4 June (fine and hot with afternoon shower) 42km

After waking a couple of times during the night, it was around 7am that eyes were open for business. Whilst Julia did some work with our photos, I cycled off in search of a supermarket, hopefully with more variety than the one last night.  Unfortunately, street signs aren’t a big deal over here and you just have to guess which one you’re on.  So even though Julia googled me the street name I should be looking for, it was of no use.  I thought about winging it but realised there was a very real risk of getting lost as I had no map, so it was back to the supermarket we visited last night for our ordinary breakfast supplies. 

Julia was a bit devastated with no fresh fruit so visited a local market over the back fence and came back with strawberries, cherries and carrots!  After breakfast we folded our now dry washing and then cycled to Heroes Square and it’s surrounding old Palace and Museum.  On the way we passed through another dodgy area of town and were glad we were on bikes and not on foot.

What an entrance!

Cruised around in the oppressive heat, taking photos and eating the rest of the cherries and a carrot each for a pre-lunch snack.  Julia had booked herself a dental appointment as she was sure she had quite a hole in her tooth so we cycled to that at 1pm.  In she went and out she came about a minute later.  No hole, only sensitivity which they had painted over with something and charged her 7,000 florins for!  (About $40).  And Hungary is supposed to be cheap for dentistry!  The only good thing we could take from that is that at least she knew she didn’t have a hole and didn’t have to worry about it getting worse.  That, plus the fact that the dentist was right next to Burger King and with yet another thunderstorm looming, what were we to do?

So another tasty lunch was had while we charged the computer in comfort and it chucked it down outside.  Back on the tourist trail again and we headed for St Stephens Basilica, Budapest’s largest Roman Catholic church.  This city really is a tale of two halves. On one hand you have these huge architectural wonders worth massive amounts of money and on the other, there are huge amounts of homeless, druggies and drunks on the streets. Beautiful homes in certain parts of town whilst a lot of the outlying areas are decaying old buildings, grand in their day, but now, having fallen into a state of disrepair, beyond any form of help.

St Stephen's Basilica

There is however, a lot of work going on in the touristy areas to make things even nicer for the paying guests.  Tourism is obviously bringing in a lot of money and they are doing their best to keep the tourists coming here, which I am sure they will.

Julia here – while I was waiting for Pete to take some photos, I had been noticing my front wheel was locking up when I was trying to manoeuvre the bike backwards over the past several days.  So I thought the brake must be rubbing

so bent down to check it out.  I noticed that the quick release lever was totally disengaged and somehow, through all the cobbled streets and up and downs onto footpaths in our attempts to follow the bike paths, my frame had managed to stay balanced on top of the wheel hub.  I couldn’t believe it because as I say, I had noticed this slight problem over several days, probably getting on for a week but thought it wasn’t a big deal as I don’t often back my bike up while turning the front wheel.  A lucky escape there! 

Inside St Stephen's

the street side of Parliament

By late afternoon we were feeling the need for a break so cruised back to the campground, confident now in our knowledge of how to get there.  In fact at one of the trickier stages where you have to negotiate around an area of construction, we watched a group of four cyclists ahead of us stop and scratch their heads as we sailed past them to the hidden gap like a couple of locals.

Stopped for some dinner supplies and then it was cold shower and cold beer time.  We met a Sydney couple at camp, Kim and Pete and they were a good laugh.  They are travelling in a camper with their two sons for nine weeks and their eldest, who is nine, is the top skateboarder in Aussie for his age.

After sharing a few yarns with them we hopped on the bikes and rode into town to watch the lights come on again.  It is so spectacular and the city is buzzing with life.  I didn’t think we’d stay long but we didn’t get back to the tent until half ten.  Brewed up a cup of coffee while we downloaded the photos and hit the hay about half eleven.