True to her promise the LLW donned her lycra (poetic licence!) and we both headed off for a (fairly) early morning ride around the castle district.
Once again it was a beautiful morning and the tourist crowds, of which there were many, had not yet ventured up to the heights of Buda. The LLW agreed that this was a perfect way to see Budapest and was also astonished about being allowed to cycle right through the grounds of the Royal Palace.
We stopped for a coffee, and the inevitable cake, and spent the best part of 2 hours cycling around the area - just magical!
After a short rest we took the 16 bus down the hill to Clark Adam Ter and then walked along the Danube to Elisabeth Bridge. The Hungarian way with names is to use the surname first so the chap after whom Clark Adam square was named is indeed Adam Clark a Scottish Civil Engineer. When Count Szechenyi decided that a bridge was needed he commissioned an English engineer William Clark to design the now famous chain bridge. Since William Clark was unable to spend more than a few weeks a year in Pest, Adam Clark was commissioned in 1839 to oversee the construction - please do keep up!
Once we had crossed the bridge, the LLW decreed that it was now time for a pit stop so we enjoyed a light lunch on a hotel terrace 50 metres from the Danube.
Our next destination was Pier 8 where we caught the ferry to Margaret Island (or so we thought!). Excellent views all along the Danube and once again Ray was delighted that as a senior (over 65) he enjoyed free travel throughout Budapest. Of course the LLW, being much, much younger had to pay!
As we sailed past Margaret Island it became clear that said ferry was not going to stop there and after enquiring about this with a lady deckhand (who had clearly just recently graduated from the Budapest School of Charm), we ascertained that we needed to disembark at the next stop and walk across the bridge to the island.
So off we went and it was becoming extremely hot with an unforgiving sun. The LLW was now close to throwing things but luckily little was to hand. Using all of his undoubted charm and tact (?) Ray managed to coax the LLW on to the island and once walking in the shady greenery, calm was restored. Diplomatic relations were fully restored once the Japanese garden had been explored and an oasis found which served cold drinks and very large ice creams!!
Using our initiative, as experienced travellers on the public transport of Budapest, we caught a bus to Nyugati Palyaudvar Ter, the underground to Dead Ferret and then the now famous 16 bus back to Fortuna Utca.
Overcome with delight at her earlier bicycle ride, the LLW decreed that there was just time for another circuit of the castle district before dinner. She left me trailing in her wake, spreading terror amongst the few tourists left in the area.
A good bottle of wine was now needed and we ate an excellent dinner at restaurant 21.
Once again it was a beautiful morning and the tourist crowds, of which there were many, had not yet ventured up to the heights of Buda. The LLW agreed that this was a perfect way to see Budapest and was also astonished about being allowed to cycle right through the grounds of the Royal Palace.
We stopped for a coffee, and the inevitable cake, and spent the best part of 2 hours cycling around the area - just magical!
After a short rest we took the 16 bus down the hill to Clark Adam Ter and then walked along the Danube to Elisabeth Bridge. The Hungarian way with names is to use the surname first so the chap after whom Clark Adam square was named is indeed Adam Clark a Scottish Civil Engineer. When Count Szechenyi decided that a bridge was needed he commissioned an English engineer William Clark to design the now famous chain bridge. Since William Clark was unable to spend more than a few weeks a year in Pest, Adam Clark was commissioned in 1839 to oversee the construction - please do keep up!
Once we had crossed the bridge, the LLW decreed that it was now time for a pit stop so we enjoyed a light lunch on a hotel terrace 50 metres from the Danube.
Our next destination was Pier 8 where we caught the ferry to Margaret Island (or so we thought!). Excellent views all along the Danube and once again Ray was delighted that as a senior (over 65) he enjoyed free travel throughout Budapest. Of course the LLW, being much, much younger had to pay!
As we sailed past Margaret Island it became clear that said ferry was not going to stop there and after enquiring about this with a lady deckhand (who had clearly just recently graduated from the Budapest School of Charm), we ascertained that we needed to disembark at the next stop and walk across the bridge to the island.
So off we went and it was becoming extremely hot with an unforgiving sun. The LLW was now close to throwing things but luckily little was to hand. Using all of his undoubted charm and tact (?) Ray managed to coax the LLW on to the island and once walking in the shady greenery, calm was restored. Diplomatic relations were fully restored once the Japanese garden had been explored and an oasis found which served cold drinks and very large ice creams!!
Using our initiative, as experienced travellers on the public transport of Budapest, we caught a bus to Nyugati Palyaudvar Ter, the underground to Dead Ferret and then the now famous 16 bus back to Fortuna Utca.
Overcome with delight at her earlier bicycle ride, the LLW decreed that there was just time for another circuit of the castle district before dinner. She left me trailing in her wake, spreading terror amongst the few tourists left in the area.
A good bottle of wine was now needed and we ate an excellent dinner at restaurant 21.
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