Dec 15- Budapest & Home

Dec 15: Up and packed, now we are ready to go. It was a good 30 minute drive to the airport. After we got to the airport we went to the Club. We had some breakfast and had plenty of time to make the flight. We were Budapest to Zurich, then the Club again. Zurich to San Francisco, thankfully we had plenty of time as we had to pass through screening 3 times! It was grueling. Flight was uneventful and soon we were in San Francisco. We had quite a wait for our next flight here. Again, we had to go through security. Short flight and we were finally home. 

Dec 14 - Budapest

Dec 14: We got up too late for the hotel breakfast. We decided to walk around the area and find a place for breakfast/lunch. After we walked a while, we backtracked to a place called Mozata. It is Lebanese food. The food was delicious. Stuart had the tacos and I had the shrimp and we shared a side of fries, garlic fries. We really like the seasoning, but we didn't buy any because there's just no room in our luggage to bring anything else home. 

Back to the hotel and we will wait till it starts to get dark to go to the nearby Vösösmarty Christmas Market tonight. This market is just a seven minute walk from our hotel. After just a couple minutes of walking, we came to a Christmas Market. We had a GlueGin, admired the food, and walked on. After walking a bit, we realized that we passed the market. So again, we backtracked. We had such a good time browsing the different food venues. It was hard to decide what to pick. We got ribs. They were delicious. It was a quick walk back to our hotel. We played a few cards, set the alarm, and then off to bed. 

Dec 13 - Budapest

Dec 13: Today we started with a walk around the area. We found the moon hanging that Taylor had mentioned. It was really close to our hotel. We stopped at the Pointer Pub for lunch. The food was excellent and I had the paprikash chicken that I wanted to try. The service was very slow and it was very, very crowded. However, we enjoyed lunch very much and then back to the hotel for more cards and relaxation. For dinner, we went to the little restaurant right by our hotel called La Lucia. It was also tasty. There was a huge menu and we enjoyed their drinks as well. 

Dec 12 - Disembark in Budapest

Dec 12: We got up early and packed. That didn't take too long and we headed to breakfast in the dining room. We didn't see any of our traveling companions, so I guess they are all off the ship. We will stay in the longe until the light lunch and then head to our hotel. We cannot check in until 2p. 

We checked into the hotel unpacked, rested a little bit, played some cards, and then headed out to Peter Doyle's Pub. We were really hungry for fish and chips, since what we had on the ship was not very tasty. It's a crowded fun place, and we sat down at one of the few tables left. Immediately, we were talking with a nice young couple Sam and Eve from the UK, they live in or near Sheffield. They wanted to buy us a Mini Guinness. That is a shot with Kalua and a floating of Bailey's Irish cream. We each in each up treating for a round! We exchanged information and promised to visit... We'll see.

Heading back to the hotel, we stopped and bought wine and snacks in a shop nearby. We played cards and then finally called it a night. 

About the area around LA Prima Fashion Hotel: it is a fun and lively area. It's very walkable with many pedestrian streets. There are many restaurants all around us. In addition, there are little shops galore. On the evening walk back, it looked so festive with little flame heaters everywhere and a lot of people eating outside, believe it or not! Too cold for us!

Dec 11 - Sailing and Arrival in Budapest

Dec 11: When we woke, we are headed on our way back to Budapest. Even though things are gray and the trees have no leaves. it's still pretty in its own way. We are due to arrive in Budapest just after lunch. We dined in the Riverview Bistro and arrived in Budapest while eating. We zipped up to the sun deck, of course there's no sun, and walked around for just a little bit because we didn't have our coats or anything. It is cold!

It is interesting today the kids are very talkative to us and friendly. I did ask everyone about dinner, but no one committed. We were fine eating by ourselves. Our new acquaintance, Marie seems to find us everywhere we go. She is very, very talkative. She lost her husband four years ago but she continues to travel and enjoy life by herself. She is very sweet but a bit exshausting with the none-stop talking. She has befriended us, along with Taylor, Gretchen, and Wendy. She ate dinner with the three of them. Dinner was in the dining room, and it was probably the driest, toughest, Wiener Schnitzel I've ever had. Everyone volunteered that same information. What a shame. 

