Budapest

Probably should have explained about the increase in our gang's numbers. J & S had 3 days in Singapore and 1 day in Budapest prior to joining the cruise. B had one night in Budapest prior to the cruise. L & C are friends of M who had 3 days in Prague prior to joining the cruise. So there we have our gang of 10. We all greatly miss Alison who should have been with us, but so suddenly and tragically passed away recently. There is often a silent moment where we think of our dear and much loved absent friend. So now, our day started to grey skies and a forecast max temp of 10 degrees. Neither B or I got a good night sleep. Our beds are very close together and both of us were worried that we might turn over during the night and slap the other with a wide flinging arm! Mind you there was enough room between the beds for B to drop the remote control not once but twice during last night!!! at one stage I'm sure I heard her say ' I'm going in' as she dived between the two beds yet again to retrieve the remote... Anyway, no one ever died from one night's lack of sleep so we are undeterred as we get ourselves up and out of our cabin for breakfast. By 9 am we are ready to board our coach for a morning tour of Budapest. A light rain is falling and it is certainly cold so we are all rugged up. Unfortunately due to rain drops on coach windows, photos aren't postcard perfect, but Budapest is still a quite beautiful city. I was here a couple of years ago, so it was really good to retrace my steps of familiar landmarks. Our first stop was at the citadel on Gellert Hill on the Buda side of the city. Fabulous viewing spot but very cold! Back on the coach for more sight seeing in the comfort of our coach. The Heroes Square is a great spot, and it has featured in heaps of movies such as Evita, a Daniel Craig 007 movie, Spies (or something like that - The one with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt) plus the newer spy movie with Melissa McCarthy. Supposedly Harrison Ford is currently in Budapest for a movie, so B is now on a mission to see if she can catch a glimpse of him in our travels! Our next stop is at Matthias church and the castle fortress provides great views of both sides of the city. It has stopped raining but still very cold. We have some free time so head with the girls to a nearby cafe recommended by our guide. B and I have coffee while the others share cream cakes! Back on the coach and back to our ship at 12.45. We get underway at 1 pm just as we go to lunch. B had the pasta which she said was really really good, while I had the goulash which was good too. There is no shortage of food and so far there are plenty of good choices. Back to our cabin with a cuppa from the 24 hour coffee station and a lovely chance to flop on our beds, have the curtains wide open and watch the shoreline pass as we cruise down the Danube. See some rowers going past and reckon 'better them than me'. Have nothing in particular to do until 4.45 when we are headed for the main lounge to get a briefing on the optional tours coming up. Tonight is the gala Welcome dinner so will probably have to frock up a bit for that. This really is the life... Sigh...