2010. augusztus 31., kedd
COSMOS-Day 3 Traveling to Amsterdam
In order to leave London with COSMOS, we had to have our luggage outside our doors by 6:30am and be on the bus by 8:25. We rode the comfortable COSMOS bus through the beautiful and lush English countryside. Our ride lasted about 2 hours and took us to the Dover Port where the ferry would take us to France. The Dover Port is directly under the amazing Cliffs of Dover which are adorned by magnificent castles. As recommended by an English man who was working at the port, we found our way to the top deck of the ferry, at about 5 minutes out, to take a picture of a castle on the chalky cliffs.
When we arrived at the Dover Port we had to wait an hour and a half in order for the ferry to be available to board. Once on the ferry, every amenity needed was at our disposal (food, drink, atm, money exchange, shopping…). On the ferry, Dusty and I enjoyed a Shepard’s pie with chips (French fries). The pie was absolutely delicious!! Grandpa, mom and Rachel enjoyed a couple of drinks from one of the bars on board…prices for food and drink were not too expensive and the quality was very nice.
We arrived at the port in Calais, France where we then transferred to a coach for our drive to Amsterdam. In Calais we met our COSMOS tour guide, Attila. Attila, come to find out, is from Hungary!! He could not believe that there were Americans on his tour, that lived in Hungary; and we could not believe that we had a Hungarian tour guide! In addition, in Calais, each person had to identify their luggage and wheel it to their coach in order to assure that everyone’s luggage went with them!
We passed through France and then Belgium. Belgium is beautiful with its lush green fields, quaint homes and barns, and pastures covered with livestock. The COSMOS tour stopped at the border between Belgium and the Netherlands for dinner. The restaurant, AC Restaurant, was extremely over-priced. The food however, was very tasty! Dusty and I enjoyed a salad, meatballs with French fries and delicious custard for desert. After dinner our drive to Amsterdam continued. The total road-time was about 3 hours.
Once in Amsterdam, we were taken to our hotel, NH Hotel. Attila assisted everyone in getting their keys, by handing them out himself. Everyone found their rooms, and our luggage was brought to our hallways, and each person found their luggage.
The NH Hotel in Amsterdam is gorgeous! The rooms are dark wood with red accents, and have a 1920’s vibe. The shampoo and body wash smelled heavenly! The bar soaps are glycerin and smell of fresh oranges. The beds are very comfortable, and the rooms are very clean. The NH Hotel also provides hair dryers, irons, and an ironing board.
Side note-Wi-Fi is available at a cost, 4.95 Euros for 60 minutes. There was also a Wi-Fi lounge where internet was available for free, after receiving the password from the front desk. Rachel and Grandpa had no problem using the Wi-Fi, however the password I received did not work.
Tomorrow will include a sight-seeing tour of Amsterdam, and then a drive to Germany where we will have dinner!
Something that I have not mentioned about preparing for our COSMOS Best of Europe Tour is that as a family, we went over the itinerary books, which we purchased from COSMOS, in great detail
When we arrived at the Dover Port we had to wait an hour and a half in order for the ferry to be available to board. Once on the ferry, every amenity needed was at our disposal (food, drink, atm, money exchange, shopping…). On the ferry, Dusty and I enjoyed a Shepard’s pie with chips (French fries). The pie was absolutely delicious!! Grandpa, mom and Rachel enjoyed a couple of drinks from one of the bars on board…prices for food and drink were not too expensive and the quality was very nice.
We arrived at the port in Calais, France where we then transferred to a coach for our drive to Amsterdam. In Calais we met our COSMOS tour guide, Attila. Attila, come to find out, is from Hungary!! He could not believe that there were Americans on his tour, that lived in Hungary; and we could not believe that we had a Hungarian tour guide! In addition, in Calais, each person had to identify their luggage and wheel it to their coach in order to assure that everyone’s luggage went with them!
We passed through France and then Belgium. Belgium is beautiful with its lush green fields, quaint homes and barns, and pastures covered with livestock. The COSMOS tour stopped at the border between Belgium and the Netherlands for dinner. The restaurant, AC Restaurant, was extremely over-priced. The food however, was very tasty! Dusty and I enjoyed a salad, meatballs with French fries and delicious custard for desert. After dinner our drive to Amsterdam continued. The total road-time was about 3 hours.
Once in Amsterdam, we were taken to our hotel, NH Hotel. Attila assisted everyone in getting their keys, by handing them out himself. Everyone found their rooms, and our luggage was brought to our hallways, and each person found their luggage.
The NH Hotel in Amsterdam is gorgeous! The rooms are dark wood with red accents, and have a 1920’s vibe. The shampoo and body wash smelled heavenly! The bar soaps are glycerin and smell of fresh oranges. The beds are very comfortable, and the rooms are very clean. The NH Hotel also provides hair dryers, irons, and an ironing board.
Side note-Wi-Fi is available at a cost, 4.95 Euros for 60 minutes. There was also a Wi-Fi lounge where internet was available for free, after receiving the password from the front desk. Rachel and Grandpa had no problem using the Wi-Fi, however the password I received did not work.
Tomorrow will include a sight-seeing tour of Amsterdam, and then a drive to Germany where we will have dinner!
Something that I have not mentioned about preparing for our COSMOS Best of Europe Tour is that as a family, we went over the itinerary books, which we purchased from COSMOS, in great detail
2010. augusztus 29., vasárnap
COSMOS Day 2-London, England
To begin our day in London, we first ventured downstairs to enjoy our English buffet breakfast provided by COSMOS. For the 1st day of our Best of Europe Tour, we decided to forgo any and all of the optional excursions and venture out on our own. On the flight to London a passenger, a native of England, recommended that to best see London, hop on the “red bus” and see all the city has to offer. As a group we agreed this sounded great for the day.
Down on the ground floor of the Novotel Hotel, COSMOS has uniformed representatives from 7am-7pm to help with any and all questions a traveler may have. We explained to the COSMOS representative that we wished to tour the city on our own and needed more information about the local bus system. She was extremely helpful, offering a map and marking it with all of the places we should visit.
As per her directions, we headed out of the Novotel Hotel, and walked over to the bus/train station, London Underground Limited-Hammersmith, which was only block away. We walked into the station and were very surprised…we walked into a mall! We had to stop and ask a security guard to direct us to the station, he did.
Once we found the station, we stood in the line for “Assistance and Tickets”. The woman ahead of us in line, apparently needed a lot of advice, we waited to speak to the representative for about 15 minutes. The wait was well worth it, the man behind the counter was extremely helpful, and we all purchased the Day Ticket for 5.60 pounds ($8.69), which the COSMOS representative recommended. This Day Ticket would enable us to get on and off and the “red bus” or the “tube” (London’s subway) as much as we would like, for 24 hours! This was definitely the way to go.
Ignorantly, we had no idea how to use the bus system…LOL! We didn’t know where to go to find the bus, how to show our tickets, etc. When we arrived at the ground floor of the station, I asked a man sitting behind a counter that read, “Information.” Again, I encountered a very friendly and helpful gentleman who explained exactly what we needed to do.
We caught the #9 bus directly outside of the station (#9, just as the COSMOS representative had suggested). When we stepped up into the bus, we only had to flash the driver our ticket. We found seats near the back and were off!!
Side note—every “red bus” we rode throughout London was clean and safe!
