20220916 Telc-Moravian Countryside-Kyjov: Had a good night’s sleep. Up at 7:30, breakfast, and we left Cesky Krumlov at 9:00 for a long drive ending at 7:00 in Kyjov. It was a long day given how much road time was needed to get to our destinations.

After a couple of hours, we got to Telc with its large and picturesque central square. Lots of colors and shapes…and gelato. Spent about an hour wandering in the square taking images. From there, we went nearby for lunch at Restaurace Na Kocande near Telc.

Then a very long drive with lots of traffic due to accidents into the Moravian countryside and the town of Cejkovice and its surroundings. Went to a winery and were then joined by a local photographer who took us up into the hills to vineyards and views over what is called Moravian Tuscany with its rolling terrain and colors. While the light was pretty flat (cloudy), we did get some good shots at four different sites.

Was about 7:30 when we rolled into Kyjov and Hotel Kyjovsky Pivovar where I am in room 204. Left at 8:00 to go nearby for a pizza at U Martina leaving there about 9:30.

Leave here tomorrow at 9:00 to head to Bratislava and then on to Budapest.

20220918 Szentendre – Budapest: Reasonable night’s sleep in a bed with real sheets and covers tucked in! Hurrah! Glad the Hungarians don’t set up beds like the Czechs. Up about 7:30, breakfast, left in van about 9:00 and headed to Szentrenre for an hour just walking around.

Two things were different from our 2016 visit here. One, we really had no idea that the town was on the Danube River…never saw it. Two, which ties with the above, we really did not walk around very much to see the city. Today we did. Up and down side streets. Lots of people here today – tour groups. And the town has several places to get gelato. We did. After we met up again at the central square, we went to a café by the river for espresso and such and then walked along the river back to the van.

Drove about 30 minutes back into Budapest and were dropped off near the Parliament building. Then there was the wind. I mean it was like Chicago on a bad day. Almost knocked me over. So, very windy and cold! Struggled around the building taking images and then went down to the river to The Shoes on the Danube Memorial. Of course, this is quite moving, but it was hard to get an overall view since there were crowds of people, many of whom stepped in front of us as we tried to take pictures. There is a plaque with Yiddish inscription down there that reads “In memory of those sacrificed and killed by the sharpshooters on the bank of the Danube River from 1944-1945. May their memory be a blessing.”

Walked to Liberty Square area and had lunch at Mythos the Greek, a lovely Greek restaurant. By this time, it was around 3:00 and we walked back to the hotel.

Left again at 5:15 with our resident photographer for this part of the trip. Did not get back to the hotel until 9:30. First stop was up to the Castle District and in and around Matthias Church and

Fisherman’s Bastion. We walked around taking images of the church and of the river scene below, especially the Parliament building. We returned to the van and drove as far uphill as was possible and walked to an overlook that gave us a clear view of Parliament, the Castle District, and the Danube. In the blue hour, we took many pictures from our cameras mounted on tripods.

Next stop was down on the river bank across from Parliament where we captured images of the lighted building and reflections on the water. Final stop was again on a hill over the Liberty Bridge to try to capture trams in motion below.

Back to the hotel with in the van. We asked at the front desk where one could eat this late on a Sunday. Went nearby to American Interstate 55 Bar & Grill. Yes, I-55. There were stencils on the wall of the St. Louis riverfront, the Arch, the stadium. And the Blues Brothers. And New Orleans scene. So…the length of I-55. We had huge burgers and fries and got back to the hotel close to 11:00. Luckily, tomorrow’s events don’t start until 9:30.

20220917 Kyjov to Budapest: This was a transition day as we moved from the Czech Republic to Hungary. And it’s some distance. Thus, we spent most of the day driving. Left Kyjov at about 9:00. Today was cold and sometimes rainy.

Entering Slovakia, we trudged about a half mile from the van to see an Eighty Century church, one of the oldest in Europe. It St. Margret of Antioch, small and humble and plain. Back to the van, we drove for about another hour to inside Hungary and lunch at Halzkert Vendeglo. Nice lunch but language was difficult since stall only spoke either German or Hungarian. Menu also just in those two languages. Jeff showed us how to use Google translate so we could see the menu in English. Nice.

Onward to Budapest. Wanted to stop at the Great Fook Hall before going to the hotel, but it was late on a Saturday and they are closed until Monday. Went to Hotel Parlament, where I am in Room 108. Met in the lobby at 6:45 for a lengthy walk to Aszu, a Michelin starred restaurant, where Jeff reminded me we had eaten in 2016 prior to our Danube cruise.

On our way back to the hotel, we passed by St. Stephen’s Basilica where there was a giant screen set up and rows and rows of chairs in which people were watching Blade Runner in the rain.

It’s cold here. And today was rainy. Really didn’t think it’d be this cold given the “usual” weather, but it is and I really don’t have warm tops. Jeff loaned me a warm fuzzy to wear tomorrow.

We’re off at 9:00 to go to Szentendre.

20220919 Thermal Baths – City Park – Great Food Hall – St. Stephen's: Another long day. Cold all day and rained partially. Left hotel at 9:30 and didn’t return until about 6:00

Took public transportation to get around today. Subway system here has some really old stations and not the same modern trains that Prague has. Same with the trams. But they get you where you need to go.

First stop was the Szecenyl Spa. This is a very old thermal baths in a huge and beautiful building. The lobby has exquisite inlays and frescos. We walked more in the Varosliget Park which contains the baths a reconstructed castle (Vajdahunyad Castle), several museums, a lake, and the fabulous House of Music Hungary. Did shooting around the castle and lake, but spent most of our time at the House of Music with its modern architecture inside and out.

Walked from the park to Heroes Square for a quick look since it was raining. Then off to Great Market Hall. It was really crowded so we went to a nearby restaurant Up and Down for lunch before returning to shoot inside the food hall. Many of the booths has closed for the day since it was late…around 2:30 before we got there after lunch.

Next via public transportation to St. Stephen’s Basilica for a quick shoot inside (they were closing very soon after we got there). Then we took steps and two elevators up to the dome observation area, which circles the dome itself. It rained. But…there was an end-to-end rainbow. Got nice views all over the city from this vantage point.

Back to the hotel about 6:00. Met in lobby at 7:00 to go to eat, but all the nearby places were full and you needed a reservation. Went back to the same place we had eaten there last night. Was fine. Back at hotel at 9:30, we had the front desk make us a dinner reservation for tomorrow night, out last night.

Nursing a cold. Hope it doesn’t get worse. Need to shower and go to bed!