Imperial Capitals 4

 Days 5 and 6 - Bratislava, Budapest

Today is the long hike to Budapest.. We stop in Bratislava, Slovakia. This is the first time I've stopped off for lunch in a different country. Because of traffic issues we are only given 90 minutes to lunch and sightsee. Impossible. However, we manage a nice meal of pork liver and potato sitting outside on the main street looking up to this beautiful church. 

Bratislava, Slovakia

A quick dash up and down the street and we are the last back on the coach. Slovakia done. 

Amazingly, we have to do business on both Slovakian borders, I think because we are a coach, and tolls have to be paid. The coach driver is at pains to explain how much he has to pay for tolls etc during the trip, and I almost feel sorry for him until I remember who is paying for them. There are two drivers with us, one the epitome of politeness and the other who could really work on his customer relation skills (and his jokes). At one stage TC and I are told to 'get a move on', and I thought a fight was going to break out when said driver got very irritated with a passenger who kept changing his mind about trips. To be fair, passenger was being bloody minded. However, it did create an entertainment for those of us at the back of the coach. Quite welcome on a long journey. 

We arrive exhausted in Budapest, and are fed and watered before heading out on a 'Budapest by Night' tour. Very tiring but worth it. The grand buildings in Budapest stand proudly on the Danube and are beautifully lit by night. The Parliament buildings are remarkably similar to Westminster but fall short of ours by 4cm. Andrea, our guide, mentions this twice and says if she had anything to do with it, it would have been done better. I think it excels in any case. 

Palace and Chain Bridge

Andrea our guide

Day 6 starts with the lark again, and I'm so tired I can't get down for breakfast but manage to get on the coach in time. Andrea takes us to the Imperial Castle on the Buda side of the river (Pest is the other) and more history ensues. Andrea hated history at school, but she is more than making up for it now. More importantly for me, there are stunning photo opportunities and I'm happy. The coloured roof tiles are quite something. 

Mathias Church

Parliament Buildings 

We are then taken on our 2nd lunch cruise of the holiday. This one is much superior to the one in Prague, and is quite sumptuous. We are given a glass of sparkling something on boarding, and our table is furnished with 2 bottles of wine. Just what is required. Andrea is the most thorough guide and proceeds to describe the contents of the buffet in detail, whilst everyone gazes on longingly. When she stops there is a rush. Unfortunately, having prised myself into my seat, I am unable to move, so TC is tasked with fetching a selection for me. Normally I would not trust him with this but I'm so hungry, I don't care. 

It is only about 2pm and most of the group are taken back to the hotel exhausted, but we opt for staying in the city centre. I have an ever decreasing head for heights, and only remember this whilst climbing up to the top of St Stephen's Basilica. Too late. Fortunately the barrier at the top is sufficiently high not to cause alarm and I can let go of the wall. Views are good, although Budapest is mostly flat and there is not much structural architecture that would make the skyline interesting. 

St Stephen's Basilica

Inside the Basilica a wedding is in progress, but tourists are still allowed to wander and snap away. St Stephen's hand (founder of Hungary), is still there, from 1036, encased in an ornate box. 

Basilica

A street cafe follows for respite. It is very humid, not hot, but pretty uncomfortable after a fresh sunny Prague. We wander to the ferris wheel and TC is keen to go on before the coach comes. It is not huge but enough to turn my legs to jelly as we soar over the top. I keep my eyes closed. 

St Stephen's Basilica - view from ferris wheel 

More Budapest tomorrow.