Last day of riding, and best day of dramatic Danube views. We took a total of three ferries, and biked, largely in the rain, around two dramatic natural features of the river: Danube Bend, where the river makes a 180 degree reversal forming a small peninsula, and the 90 degree east-to-south turn which is a notable feature on Hungarian maps. We stopped at a cafe near Danube Bend for a late morning snack, then had a late lunch near a street fair in Szententre. Finally, our ride took us down Margaret Island, a cool island and park in Budapest. We ended the day checking into Hotel Parlament, and going out for a late dinner at Strudel House.
breakfast pastry: i was hoping for a raisin type situation, but this was chocolate |
preparing to leave Esztergom: sculpture by the bridge |
Scott, ready to roll out |
the start of our path out of town |
rolling by the Danube |
the Danube |
a short crossing, but we probably need the ferry |
we all made it |
ferry, approaching |
on the ferry |
on the ferry |
leaving the south side of the Danube for now |
approaching Szob (still in Hungary, but in Pest County) |
the river |
the river bank |
mountains behind the river |
arriving |
we spent a little while being amused by this directional sign |
all roads lead to Rome |
Mount Everest; Marianas Trench |
a galaxy far far away |
Black Sea; mutant bicycle meeting here in August |
I googled and i still don't know; i think this might be the name of a fantasy book or series |
You are here |
the ferry, ready to leave again |
yeah, definitely don't do that |
our path through this park |
the river |
more plants and river |
the road ahead |
we're riding on a divided path next to this highway |
nice roof, though |
river and mountains beyond the building |
riders underway |
still underway |
snail underway |
town in the foothills |
view downriver |
across the river |
train station |
mist in the mountains across the river |
the road ahead |
ruins of High Castle at Visegrád, across the river |
on top of a mountain, in case that was unclear |
river view |
river view |
across the river |
fence by the road |
lángos! |
view across the river from our lunch stop |
we can still see the high castle from here |
now also the low castle |
closeup of church in Visegrád |
advertisement for lángos |
the view east |
leaving Visegrád |
plants off the side of a walking bridge |
view across a field |
mind the post |
cyclists walking over a bridge |
town in the foothills |
the path ahead |
the river, through a park |
the road ahead |
do not enter |
our largest ferry trip of the day, at Vác |
Scott takes a ferry selfie |
riders on the ferry |
a number of cars, on the ferry |
looking across the river |
buildings, from the ferry |
we meet up with the van in front of this building |
i just take photos, i don't caption them |
view across a field |
a fire |
house in front of the mountains |
more water through trees |
a sign |
all the ferries used tires as bumpers to keep the cab from running into the ferry |
on the last ferry of the day |
approaching the far side |
the Szentendrei-Dunaág river, from the ferry |
street fair in Szentendre |
food stands at Szentendre street fair |
Turkish coffee! |
the wall of our lunch stop was decorated with small bills |
lunch at a Serbian restaurant |
we were intrigued by the cylindrical cakes at this food stand |
we decided to try one |
river view from Szentendre |
this is the Szentendrei-Dunaág, not the Danube itself |
Szentendre |
nice roof, though, right? |
advertisement for this festival |
cyclepath by the river in Szentendre |
another river view |
obligatory bike shot |
bend in the river |
this way to Budapest |
riders underway |
warning: uneven road surface |
path through a wooded area |
tree roots |
building with a very round tower |
more river |
riding around a canal |
some sort of dam apparatus |
riders on a bridge |
u-turn across this bridge |
next we encountered this situation |
road: some assembly required |
bridge across the Szentendrei-Dunaág |
the river looked great |
but watch out for rebar |
riders proceeding with caution |
riders ready to get underway |
pier is more usable at low tide |
bridge across the Danube |
view north along the Danube |
sign on a restaurant |
graffiti as we enter the Budapest area |
building with clock and smokestack |
more graffiti |
statues with umbrellas |
walking our bikes through a pedestrian zone |
some sort of music event is happening |
side of a building |
sign about Holy Roman Emperor, Sigismund of Bohemia, i think |
about to start the Danube crossing on Arpád Híd |
looking back at the Danube from the bike bridge |
this non-ominous tunnel will take us to Margaret Island |
path on Margaret Island |
tower, possibly attached to a theatre |
ruined Francescan church on Margaret Island |
plaque about the ruined church |
wall of the ruined church |
central bike road on Margaret Island |
we discovered this delightful fountain music show on the southern end of Margaret Island |
more fountain |
more fountain |
more fountain |
end of the show |
2019 fountain program: we were there for Tavasz, aka Spring from the Four Seasons |
sculpture at the south end of Margaret Island |
bridge from Margaret Island to Budapest |
west side of the river |
first view of Orszagház, the Hungarian parliament building |
i was not quick enough to get a photo of the Jedi cosplayers who passed us on the bridge, celebrating May 4th |
leaving the bridge and heading to Budapest |
looking back at the bridge |
stone buildings visible from our hotel room |
blurry people on chairs in the hotel lobby |
mirror wall in the hotel lobby |
saying goodbye to our van driver Radic |
street of Budapest in the rain |
building decoration in Budapest |
spice drawer at Strudel House |
dinner |
photo of Greta Garbo in the bathroom at Strudel House |
more bathroom photos |
dessert! |
the strudel counter |