Budapest Day1

We had a very busy day in Budapest today. It is always stressful in a new city until you work out how the trains etc. work. we sorted it fairly quickly and got our bearings by going on the open top bus tour. Great value! It took a few hours but all the major sites were covered and lots of history. It also included a boat trip as well.
Budapest is very impressive. The Danube is beautiful and much of the architecture is similar to Paris (without the dog poo)!! Cant wait to go and do a bit more exploring. Monday is a bad day to start as most of the museums and galleries are closed.
We walked a long way today and as a result we were very tired. we bought baguettes and wine and beer and had dinner in our room. We stopped a few times for a beer at the many cafes so that may have negated the walking. Had a beautiful goulash soup for lunch.
I think we will have enough to keep us busy for the next few days!

Budapest

Arrived in Budapest. Good flight on Ryanair and went fairly quickly. Only hassle was that the ATMs at the bank did not accept our cards and had a minor panic as we had to pay for a Taxi into town. An obliging driver stopped for us and we managed to get some florints. Hotel seems good and we are looking forward to starting the sight seeing tomorrow.
The weather looks promising and warmish. Ken may even wear shorts!

Day in the Cotswolds.

had a good day today driving through the beautiful Cotswolds. Fantastic scenery and rolling, green hills. We went through some very quaint little villages, many were filled with tourists but some were very quiet. It is sort of what you imagine a lot of England to be like.
We ended up in Gloucester, famous for the rhyme about Doctor Foster. Two surprises there....we started talking to a woman with a glass of wine on the old docks who lived on a canal boat with her Aussie husband and she invited her husband to give us a tour of the boat..... just like a long caravan in the water. Then we found the "hairy bikers" were doing a shoot on the dock. we waited and watched them for a while.... they were really scruffy but very nice. Talked to all and were signing autographs and posing for photos. Who knows, we might get in a background shot!
Off to budapest tomorrow night, should be a different 2 weeks in central Europe!

Back at Lower Seagry

We safely returned to the farm after getting the brakes fixed on the Discovery. Had a wet but unevetful trip back. today we went to Bath. Also fairly rainy, especially when Ken decided to sit upstairs on the sight seeing bus......we didn't sit there for long. It was difficult to concentrate on the commentary with the noise of my chattering teeth drowning it out.
It was interesting to hear about the history of the town and see the important parts.
We visited a restored house on the Royal circuit that is very authentic. got a good feel for the life of the rich who "took the waters" there.
Enjoying watching the Australia V Sth Africa ODI live and itstill miserable weather!!!

Day 8 Road Trip

We are coming to the end of the road trip. Had a great day today. Went to a quaint village called Robin Hood Bay. A big walk down hill through an old smugglers village. Lots of little streets to hide in, back in the day, Very authentic, I suspect not much has changed over the last few hundred years.
We had a big adventure in the afternoon, looking for the vestiges of a Roman Road. Tom Tom sent usall over the country but we eventually found it by looking at the signs.
Ken insisted we find the town of Uggle Barnby, where Barry comes from. It was as he described it. A one street village on a big hill. ,
After going for a walk around the farm and examining Amandas Dexters, we went for a posh meal at the Stables pub. Very nice!
Back to Lower Seagry tomorrow and off for a day in Bath Friday.

Day 7 Road Trip

A long day driving today....but lots to see. We started very early at fish ladder at Pitlochry. Not too much salmon action so far his season, but it was interesting to see how the wee fishies make it up the stream!
We then went via the Firth of Forth bridge by passing Edinburgh back to Blighty. Stopped at Lindisfarne or Holy Island, where you can only get to the island at low tide and risked the possibility of getting marooned there as we did not check the tidal charts before we ventured out there.
All in all it was a very interesting coastal drive.
By the time we got to Whitby, however, a massive fog had fallen and sight seeing was non existant. We had a wonderful fish dinner at a whitby institution called Trenches...a huge hunk of haddock that even had KB beaten!
A problem with the brakes on the Discovery will probably mean a quiet day, but thats OK....the farm is a great place to stop!

Day 6 Road Trip

Left our B and B and the delightful Mrs Bell and headed for Skye. Amazingly, Ken did not sing the Skye Boat Song once! However, he did manage a Donald, Wheres your Troosers.
On Skye we visited Dunvegan Castle - the ancestral home of the Macleods, of which the Malcolms are part.
Skye was very scenic...mountains, lochs, moors and heather.....all rugged and beautiful.
Spending the night at Pitlochry. Very touristy town on a river. Had a Stovie for dinner....after getting an explanation from the waitress. Basically a very tasty savoury mince with layers of potato. It came with a pint of lager, and that was good also.
Off to Whitby for 2 nights.