back to the station - on the train to Budapest - not a fast train - 200k - but clean and comfortable - first class outdone by the special premium class.
Trip roles on out of Austria into Hungary - John and Merie find the trip long - Bernie still unwell - we pass the Danube as we approach Gyor - that station looks pretty grotty - maybe we will regret our visit to the town on the return journey - onwards to Budapest.
Into Budapest - not a great approach by rail - into the station - oh he'll - old and dilapidated. - taxis driver run to meet us - plenty of unhelpful advice - only have euros - where is the nearest ATM - no one knows - eventually Bernie finds an information counter - around the corner and down the street - out we go - oh he'll this looks really grotty - what is the Hungarian forint - what is it's value - how much should we withdraw - 200 to 1 A$ - let's get 40000 huf
Eventually get our money - see a taxi - a golf wagon - great - will fit us all - taxi has a meter - that is good - Bernie makes sure it is turned on - Bernie points to the hotel on our google map - driver cannot see - borrows my glasses - confidence falls - eventually discover he is having a lend of us - hands maps back to Bernie and pretends to let Bernie navigate - we all laugh - we move away from the railway environs into true central Pest - beautiful - we all relax and we get tom the hotel safely - charges us the meter fee.
Hotel great - staff great - people smile - dinner at the hotel - order schnitzel - amazed to hear the chef pounding the hell out of something- clearly it was the schnitzel - tasted great - the wine however - baggy as baggy as baggy- Merie decides to order the house wine - tolerable.
Off to bed dreaming of baggy wine.
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