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Budapest, Rivers, Amsterdam
  • Kirk and Anna Lively and Laird
  • Kirk and Anna Lively and Laird

Budapest, Rivers, Amsterdam

One week in Budapest, then a 15 day Viking River Cruise to Amsterdam via the Danube River, the Danube/Mainz Canal, and the Rhein River, then one week in Amsterdam Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 5, 2024
  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Courtyard of the Octogon Hotel
    Heroes Square, Archangel Gabriel MonumentVodosmarty SquareBreakfast at the Parisi PassageDome in the Parisi PassageView from Castle HillKing Mattias hunting sculptures.Fisherman's BastionThe Chain BridgeThe bronze shoe memorial for Jews murdered in WWIIParliament building from the Fishermen's Bastion

    Budapest, Hungary, October 6-9

    Oct 6–12, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Stayed the first night in the Octogon Hotel in a very busy part of town. The day after our arrival we walked to Heroes Square with the Archangel Gabriel monument. Enjoyed a kurtoskalacs (aka Chimney Cake) from a food stall on the corner. Relocated to our VRBO in northern Pest on Tuzer Ut, just 200 yards from the Metro 3 line. Being over 65, public transport was free for us. Visited the nearby Lehel Market, an unusual building full of fruit, cheese, meat, and sundry vendors in stalls, along with two small grocery stores, Prima and Penny. Oct 8, we traveled to the Parisi Passage cafe for breakfast. Walked to the castle hill, visiting the sights including the Fishermen's Bastion where we had drinks and a pastry. Across the Chain Bridge to the bronze shoe memorial - commemorating local Jews killed and thrown into the river in WWII. Oct 9, we had lunch at the Central Market and later walked to the Szechenyi Baths near Heroes Square. Had wine and apple pie a la mode at the Le Botte cafe.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    The Eger sign in Dobo square
    Lunch in EgerThe 1878 flood mark in Stephen Dobo SquareStatue of Dobo defending the castle in 1552A view from the castle towards Dobo SquareEger castleThe minaret from the Turks. Now with a cross on top.The marzipan display. Everything is made of marzipan.A statue of warriorsThe Minorite Church in Eger

    Eger, Hungary, October 10, 2024

    October 10, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We took a two hour train trip to Eger for a delightful visit. Lunch, beautiful public squares, a castle famous for a 1552 battle against the Ottoman Turks, the minaret, the Marzipan Museum where all the objects are made of colored marzipan, then a return to Budapest in the early evening.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    The Basilica at Esztergom from Slovakia
    EstergomThe BasilicaThe interior of the BasilicaOur restaurant for lunchA tower that Vlad the Impaler was imprisoned in for one yearA view of the Danube from the restaurantSitting in a chare of nailsAnna in the stocksThe main street in SzentendreThe Parliament Building from our boat trip back to Budapest

    Bus tour north of Budapest, Oct 11, 2024

    October 11, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    A bus tour to three towns north of Budapest, Esztergom, Visegrad, Szentendre. In Esztergom a short trip across the bridge to Slovakia, a tour of the Basilica. In Visegrad lunch on top of a hill adjacent to a destroyed castle with a short stop to visit some interesting torture devices near a tower where Vlad the Impaler was imprisoned for a year. The last stop was a visit to the artist town of Szentendre which we had been to three years earlier, then a boat ride down the Danube to return to Budapest.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    The third entrance to the thermal baths
    The outdoor poolsSwimming ten lengths of the 50m poolAt the Dayspalm area with our luxury ticket. Cocktail, fruit bowl, tea, robe, towel, footwearThe prize winning architecture of the Ethnography Museum (study of culture)Half of the Ethnography Museum from the side

