It seems I'm a patient now!

Today it seems due to water levels, the change in itinerary has meant there will be less time in Budapest than I was hoping for. However, there’s a coach trip first and then a short walking tour. 

Yesterday we were in Bratislava and the group I was with had a really excellent and funny guide. All ended on what she called a ‘choo choo train’, a road train of rather bumpy coaches up to the castle. It wasn’t open but the views were stunning, looking over Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. 

I’ve been glad to link up with my brother who at 87, almost 88, is just beginning to show some fading of his once brilliant mind, and is a little unsteady on his feet. However, his musical encyclopaedic knowledge hasn’t left him, and I hope I’ve begun to heal the rift between him and my son (caused with some poor handling by sister in law) who of course is also classically knowledgable as a cellist. 

We had some fun last evening as it got darker, playing shuffleboard on deck! 

just a glorious sunset last night 

hugs xxx

Hot here today in Budapest, so much so that a few of us decided to taxi back to the air conditioned ship rather than embark on a 40 minute walk in 33° heat. So we hav ed toured (and walked a bit) in Pest but missed out on Buda (a city in 2 halves in case you ding know, Buda on the northern side of the Danube, hilly and ancient  Pest on the southerly side of the Danube, flatter and slightly more modern.)

hugs xxx

I was wrong, that amazing church-like building is actually the parliament building, incredibly ornate!

we had a night cruise and buildings were lit up in all their glory! 

hugs xxx

Now in a Marriot hotel in Linz, it’s still hot here, some clouds in the sky but I think it’s time for an afternoon nap once I’ve sorted my cases out. 

Tomorrow, apparently, we have a 2 hour coach tour then at lunchtime a train to Frankfurt, where we have another overnight stop. Then on Saturday two trains, back to England, and then separate and go our individual ways home. I should be back home by night time, hopefully. 

Hugs xxx

Sounds like a really good river cruise moomy  I really like that you travel by train staying overnight elsewhere. The only thing I wouldn’t like is the heat !! Had enough of that here but much cooler now.

Thanks Flossie25 , yes, I was happy with Great Rail Journeys when hubs and I travelled with them before, so the chance to cruise too, was a great idea. I suspect the American contingent are finding managing their cases a touch tough, as I suspect they thought they’d have more help on and off trains? Perhaps they won’t muscle in another time? (It’s sister in law’s sister on her other side of the family, if that makes sense?) 

I’m presently resting in my enormous room in the Marriot in Linz, feet up (ankles are swollen but go down overnight, I guess it’s due to sitting a lot, the heat and only gentle walking when we do!) and looking out at an increasingly clouding sky over the hills. It’s still hot here but hopefully will gradually cool the further north we get. It feels strange not to be looking out at a wide river and feeling gentle rocking, though! 

hugs xxx

And that’s my handbag on the bed, just shows how big it is!!!!

hugs xxx

You can certainly spread out on that bed moomy  Is being helped with luggage onto trains a thing in US ? … porters ?

I think the US contingent expect more help than there is, Flossie25 , maybe a personal ‘chauffeur-like person’ to help them with their cases? I got asked if they were expected to take cases from their rooms to the reception/libby area? Don’t they even do that in the US? I don’t know. 

One of the party enjoys playing golf, I suspect he only ever hits a ball and has a caddy and a buggy …..meow! 

Hugs xxx

That could be it moomy