Danube River Cruise - 5/8/14

Up at 5:00 and out to check email and send email.  A cloudy day to start as we continue down the Danube to our destination of Budapest, Hungary.  We arrive around 8:30 AM and the view from the sun deck as Budapest appears in view. A magnificent sight as we round the bend from Marguerite Island. We dock three deep at the city pier and then off to a City Coach tour for three and one half hours. We learned quite a bit about this city of 1.8 million.  Many monuments and dazzling buildings.

We ended the tour with a walk through the food market, a large building lined with vendors selling produce, butcher's stalls souvenirs and much more.  Deb and I bought some supplies of Hungarian pepper, sweet, spicy and smoked, together with some sausage that we hope makes it through customs. 

Back to the ship for a late lunch and then, 8 out of 10 members retired to their cabin for a short rest (nap) while one pair ventured back into the shopping area for another go round.

Before dinner, we were treated to Hungarian folk dancers and music.  After a locally themed dinner, we cast off for an hour's ride up and down the Danube to see the City all lit up - quite a sight and many photos were taken, a lot deleted, and some good ones left to sort out upon our return.

Packed our bags for a morning departure from the ship and our last night in a hotel (Soffitel) here in Budapest before we leave on early departure Saturday morning for home.