    Szechesnyi Thermal Baths. Oct 12, 2024

    October 12, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    A few hours visiting one of Budapest's most famous attractions, the Szechesnyi Thermal Baths near Heroes Square (aka the Archangel Gabriel monument). We bought tickets for a luxury visit including a cocktail, fruit bowl, robes, slippers, and more. There are three large outdoor pools, two heated pools and a lap pool. Kirk did five laps. Numerous interior pools of various temperatures. Fun visit but once was enough.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Kirk at the Fishermen's Bastion, Budapest
    Our VRBO was located on this, the 6th floorThe synagogue of BudapestTreats at Anna's cafe. We were here three years ago.Marathon runners at Anna's cafeView from the ship on our first nightAnother view from the ship of Castle HillSt Mattias Cathedral on Castle HillFountains at a square in BudapestA protest against a statue depicting Hungary as a Nazi victim

    Embarking , Viking Baldur, Oct 13-14

    October 13, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Checked out of our VRBO with Andras, Used the metro to get to the Corinthian Hotel where we left our bags, Walked through the city, bought a Dal of Norway sweater for $35 at vintage shop. Visited the synagogue and the Central Market where Anna bought paprika and I bought a fridge souvenir. We then had treats at Anna's cafe as people who had run the city marathon in the morning passed by or had beverages at the cafe. We walked to the ship and checked in to our stateroom, 116. The following day, the 14th, we took the included tour to Castle Hill, toured the St Mattias Cathedral, then walked back to the ship via the Chain Bridge., followed by a last walk through parks, seeing the Raoul Wallenberg memorial, a protest against a statue depicting Hungary as a Nazi victim rather than a willing collaborator in the Holocaust. Narrowly missed seeing the Ronald Reagan statue - honoring his part in bringing down the Iron Curtain. The Viking Baldur began our cruise up the Danube after dark.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    St Francis of Assisi Church near the cruise ship berthing at night
    Hofburg PalaceFountain in the tourist area, Made of sandstone.Interior of the cathedralView from the tower of St. Stephen CathedralAnna on one of the 343 steps up the towerThe tower from the plazaGemstones at the Natural History MuseumInterior of the Natural History MuseumThe city government buildingBicycle lanes in the cityA nifty fountain on our way back to the ship

    Vienna, Austria, October 16

    October 16, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    We arrived in Vienna in the early evening on the 15th after cruising up the river, including thru the prosperous looking capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. Walked into Vienna (Wien) about one mile before returning to the ship. The next day we enjoyed a walking tour of the city center including the Hofburg Palace, the summer residence of the Hapsburgs, the St. Stephen Cathedral, where we climbed the 343 steps to the observation level of the tower, and the natural history museum, especially the minerals, before walking about three miles back to the ship.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Scenery sailing upriver from Vienna
    Scenery along the DanubeEntering the grounds of Melk AbbeyThe grand staircase, built for royalty, entering Melk AbbeyCourtyard of Melk AbbeyThe church of Melk AbbeyLooking across the gardens to the city of MelkReturning to the Viking BaldurSailing into a lock on the Danube River

    Melk Abbey, Oct 17, 2024

    October 17, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Sailing up the Danube from Vienna the ship stopped at the town of Melk. We took buses up to the Melk Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery, now with 17 members. It is a beautiful baroque building with lots of history and displays, including many statues. One statue, gilded with gold leaf, was said to have $120 in gold on it. After touring the abbey we bought some liqueur in the gift store then explored the very nice gardens attached to the abbey.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Maribel Gardens with Hohenzollern Castle
    City squareThe quartet singing songs from The Sound of MusicFascinating graveyard in SalzburgHiking up stairs carved out of the cliff behind SalzburgView of the city from a highpoint on our hikeNear the bridge of locks in Salzburg

    Salzburg, Austria, October 18, 2024

    October 18, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Spent a gray sometimes drizzly day in Salzburg, Austria, a two hour bus trip from our port on the Danube River. A lot of tourist kitsch concerning the Sound of Music movie, but quite enjoyable. Lunch included a quartet singing many of the songs from the movie. We also managed to find a hike which included steps carved into the conglomerate rock that was used for most of the buildings in the city. A very nice city of 153,000.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Regensburg from the Viking Baldur
    Old bridge leading to the other side of the cityRemnants of the Roman wallThe Regensburg CathedralA colorful part of the old city wallPicturesque medieval buildings in RegensburgA rose in the public garden next to a museumThe other side of the river where we visited a cafeJust before returning to our meeting point to return to the ship