After dinner it was up to the lounge and playing cards until about eleven. We do need to get up early and pack and try to make time for breakfast tomorrow morning. The kids played a card game at the table next to us but again they were friendly.

Dec 10 Vienna, Austria

Dec 10: I'm not feeling especially well today and I wanted to stay on board near a restroom! We got up too late for breakfast. We had coffee in the lounge and played some cards. We were docked between two different ships and at one point, one ship moved, then we moved, and it took our place. Now we're the third docked ship out from the sidewalk. We were eager for lunch since we had no breakfast. I was happy to see potato salad on the menu and we also split a BLT sandwich. We played another card game, and then I took a little rest, and Stuart worked on his laptop.

Gala dinner is tonight. We invited everyone to join us. Gretchen, Wendy, and Taylor joined us. The kids said they were going to the Christmas Markets for dinner, but in fact, they sat on the other side of the dining room.

After dinner we had a small concert onboard. It was very good and we really enjoyed it. Our companions are tired and went to bed. We stayed up playing cards and listening to the piano player until they closed up at midnight.

Dec 09 - Bratislava, Slovakia

Dec 09: Today is Jayden's 6th birthday. I did a little video and sent it to him. We did a little walk around the decks but stayed on board as we are both tired. It is gloomy, gray, and foggy.  In addition, we have been here before! We ate in the Bistro again. This time we tried the fish and chips and it was not very good. It was frozen fish fillets, like you get in the freezer section at the grocery store. If we go there again, we'll get the pizza! Today they had Ghulwein in the bar. For 50 cents, you could add a shot of gin. That was tasty and it cuts down the sweetness as well. Dinner was very good and we ate just the two of us. 

Later we met Taylor, Gretchen, and Wendy for the music trivia. It was challenging because there were three different portions to every question. However, it was a lot of fun too! Off to bed after that!

Dec 8 - Budapest, Hungary to Bratislava, Slovakia

Dec 08: Today we didn't really sleep in. Stuart went to the orientation this morning while I took a shower. We sent a few things to the laundry, it is very expensive. We are spoiled on Holland America! We took a short walk over to the market we visited in 2023. It was just as lovely as before. The place is very crowded and teeming with excitement from all the shoppers, especially during the holiday season. We went upstairs and had a Ghulwein in the same restaurant where we ate in July  2023. It is still very brisk today. Back to the ship for lunch in the Riverview Bistro lunch. We each had a small soup and a burger we could not finish.  After lunch we slipped our moorings and headed to Bratislava, Slovakia. This afternoon we spent most of the time in the lounge. The views leaving were lovely. I couldn't get a good Chain Bridge photo but found one on the internet. There was a port lecture about Bratislava, we visited with friends, had a fancy tea time with champagne, and we had the Captain's welcome drink just before dinner.

Tonight we are having dinner in this same venue where we had lunch. We invited everyone but Deb said they were doing their own thing. Stuart, Gretchen, Wendy, Taylor, and I had a nice dinner together. Later the kids all came in but sat across the room. When Stuart walked over to greet them, Sierra actually rolled her eyes, turned away from him. I am embarrassed by her behavior. Anyway it was a nice dinner. We listened to the piano player for a little while, then on to bed as we are tired.

