The ride started out with another ferry crossing of the Danube. We got there about 25 minutes before it was due to leave and figured the system was the same, where you get on and pay for the ticket on the way over. We didn't count on the massive bicycle tour group also being there to cross, the massive truck that got on the ferry (along with two support vehicles and trailers for the tour group) and various other people and cars. Also, it seems like you had to buy tickets at the cafe before you got on, unless you happened to follow the tour group onto the ferry and they assumed you were part of it. We feel a little bad about our free ride, but we didn't even properly realise what was going on until it was too late!
The ride into Budapest was relatively short from there, although it took longer than we might have expected. There were again long sections on the road, which we all find a bit stressful (some traffic hasn't heard of "a metre matters", although mostly the drivers are great with giving us plenty of room). There were good sections of beautiful bike path, although some of them ended a bit abruptly. At one point in a drop off that fed straight onto the road. Some quick thinking had us stopped in time to avoid any issues.
Navigating the way along the river into the city was "interesting", we took back streets and dirt tracks to avoid main roads until we hit the proper bike path along the river. The views as we came in were spectacular, with some debate over the purpose of one massive building - Gillian won that one, it is the Hungarian Parliament (more on that in another post...).
We stopped for some lunch in the city before checking into our digs. And WOW! This wins hands down the prize for best place we've staying in so far. We're in the old Jewish Quarter in a "two bedroom apartment" (check it out here). The description doesn't do it justice. It is bigger than our house (not joking), with three enormous main rooms, and what seems to be original parquetry flooring. The ceilings are high and there are a couple of chandeliers (Gillian likes the pink one in the living room). There has been some discussion about extending our stay here and just taking the train the rest of the way to Belgrade...
The rest of the afternoon saw us finding a laundromat to do some washing (luxury! we're sick of rinsing everything out...), and then in the evening we found a couple of nice "ruin bars" to go to for dinner and then a little nightcap. More exploration has followed - but that will be the subject of another entry!
Relive 'Danube day 20'
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