    Regensburg, October 19, 2024

    October 19, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We spent most of the day wandering the streets, squares, and parks in Regensburg after a walking tour with our guide, Daniel Husband, an American baseball player who was playing baseball in South Africa when he met some German baseball players, went to Germany with them and then married a German gal. They now have two boys. Regensburg is a delightful city, full of churches, colorful buildings, statutes, and stories. Construction of the St. Peter's Cathedral began in 1275. The building was finished about 600 years later. The 10,000 sf of stained glass windows were removed during WWII for protection, then restored after the war. The famous stone bridge was built in the 12th century. There are remnants of a Roman fort constructed in the 2nd century A.D. Plenty of examples of historic anti-semitism, including gravestones plundered from a graveyard during pogroms then incorporated into building walls, and "stumbling stones" which are brass plaques commemorating people killed in the Holocaust, both Jews and others.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Downstream side of the Eiback Lock
    An entrance to Nuremburg CastlePosing at Nuremburg CastleLeaving Nuremburg CastleMedieval portion of NurembergThe rabbit statue in NuremburgA statue of Nuremburg's most famous artistThe fountain on the main squareThe cathedral on the main squareTurning the rings three times to return

    Nuremburg, Germany October 20, 2024

    October 20, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Having traveled up and over the "continental divide" separating rivers flowing to the North Sea from rivers flowing east we arrived in Nuremberg. We passed through a total of 16 locks while navigating the Rhine/Mainz/Danube canal built between 1960 and 1992. We walked from the berthed ship to the closest lock, Eibach, and back before taking the bus into the city center. About 90% destroyed in WWII, the citizens decided to reconstruct the castle, towers, and walls. Very attractive! However, Nuremburg is inextricably connected to the Nazis, from the huge rallies conducted at the Zeppelin Field to Court 600 where many Nazi officials were held accountable for their crimes against humanity. We visited the Zeppelin Field as a result of a small car running into our bus right next to the field.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    The Regnitz River flowing through Bamberg
    The Bamberg Cathedral. Begun in 1237Stone carvings on an entrance to the cathedralMedieval courtyardLooking back at bridge we crossed on hour agoThe famous town hall in Bamberg in the riverThe entrance to the town hall on the bridgeSculpture adjacent to the bridgeLooking down from the castle

    Bamberg, Germany, Oct 21, 2024

    October 21, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Sailed to Bamberg. Took buses a short distance into town. Our guide Solvey took us to the castle, and the famous town hall built on the river to settle a dispute concerning the town being on both sides of the river. She described the town's signature beer, Rauchbier, (smoke beer). Anna bought a bottle to share at dinner on the ship. We explored town, had tea and pastries at a cafe and Anna found a very nice green leather purse while I listened to a buskerette play pretty music on a violin on the bridge.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Arriving in Wurzburg
    Fall scenery from the ship. The chapel we hiked to is in the upper leftThe Bishop's Palace (front)An interior room of the Bishop's PalaceInterior of the chapel within the palaceA useful statueA pretty churchA small Gothic cathedralThe hill with the old Bishop's palace across the riverThe path up to the chapel on the hillA view from the chapel on the hillOn the pedestrian bridgeThe traditional glass of white wine on the bridgePart of the gardens on the back side of the Bishop's Palace

    Wurzburg, Germany, Oct 22, 2024

    October 22, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We arrived in Wurzburg in the morning, then took a tour with guide Miguel Geronimo from Portugal to the Bishop's Palace. The baroque palace was built between 1720 and 1744 replacing an older palace within a fortress on the other side of the river. We then walked through the center of town viewing the buildings. After lunch Anna and I hiked up to a delightful chapel on the other side of the river, then on to the pedestrian bridge for a glass of wine, back to the Bishop's Palace for a visit to the gardens then through the university district before returning to the ship.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    City center
    Interesting building spreading out over the passagewayMore buildingsUrsua the guide showing the water levels of historic floodsUrsula providing the history of the towns Jews. Not a happy history.The castle above townA view from the castle down over the townRemnants of the castle wallsA photo showing the remaining walls of the castleA view from a castle lookoutThe red sandstone used to build the castle wallsA look at our path leaving the castle ruinsA fountain in the center of townThe yellow and green train for touristsA castle on the hillside as we sailed on from WertheimGerman food for the German dinner aboard ship

