Crossing Borders

NOTE:  Check out new photos in Vienna-Budapest Pt 2 Album

A very adventurous day, starting with a trip to the train station.  We all decided to take the train from Tata to Komaron to cut out a lot of heavy traffic and steep hills and then bike through Slovakia over the bridge to Esztergom, Hungary where our hotel is tonight.

There was a conversation with a passing bicyclist and Richard and Gail and apparently they were able to decipher the directions because off we went.  Made it to the train station through city streets at morning rush hour.  What fun!!  That was only the beginning.  There was the usual confusion about what currency (because now we all had about 3 different kinds of money)  and how much the tickets were but eventually we all got our tickets now we only had to get to the right track which was across the tracks.  We had two options - one was to climb the stairs with our bikes and walk across and carry them down.  Some folks did this.  Then this guy said that the attendant would come out and open the gate so that we could cross the tracks with out bikes - hoping a train doesn't come along.  The little man eventually came out and we scurried across as fast as we could.  Too bad we have no pics of this because Geoff was too busy helping get the bikes across.

Nice train ride. A traveling salesman sitting next to Bonnie and Lee tried to sell Lee some razors for his 4:00 shadow.  When that didn't work, he went to work on Bonnie and tried to sell her some socks.  Who knows what else he had in that bag.  Arrived in Komaron, Hungary and went over the bridge to Slovakia.  Entered this nice little town, had coffee and walked around taking pictures of the square.

It was time to head out.  We chose the river road with the scenery (or so we were told).  When we got down there, it was pretty much riding the dyke - so everyone but us and Lee and Joanne chose to ride on the road and meet us at the other end.  The four of us started down the dyke and then the road turned down towards the Danube.  G & I had a Jerry B. moment since this was yet another country for him,  The road was muddy and lots of sand traps which made the biking hard to be consistent.  We went back up to the dyke and biked the rest on that, passing some Roman ruins with a great map of pretty much our bike route from Vienna.

Met up with the rest of the gang and it was back on the dyke. This is not much fun - very bumpy and hot.  Decided to turn back on to the road and look for a spot for lunch,.  The group stopped outside this grocery store and had their lunch there.  Geoff and I walked down to the river and ate down there.  It was quite beautiful.

Back on the path, the map led us to road, bike path, and dykes.  At one point, we had to cross a canal by physically climbing up and over the concrete crossing.  Very hard to explain and again Geoff was too busy moving bikes to take photos.  We managed to get over to the other side of the canal and hook up with the main road.  Through all of this we did see the river from time to time.

Finally got to Strovo where we navigated ourselves through the city to the bridge.  We were treated to a great view and photo op of the Esztergom Bascillicia.  Crossed over the bridge back into Hungary and our hotel was just on the left.  Great!!!  Another 60+ km day.  G & I checked in and then took a walk down a small fair they were having just across the canal.  Took some local flavor shots then went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

Walked around the old town for a bit and then settled on a very nice restaurant.  Ludwig our waiter was a real sweetie.  Had some great Hungarian food and wine.  Tomorrow is our last biking day.  We bike for 50-60km and then take the boat into Budapest.  Looks like the sun will continue to shine.

Next time .... Budapest