Our first stop was at the “Green Park”, where we got off in order to walk across the park to Buckingham Palace. Again, this was all from the advice of the COSMOS representative. Green Park is absolutely beautiful and lush. Pigeons and squirrels raced across the green lawns, and folding chairs were in rows in 2 small sections. We learned that these chairs are always put out for people who would like to relax.
The gates of the Buckingham Palace began to show through the trees. The gold-plated gates are spectacular, and directly behind them is the Buckingham Palace itself. Fortunately, we arrived at the palace at exactly the right time!! When we approached to Palace, we made our through the massive crowds, in order to see the changing of the guard! I must say this is a huge production, but a frenzy with the amount of people attempting to “see what’s happening.” We were able to catch glimpses of the guards, here and there, but for the most part we were watching people take pictures, trying to see the same things we were!! LOL (Apparently, the changing of the guard usually takes place every other day in August at 11:30 am)
After the Buckingham Palace, we walked down to the Wellington Arch. This area was also stunning and included many monuments erected for lost service men. We hopped on the #9 bus again, and took it to Piccadilly Circus. This is not an actual circus but rather a theater. The entire area of Piccadilly Square is encompassed with shops and restaurants. There are fountains and statues throughout the square, and it is quite an impressive sight.
It was an extremely busy day….we also visited St. Stephen’s Cathedral, The Tower of London and had lunch at a local favorite spot. All of this was done by taking the #9 bus as far as Piccadilly Circus, and then the #15 to go all the way down to The Tower of London.
Every monument we saw was extraordinary. When we walked up to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, we admired the outside before stepping through the open front doors. Immediately I could see that the architecture was gorgeous, but to go any further it would cost. I highly recommend just going to the Cathedral and stepping inside. The Tower of London is an ancient castle remain which we also admired for free.
For lunch, we knew we wanted fish and chips!! Thankfully Rachel was with us, and she has absolutely no reservation in going up to complete strangers and asking them where we could find the best fish and chips. Everyone said they had no idea where the “best fish and chips” were, except one guy who said Norway! LOL. Finally though, a young man in a business suit directed us to a small pub directly across the street from St. Stephen’s Cathedral, The Centre Page @ 29-33 Knightrider St. London.
The Centre Page has an authentic atmosphere and was full of locals. Everyone stuck to ordering fish and chips, the menu claims they are famous for it, but I ordered a Shepard’s pie with lamb, buttery mashes and mint. Mom, Grandpa, and Rachel all enjoyed English beers. The food was mediocre, but the atmosphere made up for everything that the food lacked. This is a spot I would definitely return to, to get the “old feel” of London.
We managed to make an entire sight-seeing day happen on 5 bus tickets! This was a fantastic idea and definitely something I would recommend to any of my friends! Buy a Day Ticket from the London Underground and see the city. I didn’t mention earlier that the red buses also have a second story which is even better for seeing the beautiful city!
I was exhausted when we returned to the Novotel Hotel and fell asleep at 7pm! LOL I need my rest for the continuation of COSMOS Best of Europe Tour as we continue to Amsterdam!!
Down on the ground floor of the Novotel Hotel, COSMOS has uniformed representatives from 7am-7pm to help with any and all questions a traveler may have. We explained to the COSMOS representative that we wished to tour the city on our own and needed more information about the local bus system. She was extremely helpful, offering a map and marking it with all of the places we should visit.
As per her directions, we headed out of the Novotel Hotel, and walked over to the bus/train station, London Underground Limited-Hammersmith, which was only block away. We walked into the station and were very surprised…we walked into a mall! We had to stop and ask a security guard to direct us to the station, he did.
Once we found the station, we stood in the line for “Assistance and Tickets”. The woman ahead of us in line, apparently needed a lot of advice, we waited to speak to the representative for about 15 minutes. The wait was well worth it, the man behind the counter was extremely helpful, and we all purchased the Day Ticket for 5.60 pounds ($8.69), which the COSMOS representative recommended. This Day Ticket would enable us to get on and off and the “red bus” or the “tube” (London’s subway) as much as we would like, for 24 hours! This was definitely the way to go.
Ignorantly, we had no idea how to use the bus system…LOL! We didn’t know where to go to find the bus, how to show our tickets, etc. When we arrived at the ground floor of the station, I asked a man sitting behind a counter that read, “Information.” Again, I encountered a very friendly and helpful gentleman who explained exactly what we needed to do.
We caught the #9 bus directly outside of the station (#9, just as the COSMOS representative had suggested). When we stepped up into the bus, we only had to flash the driver our ticket. We found seats near the back and were off!!
Side note—every “red bus” we rode throughout London was clean and safe!
Our first stop was at the “Green Park”, where we got off in order to walk across the park to Buckingham Palace. Again, this was all from the advice of the COSMOS representative. Green Park is absolutely beautiful and lush. Pigeons and squirrels raced across the green lawns, and folding chairs were in rows in 2 small sections. We learned that these chairs are always put out for people who would like to relax.
The gates of the Buckingham Palace began to show through the trees. The gold-plated gates are spectacular, and directly behind them is the Buckingham Palace itself. Fortunately, we arrived at the palace at exactly the right time!! When we approached to Palace, we made our through the massive crowds, in order to see the changing of the guard! I must say this is a huge production, but a frenzy with the amount of people attempting to “see what’s happening.” We were able to catch glimpses of the guards, here and there, but for the most part we were watching people take pictures, trying to see the same things we were!! LOL (Apparently, the changing of the guard usually takes place every other day in August at 11:30 am)
After the Buckingham Palace, we walked down to the Wellington Arch. This area was also stunning and included many monuments erected for lost service men. We hopped on the #9 bus again, and took it to Piccadilly Circus. This is not an actual circus but rather a theater. The entire area of Piccadilly Square is encompassed with shops and restaurants. There are fountains and statues throughout the square, and it is quite an impressive sight.
It was an extremely busy day….we also visited St. Stephen’s Cathedral, The Tower of London and had lunch at a local favorite spot. All of this was done by taking the #9 bus as far as Piccadilly Circus, and then the #15 to go all the way down to The Tower of London.
Every monument we saw was extraordinary. When we walked up to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, we admired the outside before stepping through the open front doors. Immediately I could see that the architecture was gorgeous, but to go any further it would cost. I highly recommend just going to the Cathedral and stepping inside. The Tower of London is an ancient castle remain which we also admired for free.
For lunch, we knew we wanted fish and chips!! Thankfully Rachel was with us, and she has absolutely no reservation in going up to complete strangers and asking them where we could find the best fish and chips. Everyone said they had no idea where the “best fish and chips” were, except one guy who said Norway! LOL. Finally though, a young man in a business suit directed us to a small pub directly across the street from St. Stephen’s Cathedral, The Centre Page @ 29-33 Knightrider St. London.
The Centre Page has an authentic atmosphere and was full of locals. Everyone stuck to ordering fish and chips, the menu claims they are famous for it, but I ordered a Shepard’s pie with lamb, buttery mashes and mint. Mom, Grandpa, and Rachel all enjoyed English beers. The food was mediocre, but the atmosphere made up for everything that the food lacked. This is a spot I would definitely return to, to get the “old feel” of London.
We managed to make an entire sight-seeing day happen on 5 bus tickets! This was a fantastic idea and definitely something I would recommend to any of my friends! Buy a Day Ticket from the London Underground and see the city. I didn’t mention earlier that the red buses also have a second story which is even better for seeing the beautiful city!
I was exhausted when we returned to the Novotel Hotel and fell asleep at 7pm! LOL I need my rest for the continuation of COSMOS Best of Europe Tour as we continue to Amsterdam!!