    Wertheim, Germany, Oct 23, 2024

    October 23, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Sailed to Wertheim. Took a little bright yellow and green "train" the short distance to the small city. Walking tour with Ursula who showed us the markers with the flood levels of the many, many floods experienced by the city. Interesting talk about the buildings, their construction, and their history followed by an in-depth explanation of what happened to the Jewish residents of the city through history including their removal during the Nazi regime. After the tour, Anna and I found the path up to the red sandstone castle looming over the town. Had a good time visiting the castle before finding a different route back into town and then a walk along the river back to the ship.. Watched the scenery as the ship sailed down the channel. Special German food dinner on board the ship with a few lederhosen and dirndls worn by the staff.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    One of many ancient castles on the river
    Pfalzgrafenstein Castle in the river with Marksburg Castle on the hillMarksburg Castle on the hillOn the Rhine RiverRough steps carved out of the rock at Marksburg CastleView of the river from Marksburg CastleTorture display at Marksburg Castle and our 17 yr old guide Solvey

    Rhine River, Marksburg Castle, Oct 24

    October 24, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Spent the day sailing down the Rhine past numerous castles. Could use the sun deck for the first time in days. Visited Marksburg Castle and spent some time in Koblenz, Germany before sailing on towards Cologne. Marksburg was fun with a steep, rough ascent to the castle and some narrow winding stairs to visit the castle kitchen, the sleeping quarters, the waste disposal room, the armory room, and the torture chamber all led by a 17 yr old named Nora who wants to fix European politics.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    The cathedral. Tilted to get the towers in the photo
    Stained glass inside the cathedralThe interior of the cathedralPaintings depicting the slaughter of pilgrims by Huns at their return from the Holy LandLate afternoon photo of the two towers of the cathedralStatues at a store in the shopping areaDeparting Cologne after dark

    Cologne (Koln), Germany, Oct. 25, 2024

    October 25, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Continued sailing down the river overnight to Cologne (Koln), Germany where we berthed for the day. After a walking tour of the downtown we walked back into the city after lunch visiting the Wallraf-Richartz Museum (paintings), the shopping area, and another visit to the Cologne Cathedral. The cathedral has been on my list for decades. Whereas about 90% of the city was destroyed by bombing in WWII, the cathedral survived (with its stained glass windows removed for preservation) with only a little bomb damage because English and American pilots liked having the cathedral as a visual reference for navigating their way deeper into Germany.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Crossing paths with another Viking ship. Rotterdam in background
    The Viking Baldur at the Kinderdijk berthStatue illustrating the story of the flood, the bassinet, the baby, and the catOur guide Julia explaining a bit about the windmill technologyPosing in front of the windmill we toured. Three floorsKids at the windmillA drawbridge to the windmillEnjoying our final dinner aboard the Viking Baldur with a Rauchbier toast!

    Kinderdijk, Netherlands, October 26

    October 26, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Our last day of cruising down the Rhine and its shipping canals. We stopped at Kinderdijk for a visit to old windmills that are now part of a museum. All water pumping is now down by electric pumps with far greater capacity. These were saved as a testament to Dutch history and ingenuity.
    After the visit we made a brief visit to Rotterdam then sailed to Amsterdam and enjoyed our final dinner aboard the Viking Baldur, celebrating with a toast of Rauchbier!    Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Central Station in Amsterdam, the end of the line for Tram 2
    Our VRBO: Ellafitzgeraldstraat 4Map showing the location of our VRBOPlay fountain at the RijksmuseumThe RijksmuseumCruise boat berthing area in Amsterdam harborDinner at Dal Toscano restaurant, server from PortugalDam Square "obelisk" at nightThe Anne Frank houseInteresting buildings in Amsterdam, mostly hotelsThe cheese lady (from Italy) where we bought cheeseAmsterdam buildings facing a canalAt the Amsterdam flower marketFlower bulbs at the Amsterdam flower marketOne of the Tram 2 trains we used regularlyAnna with one of the tiny cars parked next to a canalMarble sea level marker at a sea gateOur "We're in Amsterdam" photo