Dec 7 - Budapest and Boarding William Wordsworth

Dec 07: Today, at breakfast we saw Taylor and he is apparently been in the same hotel the whole time we have been here. We shared an Uber to the boat. It was quite foggy, damp, and cool this morning. The Uber dropped us off across from a market we'd been to in 2023. It was a short walk to the ship. There were all sorts of people still on the boat from the last cruise. Some leaving as late as three thirty or five thirty. A light lunch was provided for them and they included us as well. That lunch was a salad bar, dessert, breads, spaghetti, lentil soup, and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. It was plenty. Stuart and I played Phase 10 most of the afternoon. Taylor joined us for a little bit. Then when his room was ready, he left and took a nap. About 4:30p Gretchen and Wendy arrived. Wendy seems very nice and it was great to see Gretchen after 3+ years. We enjoyed visiting and catching up. We had a few drinks and listened to the piano player. I tried to set up a table for 9 for dinner, but Deb, Sam, Sierra, and Matt didn't want to join us. We had a nice dinner with Wendy, Gretchen and Taylor. There was a welcome drink in the lounge at 9:15p. 

Dec 06 - Budapest, Hungary

Dec 06:  Up and downstairs for breakfast. We were a little later that usual, they stop serving at 10a. When Stuart went to refill our champagneand she told us to ust take the bottle to our table! We don't want it all because today we have a Chimney Cake class at 1p. I am treating everyone for a family event. 

We went downstairs in the bakery to attend the class. She had the dough already made up so we just did the kneading and shaping of the dough to put on the cylinder. Then she put them in an oven to bake. It rotated the cakes until they were done. After that you dipped it in whatever coating you wanted. Toppings were vanilla, walnut, coconut, and cinnamon. She left my first one in too long and it was burnt, no worries because we had enough to eat and take home.

After the class I offered stopping for a drink. They seemed to want to so we walked just a short way to find a place that would accommodate 6. It was called Urban Beytar. We had some and festive drinks with a meat and cheese platter as well. Stuart and I got an Uber back to our hotel and they all went to another market or something. We had a G&T in the hotel bar and then up to our room for cards and bedtime. I will add, this is a really warm, sunny day here! I think up to 50F.

Dec 05 Budapest

Dec 05: I woke early and grabbed a shower and shampoo, my best effort. There is not a lot of soap here and a shortcoming of tissues. Otherwise I love this little hotel. Breakfast was delicious with a few different things to try like veal liverwurst. The restaurant is downstairs.

Looks like a 1920s's underground speakeasy! Charming in so many ways. Stuart had things to do on his computer. By the time my hair was dry, we took off for a lunch/dinner and then to a grocery store. Not a lot of energy today so we stayed in. It is also sprinkling. No responses from Debra, but I guess they got off all right and they are in Zurich by now for their layover. Upon return, we had a gin and tonic in the hotel bar. We played Phase Ten in our room before bed.

Dec 03 & 04 - Vienna, Austria & Budapest, Hungary

 Dec 03: We woke early enough but markets don't open until at least 10a. We had breakfast (included) in our hotel, Hotel Graf Stadion. Some time was spent on the computer. Stuart went online and got our train tickets for tomorrow to Budapest. They printed them at the front desk, so we are all set. Then we were off to a Christmas Market. The market we went to is by city hall. I'm not exactly sure the name of it, but I took a picture of it! We strolled around, and I had some rose Gluhwein and Stuart had some orange and ginger Gluhwein. We walked all around looking at the different booths. He got some ornaments for the group he's bringing on the Yuletide cruise. For food, we ended up having a pulled pork bratwurst sort of sandwich. It was on a flatbread-likebread with cheese, onions, and mustard. It was good.We also had a GluhGin with it. After a few hours, we headed back to the hotel and stopped at the grocery store along the way. We played some phase ten and then went to bed.

Dec 04: We are up early, dressed, and off to breakfast.In the hotel. When we came back, we packed everything and headed out to the train station by Uber. We were there in plenty of time. Finnally, our train showed up on the departures, and we headed to our platform. They keep talking about work on the railway and the tardiness of some trains. Our train is running about 6 minutes behind, but it really doesn't matter to us as we have no plan in Budapest tonight. 

On the train: It is quite cold outside but there's no snow on the ground. The fog is hanging very low and the trees are all bare. There are fields that look like something could possibly be growing in it, but i'm not sure about that since it is so cold.