COSMOS Day 1-Traveling to London
We began our COSMOS Best of Europe Tour. We booked this 18-day adventure with Caroline, of CAREFREE TRAVEL located in Templeton, CA.
Our self-paid shuttle ride from Pápa to Vienna, with MPPV Service Kft. (info@papasupport.com), was smooth, the driver was extremely polite and spoke some English.
After arriving at the Vienna Airport, we checked in using the Self-Service computer check-in and waited in line to check our bags. Then we made our way to our gate, where we showed our passports and received a Vienna, Austria stamp. Before going through security, we stopped for a quick bite to eat. Two slices of mozzarella pizza and water would have to hold us over until we reached London. The total cost of one slice of pizza and a small water was 7.10 Euros ($9.10). Unlike the pizza in Pápa, this pizza had marinara sauce on it!! (Pápa’s pizza, like I have said, is good but lacking in sauce).
After eating we went through secuirty without any problems. We removed our belts and put our computers into the plastic trays before stepping through the metal detector. In the Vienna airport, unlike many others, it is not necessary to remove your shoes.
We boarded our British Airways flight on time, and all sat near one another. Grandpa and mom sat together with Grandpa at the window seat, Dusty and I sat together with me at the window seat, and Rachel sat behind me also in a window seat. Immediately after finding our seats and getting settled in, the captain announced that there were landing conditions at Londow Heathrow that prevented us from taking off for at leat 40 minutes. He explained that all flights into Heathrow were on hold, so we waited. About an hour later we took off. The flight was very smooth with only the slightest bit of turbulance as we passed through clouds that were apart of a large storm in the Atlantic.
Grandpa and mom were seated next to a lovely young woman from Turkey whom they engaged in conversation with throughout the flight. Dusty and I attempted to take naps, and Rachel listened to her Ipod. For snacks, a small of bag chips or a small cookie were given to each passenger. For beverages, the choices included water, soda, wine, coffee and tea. Dusty and I prefer the snacks that were served on our AirBerlin flight, which was also a short flight but from Germany to Austria.
As our plane approached London Heathrow, the captain announced that we would have to circle the airport apporximately 4 times, before landing, due to delays on the ground. This part of the flight made me feel a tad ill, but we soon landed and disembarked from the plane. While on the plane, we had to fill out landing passes which we were to turn in at the immigration check point, before picking up our luggage. Landing passes include name, passport number, length of stay in Great Britain, address in Great Britain during stay, birth date, and city/country of birth. Immediately after exiting the plane and entering the airport we found our way to the immigration line for ”all other passports” (not EU of UK).
When it was my turn, I nervously walked up to the podium to speak with the immigration officer. I don’t know why I was nervous, I was not doing anything wrong! LOL But, I was nervous. I approached the podium and he asked me if I was traveling with family, I said yes, and he asked me to call them all over. He looked over each one of our passports and took our landing passes. The officer asked what we were doing in the country, how long we would stay and where we were going next. I told him we were on the COSMOS Best of Europe Tour, and we would be in the country for 2 days, traveling to Amsterdam next.
We all passed through without any problems, of course, and picked up our luggage without any problems. As we exited the baggage claim, our COSMOS tour guide was there to meet us, dressed from head-to-toe in red, and holding a COSMOS sign. She actually spotted me first because I had my COSMOS blue itinerary book in-hand. She lead us over to some seats and explained that we were waiting on another flight to arrive with passengers that would be traveling to the hotel with us. We were all very impressed that COSMOS was there to greet us when we arrived, seeing that our flight was one hour late! The COSMOS representative was very professional, and even pointed out the nearest restrooms before leaving us at our seats in order for her to find the rest of our traveling partners.
When she came back with the others, she lead us outside to an awaiting COSMOS bus to take us to our hotel. It was raining and the streets were very congested with traffic. The nuber of Mercedes and BMWs on the road was astonishing! About every third car was either of the 2 mentioned.
We arrived at our hotel in about 25 minutes. The Novotel London West is a very large hotel with nine floors. As soon as we entered the hotel, we found the COSMOS representitive that was waiting to meet us. She assisted all of us in marking our luggage with COSMOS tags, so the bags would be easily identifable. She told us to leave our bags downstairs and they would be brought to our rooms.
Next, we made our way off of the ground floor, and up to the 1st floor. I thought that was odd and different from the US. The ground floor was not the 1st floor, as it would be in the US, the 2nd floor was the 1st floor, and the 1st floor was the ground floor. So, after making our way up to the ”1st floor” we checked in with the front desk. The Novotel employee behind the desk was quite unfriendly, though we were able to get checked in and head up to our rooms. I must say that we dealt with an additional front desk employee later in the evening who was friendly and helpful.
Our 2 rooms were on seperate floors, 3 and 4. The Novotel London West Hotel has extremely long hallways and it took us all some time to get our bearings. The rooms are quite lovely and offer all of the necessary ammenities, including toilettries, blowdryers, iron and ironing board. In addition, the rooms are very clean and cute.
Though tired upon arrival to the hotel, we were hungry. Not wanting to go out into the rainy weather, we chose to eat at the hotel. The Artisan Grill is located on the 1st floor across from the front desk. Adjacent to the Grill is a beautiful bar and another section of the Artisan. The menu offers starters, chicken, steaks and deserts. None of us could see eating a steak at 8pm (though 9pm Hungary time-which we were still on). So, we all ordered the prosciutto, mozzerella, tomato wrap from the very friendly server. He warned us that the wrap was only a small snack, but he explained to him that we had just flown in and only wanted a small bite before bed. Grandpa ordered a glass of Dancing Bull Zinfandel, from California.
Our prosciutto wraps arrived and we all could not help but laugh! We were expecting acutal wraps, in a tortilla or flat bread. This ”wrap” was prosciutto wrapped around tomato, and fresh mozzerella with a single basil leaf sticking up from the center. The beautiful creation was drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. We laughed at the small size, but in all fairness we had been warned! The wraps were fantastic and we enjoyed them thoroughly. In addition, fresh bread was served to our table, and we all were able to choose which type of bread we wanted, from a selection the server brought over in a basket. Rachel and I chose the green-olive ciabbata which was fantastic! The others chose sundried tomato and plain types. Three different types of butter were also presented, plain, salted and paprika...the paprika was incredible!!
After lots of laughs, we all retired to our rooms for the evening. Tomorrow, we will begin to see London, after of breakfast provided by COSMOS.
Our self-paid shuttle ride from Pápa to Vienna, with MPPV Service Kft. (info@papasupport.com), was smooth, the driver was extremely polite and spoke some English.
After arriving at the Vienna Airport, we checked in using the Self-Service computer check-in and waited in line to check our bags. Then we made our way to our gate, where we showed our passports and received a Vienna, Austria stamp. Before going through security, we stopped for a quick bite to eat. Two slices of mozzarella pizza and water would have to hold us over until we reached London. The total cost of one slice of pizza and a small water was 7.10 Euros ($9.10). Unlike the pizza in Pápa, this pizza had marinara sauce on it!! (Pápa’s pizza, like I have said, is good but lacking in sauce).
After eating we went through secuirty without any problems. We removed our belts and put our computers into the plastic trays before stepping through the metal detector. In the Vienna airport, unlike many others, it is not necessary to remove your shoes.
