Wednesday 5/13 continued

We arrived at our hotel in Esztergom, Hungary later in the afternoon. Dinner is on our own tonight. We went to a mediterranian restaurant suggested by our trip leaders. I had lamb that was nicely prepared, Ken had a steak that was okay. The one the night before was better. 

Sites of the Basillica in the night lights was beautiful 

A few pictures along our path to get here. The river is the 

Danube River

Ken's and my walk after dinner on Wednesday. 

Hungary's Versaille, Making Strudel and riding downhill fast.

Today we rode to Hungary's Versailles'.  It is an old castle and beautiful grounds that are being worked on to renovate them. John Hayden played here at the age of 9 y/o.

Our next adventure was learning how to make Strudel.  I had it videotaped, but it says the file is too big. Will have to work on that one. 

5/11/15 Bratislava to Teifalusziget

The Group getting ready for the morning ride - in the streets outside our first hotel in Brataslavia.


Second day of riding - 23.7 miles. mostly on bike paths but some on roads. Many people bike here, so drivers are used to and considerate of riders. We rode along a dike for some time. Again heard a Cukoo  bird, but did not see it. Stopped for tasting of Palinka - a very high end schnapps - All the fruits used are grown in Hungary - we were supposed to taste 4, but we ended up tasting 5 - 40% proof - Wow. Blueberry, sour cherry, Apricot and raspberry were the Palinka - the 5th was pineapple and is not consider palinka as it is not grown in Hungary.

Bottles of Palinka and their championship ribbons. 

The owner pouring one of the tasting of Palinka - Remember 40% proof. 

This is me at the border of Slovakia / Hungary - no need to show your passport - Just cross over. This is the EU sign on the top and the Hungarian flag below it. There are agreements between most European Union Countries that you can pass from one to another with no passport checks. 

The Slovakian flag from the other side. 

Tuesday 5/12/15 - On our next leg - the Picnic lunch

We are lined up and going down the road. Many fields being farmed. They are ahead of us by about 6 weeks oin growth. Can't identify it all, but they have had the first cutting of one of the grains. Others are up and growing well. Saw soy beans. Flowers are also in full bloom. 

Van stop along the way for water refills and snacks - yes that is a police car - He just happened to stop next to our van/trailer- he was actually after another guy who pulled over for some moving violation. 

This gentleman was in the park where we were  having our picnic lunch. as you look at the memorial statue below  - he is in it. I should have taken another shot as he is right behind where I a sitting. This memorial is about the tearing down of the communist wall. For Hungary - it occurred at this spot and this gentleman was one who helped to take that wall down. He knew some english - but one of our guides help to relay the rest of his story. He was very happy to have his picture taken with me. His wife also took the picture with her camera for them. 

A visit to the city Sopron - This wall has been built and added to on three different occasions over the years. It is a pivotal city for Hungary - they voted to stay as part of Hungary rather than become part of Austria. 

The City water tower. 

Pulpit in the Blessed Mary Church, Also known at the Goat Church - as the story goes, this land was once grazing land for Shepards - This Shepard had his goats grazing and this goat kept pawing at the ground until he dug up a pot of money - much money. Th Shepard being a a religious man, gave the money to the church to build this church.  This is also a church on the route for the annual pilgrimage in honor of Mary.

Ken and I along with 4 others took the long route home today. We did a total of 40.6 miles which included hills and a head wind. The other 12 took a van back to the hotel for a sit in the thermal pool. 

I saw this field and had to take a shot - the yellow flowers is a field of Canola - Yes planted to be cultivated. The white grows wild and it Chammomile - the red/orange of course are poppies. 

So goes the day - for Tuesday - All for now. 

St.Martin Cathedral Sunday 5/10/15

St. Martin Cathedra. 

St. Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar. 

Pulpit in the cathedral. 

More Devin Castle and Mothers' Day treat

Buttercup growing in the castle wall.

My Mothers day treat while we waited for the next bus to return to Brataslava

Ken standing in the doorway of a part of the castle that was added later for additional housing. 

This is where the Morava River on the right meets the Danube river on the left. Not sure that you can see the degree of flow in a still picture. Pretty swift, don't think I would want to kayak this one. Would only have to steer and not paddle. Some of the changes in current could dump you over.

360 picture from the upper portion of the castle, You can see Ken in the yellow jacket on the right.

Saturday night

 A view of the Devin Castle from below.
This is on Sunday 5/10/15

Ken up in the castle at one of the later formations. Sunday 5/10/15

Panoramic view of a look up in the castle and the Danube River. 

Lavender and vanilla gellato Ken in the background with his pistachio.
This was our snack before dinner on Saturday. This is a park not far from our hotel.

St. Martins cathedral - will see it on Sunday. Saturday there was a sign, "Tourist - Stop" mass was in progress and later in the day, the church was closed. 

Burger Slovakian style - mozarella, pesto, arugula, tomato?? was really good, but I left about 1/4 of it  - too big.



Sunday 5/10/15
We are going to see if we can successfully navigate the bus system in foreign country. After speaking to 3 different clerks at the desk. the one this morning really knows how the system works and I believe we can get to Devin Castle (Hrad is the word for castle) and not get lost. The bus will cost 0.9 euro for each of us each way - that is about 75 cents. It will take us about 25 - 30 minutes to get there. If we took a cab we would have to bargain for the price, Should not be more than 12 - 15 Euros one way, but we have tourist written all over us and they will immediately charge you 30 Euro ($40) one way. We were told how to address that, but we figured out the bus - here we go. 

Bus ticket in hand and ready to give it a go. 

first look at Devin Castle

Devin Castle is among the most significant historical sites in Central Europe. It sites where the Danube River meets the Morava River. The river flow is pretty fast. We saw two tandem kayaks traveling on the Morava and then into the Danube where it was really fast. Hoping we would not see them get tipped over, If they did not enter the change in flow correctly, they sure could have been tipped.

The oldest finds in this area are from the New Stone age (5ht - 4th millrnnium BC ).  Like many such fortresses, it changed hands many times through the years. Finds in the area show the change in culture and in use of stone and  metals.  They even found a dish with contents that they determined were porrage, milk and fats. It notes the change in burial techniques from all cremation to the change to funerary choices. Then people were buried with some of their riches.

Brataslavia 5/9/15

 St. Micheals Gate - Built between 1753 and 1758. It is all that remains  of the city's medieval city fortifications. St. Micheal on the top. We went through the museum and  up into the tower at the top.

View of the city below from the tower. the canopies are all restaurants.  

View of St. Micheals Tower from the Bratasalvia Castle. 

One of the copper fixtures on the Bratslavia Castle

View of the city from the castle.

Steeple, I think this is St. Martins we are going to see this afternoon. Mass was being said when we went by this morning and there was a sign: "Stop Tourist". 

St. Micheal

Sculpture at Brataslavia Castle. 

Panaoramic view of the city from the castle. 

You can see the Jetson's bridge and the Danube river. We are up in the Brataslavia Castle. 

Brataslavia Castle gates.  

Ken and I - young couple took our picture and we took theirs. You see St. Micheals Gate in the background.