Energy efficiency and sight seeing in Budapest

June 7, 2014I'm always amazed at how other countries do so much more to conserve energy. In both India and London, the lights wouldn't come on in the hotel room unless you put your key in a little slot on the wall --meaning that you couldn't leave the lights on when you  weren't in the room. Here, in Budapest, you can leave the lights on, but last night when I arrived, I opened the window to see the view. Later, it was hot so I left the window open. It still stayed pretty hot and it was very noisy in the square below late into the night. I still kept the window open because I thought it would be unbearably hot with it closed. Today I noticed a sign that says if the window is open heat or AC will turn off. So I shut the window and now it's perfectly comfortable in here.

They have the same tour buses here as in London.  And, as in London, you also get a river cruise with  it.  So now I have sailed on the Danube.
Some photos:

Today's lunch: really good salad and paprika chicken (famous Hungarian dish)

First day in Budapest

June 7, 2014

I really need to make some German friends. They are great travelers. I'm pretty sure I remember that when we were at Yosemite someone who worked in the park told Susan that the most useful language for her was German. In London and in Budapest, everywhere I go, people are speaking German. Signs in this hotel are in Hungarian, Russian and German. Some signs are in English. Breakfasts seem catered to the Germans. The buffet always has cold cuts and cheese. Maybe Hungarians and Brits eat those things for breakfast, too. I know it's definitely not a French breakfast. (I should say I also heard a lot of French in London.) This morning there was even broccoli on the buffet and I saw people eating it. There is also always a cappuccino machine for the coffee. That was true in Morocco, too. Here, I had to choose the first button because I could tell that said coffee - couldn't figure out what the other buttons said. 

Budapest is an hour later than London and MUCH warmer. The temperature will be the same as in Alexandria today. My room looks out over a square so I have a lovely view (the photo is in yesterday's post), but incredibly noisy late at night. 

Here's a phot of the square in front of my hotel. You can see the tall Hotel Medosz behind it. 

London to Budapest

June 6, 2014. I guess I was really tired. I slept till 8. So I just had breakfast in the hotel, packed and waited in the lobby for the shuttle. Now I see the advantage of the Heathrow Express over the shuttle. The shuttle takes forever. I was the first one picked up. Then we drove through tons of traffic in London to pick up others at 3 different hotels. I still think I prefer it, though for the convenience. But it might be a good idea to take a taxi to Paddingtin Station (not far) and then get the Heathrow Express from there. Apparently British Airways is having baggage issues. Something to do with tech issues. We were delayed while they got our luggage on the plane. But you have to give them credit for refreshments. Air Icelandic took me across the Atlantic on 2 long flights and didn't give me a bit to eat. BA takes me on a short 2.5 hour flight and we get sandwiches and "complimentary drinks from the bar."  I had red wine. The two young guys next to me had vodka and coke. Then they each had a beer. One lady asked for tea and the flight attendant said, "Tea! That's not exciting!"

Budapest Airport is small and easy. There are only 3 baggage carousels and there were no other flights coming when ours did. I got my bag right away. Then I went to the ATM right away. A lady from New Zealand couldn't get her card to work in the machine, but I got money with no problems.  On the floor of hoe airport is an orange line that says Airport Shuttle. You just follow it. Then I bought a ticket and waited about 10 minutes. The van came and I got to my hotel in about 40 minutes. This time I was the second to be dropped off. The hotel seems fine. Tomorrow I'll start visiting Budapest. 

A full day in London

June 5, 2014

In my only real sightseeing day in London, I feel like I accomplished a lot. but first, I have some VERY EXCITING non-travel news that I think I can tell now. When I was waiting at the gate at Dulles, Oumar and Lisa called me and said they had something to tell me. They were getting married the next day. They had planned this for a while but intended to surprise everyone and tell us after the fact. They had to call and tell me the day before because I was traveling. I had known they were leaving on a cruise this Saturday, but I had no idea it would be a honeymoon. So, they were married on Wednesday at the San Francisco courthouse. They had a photographer, so we will get photos, but I don't have them yet. I am VERY, VERY happy. 