We boarded our British Airways flight on time, and all sat near one another. Grandpa and mom sat together with Grandpa at the window seat, Dusty and I sat together with me at the window seat, and Rachel sat behind me also in a window seat. Immediately after finding our seats and getting settled in, the captain announced that there were landing conditions at Londow Heathrow that prevented us from taking off for at leat 40 minutes. He explained that all flights into Heathrow were on hold, so we waited. About an hour later we took off. The flight was very smooth with only the slightest bit of turbulance as we passed through clouds that were apart of a large storm in the Atlantic.
Grandpa and mom were seated next to a lovely young woman from Turkey whom they engaged in conversation with throughout the flight. Dusty and I attempted to take naps, and Rachel listened to her Ipod. For snacks, a small of bag chips or a small cookie were given to each passenger. For beverages, the choices included water, soda, wine, coffee and tea. Dusty and I prefer the snacks that were served on our AirBerlin flight, which was also a short flight but from Germany to Austria.
As our plane approached London Heathrow, the captain announced that we would have to circle the airport apporximately 4 times, before landing, due to delays on the ground. This part of the flight made me feel a tad ill, but we soon landed and disembarked from the plane. While on the plane, we had to fill out landing passes which we were to turn in at the immigration check point, before picking up our luggage. Landing passes include name, passport number, length of stay in Great Britain, address in Great Britain during stay, birth date, and city/country of birth. Immediately after exiting the plane and entering the airport we found our way to the immigration line for ”all other passports” (not EU of UK).
When it was my turn, I nervously walked up to the podium to speak with the immigration officer. I don’t know why I was nervous, I was not doing anything wrong! LOL But, I was nervous. I approached the podium and he asked me if I was traveling with family, I said yes, and he asked me to call them all over. He looked over each one of our passports and took our landing passes. The officer asked what we were doing in the country, how long we would stay and where we were going next. I told him we were on the COSMOS Best of Europe Tour, and we would be in the country for 2 days, traveling to Amsterdam next.
We all passed through without any problems, of course, and picked up our luggage without any problems. As we exited the baggage claim, our COSMOS tour guide was there to meet us, dressed from head-to-toe in red, and holding a COSMOS sign. She actually spotted me first because I had my COSMOS blue itinerary book in-hand. She lead us over to some seats and explained that we were waiting on another flight to arrive with passengers that would be traveling to the hotel with us. We were all very impressed that COSMOS was there to greet us when we arrived, seeing that our flight was one hour late! The COSMOS representative was very professional, and even pointed out the nearest restrooms before leaving us at our seats in order for her to find the rest of our traveling partners.
When she came back with the others, she lead us outside to an awaiting COSMOS bus to take us to our hotel. It was raining and the streets were very congested with traffic. The nuber of Mercedes and BMWs on the road was astonishing! About every third car was either of the 2 mentioned.
We arrived at our hotel in about 25 minutes. The Novotel London West is a very large hotel with nine floors. As soon as we entered the hotel, we found the COSMOS representitive that was waiting to meet us. She assisted all of us in marking our luggage with COSMOS tags, so the bags would be easily identifable. She told us to leave our bags downstairs and they would be brought to our rooms.
Next, we made our way off of the ground floor, and up to the 1st floor. I thought that was odd and different from the US. The ground floor was not the 1st floor, as it would be in the US, the 2nd floor was the 1st floor, and the 1st floor was the ground floor. So, after making our way up to the ”1st floor” we checked in with the front desk. The Novotel employee behind the desk was quite unfriendly, though we were able to get checked in and head up to our rooms. I must say that we dealt with an additional front desk employee later in the evening who was friendly and helpful.
Our 2 rooms were on seperate floors, 3 and 4. The Novotel London West Hotel has extremely long hallways and it took us all some time to get our bearings. The rooms are quite lovely and offer all of the necessary ammenities, including toilettries, blowdryers, iron and ironing board. In addition, the rooms are very clean and cute.
Though tired upon arrival to the hotel, we were hungry. Not wanting to go out into the rainy weather, we chose to eat at the hotel. The Artisan Grill is located on the 1st floor across from the front desk. Adjacent to the Grill is a beautiful bar and another section of the Artisan. The menu offers starters, chicken, steaks and deserts. None of us could see eating a steak at 8pm (though 9pm Hungary time-which we were still on). So, we all ordered the prosciutto, mozzerella, tomato wrap from the very friendly server. He warned us that the wrap was only a small snack, but he explained to him that we had just flown in and only wanted a small bite before bed. Grandpa ordered a glass of Dancing Bull Zinfandel, from California.
Our prosciutto wraps arrived and we all could not help but laugh! We were expecting acutal wraps, in a tortilla or flat bread. This ”wrap” was prosciutto wrapped around tomato, and fresh mozzerella with a single basil leaf sticking up from the center. The beautiful creation was drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. We laughed at the small size, but in all fairness we had been warned! The wraps were fantastic and we enjoyed them thoroughly. In addition, fresh bread was served to our table, and we all were able to choose which type of bread we wanted, from a selection the server brought over in a basket. Rachel and I chose the green-olive ciabbata which was fantastic! The others chose sundried tomato and plain types. Three different types of butter were also presented, plain, salted and paprika...the paprika was incredible!!
After lots of laughs, we all retired to our rooms for the evening. Tomorrow, we will begin to see London, after of breakfast provided by COSMOS.
COSMOS Internet Access!!
So...we have beeen on our trip for 5 days now, I am finally at a Hotel with free internet! I will be posting my blogs as I have available internet connections. We are having a wonderful time!
2010. augusztus 25., szerda
COSMOS-Best of Europe Tour
Tomorrow we take off on our 18-day COSMOS Best of Europe Tour! We have arranged for a shuttle to pick us up at our house in Pápa and take us to the Vienna airport. The cost of the shuttle will be 26,000 forint ($115.64). This is much more than gas would cost to drive ourselves, but we would not all fit in the car (especially with our luggage). Arranging to have a shuttle pick us up and drop us off seems to be the easiest, most convenient option! We have already made other arrangements to be picked up when we return to Vienna. Dad’s friend has offered to let us borrow his van for the airport pick up.
Tonight, we sat around the table after dinner and discussed all of the necessary details of our COSMOS tour. We will arrive at the Vienna airport 2 hours early, as is recommended, check in and … wait. Our flight leaves at 2:15 pm. Grandpa went online, 24 hours before our flight time, and confirmed our reservations and chose our seats! Leaving Pápa at 10am will allow us time to relax, and work around any difficulties that may arise (traffic, confusion at the airport, etc).
Our British Airways flight lands in London at 3:45pm (London time). We are expecting rainy weather for the 2 ½ days we are there. Do we worry about rain though? Of course not! If it rains, we will make the most out of the wet weather and see as much as we can! One thing we are sure of is that we intend to have fish and chips for one of our meals…preferably served in newspaper (I think that is the authentic way)!
Our hotels will most likely have internet access, though I don’t know how “accessible” it will be. I will blog about every detail I possibly can, hopefully at least once a day. We are very excited for our COSMOS Best of Europe Tour!
Tonight, we sat around the table after dinner and discussed all of the necessary details of our COSMOS tour. We will arrive at the Vienna airport 2 hours early, as is recommended, check in and … wait. Our flight leaves at 2:15 pm. Grandpa went online, 24 hours before our flight time, and confirmed our reservations and chose our seats! Leaving Pápa at 10am will allow us time to relax, and work around any difficulties that may arise (traffic, confusion at the airport, etc).
