20/6 - Train to Budapest and a bus

We took the train from Prague to Budapest.

The journey started with a taxi pick up at 7am (organised by Hana, who was organising our apartment for us) to the central train station, and the train at 7.50am.

A few minutes before the train leaves the big screen in the station puts up the information about which platform you need to go to. It was very helpful that lots of people were standing around, so we just had to wait and see where they all headed to and basically follow them but keep our wits about us.  I was towing the two bags behind me as Trevor’s arms are still not very functional.

We had booked 1^st class to ensure that we had an allocated seat and lots of room and this worked pretty well, except that the seats were not facing each other, but one in from of the other!! And there was no space for the luggage except on the up top luggage racks, so I needed to get the bags up there. I was very glad that we were travelling without very heavy bags as they were heavy enough.
We swapped with another lady and sat next to each other.

The trip was 6.5 hours, but it went fairly fast.  We had glimpses of the countryside as we went past, but mostly there was vegetation on the side of the railway lines that we couldn’t see through much.

We did spot a castle or monastery at one stage.

Prague railway station ceiling

a sad memorial to parents who put their kids on a train to save their lives  in 1938, 1939 never knowing if they would see them again.

another of  the lovely inspection plates - this one at the railway station.

The train also gave us a chance to see various small houses and also some forest areas.

We arrived in Budapest at about 2.30, and walked the km or so to our hotel to check in.  Then , after a quick wash up and shirt change (I was soaked with sweat) we proceeded on to a nearby restaurant where we caught up with our tour group who were having a late lunch. 

After a quick bite we headed on and bought tickets for the hop on and hop off bus for 48 hours, which allows 48 hours of hopping off and on, plus two boat cruises to be taken over the space of the time we are in Budapest

We did a circuit on the hop on hop off bus and then hopped off.  Our impression was of lavishly decorated buildings and many, many statues, but here the buildings have strong signs of disrepair.  Many plaster decorations have fallen off, some windows are boarded up, indicating that some of the buildings are not in use. In one case a whole roof was clearly off of the building. Where Prague had a lot of scaffolding and ongoing repair happening, here it seems to be allowed to crumble.  Having said that there are still a lot of impossibly ornate and beautiful buildings.

many buildings, like this one are falling to pieces on the facade. 

ornate  Synagogue

huge statues

view from the hill overlooking the city.

folk art for sale - dried fruit arrangements

The famous chain bridge (construction  is like a bike chain )

As the others headed on to see some more of the sights  we headed home towards our beds.

In one of the many cafes along the street we noted that fish and chips were available so we sat down and ate a very pleasant meal under the canopy as we watched the rain starting. We made it home without being drenched.