2 Day Update

Had problems getting wifi -- read on and you will find out why.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Rain, rain, and more rain.  And let's not forget about the cold and the wind!  Richard and Joanne chose to take the van to the next hotel.  From how I feel right about now, I really think that was the wiser decision.  The remaining 7 of us headed out in the pouring rain towards Brastilava, the capital of Slovakia and then on to our next hotel destination in a town in Hungary that I cannot even pronounce.

The ride to Slovakia was wet and foggy, not much to take pictures of.  Although I am sure on a clear day, it might have been quite beautiful.  We made one stop at a Petrol station to pick up safety vests, as we were instructed it is mandatory in Slovakia during the night or reduced visibility situations.  Well they couldn't miss now that's for sure!  Crossed the old border into Slovakia and made it to Bratislava by about 10:30. Found a pastry shop to warm up in for a while.  After a cafe, it was time for a stroll around the city.  Geoff and I bailed out on the strolling as it was still coming down pretty hard.  Had it been a sunny day, the tour around the old city might have been worth seeing. Not to mention, the Bratislava castle. We headed for the postcard shop and fulfilled our card obligations.

It was back on the bikes to the next town where we were hoping to get somewhere warm for lunch.  No such luck.  However, we did find a restaurant that was closed for the seaon that had tables and benches under a tent like structure.  Terrific, it was dry - that was all we cared about.  Thankfully, most of us made our lunch from the breakfast spread.  It felt good to sit and eat and stay dry for awhile.  The rain had slowed down so it was time to shove off again.

Geoff was doing a fine job navigating us through the streets and bike paths.  We were doing just fine until somehow we missed a turn somewhere.  At this juncture, there were two options.  One was longer but on the bike path through rural scenery - the other was maybe on the highway 150 but much shorter.  Geoff and I took the shorter route and the rest headed off down the path.  There was really only about 1/2 mile of highway until we met up with the bike path again.  It got interesting when we got to the town because we couldn't find the hotel.  Stopped a group of high school students and showed them our map.  They tried to explain how to get there and then finally they said "Follow us, we will take you".  They were sweet and we were very grateful.  Total distance today 62.5 km - time for a hot shower.  It was about 3pm when we arrived at the hotel.  We did not get into our room until about 4:30.  Needless to say, I was getting a bit cranky.  Read on...

The Hotel Aqua is a bit bizarre - it is some kind of thermal baths thing. There are all these fat Hungarians walking around in bathrobes smoking and taking in the thermal baths.  There are two hotels - big and little.  G & I first went into the larger hotel and the woman sent us to the other hotel.  As we approached, we saw a van open with our luggage and we were concerned that he was driving away!!  The gal at the desk explained that we had to check in there but we were going to the other hotel for our room.  OK.  We checked in - got our bathrobes and thermal card - and walked back to the other hotel, where the woman said "That is not us".  So we went back again to the smaller hotel and the gal at the desk found someone to take us over there only now we had Mark and Gail with us.  So the four of us trapsed back over and our guide went straight to the rooms.  Great.  Nice big room.  Wonderful hair dryer to dry our shoes and clothes.

We got settled.  I took a shower while Geoff tried to get the wifi going using the password the gal from the small hotel gave us.  No go.  He went down to reception - "Sorry sir you cannot use our wifi because although you have a room here, you are not a guest of this hotel."  He came back upstairs.  I sent him back down again saying "That is unacceptable.  We are paying customers." He also took the password that the other woman gave him.  So back down to the lobby he went.  Now Joanne and Lee show up and hear this whole conversation about how we are not really guests here. I guess we must be invisible. And then the woman told him that the password that he was given was stolen.  WTF!!!  G comes back up to relay his tale of woe.  Too bad I am sitting here in a bathrobe with my invisible Heineken from the minibar, otherwise I would go down there.  But after today, I have to say I just don't have the energy to rile up the New York attitude.  Although these folks deserve it.  Oh, I didn't even mentioh the little man at the turnstile who collects the "thermal tickets".  This is also the shortcut to the other hotel.  He didn't want to let us pass because we didn't have tickets.  Here we are in our biking gear (me with my shiny new safety vest) walking around holding bathrobes and a hotel room key that goes nowhere apparently.  Does he think we are going to try to sneak in for a swim??!!##!!

Well it is almost time to meet the group for dinner.  Too bad we didn't get to take advantage of any the thermal activities.  I certainly could use a good massage right about now.  Hey Lucy, I'll be cashing in big time on my birthday present!!

Dinner was at a restaurant across from the "big" hotel - an authentic Hungarian place.  The food was delicious - real comfort food which is what we all needed after a day in the wind and rain.   After dinner the waiter poured a complimentary home made Hungarian liquor.  Quite tasty.  The cockles got warmed and the giggles got louder.  Back in the room now and the wind is still howling outside, although it has stopped raining.  We can only hope that it blows it all away and the sun will be out tomorrow.

Next time ... Gyor

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Going to Gyor

Finally, clear skies and sunshine.  Everyone was geared up for today's ride to Gyor, which was not as long as yesterday.  Checked out of the bizarro hotel and tried heading out of town.  After a stop to the grocery store, we made our way to the bike path and we were off.  The path took us through various small villages - not terribly scenic, especially after seeing the hamlets of Holland.  I will explain here that most of what we have been biking through these past few days are either small villages or towns that were part of the Soviet bloc.  Everything is pretty plain with maybe a church, cafe, and a small store.  The paths have been lined with mainly with corn fields.  All that being said, it felt great to ride in the sunshine.  We arrived in Darnozseli and realized that we took an alternative route bypassing some of the villages.  Mark and Gail decided to go back and do the other route.  The rest of us sat down for a cafe.  Geoff and I decided to go right to Lipot and hook up with the other route while the rest of the gang continued.  We knew that in the end we would all end up in the same place.

The ride out to Lipot was beautiful.  A Canopy of trees lined with lots of old folks on their bikes collecting chestnuts.  The town was the same as they all had been.  Eventually, we met up with the bulk of the group sitting around a statute in Hedervar eating lunch.  We joined them for a bit but decided to have our lunch later on the river.  Our hope was to take the alternate river route into Gyor.  Off we went.  Our first attempt at the river route and we ended up on top of a dyke.  So we back tracked and followed the written directions instead of the map.  This time we followed the river a bit until we came very close to where we were before.  There was a picnic table, so we called lunch.  As we were eating, we spotted the rest of the gang up on top of the dyke - obviously they took the same route we did a while ago.  They all turned around and went back to the path.  After a very nice leisure lunch by the river, we tried taking the path along the bank.  Far too overgrown to make it worth it.  It was back up to the bike path where we spotted our friends again at a cafe along the road.  Coffee break.

Eventually, we made it into Gyor and after a stopping for directions a few times found the hotel.  We are located at the end of a very nice plaza.  So far this has been as picturesque as it we have seen.  The Hotel Raba is in line with our euro simple style.  We have a room facting the main drag and hoping for some nice lights at night.  Todays distance was 50.5 km.

Tonight's dinner was again excellent.  Followed Lee to this fabulous plaza.  Gyor is turning out to be quite the place.  The thing is - no tourists.  Or at least not the hordes that we have been used to seeing all over Europe.  After dinner we took a walk around and up on the old bridge admiring the colors of the new bridge.  Geoff ran into a knife store - oh by the way, they confiscated his Swiss army knife.  Tried to buy a  new one from this guy, but they didn't have the one he was looking for.  Walked back with a stop for a Gelato and a view of the plaza at night with the fountains.  This has been a very good day.

Next time ... Tata