Our British Airways flight lands in London at 3:45pm (London time). We are expecting rainy weather for the 2 ½ days we are there. Do we worry about rain though? Of course not! If it rains, we will make the most out of the wet weather and see as much as we can! One thing we are sure of is that we intend to have fish and chips for one of our meals…preferably served in newspaper (I think that is the authentic way)!
Our hotels will most likely have internet access, though I don’t know how “accessible” it will be. I will blog about every detail I possibly can, hopefully at least once a day. We are very excited for our COSMOS Best of Europe Tour!
2010. augusztus 24., kedd
Budapest, Hungary
There is one statement that best describes our day-trip to Budapest, “Under Construction.” The entire town, both sides (Buda and Pest), had construction work being done everywhere (much more on the Pest side)!! Along with new buildings being built, old architecture is under renovation. The town was extremely busy, with bumper to bumper traffic and people crowding the streets. We all agreed that the city felt like a cross between downtown Los Angeles and downtown San Francisco.
From all of the hype we have heard about Budapest, we were extremely under-impressed! Without the GPS, we would have been completely lost (literally). Even with the GPS we made wrong turns and had to make about 3 U-turns. Before leaving Pápa, we entered Vörösmarty tér into the GPS. Unfortunately, the Vörösmarty tér the GPS lead us to, was not the main square in Budapest that we were looking for. Instead it took us to a tiny-litte street in a residential area. So, we decided to re-set the GPS to St. Stephen’s Basilica, which I knew was in the Vörösmarty tér.
We left Pápa at 7:30am in order to make it to Budapest for a free walking tour, which left from the Vörösmarty tér at 10:30. Unfortunately, because of our GPS incident, and the grid-lock traffic, we missed the tour! But we chose to make apple juice out of oranges and found a parking spot near the square, before taking our own tour.
We began our stroll downtown when we spotted a beautiful old-building. After reading the informational signs in front of the building, we learned it was a synagouge. We then walked through the fashion district and then made our way to the Vörösmarty tér. Interesting to note is the way to cross the streets in downtown Budapest. Instead of walking across a crosswalk, we had to venture underground! There are large staricases, which lead to pathways under the street in order to get to the other side. While roaming around underground, there are stores to shop at. Basically, it is an open-air market, under the city streets.
Walking beyond the square, we found ourselves overlooking the Danube River, and peering across at the Buda side of Budapest. Large castles, magnificant statues, and ancient ruins clustered together for an enchanting view. We next wandered into a historic-looking Catholic Church. The interior was beautiful with pictures and statues. Other tourists roamed through the fairly large church admiring the Catholic artifacts.
Continuing to walk through the streets, we popped in and out of shops before sitting down for lunch. We chose an open-air restaraunt in the direct center of the Vörösmarty tér, which had a sign offering 990 forint Gyro sandwiches. The restaraunt, Open Jam, is part of a conglomerate called ”Summer Jam”. Open Jam had an extremely friendly staff who all spoke English, and a menu which offered sandwiches, salads and larger entrees. To mention it, we did not encounter anyone who did not speak English during our day-tour of the city. The Summer Jam menu also included a list of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks...Dusty and I tried their Virgin Mojito, good, but not a good as the ones in Slovakia at The Twenties restaraunt. We all ordered the 990 forint gyros, which came only with turkey. The sandwiches were delicious!! They were served in the same type of bread as the Döner Kabob offers, and were filled with turkey, lettuce, tomato, onion, cabbage, yoghurt sauce and a spicy yoghurt-paprika sauce. All five of us finished our gyro without any problem.
The weather had treated us very nicely, at a cool 85 degrees. Though at lunch the wind began to pick up, and we decided to head back to the car. We reached the parking lot and paid the attendee for the 4 hours we were charged for, even though we were there only 3 ½ hours. The parking was however, very cheap, at only 300 forint an hour (under $1.50).
Our day in Budapest was enjoyable. We took in the sights and had a great lunch. However, none of us can call Budapest our favorite city. Based on all of the construction that is underway, Budapest is soon to be a sparkling gem of Europe (maybe even as nice as Prague).
From all of the hype we have heard about Budapest, we were extremely under-impressed! Without the GPS, we would have been completely lost (literally). Even with the GPS we made wrong turns and had to make about 3 U-turns. Before leaving Pápa, we entered Vörösmarty tér into the GPS. Unfortunately, the Vörösmarty tér the GPS lead us to, was not the main square in Budapest that we were looking for. Instead it took us to a tiny-litte street in a residential area. So, we decided to re-set the GPS to St. Stephen’s Basilica, which I knew was in the Vörösmarty tér.
We left Pápa at 7:30am in order to make it to Budapest for a free walking tour, which left from the Vörösmarty tér at 10:30. Unfortunately, because of our GPS incident, and the grid-lock traffic, we missed the tour! But we chose to make apple juice out of oranges and found a parking spot near the square, before taking our own tour.
We began our stroll downtown when we spotted a beautiful old-building. After reading the informational signs in front of the building, we learned it was a synagouge. We then walked through the fashion district and then made our way to the Vörösmarty tér. Interesting to note is the way to cross the streets in downtown Budapest. Instead of walking across a crosswalk, we had to venture underground! There are large staricases, which lead to pathways under the street in order to get to the other side. While roaming around underground, there are stores to shop at. Basically, it is an open-air market, under the city streets.
Walking beyond the square, we found ourselves overlooking the Danube River, and peering across at the Buda side of Budapest. Large castles, magnificant statues, and ancient ruins clustered together for an enchanting view. We next wandered into a historic-looking Catholic Church. The interior was beautiful with pictures and statues. Other tourists roamed through the fairly large church admiring the Catholic artifacts.
Continuing to walk through the streets, we popped in and out of shops before sitting down for lunch. We chose an open-air restaraunt in the direct center of the Vörösmarty tér, which had a sign offering 990 forint Gyro sandwiches. The restaraunt, Open Jam, is part of a conglomerate called ”Summer Jam”. Open Jam had an extremely friendly staff who all spoke English, and a menu which offered sandwiches, salads and larger entrees. To mention it, we did not encounter anyone who did not speak English during our day-tour of the city. The Summer Jam menu also included a list of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks...Dusty and I tried their Virgin Mojito, good, but not a good as the ones in Slovakia at The Twenties restaraunt. We all ordered the 990 forint gyros, which came only with turkey. The sandwiches were delicious!! They were served in the same type of bread as the Döner Kabob offers, and were filled with turkey, lettuce, tomato, onion, cabbage, yoghurt sauce and a spicy yoghurt-paprika sauce. All five of us finished our gyro without any problem.
The weather had treated us very nicely, at a cool 85 degrees. Though at lunch the wind began to pick up, and we decided to head back to the car. We reached the parking lot and paid the attendee for the 4 hours we were charged for, even though we were there only 3 ½ hours. The parking was however, very cheap, at only 300 forint an hour (under $1.50).
Our day in Budapest was enjoyable. We took in the sights and had a great lunch. However, none of us can call Budapest our favorite city. Based on all of the construction that is underway, Budapest is soon to be a sparkling gem of Europe (maybe even as nice as Prague).
2010. augusztus 23., hétfő
Papá, Várkertfürdő (Castle Garden Bath)
Today we took Rachel to the small waterpark in Papá, the Várkertfürdő (Castle Garden Bath). We have been there before and had a great time, so we wanted to share it with her. After leaving the house at 11:15am, we strolled through residential streets to the park. The walk was about 15 minutes long, and was a nice way to heat up before arriving at the pools.
