Saved the BEST for last…..Welcome to BUDAPEST!

Audrey is a SUPER ROCKSTAR!!! Big big big SHOUT OUT FOR BOOTS!!! More details of why to follow…..hint, SEGWAY 🙂

To start where I left off, the train bathrooms rate highest of any train ever ridden in my life, holy moly. This bathroom had wallpaper of green rolling hills and the Swiss alps, silver sparkling clean handle bars to hold on too. Why am I not surprised that this would be a Vienna routed train.

Shout out to my book recommendations for this trip as they both have been quite fitting, Thank you Ann & Marc 🙂 will have finished both by the end of this journey.

We are traveling with service for sure, thanks to JayWay Travel, they arrange all transport between country’s, which has been amazing as every arrival to a new place we are picked up by a guy holding a sign with our name, he is our prince in shining armor. This guy immediately handed me his IPad to trade for our luggage, deal! He was the nicest guy. So friendly in BudapeSH, the proper way to speak, thank you UJ 🙂

Alito starts telling us historical dates about when the train station was built, history, foods to eat, etc. We once again hit the ground running in this new City, which at this point after a full half day is my favorite place. The population is 2 million in Budapest and 10 million in Hungary. It amazes me how all these people are so proud of their roots that they know so much information like an encyclopedia and can spit out facts, no problem. I don’t remember a thing about US history and would need to look up dates, stories, to recall our history. The city is divided in to 2 sections separated by the Danube River, one side Buda, the other side Pest. We are staying in Pest where all the commercial stuff is, 2/3 Of the population reside in Pest and 1/3 reside in Buda which is mostly residential and much more expensive to reside, like the Beverly Hills of this city we were told. Our Segway guide who I will share more about later informed us most people his age stay living at home with their parents to be able to stay living in luxury as he is part of the 1/3 🙂

We are dropped off by our driver at our fanciest hotel of this entire trip. FYI, this city of an affordable place. When I say we saved the BEST for last I’m not kidding. This place from the outside looked like an abandoned building and then you walk in to luxury. Wow, we were stunned. We are on the 5 th floor and the front desk gal gives us directions for WiFi, breakfast, maps to understand the lay of this new land. We need to find food and get to our Segway tour……it’s a total Dora the Explorer day, for why Audrey is a SUPERSTAR!! I’m seriously impressed to say the least. We found a cafe next to the hotel, enjoyed a Salmon and Beef Carpaccio salads and shared both. We call for a Taxi and head to the Segway company. My mom starts to get real nervous, very worried and anxious. Thank you to cousin Debbie for having broken her in to this activity in New Orleans or I may have been more concerned for her. She asked her many questions and thankfully had faith and confidence!

We meet our tour guide who was the kindest guy, thankfully we were with another mother/daughter duo. Just the four of us with our compassionate, patient guide. We have our introductory lesson, my momma gets scared, the other pair is cheering her on saying she is great. She goes first, and is a pro. Just like riding a bike, gotta get your sea legs back but once you have done it you know how. I highly recommend this form of touring to anyone. It is exhilarating and fun and the most efficient way to see a large area in a short time frame. When it’s her turn to practice going over a bump She is so funny and stiff but again a freaking rockstar! She has mastered it again and we all our off to buzz around on our mode of transport for the day. I really want a personal Segway, love this little speedster. Jon, this is what you should buy next 🙂 We go by the Parliament, St Stephen Basilica, the view of the river, Opera house, cruise down a fancy boulevard which they consider their version of the Paris Champs Elysees, learn about a bunch of facts but, I couldn’t take my normal notes since I was busy driving. Although I did snap some photos and videos while cruising which made me realize how dangerous texting while segwaying would be 🙂 We rode through parks, next to bodies of water, by museums, the most beautiful structures like out of fairy tales and gothic movies. Such a mix of style in architecture of castles, palaces, bath houses, restaurants, etc. The potent smell of fresh flowers and food whisked us by, I never notice smells, and wow. It smells like we are riding through a perfume factory by the strong aroma of flowers.

