Wednesday September 23, 2009 Budapest, Hungary to Vienna, Austria

Day 26 of 36

Budapest, Hungary to Vienna, Austria
Flight 13 of 18
133 miles of 22,121 total miles to be travelled

I had a lot to finish seeing today so I was up at 6 am. Showered and dressed and went to breakfast in the beautiful hotel atrium. I was the only one there for breakfast so early! Caught up on a little bit of CNN and headed out a little before 7.

Walked through the narrow pedestrian streets to the south. Down to the old Danube River bridge - traffic was getting very heavy. It was only about a 3o minute walk there. Budapest is a great walking city - easy to get around and things are not as far as they seem. Went across the bridge to the Gellert Hotel. To the right in the hotel building is an old thermal sauna - Gellert Pools. I went in and looked around. The architecture is the attraction. The people going there for their thermal treatments looked like they were all living in Our Lady of Hope (nursing home). The treatments were expensive and all a la carte - $20 - $30 per session. So I skipped that.

Then I realized that the Budapest version of the Statue of Liberty was just up the hill. So I started up in a beautiful natural park - winding, steeply sloping walkways and stairs. I made it half way and realized I had a long way to go and gave up. I'd already been there anyway. So I took in the view from one of the benches in the shade and then headed back down a different path. Back across the river and through winding streets to the hotel.

I finished packing and checked out and left my bags with the bellman. I headed off to the Victory Park where they have statues, museums, park, etc. I headed up Androssy Avenue - the Champs d'Elyssee of Budapest - smart shops, beautiful mansions, and past the Opera House - beautiful structure. It was about a 45 minute walk to the park so I walked on the shady side of the street.

My walk took me through the "mansion district" - old mansions that were magnificent. Many needed work - some were embassies. Not many people out walking. Went to the Victory statues, and then over to a museum that was in an old castle. Beautiful parkland with lakes and paths, and benches. I stumbled into another thermal sauna (something like Chevkinko) - looked at the menu and clientele - same as Bellert! Beautiful building though.

Walked back through a side street in the mansion district and marveled at the houses. Get back to the Opera and took a table at Callas Restaurant for lunch. Had a Hungarian beer (large of course), Hungarian grilled chicken breast with a wonderful sauce and rice. It was really yummy. And I was hungry from all of the walking. Then had rice pudding with "forest fruit sauce" - a sauce made of small berries. The rice pudding was done into a cake and cut. It was good. As I was paying my check, an elderly lady with a cane stumbled on the cobblestones at the Opera House and fell face down on the pavement and was knocked out. She was all bloody. I got the waiter over and asked him to call for help. Some other people attended to her but she was out. I left before help arrived but she was in good hands with the passersby and the restaurant personnel who volunteered to help.

Walked back to the Basilica for one last look around inside and out. To the hotel to retrieve my bags and I used their internet one last time in the lobby while I was waiting for the airport shutte to arrive. The shuttle driver arrived pretty much on time, but the traffic was unbelievable. We had to pick up at one other location and getting there took over 20 minutes - then we set out for the airport. It took well over an hour to get there.

Check-in was easy, as was security. I found out that Hungary is a part of the EU (but not on the euro) so it has open borders with other European countries. So no immigration check. Went to the Business Class Lounge - which was a teeny-weeny room tha was hot and crowded. Hungary is just going to have to "get with it"!

We loaded up on the Austrian Air flight - and the flight was uneventful. It was only 35 minutes but they served us a sandwich and sweet and drinks. On arrival in Vienna, I bought a roundtrip ticket for the CAT train that takes you right to Vienna in 16 minutes. My bag came out quickly, I had to wait about 20 minutes for the train to arrive and then was off to Vienna. I was able to get a taxi right away and it was a short ride to the Vienna Marriott. But it was almost $10 just for that!

The Marriott upgraded me to a suite with concierge level privileges. I was beat so went up the the lounge for a cocktail before they closed it for the evening. Brought a "double" back to the room and unpacked and sorted clothes - dirty - not dirty. Updated email, checked the stock market (not a good day), and then went to bed. I'm whipped from travelling. I'll get breakfast tomorrow in the executive lounge so will just sleep in for a change with no agenda.

Hard to believe that so much of this trip has happened already. I'm feeling so fortunate tonight.