We approached the front desk and I told the receptionist, “2,” in Hungarian, and pointed to the pool. To my surprise, and embarrassment, she looked at me and asked, “Do you speak English?” LOL!! I felt my cheeks flush a little. When Dusty and I visited the park last time, the young girl behind the counter did not speak any English. The fact that this woman spoke English obviously made the transaction much easier. We purchased our 3 tickets for only 3000 forints ($13.45)!!
The park was crowded, but not overly, and we picked out a nice place on the grass to lay our towels. We immediately headed for the pools, after first lathering up with sunscreen. With the combination of a slight breeze, and cool water, it wasn’t long before we headed into the warm pool. As I mentioned in a previous blog, the Várkertfürdő offers multiple pools, both indoor and outdoor. In addition, there are water slides, small waterfalls, grass areas, food and drinks.
After relaxing in the warm pool, Rachel headed to the slides. We watched her go down while the lifeguards watched….stared! LOL! Dusty went shortly after, and then they forced me up there too! I reached the top, got ready to slide and then chickened out. I watched as 2 small children slid down…haha…and finally then I decided to go. I screamed the entire way down…
The three of us relaxed in the water before buying some hamburgers for lunch. The burgers were very tasty-sesame seed buns, thin meat patty, tomato, red onion, cucumber (not pickled) lol, ketchup and mustard. Rachel’s hamburger came with lettuce also, we are not sure why ours didn’t LOL!
After about 3 hours at the park we decided to walk back home. We leisurely strolled and Rachel took pictures of flowers, and tractors going down the street. After we got home, we showered and dressed, before heading downtown with Grandpa. The four of us went into a number of shops, took pictures, and of course…had ice cream!! Some new flavors were tried—vanilla, strawberry, rum (I think that is what mine was!) and Grandpa had apple. I think, like always, I chose the best one!!
Tomorrow we are off to Budapest!! We plan on leaving early, catching the 10:30 walking tour, and then doing our own thing! Budapest…here we come!!
Only 3 more days until The Best of Europe tour with COSMOS!!!
We approached the front desk and I told the receptionist, “2,” in Hungarian, and pointed to the pool. To my surprise, and embarrassment, she looked at me and asked, “Do you speak English?” LOL!! I felt my cheeks flush a little. When Dusty and I visited the park last time, the young girl behind the counter did not speak any English. The fact that this woman spoke English obviously made the transaction much easier. We purchased our 3 tickets for only 3000 forints ($13.45)!!
The park was crowded, but not overly, and we picked out a nice place on the grass to lay our towels. We immediately headed for the pools, after first lathering up with sunscreen. With the combination of a slight breeze, and cool water, it wasn’t long before we headed into the warm pool. As I mentioned in a previous blog, the Várkertfürdő offers multiple pools, both indoor and outdoor. In addition, there are water slides, small waterfalls, grass areas, food and drinks.
After relaxing in the warm pool, Rachel headed to the slides. We watched her go down while the lifeguards watched….stared! LOL! Dusty went shortly after, and then they forced me up there too! I reached the top, got ready to slide and then chickened out. I watched as 2 small children slid down…haha…and finally then I decided to go. I screamed the entire way down…
The three of us relaxed in the water before buying some hamburgers for lunch. The burgers were very tasty-sesame seed buns, thin meat patty, tomato, red onion, cucumber (not pickled) lol, ketchup and mustard. Rachel’s hamburger came with lettuce also, we are not sure why ours didn’t LOL!
After about 3 hours at the park we decided to walk back home. We leisurely strolled and Rachel took pictures of flowers, and tractors going down the street. After we got home, we showered and dressed, before heading downtown with Grandpa. The four of us went into a number of shops, took pictures, and of course…had ice cream!! Some new flavors were tried—vanilla, strawberry, rum (I think that is what mine was!) and Grandpa had apple. I think, like always, I chose the best one!!
Tomorrow we are off to Budapest!! We plan on leaving early, catching the 10:30 walking tour, and then doing our own thing! Budapest…here we come!!
Only 3 more days until The Best of Europe tour with COSMOS!!!
2010. augusztus 22., vasárnap
We, as a family, took off on a road trip. After deciding on Prague, we traded cars with one of Dad’s coworkers (who has a vehicle that can seat six), plugged our destination into the GPS and took off!! From Pápa to Prague (or Praha as it called in Czech) it is about 4 ½ hours. We had to purchase 2 vignettes for our journey, one in order to drive through Slovakia and one for Czech Republic. The total cost for both vignettes was 19 euros, or about $24. Immediately after driving into Slovakia, we pulled over and were able to buy both vignettes there. Driving through Slovakia offers a very similar atmosphere to Hungary. Once we entered Czech Republic the scenery became more lush, with small forests and scattered trees all through the country side. In Hungary, when driving to virtually any destination, you will find that you drive through numerous small villages. When driving through Slovakia however, the villages are more-sparse, and the villages are larger towns.
The speed limit on the highway in Czech Republic is 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph). Despite keeping up with this speed limit, fine made European automobiles passed us at impressive speeds. We pulled into Prague and parked in a train station parking structure. There were many hotels in the vicinity, and we were on a mission to find one! The first hotel we investigated, a four star Golden Tulip, had 2 rooms left and would cost $240 to reserve both. The price seemed appropriate for downtown Prague, but we decided to walk further into the heart of downtown before committing to a hotel.
Prague is huge, but by pure luck we chose a parking spot that was a few blocks from the main city square. We walked towards the large buildings that lead to the square (again, all by luck, we didn’t know we were heading the “right” way). The architecture was extremely impressive and beautiful. As we continued to admire our surroundings, we checked out different hotels, finally deciding on the four star Prague Marriot Hotel at V Celnici 8. The hotel was very beautiful and only one block away from the town square.
The town square was full of shops, a mall, a casino, bars and restaurants. We were all under the impression that this was the main city square. After roaming around the square and checking into our hotel, we went out walking in search of a restaurant for dinner. One thing we all agreed upon was to find a place that offered traditional Czech food.
Rachel was checking out some brochures at a small tourist stand when a guy passing on a bike said, “Well hello pretty lady” (he was obviously American). Rachel was very surprised, but used the situation to our advantage. She asked him to suggest a good, inexpensive, traditional place to eat. He jokingly answered that we definitely didn’t want the Hard Rock! LOL He suggested “Lokal” which was inexpensive, offered traditional good cuisine, and was only a block away. We asked him what he was doing in Prague, how long he had been here, etc. Oddly, he was very “careful” of his responses (I believe that he was in the country with no visa). He was very nice though and we learned that he was from Santa Cruz and his dad was a rice farmer. We said our thanks and goodbyes, and headed towards Lokal.
Lokal is a very long restaurant with large bench style tables. The waiters all wear black pants and white shirts. When we entered, I told a man that was standing behind a small bar that we had 6 people. He motioned us through towards the back of the restaurant, which seemed to span out further and further. We sat at a table near the back and a waiter brought us menus.
