Collecting countries

Sadly we had to leave beautiful Prague, but not without buying a small country pad to retreat to. Just have to remove the current owners who live in a small wing because other spaces are too costly to heat. Their efforts at renovation have been remarkable, especially considering it was in a sorry state after communist occupation.

As mornings were light around 4.30 in Prague we set off to explore the city early to avoid the tourist madness. Now we think we must be in every Asian bridal photo. Around every corner were these China dolls, beautifully made up and posing in their fairy-tale layered gowns. Big business apparently.

In leaving Prague we travelled through 3 countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary to join the riverboat in Budapest. Now we are chugging up the Danube through Slovakia to Austria. Thought this river was supposed to be blue?? It looks more like the stuff that comes out of a cow shed, but without the smell. And the locals are swimming in it!!

A highlight of our long trip from Prague to Budapest was lunch in a wine cellar. Slovakian Pinot Grecio! Aha.... an excuse to celebrate Caleb's birthday!

Budapest greeted us with an amazing warm night, then all hell broke loose with wild thunder and lightning this morning.

The city's crumbling architecture looked even more sombre in a grey atmosphere. These are sad reminders of the ravages of WW2 and the 1956 Revolution. Although the city has undergone a radical makeover since the free elections of the 1990s, it struggles to finance much of its basic infrastructures.

As a postcript, Hungary boasts one of the  most sophisticated styles of cooking in Europe but I still can't get enthusiastic about cabbage soup, and goulash with dumplings!!