There was constant coughing and nose blowing on the train. I'm glad it's just three plus hours that were on the train because I sure don't want to catch anything. I hope we don't!

Arrived to the train station with no problem and got an Uber right away. We were off to the Cotton House Hotel in no time at all. What a quaint and nostalgic place.The wallpaper is two different matching designs. All the furniture is beautiful reproductions, all matching the little area rugs all match, there's like a Tulouse-Lautrec picture over our bed, and a kind of Roaring Twenties theme throughout. Of course, there's a TV on the wall complete with remote. Nobody wants to be without that! 

We went across the street literally, steps away to For Sale Pub and had a huge dinner that we shared and there was still some left over. They did have live music that we enjoyed for a little while. Two men with the keyboard and a violin. The violin player asked where we were from. When I told him California, he played, I left my heart in San Francisco. Cute place with hay and peanut shells on the floor, friendly staff.

Back to the hotel and a few games of Phase Ten and off to bed. We didn't do much today but we are tired.

Dec 02 - Vienna, Austria

Dec 02: We awoke at the hotel and had some coffee in our room and downstairs. We were too late for breakfast and too early for lunch. So we shared a half of sandwich from the little market area inside the hotel accompanied with our free drink.

We got an Uber to our hotel. Hotel Graf Stadion. We told the desk clerk about our dilemma last night, but she didn't really say anything about it. She said, your room is ready and it was. It's a charming little room. 

We spent a good part of the afternoon there. Because my tummy was not feeling great. We headed out for some early dinner. We chose the destination that was only a three minute walk. However, on the way there we came upon a restaurant that looked too good to pass up. Marienhof was the name of it. After perusing the menu, Stuart decided on the Elderflower Spritz, and I decided on the Autumn Aperol Spritz. Both were delicious. For a starter, he had cream of garlic soup and I had cream of pumpkin soup, also very good. My soup had pumpkin seed oil on it, whick seems to be on the seasonal items. For our main Stuart ordered pan fried butterdumplings with egg and I ordered Styrian fried chicken breast. Both are considered classic menu items. There were many items to choose from, so it was hard to decide. Stuart was not fond of his but I loved mine. The chicken breast was nicely coated and cooked. On the bottom of the plate was a cold potato salad that was tangy and delicious. Next was lamb's lettuce and the chicken on top of that. Of course, we skipped dessert. It was a quick walk back to our hotel. We played Phase 10. It was good to have a fairly restful day. 

Dec 01 - Train to Vienna, Austria

Dec 01: We were up into the train station with plenty of time after getting there. We had a coffee and an apple crumb cake. My coffee had Baileys in it. It was delicious but it tasted a lot stronger than just Baileys in it. 

Our seats are good, both together and facing backward for a short part of the journey, then forward for most of the trip. We did get first class train tickets, so we have service from the waiter the entire time, they bring you food to your seat. The views are absolutely magnificent. We can't always get good shots outside of the train because of the lights inside the train and the dirty windows, but it is like a winter wonderland out there. Even though it's an eight hour+ ride on the train. We are glad we did the train instead of a plane because of the views. The trip has been amazing until we got to some stop, which I forget the name of. Now there is a problem with the track ahead and they're working on it. We are stopped here for an unknown amount of time. We are about thirty minutes out of Linz. It ended up being about a 1 hour stop. It will be good to get to Vienna and our hotel. Even if it is still early, we are tired. It is only 4:30p, but it is dark already. 

 

There was another glitch of course. I did not realize check in time was only until six o'clock for our hotel. I was supposed to contact them 48 hours ahead if we were going to be late. That didn't happen and we could not figure out how to call the hotel. I should say we did call but any connection was a German recording, we couldn't figure out what to do. So Stuart to the rescue once again, he booked the Marriott for tonight. Even though it's not very late, we are pretty tired. The hotel gave us a complimentary drink in the bar and we ordered a small pizza item to have before going to bed. It has been a day full of beautiful scenery and delights. Tonight it is cold with a little rain and we are tired.