Lokal definitely offered traditional Czech food at affordable prices, and a fun local atmosphere. As a table, we ordered pork Schnitzel, beef, different salads, different styled potatoes, and dumplings. For an appetizer we enjoyed wieners with spicy mustard and fresh grated horse radish. The appetizer was delicious but none of us were too impressed by the entrées. The pork Schnitzel was tasty, especially after we squirted fresh lemon on it. Never having eaten Schnitzel before, I was expecting it to come out with gravy. I was wrong, it was plain. The different style potatoes were tasty but the bread dumplings were blah, blah, blah. Grandpa ordered potato salad with his Schnitzel which was extremely tasty. Dusty had ordered the roast beef, but what came out was a beef steak. It was lacking in flavor but was cooked a perfect medium-rare (he wasn’t asked what temperature he wanted his meat, luckily for him he loves medium rare). Rachel ordered Goulash and what came out of the kitchen was not what any of us were expecting. The Goulash was not Hungarian style Goulash and was served on a plate, not like a soup. We all agreed that the meal was less than satisfying, but still enjoyable because of the experience of eating “traditional Czech food”.
Lokal was decorated with thin wood walls that had been carved by customers. Rachel was given a white marker to create her own design on one of the walls. After much consideration, she decided to write “California Girls”. She began her work of art as we all watched. She finished the large picture, with the text surrounded by a large sun. It is our understanding that if the manager likes her design, it will be carved into to wall. It was a fun dinner, a great authentic experience.
As a group we headed back towards the hotel. Dusty, Rachel and I decided that we were not tired and were ready to keep exploring the night life of the city. We said goodnight to Mom, Dad and Grandpa, and began heading back towards the city square.
Prague completely comes to life at night! The streets were full of people and almost every building was illuminated beautifully. The 3 of us strolled through the crowded streets and less crowded alleyways, peeking into shops and visiting a few. Music and smoke crept out of bars, and bbq’s were aflame in the square. We bought “Praha” stickers and a beautiful perfume bottle, made in Czech Republic of citrine colored Bohemian glass. Based upon our little night tour, we believe that Czech Republic must be known for Bohemian glass and Swarovski crystal…shops that carry both are everywhere…it’s dazzling!
We spotted massive steeples in the distance, and began our dance towards them through the maze of alley ways. When we found what the steeples were connected to, not only did we find a beautiful castle under those steeples, but also a second huge city square (Old Town Square)! This square was full of hundreds of people, and an open-air summer market filled the center. We heard familiar music and followed it into a bar called “Praha Coyotes”. The bar was full of people sitting around high tables drinking, smoking and socializing. They were being served by beautiful girls dressed like cowgirls; we realized it was Prague’s version of a Coyote Ugly bar. Despite the music, there was no one dancing. We walked out as fast as we had walked in, but it was a cute spot.
We took pictures all through the square before adventuring out again. Another block up, we found a lively night life section of the city. This spot was very different from the 2 previous squares in that it was obviously for “adults only”. We were approached multiple times by men trying to sell “stuff”…thankfully we don’t speak Czech! One man did approach us, speaking English. He offered Dusty great fun by saying, “I can give you exactly what you want.” Dusty replied, “No thanks man.” It was a very interesting experience walking through this district, definitely not what I was expecting, but we were in a big city!!
We arrived back at the Prague Marriot at about 11:30pm and jumped into bed. The phone rang at 7:30am, Grandpa woke us up for the day. We all got up and ready. After deciding to find breakfast before checking out, we were back on the streets of Prague. Dusty, Rachel and I wanted to share all of the sights that we had discovered the night before. We lead our family through the Praha streets that lead to that 2nd large city square. Next, we found a great place for breakfast! We ate at “Bohemia Bagel” at Masná 2ü 110 00 Praha. All of our breakfast meals were outstanding! The staff spoke English and were incredibly friendly. The way it works at the Bohemia Bagel, you first decide what you would like to eat and then order it at the cash register and pay. We all shared plates of eggs and bacon, a scramble, the best hash browns I have ever had, and delectable blue berry pancakes! This is the one place, since I have been in Europe, that I have had a regular cup of coffee!! It was called bottomless American-style drip coffee.....we all know that I have been loving all the espresso....but good-ole American coffee tasted great!! Fyi...the Bohemia Bagel offers Wi-Fi for those with their own computers (for free) and computers to use (for a fee).
After breakfast, we did some more sight seeing before heading back to the Marriot to check out. Once we checked out, the valet brought our car from the garage, and we were on our way back to Pápa. The drive home felt exhausting, but after about 4 ½ hours, we were home.
Prague is an absolutely incredible city. The lights at night are intoxicatingly magical. We all enjoyed ourselves immensely.
We now have only 4 days left until our Best of Europe tour with COSMOS!!!!
The speed limit on the highway in Czech Republic is 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph). Despite keeping up with this speed limit, fine made European automobiles passed us at impressive speeds. We pulled into Prague and parked in a train station parking structure. There were many hotels in the vicinity, and we were on a mission to find one! The first hotel we investigated, a four star Golden Tulip, had 2 rooms left and would cost $240 to reserve both. The price seemed appropriate for downtown Prague, but we decided to walk further into the heart of downtown before committing to a hotel.
Prague is huge, but by pure luck we chose a parking spot that was a few blocks from the main city square. We walked towards the large buildings that lead to the square (again, all by luck, we didn’t know we were heading the “right” way). The architecture was extremely impressive and beautiful. As we continued to admire our surroundings, we checked out different hotels, finally deciding on the four star Prague Marriot Hotel at V Celnici 8. The hotel was very beautiful and only one block away from the town square.
The town square was full of shops, a mall, a casino, bars and restaurants. We were all under the impression that this was the main city square. After roaming around the square and checking into our hotel, we went out walking in search of a restaurant for dinner. One thing we all agreed upon was to find a place that offered traditional Czech food.
Rachel was checking out some brochures at a small tourist stand when a guy passing on a bike said, “Well hello pretty lady” (he was obviously American). Rachel was very surprised, but used the situation to our advantage. She asked him to suggest a good, inexpensive, traditional place to eat. He jokingly answered that we definitely didn’t want the Hard Rock! LOL He suggested “Lokal” which was inexpensive, offered traditional good cuisine, and was only a block away. We asked him what he was doing in Prague, how long he had been here, etc. Oddly, he was very “careful” of his responses (I believe that he was in the country with no visa). He was very nice though and we learned that he was from Santa Cruz and his dad was a rice farmer. We said our thanks and goodbyes, and headed towards Lokal.
Lokal is a very long restaurant with large bench style tables. The waiters all wear black pants and white shirts. When we entered, I told a man that was standing behind a small bar that we had 6 people. He motioned us through towards the back of the restaurant, which seemed to span out further and further. We sat at a table near the back and a waiter brought us menus.
Lokal definitely offered traditional Czech food at affordable prices, and a fun local atmosphere. As a table, we ordered pork Schnitzel, beef, different salads, different styled potatoes, and dumplings. For an appetizer we enjoyed wieners with spicy mustard and fresh grated horse radish. The appetizer was delicious but none of us were too impressed by the entrées. The pork Schnitzel was tasty, especially after we squirted fresh lemon on it. Never having eaten Schnitzel before, I was expecting it to come out with gravy. I was wrong, it was plain. The different style potatoes were tasty but the bread dumplings were blah, blah, blah. Grandpa ordered potato salad with his Schnitzel which was extremely tasty. Dusty had ordered the roast beef, but what came out was a beef steak. It was lacking in flavor but was cooked a perfect medium-rare (he wasn’t asked what temperature he wanted his meat, luckily for him he loves medium rare). Rachel ordered Goulash and what came out of the kitchen was not what any of us were expecting. The Goulash was not Hungarian style Goulash and was served on a plate, not like a soup. We all agreed that the meal was less than satisfying, but still enjoyable because of the experience of eating “traditional Czech food”.
