When we cross the border from Romania to Hungary we’re asked to move over to the side while the officials deal with our passports and the bike’s registration papers. It doesn’t take long before a border guard comes over and says ‘welcome and goodbye’ as he hands the paperwork back to Brian.

I change some money and buy the ‘vignette’, a form of road tax. The bike’s rego has to be recorded. The Australian accent is a bit much for the young land filling out the paperwork so we have to write down the rego of the bike.

The speed limits are clearly set out when you cross the border

It doesn’t take long until we are in the capital, Budapest – a city in two parts. Buda on the hill and Pest on the flat, divided by the magnificent Danube River.

The River Danube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace with her olive branch

 

 

 

Our hotel is under the citadel where the statue of peace stands high above the city. We get great views of the city from up here and it’s an amazing place to watch the sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The River Danube as the sun sets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hungarian Parliament

 

 

 

We both love a river trip so a cruise on the Danube is a must. To see a city from the water is always something special and Budapest is no different. It’s the best way to see so many buildings, especially the Parliament.

 

 

Goulash and beer

 

 

In town we walk the streets and find a fantastic food market selling goulash (of course), sausages (of course) and beer (of course).

 

 

 

 

A sausage and a half!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Stephens

 

 

 

Budapest has so many wonderful buildings, like St Stephen’s Church.

 

 

 

 

 

Budapest Synagogue

 

 

 

The Synagogue,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The centrepiece of Heroes Square

 

 

And Heroes Square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fisherman's Bastion

 

 

In Budapest’s Castle area is more like a small town in its own right with hotels, restaurants the stunning Fisherman’s Bastion,

 

 

 

 

St Mathais

St Matthias’ Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gateway to the museums

 

 

 

And the castle itself, which is now a series of museums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve raced through Eastern Europe in the past few weeks, but this journey is very weather dependent so we need to press on to make sure we get to complete our planned ride before the weather turns against us.

Next stop – Austria.