Blog, January 11th, 2015
Hello, My Faithful Readers:
Happy
New Year!
I have posted three photographs at the end of the blog. The first is me on the cruise ship. We had just arrived on board. The second is the entrance to the metro in Budapest. As you can see, not many people trying to gain access and not a lot of security. Finally, I could not resist the photo of the sausages. My mouth is still watering thinking about all the different varieties.
I hope that my “Faithful Readers” had/are still having a
terrific beginning to the New Year! It just does not feel real that a new year
has begun – but it certainly has. When I last left you I was getting ready to
travel over the Christmas and New Year Holidays on a River Cruise down the
Danube. For the first time in eight months I would not be in Georgia and I must
tell you it felt GREAT. I really needed
a change of venue. So, this blog really won’t be about my life and experiences
in Georgia; however, it will chronicle my well earned vacation over the
holidays!
I guess I could begin at the beginning of my
travels; however, I think I am going to start at how my vacation ended. So much
of what I experienced was planned on the River Boat; however, what happened at
the end of the trip was not – so I will start at the end.
I was so sad to leave Budapest. I fell in love with
the city. The architecture, the history, the ease of transportation, the food (believe
me…I would not lose any weight in this city) J…..but alas, my
airline ticket said I had to go. My trip was to go from Budapest to Istanbul
and then connecting from Istanbul to Tbilisi. The first leg went smooth,
although the flight was bumpy. We were experiencing weather (snow and wind); so
we were late landing. For some reason we exited the plane on the field many
miles (at least it felt like it) from the terminal. We were exiting the plane
onto outside steps that were loaded with ice. I was afraid of slipping; but,
made it through ok. By the time we reached the terminal (we rode a GOOD 10-15
minutes in the tram) I had maybe 15-20 minutes to make my connection. I ran as
fast as I could. I even tried to kill myself; that being, I tried to get onto the
moving walkway going in the wrong direction – “ouch”. I just was not thinking
clearly; I just wanted to get to the gate. I was really lucky as I could have
really gotten hurt. After all that, I missed the flight. In my life, I have
never missed a flight – so what do I do now.
I found the Turkish Airlines “transfer” desk after
many people gave me directions that were not correct. I found a family who was
also on my flight and missed the connection so we had strength in numbers at
the “transfer” desk. Of course, the computers were acting strange and many of
the attendants didn’t seem to know what they were doing. Finally, I was able to
get re-scheduled on a flight leaving the next day. With my new boarding pass, I
made my way to “Passport control.”
Because I was going to be lodged at a hotel overnight (outside of the
airport) I had to obtain a visa – 30.00-US$. After “passport control” I was off
to the hotel desk to find out where I would be staying overnight. Well, me and
a couple of hundred other folks (maybe more) who had flights that were
cancelled or they missed the flight were waiting at the hotel desk. It took
forever, but finally got a room assignment.
Along with about 30 folks in my small hotel assignment group we all went
with a representative of Turkish Airlines to find the airport shuttle to be
taken to the hotel. For sure, I thought we were going to a hostel type hotel,
but I was so tired all I wanted to do was sleep.
The hotel was about 30-minutes outside of the
airport and it was beautiful (200 Euros a night, cheapest room). When we
arrived they had dinner waiting and we were told what time breakfast would be
served and what time our shuttle arrived to go back to the airport. My room was
just beautiful. I was so tired that I didn’t fully enjoy it as we had landed at
11:30pm and I did not get to my room until 3:30am. Breakfast was from 7am –
10am and the shuttle came at 10am…..it was a whirlwind; but it was comfortable
and I was able to take an unexpected shower and get a few hours of comfort
sleeping…what a fabulous bathroom J
By the way, during my travels I stopped counting at
20 showers over the 14 days. I am sure the count went way higher….It was
wonderful to feel so clean!!!
Spending the night in Istanbul was so unexpected. As
we traveled from the airport to the hotel I was surprised at how familiar the
roadway felt. Just like in any major city with all the trappings you find on
highways and byways. All of the signage
was in Turkish (is that the language?). I was surprised not to see any English
at all. I made my re-scheduled flight
with no problems; but, I now have a Turkish Visa and feel that returning to
Turkey will be a definite adventure for me. (Also, I know the airport fairly
well!) - J
Prior to my adventure in Turkey, I got to experience
Budapest as the end of my River Boat Cruise down the Danube ended in Budapest.
When I left the ship I spent 3-nights and 4-days at the Chain Bridge Sofitel
Hotel in Budapest. What a beautiful hotel and so centrally located I was able
to walk or take the tram to just about every place that I wanted to see. I
spent about 8+ hours each day sightseeing. I’ve included some links at the end
in the event that you would like more information on the attractions that I was
able to see.
The first stop was the tour of the Parliament
Building. This building occurs for me as a wedding cake. It is just beautiful
and so big. The tour begins by going through security that rivals security at
the airport. Your ticket is bar coded and you must swipe your ticket as you
enter and exit. I would imagine that the exit swipe is to insure that you left
the building as there are many, many places in the building where one could
hide out. The tour started with walking 130 steps up into the building. Of
course, there was an elevator; however, I took it on as a personal challenge to
do the walk. We walked through many rooms and did see one of the legislative
chambers. We did get to see the changing of the guards that guard the crown
jewels. It was noted that the cross on the top of the crown was not straight
and the guide said that they believe the crown would not fit in the box for
storage so they pushed it in and as a result the cross ended up on a slant. (trivia, if it is true?)
