Thank You Notes

With apologies to Jimmy Fallon, I offer the following thank you notes:

 Thank you, Kara Irwin and your family, for allowing us to stay in your charming apartment that required us to walk through the Fisherman's Bastion on a daily basis.  

Fisherman's Bastion 

Apartment Located Behind Large Light Pole on the Right 

 Thank you city fathers of Budapest, for deciding that manhole covers in the castle area should be artistic and not just functional. 

Thank you "Free Tours" guide Andrew, for combining history and humor in your walking tour of Budapest.  Because of you, we were able to share the story of how college students, wishing for good luck on their exams, rubbed the testicles of this horse, thus leaving the statue with "brass balls." 

Thank you sunshine in Budapest, for shining on one of the three days we were visiting.  Without you I would not have captured these amazing images. 

Thank you Viking River Cruise planners, for providing a night time cruise on the Danube as part of our trip. The views were breathtaking. 

Thank you local guide Reiner, for taking the time to write an audience participation play to help us understand the "Royals" of Vienna.  Your combination of extensive knowledge,  disorganization and creativity  were disarming but we enjoyed our walking tour with you. 

Thank you men dressed like Mozart to sell tickets to concerts, for showing us tourists that it is not only in New York City that we can see grown people dressed in costumes to hype their attractions. 

Thank you Viking Tour Bus Driver to Schonnbrun Palace, for being gracious enough to back the bus up to allow this taxi driver to exit the area clearly marked as "For Tour Buses ONLY".  I hope your kindness was reflected in the tips you received  that day. 

Thank you artists of Passau, for showing us that not all art is in the museums.  Your installation of umbrellas to celebrate "surviving" the flood of 2013 was a treat along our walk. 

Thank you Captain Gabor Szegedi, for steering the ship through this particular lock and getting us safely to our next port. (In this photo our balcony is on the left, the wall of the lock on the right....) 

Windows, Doors, Beautiful Buildings

Such exquisite sights to see along this cruise.....

Meals and Drinks - On Excursions

Stuffed Cabbage with Paprika Sauce and Potatoes in Budapest 

Because of the timing of most of the excursions, we had either just finished a meal (breakfast or lunch) or were returning for a meal (lunch or dinner)..... while in Budapest before the cruise we had some fabulous meals.... including "not dinner" with Margaret Mary and Garry at the Hilton on Castle Hill..... (They provided a wonderful spread of yummy heavy h'ors d'oeuvres from 5:30-8:00 and since we were NOT cosmopolitan enough to go out to dinner AFTER that time it was DINNER for us, even though the attendant assured us it was "not dinner") ..... Whenever the timing allowed we thoroughly enjoyed our meals in the beautiful places we visited......Kara's suggestions of "Pest-Buda" and our walking tour guide's suggestion of "21" on Fortuna (Hungarian Kitchen) were both excellent.....great food and atmosphere.....

Sausage and Beer at the Wurst House of Regensburg

Tender Roast Short Ribs in Budapest 

This was another of Kara's suggestions.... wow! an amazing building plus yummy delicacies and coffee..... Put this on your list of MUSTS!

Roast Pork with Sauerkraut

We enjoyed a meal outdoors in Passau following the organ concert at St. Stephen's..... believe it or not, this was our LUNCH portion..... Wow... amazing we all did not gain MORE weight than we did....

Meals and Drinks - On Board

Anyone who goes on a cruise looks forward to the dining experience but fears the weight gain.... our group was no different..... Viking's food was excellent and plentiful but luckily for us they do not go overboard as some cruise lines do.... their portions were reasonable and almost always delicious.... there were choices at every meal to suit every palate....white wine, red wine or beer are included in the price of the cruise (there is an option to upgrade to finer wines and liquor, but none of us did that).....At most meals there was an option to dine even MORE casually in the lounge area..... Here are some of the delights we experienced along the way.....

Breakfast - Options Plus Omelet Station 

Strudel Demonstration - Then Tastings 

Afternoon Tea - Scones and Yogurt 

Afternoon Tea - Cherry Strudel 

Bavarian Dinner - Beer Display 

Specialty Desserts

Artichoke Appetizer 

BLT Pinwheels 

Banana Split - Lunchtime 

Breakfast Buffet 

Friends - A Great Way to Travel

Thanks to Margaret Mary for FORCING us to make a decision early about travel with Viking.... and thanks too to her well organized travel agent.....




First Night on Board the Ship 



Margaret Mary and Garry 



Don and Kay 

The Gang's All Here 

Don in the Wachau Valley 



Don and Kay on Their Balcony 

Enjoying the Sun 

Don and John in the Lounge 

Kay Getting Some Tips in the Kitchen 



A Rainy Stroll in Budapest 



Waiting for Our Table at "21" 



Margaret Mary Serving Up the Local Liquor 

Capturing the Beauty of Schonnbrun Palace 



Her Excuse: She's From Florida! 

Wachau Valley  

Toasting to our Travels