    Days in Amsterdam, Oct 27 to Nov 2, 2024

    October 27, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We spent several days exploring Amsterdam, the canals and restaurants, the many squares, and statues, the gardens of the Rijksmuseum - where we bought tourist themed coffee cups as souvenirs, and the area of the Anne Frank house. We also walked thru the redlight district, clouds of marijuana smoke west of the central station, went searching for a sea level marker established in 1684, and visited the flower market. A fun city to explore.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Diamond cutters
    The entrance to the Van Gogh MuseumOne of many of Van Gogh's self portraitsOne of the five versions of the famous sunflower paintingStatues in VolendamCity street on top of the dike at VolendamThe tourist part of Volendam. On the dike.Kirk and a statue at VolendamKirk and a statue in Volendam

    Amsterdam, Netherlands, Oct 29, 2024

    October 29, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    A very full day in Amsterdam and Volendam. We started the day taking the tram (No. 2) to Museum Square. Visited a diamond cutting factory (Coster) near the square, a long walk thru an adjacent park, then we were able to enter the Van Gogh (pronounced Von Goff on the tram) Museum one half hour early. Spent several hours exploring the museum's exhibits on Van Gogh and colleagues plus a temporary exhibit of Impressionist art including paintings and statues (some by Rodin). Even tho it was getting late in the afternoon we took the train to Central Station, the underground to north Amsterdam and then found the bus that would take us to the outskirts of Volendam, a delightful little town with tourist stores built on a dike facing the open waters of the Markermeer, which leads to the North Sea. Stopped to have beverages and some cod bites that were the best fish ever! With the assistance of the cafe server and a passerby on the street we found our way to the necessary bus stop and returned to our VRBO satisfied with a full day!Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler
    Anna in the wooden shoe at Madurodam
    Amsterdam's Anna Frank house and Westermarkt churchA busy miniature at MadurodamPortrayal of Amsterdam's Dam Plaza at MadurodamThe Peace Palace in The Hague (Den Haag)Julia, our tour guide at the Royal Blue Delft factoryCity center in Delft, NetherlandsThe fish market where we had excellent salmon/arugual/mustard sandwichesExample of the use of bikes in the NetherlandsThe store where Anna bought her Royal Blue Delft dogTouring the harbor at RotterdamOur Rotterdam harbor tour boatYellow cube houses in downtown RotterdamThe Martel market/apartment house in Rotterdam

    Bus Tour to Rotterdam, Oct 31, 2024

    October 31, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    We took the tram early to Central Station for a bus tour to Madurodam, the city of miniatures, a drive thru visit to The Hague and its Peace Palace for negotiating international conflicts, Delft, with the Royal Delft factory and the city square, where we had an awesome salmon/arugula/mustard sandwich for lunch and Anna purchased a hand painted Royal Blue Delft dog. The last visit for the day was Rotterdam where we enjoyed a 75 minute boat tour of the harbor, then a visit downtown to the yellow cube houses and the Martel, an unusual building stuffed with food stalls on the interior and apartments lining the sides and top of the curved roof.Read more

  • Kirk and Anna Lively and LairdBudapest, Rivers, AmsterdamTraveler

    Returning Home, Nov 2, 2024

    November 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Up around 3 a.m., picked up by our Uber (another Tesla) for the trip to Schiphol Airport. A flight to Frankfurt, then a nonstop on Luthansa (about 11 hours) to Seattle, Picked up our bags, waited a long time to get through passport control, loaded up on the Wenatchee Valley Shuttle for the three hour trip to Wenatchee where Susan Q. picked us up at 6:30 for the short ride to the condo, Trip complete!Read more

    Trip end
    November 3, 2024
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