We crossed the border into Hungary and were greeted by the largest Cathedral in the country sitting on a hill above 'the Danube Bend'. Esztergom used to be the capital city before Budapest and the cathedral was really impressive. There were lots of other nice towns on the way to Budapest and the ride in was great, away from the traffic and in the sun. The bike path sometimes deteriorated to the point it was almost unrideable, but it was entertaining!
Budapest itself was a great city. We got there mid afternoon so had enough time to look around and go to a restaurant to sample some traditional Hungarian food - Butternut squash and beef stew. The buildings in Budapest were amazing - saw the castle, parliament and basilica.
The rest of Hungary was pretty non eventful but pleasant. Highlights were camping on an island in the Danube infested with wild boar (there was a bridge to it) and meeting Andreas and Johanna, a lovely German couple who were planning to cycle around the world for three years. They planned to cycle to Australia but were in no rush and we left them eating their lunch and reading a German newspaper they'd picked up somewhere. At the Croatian border, we spoke to the guard, who couldn't believe what we were doing but flamboyantly gave us a stamp in our passports and we were in Croatia.
We spent the first night in Croatia in a park next to a football pitch and fell asleep with the sounds of a ball being kicked around. It was the first time I'd ever camped in a public place and it was fine - we'd asked permission from a couple of people first. Throughout Croatia were signs in fields - a red triangle with a skull inside. Turns out they are landmine warnings and there a lot of them on the Hungarian-Croatian border. Croatia was more expensive than Hungary, more like Austria than Slovakia. It only took one day to cycle through the country and we camped near the border with Serbia. Was an amazing campsite, on a beach outside a hotel on the Danube. The staff were really nice there and let us use the toilet for a wash. Had a drink at the bar and watched the football - 2-1 to Untied, semi final, unlucky Chelsea, Torres is looking like 50 million at the moment!
Croatia and Hungary were both nice to ride through, some really pretty parts but also some poorer parts, with derelict buildings and rubbish everywhere. From now on I expect it to become poorer and poorer, but the people in these countries all seem to be really friendly, very interested in what we're doing and happy to help. All the villages and towns we're cycling through seem to have a great community spirit about them and I can't wait for Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria!
I'm currently in Belgrade, which has been great, very different again but I'll write about Serbia next time I'm online
Budapest itself was a great city. We got there mid afternoon so had enough time to look around and go to a restaurant to sample some traditional Hungarian food - Butternut squash and beef stew. The buildings in Budapest were amazing - saw the castle, parliament and basilica.
The rest of Hungary was pretty non eventful but pleasant. Highlights were camping on an island in the Danube infested with wild boar (there was a bridge to it) and meeting Andreas and Johanna, a lovely German couple who were planning to cycle around the world for three years. They planned to cycle to Australia but were in no rush and we left them eating their lunch and reading a German newspaper they'd picked up somewhere. At the Croatian border, we spoke to the guard, who couldn't believe what we were doing but flamboyantly gave us a stamp in our passports and we were in Croatia.
We spent the first night in Croatia in a park next to a football pitch and fell asleep with the sounds of a ball being kicked around. It was the first time I'd ever camped in a public place and it was fine - we'd asked permission from a couple of people first. Throughout Croatia were signs in fields - a red triangle with a skull inside. Turns out they are landmine warnings and there a lot of them on the Hungarian-Croatian border. Croatia was more expensive than Hungary, more like Austria than Slovakia. It only took one day to cycle through the country and we camped near the border with Serbia. Was an amazing campsite, on a beach outside a hotel on the Danube. The staff were really nice there and let us use the toilet for a wash. Had a drink at the bar and watched the football - 2-1 to Untied, semi final, unlucky Chelsea, Torres is looking like 50 million at the moment!
Croatia and Hungary were both nice to ride through, some really pretty parts but also some poorer parts, with derelict buildings and rubbish everywhere. From now on I expect it to become poorer and poorer, but the people in these countries all seem to be really friendly, very interested in what we're doing and happy to help. All the villages and towns we're cycling through seem to have a great community spirit about them and I can't wait for Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria!
I'm currently in Belgrade, which has been great, very different again but I'll write about Serbia next time I'm online
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