I then went onto the “House of Terror” former HQ’s
of two of the countries darkest regimes (Nazi’s and the Russians). I waited,
along with countless others, way over an hour to pay my admission fee to enter
the building. I was in awe of the exhibit. It was well done and sobering (to
say the least). I was also taken back at how little of the history I knew of
this city and the role it played during the war. So many aspects of the exhibit
struck me; however, when I read that prisioners who served time at both the
Nazi run Dachau concentration camp and the communist Resck work camp in Hungary
said that conditions were better at Dachau. I just cannot get my head around
that.
I ended my first day with taking in a Hungarian Folk
Dancing and Music Concert.
The days continued with visiting tourist attractions
like “Historic McDonalds.” This was the
FIRST McDonalds behind the Iron Curtin. The McDonalds was very small (by
today’s standards) and at the time was not considered to be “fast food” as the
lines went around the block waiting for “western” food. During the cold war Budapest was considered
sort of a “sin city” of the Eastern Bloc – What happened in Budapest stayed in
Budapest (ha, sound familiar)! Of course, I had to have a BIG MAC (my first in
at least 20-years).
I checked out “Gellert” hotel. It is the oldest
hotel in Budapest (it is on the Buda
side). It still has the backdrop at the registration desk where the room keys
were usually kept (and you could also leave notes and messages in the cubby
that housed the keys). So old world – it was a blast from the past.
The Gellert thermal baths, facilities separate from
the hotel but close by, was not something I could participate in. I was really
disappointed as I didn’t bring a bathing suit. The water temperature varies in
different sections of the facility. Thermal pool range from 38 degreesC to 40
degreesC, and immersion and swimming pools are 19 degreesC and 27 degreesC,
respectfully. They have a wave pool, massage facilities and even something
called a “Cleopatra bath” – whatever that means. There are lots and lots of
amenities to calm the soul. They do have an observation deck so I did get to
see a little; but, the facilities are too big to see all. Gellert is not the
only facility in Budapest. I was told that some folks go to the baths in the
morning before they leave for work. What a great way to start your day!
I could write many more pages on Budapest but for
now I’ll close this section with my adventures on the tram, the metro and “the
eye.” As is my practice, when I go into
a city I usually take the “Big Bus” tour to get a feel for the city. However,
since the cruise line did provide a bus tour I spent my time on the “trams and
metro.” The hotel sells the tickets and provides information on where to gain
access. I just love exploring a city this way. I usually just stay on the “tram”
until the end of the line and then explore. The metro is underground but it’s
an underground tram (not a train). Their system for paying fares is really the
honor system as most times there is no one checking to see if you paid your
ticket. And then finally, “the eye” which is a BIG Ferris Wheel (kind-a-like in
London). I was scared to death. It took me a day or so to get the nerve to go
on; but, since the London “eye” was not built when I was in London, I had to
have the experience here in Budapest. After three rotations I was going to push
the panic button; but then the ride stopped. It was enough for me. It was
thrilling to see Budapest from such a height.
The River Cruise down the Danube may be
anti-climatic after what I’ve written so far but it was absolutely the BEST
part of the trip. They say that the “mean” age of people who go on River
Cruises is “deceased” (tongue and cheek) – but it is very laid back. However,
since this was a New Years cruise there were many families with children and
grandchildren ranging from about 10 years into late teens. We went through a
number of “locks” making our way down the river. It was thrilling to watch the
process of moving the ship higher or lower using only water. The ship went
through five countries in eight days (Germany (Bavaria), Austria, Hungary and
Slovakia). We did begin our journey in the Czech Republic – so that makes the
total of five! There were so many highlights; but if I had to choose only one
to write about it would have to be Vienna (or Wien as it is known in Germany) on
New Year’s Eve and day.
As the cruise staff was preparing the ship for our
party we piled into buses and made out way to the theater for the Mozart and
Strauss Concert (Wiener Hofburg-Orchester). It was a beautiful venue and the
performance brought tears to my eyes and many other people who were sitting
near me. Hearing the music born in the city of Vienna and that (pinch me) I was
actually in Vienna was overwhelming. After the performance we did a bus tour to
see the city at night (all lit up). We also got to see how the city was
preparing for the celebration that would come at midnight.
We were told that one of the customs in Vienna was
that at midnight, and for the first ten minutes of the New Year, they play the
Blue Danube waltz and everyone dances to bring in the New Year. So, a midnight
when we all went to the sun deck of the ship to watch the fireworks, we all
danced the waltz. The fireworks started about 11:30pm and continued way past
12:30am. The city provides a fireworks show; however, since fireworks are legal
in Austria the city population supplements and you have a show that encompassed
360Degrees. Everywhere I looked there were fireworks exploding. The ship staff brought drinks up to the sun deck and of course
we had hats and all kinds of noise makers to bring the new year in. It was a
tremendous. I’ve seen a lot of fireworks in my life but I’ve never seen
anything like this.
I will close for now; but rest assured (smiles) that
as I post future blogs my experiences during my river cruise will infiltrate my
writing! My ears are still ringing with the Danube Waltz (which BTW – the
Austrians call it “The Almost Blue Danube” )– very funny.
All the best as we move into 2015!
Catherine
Lawrence, G14 -1.11.15
Peace Corps Volunteer/Georgia
The
contents of this blog are mine personally and do not reflect any position of
the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps.
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