Now, for travel news. Today I had breakfast at my hotel (no big thrill - self-serve similar to US). Then I walked over to Marble Arch and took the BigBus tour. It's one of those hop-on buses where you buy a ticket for a day and can ride as much as you want. I rode on top. It was pretty cold and I noticed I was the only one without a jacket. I did have long sleeves and a scarf. I saw lots of things from the bus and heard interesting stories from the tour guide. I got off at Tower Of London and took a tour of the tower. They also keep the Crown Jewels there so I went to look at those too.  Afterwards, I took a cruise on a boat on the Thames (it's included in the BigBus fare). I saw the London Eye. Then I got off the boat at Westminister Abby. I was taking my time, not feeling there was any reason to hurry. It turned out that Westminister Abby closes at 3:30. I was the last person they let in. They have audio tours that you can take around. You have to tell it where you are and then you hear a description. It's well-done, but not nearly as good as the audio tour at Alcatraz.  Then I walked over to Buckingham Palace and arrived just in time for the changing of the guard. Then I rode the bus back to Marble Arch and walked back to my hotel. I had dinner at an Indian restaurant. Yesterday I had fish and chips, so I've eaten the two  foods that I wanted to have in London. Neither was anything special. I really like London and definitely want to come back. I didn't get to see Saint Paul's Cathedral or the British Museum. And next time I'd like to take a trip to see Stonehenge and Bath. They have day trips that go there. 

Tomorrow I fly to Hungary. My flight leaves at 2:45. I'm having the shuttle pick me up. The Heathrow Express was nice, but then you still have to take the underground (carrying luggage up and down several flights of stairs) and walk a ways. The shuttle is easier and doesn't cost any more. I contacted the Medosz Hotel in Budapest and they said I can get an airport shuttle there. Now I just need to organize my stuff.  Some photos:

1 & 2 Tower of London   3 London Eye.  4 Twinings Tea. 5 London phone booths. They still have them! I don't know why since everyone walks down the street talking on their cells just like in the US

DC to Iceland to London

June 3 - 4, 2014

My first flight was 5.5 hrs to Reykjavik and I was thinking it wasn't bad. When we got to the airport in Reykjavik, I hadn't slept except a few times when I dozed for less than 10 minutes and it was about 6:30 am there. I know the rule about putting yourself on local time right away, so I had coffee and a yogurt and decided it was morning. The weather didn't help. Reykjavik was just GRAY. It looked miserable. That airport does have the nicest bathrooms I've ever seen, though. (In my head I hear David Sklar In Morocco asking in exasperation why we ladies always have to comment on the quality of the bathrooms.  And these were better than those in the airport in Casa.). The next flight to London, I was so tired I felt sick. I dozed a little, but I can't sleep more than 10 minutes on a plane. I rallied a little when I got to London. I managed to take the Heathrow Express into London.  I asked a man about getting the underground to my hotel. He told me which train to take and walked with me to where I bought my Oyster card. I got to my hotel at about 1:30. I thought if I took a shower and changed clothes, I would get some energy. Then I thought if I ate lunch, I'd feel up to sight-seeing. I went to a peri-peri chicken place. I walked around the neighborhood a little, but now I'm back in my room totally exhausted. I'm going to have to take a nap. I did take 2 photos in the neighborhood of my hotel. I did take 2 photos. One is of the strange lines in the street. I don't understand them. The other is of the "American Diner". Note that it's halal!  

Last minute stuff

June 2, 2014 Verizon says my iPhone 4 won't work in Bulgaria and Turkey. Ish's iphone 5 will. So verizon says they can switch the phone #s, contacts and media on the 2 phones.  Ish is in Norfolk now and won't be back till late Tonight so we won't be able to do it till tomorrow. I hate leaving it till so last minute. I need to test it out. And will they transfer my notes?  I have a lot of stuff I need there: currency conversions for the 5 different currencies, things I want to see in London, etc

I've tried to call Turkish Airlines to get my seat assignment, but I keep getting a recording that says "All lines are busy.  Please call again later."  Then it disconnects me.  Finally got through around 3:00. It put me on hold - major accomplishment - except after an hour on hold I got disconnected. I give up. I really want to select my seat because it's an 11 hour flight home, but I think my next strategy needs to be to go to the Turkish Airlines desk at Dulles tomorrow. 

I printed my boarding passes!  The flight to Rekyavik is only 5 hours. Then an 80 minute layover and 3 hour flight to London.  Not bad. 

Getting ready to travel

I finally broke down and bought an iPad. I think it will make it easier to blog. I also bought a cable to connect my camera to it so I can upload photos I took with my camera. In India I only used my phone for photos and blogging. So now I will test uploading a photo.  (This is just a random photo that I took on my deck.)