It’s so humid and hot out yet the breeze of our 12 mph wind is cooling us down. My mom had one small mishap and saved herself well. Almost ran into a person, went for a pole instead. As cars go by her I think to myself this lady just has to make it home alive to my sisters, lol . What is my dad thinking about my choice of tours for us, no way in the world would I ever get him to do this, one more hour to go. 🙏🏻🙏🏻❤❤ My back is starting to ache as you stand straight up, yet need to bend your knees when going over bumps. I’m right behind her and shout out bend your knees as she bumps up, then is like oooh. I know, I know, hence why she won serious GOLD STARS today! We really had fun, as crazy as she may think I am she is smiling and we are having fun!!! 🙂 And right now she is upstairs resting. 😉

So we finish the tour, take photos with our new friends, whom were from Chicago. The daughter was 15, we think the mom was in her 60’s as this daughter was one of 4 girls, she has 5 grandchildren, they just finished a river cruise and were traveling for 2 weeks. They go home tomorrow and we’re very sweet. The woman shared with me that her own mom went zip lining at 80, wow! She is 87 now and the lady was like it’s good she did it at 80 as she couldn’t do it now. Gotta LIVE!! Don’t worry my mama already did that with me 12 years ago. Lol We head back to hotel to change our clothes, we are sweaty. Boots has earned a break, ha ha ha…..She rests while I go talk to hotel people to get our night and rest of our trip planned. I learn of a restaurant 10 min walk from hotel, as well picked a lunch and dinner place for tomorrow and got info for the Spa, thermal bath place. Thank god!! A massage awaits in our near future 🙂

Ok, I will agree with my UJ(for those new readers, that means Uncle Jeff- my moms brother), Budapest has the best food! I had a Hungarian glass of red wine, we shared the most incredible Shrimp appetizer with honey, red-chili flakes, a garlic butter sauce…yum!! Then we shared a crispy Paprika Catfish with noodles and cottage cheese. Paprika and cottage cheese is a big deal here. Do you recall in When Harry met Sally, meg Ryan says…..poppy gosh- that means paprika 🙂 I had no idea and every dish is called poppy gosh…..not sure I’m spelling right but it was killing me trying to recall the movie it was from, so thank u Jackie 🙂 As well, we always ate noodles and cottage cheese as kids and I never knew this dish originated in Hungary?!

Finally an incredible dessert. The most delicious strudel…..with a cinnamon sugar whip cream, I also had my best cup of coffee. Not too strong just right. No more Starbucks, ha We happened to be sitting next to a couple who was from San Diego, funny small world. We exchanged taking each other’s photos and shared itineraries. This place had a live piano player and very kind friendly waiters.

We walk, which was supposed to be 10 min, ended up being 25/30… I think my mom may kill me. Actually she tells me her physical therapist will reprimand me. It was a long walk…..this is not the most walkable city although they seem to think so 🙂 The fact that my body aches right now…… I feel bad for what I’m doing to her bones…..She is a tough cookie!

We make it to our boat with 5 min to spare and get not the best seat, but hey we are on the Danube River in Budapest. We both order a champagne with OJ as the complimentary cocktail. This river ride is dreamy! The lights from both sides and the bridges…..incredible! Like seriously out of a movie scene. Fancy river cruise boats float by us, which is now a new travel experience I have added to my bucket list. They look luxurious! We both took a million photos and enjoyed the breeze in our hair. Boots even put her hair up, wait to see the fun photos 🙂

We exit the boat, had plans to go to the Las Vegas Casino we walked past but are exhausted and jump in a taxi. I think we were ripped off but was too tired to argue and was beat. I have now showered in the best shower yet with a rain water shower head, so necessary after this long hot day. I am sitting in this luxurious lobby on a satin couch with a Limoncello/ vodka cocktail with my wet hair in a pony, feet up on a stool, listening to relaxing 80’s elevator style music, not a soul is in sight and will go upstairs to bed to get some rest before our last full packed day of this adventure comes to a close. I can’t wait to sleep in…..ha ha

We are both looking forward to this new breakfast spread, yummy.  We have a 3 hour Jewish walking tour planned at 9:30 am. Last tour ….

Hugs and Kisses to you all!!!
Miss hearing your voices…..XO
Love Laurie Sue 🙂
AKA…Dora and Boots