Lokal was decorated with thin wood walls that had been carved by customers. Rachel was given a white marker to create her own design on one of the walls. After much consideration, she decided to write “California Girls”. She began her work of art as we all watched. She finished the large picture, with the text surrounded by a large sun. It is our understanding that if the manager likes her design, it will be carved into to wall. It was a fun dinner, a great authentic experience.
As a group we headed back towards the hotel. Dusty, Rachel and I decided that we were not tired and were ready to keep exploring the night life of the city. We said goodnight to Mom, Dad and Grandpa, and began heading back towards the city square.
Prague completely comes to life at night! The streets were full of people and almost every building was illuminated beautifully. The 3 of us strolled through the crowded streets and less crowded alleyways, peeking into shops and visiting a few. Music and smoke crept out of bars, and bbq’s were aflame in the square. We bought “Praha” stickers and a beautiful perfume bottle, made in Czech Republic of citrine colored Bohemian glass. Based upon our little night tour, we believe that Czech Republic must be known for Bohemian glass and Swarovski crystal…shops that carry both are everywhere…it’s dazzling!
We spotted massive steeples in the distance, and began our dance towards them through the maze of alley ways. When we found what the steeples were connected to, not only did we find a beautiful castle under those steeples, but also a second huge city square (Old Town Square)! This square was full of hundreds of people, and an open-air summer market filled the center. We heard familiar music and followed it into a bar called “Praha Coyotes”. The bar was full of people sitting around high tables drinking, smoking and socializing. They were being served by beautiful girls dressed like cowgirls; we realized it was Prague’s version of a Coyote Ugly bar. Despite the music, there was no one dancing. We walked out as fast as we had walked in, but it was a cute spot.
We took pictures all through the square before adventuring out again. Another block up, we found a lively night life section of the city. This spot was very different from the 2 previous squares in that it was obviously for “adults only”. We were approached multiple times by men trying to sell “stuff”…thankfully we don’t speak Czech! One man did approach us, speaking English. He offered Dusty great fun by saying, “I can give you exactly what you want.” Dusty replied, “No thanks man.” It was a very interesting experience walking through this district, definitely not what I was expecting, but we were in a big city!!
We arrived back at the Prague Marriot at about 11:30pm and jumped into bed. The phone rang at 7:30am, Grandpa woke us up for the day. We all got up and ready. After deciding to find breakfast before checking out, we were back on the streets of Prague. Dusty, Rachel and I wanted to share all of the sights that we had discovered the night before. We lead our family through the Praha streets that lead to that 2nd large city square. Next, we found a great place for breakfast! We ate at “Bohemia Bagel” at Masná 2ü 110 00 Praha. All of our breakfast meals were outstanding! The staff spoke English and were incredibly friendly. The way it works at the Bohemia Bagel, you first decide what you would like to eat and then order it at the cash register and pay. We all shared plates of eggs and bacon, a scramble, the best hash browns I have ever had, and delectable blue berry pancakes! This is the one place, since I have been in Europe, that I have had a regular cup of coffee!! It was called bottomless American-style drip coffee.....we all know that I have been loving all the espresso....but good-ole American coffee tasted great!! Fyi...the Bohemia Bagel offers Wi-Fi for those with their own computers (for free) and computers to use (for a fee).
After breakfast, we did some more sight seeing before heading back to the Marriot to check out. Once we checked out, the valet brought our car from the garage, and we were on our way back to Pápa. The drive home felt exhausting, but after about 4 ½ hours, we were home.
Prague is an absolutely incredible city. The lights at night are intoxicatingly magical. We all enjoyed ourselves immensely.
We now have only 4 days left until our Best of Europe tour with COSMOS!!!!
2010. augusztus 18., szerda
Enjoying Pápa with the Family
Yesterday, we went with Grandpa, Mom and Rachel on a walk down to the walking area. We stopped in shops, peeked in windows and took some pictures. All agreeing that Greek salads sounded great for lunch, we took a break and ate lunch on the outside patio at Vita Fit. People-watching is the thing to do at Vita Fit, so we did just that! We enjoyed our salads and glass bottles of water before paying our bill and continuing our walk.
Rachel discovered a shop with very inexpensive makeup and jewelry, some of which she purchased. As a group, we recognized that the Roman Catholic Church doors were open and all ventured in. When Dusty and I previously entered the church, we were less than impressed. It was much less extravagant than we were expecting, especially in comparison to churches we had seen in Bratislava and Keszthley. Entering the church this time, seemed different however. The church seemed to have grown since the last time we saw it, obviously impossible. It also seemed more decorative and impressive. I came to the conclusion that I was perceiving the church differently due to the fact that the Reformed Church (by our house) was the last church I was in, and that church is very simple and plain (solely on the inside). In comparison, this Roman Catholic Church looked spectacular. We were able to take a few pictures inside.
Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream…Yes, we got ice cream again! Between us, we tried the tiramisu, Belgian chocolate, apple pie, and vanilla with chocolate chips and orange swirls (turns out that the orange swirls were nowhere to be found in our scoop! ) We all ventured home, rested, and then went back out!
I have talked, again and again, about the great Döner Kabob! Naturally, we had to all go and check it out. Mom and I ordered chicken, the rest ordered beef. The Döner Kabobs were absolutely amazing! It turns out I was previously, incorrectly calling them Gyros. I have learned that Gyros, come from Greece, and Döner Kabobs come from Turkey. The Döner Kabob shop in Pápa, sells just that, Döner Kabobs. We have also had Gryos, but at Kattanis and Vita Fit, all of which were good, but absolutely no comparison to the Döner Kabob!!
Today, we have all decided to take a day of rest. No one will be able to enjoy their time here if they are exhasuted! It is so important to rest wherever and whenever you can. We went with Grandpa to Tesco and picked up some groceries. Then we headed to a bakery down town, directly across from the Villa Classica, to pick up some fresh pastries for the morning. Dusty and I had not yet been to this bakery, so it was a new experience for all of us. It turns out, we have been missing out! The prices were a bit cheaper than we have been paying (by a few cents ), and the woman behind the counter spoke English and was even a little friendly!
For our lazy day, I have a pot of spaghetti sauce cooking on the stove, a fresh loaf of bread to slice up, and all of the fixings for a large salad. We just finished lunch which consisted of sandwiches with fresh bread, local meat, lettuce, tomato, ”Heilmans” mayo (straight form the states) and Hungarian mustard...yum!
Rachel discovered a shop with very inexpensive makeup and jewelry, some of which she purchased. As a group, we recognized that the Roman Catholic Church doors were open and all ventured in. When Dusty and I previously entered the church, we were less than impressed. It was much less extravagant than we were expecting, especially in comparison to churches we had seen in Bratislava and Keszthley. Entering the church this time, seemed different however. The church seemed to have grown since the last time we saw it, obviously impossible. It also seemed more decorative and impressive. I came to the conclusion that I was perceiving the church differently due to the fact that the Reformed Church (by our house) was the last church I was in, and that church is very simple and plain (solely on the inside). In comparison, this Roman Catholic Church looked spectacular. We were able to take a few pictures inside.
Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream…Yes, we got ice cream again! Between us, we tried the tiramisu, Belgian chocolate, apple pie, and vanilla with chocolate chips and orange swirls (turns out that the orange swirls were nowhere to be found in our scoop! ) We all ventured home, rested, and then went back out!
I have talked, again and again, about the great Döner Kabob! Naturally, we had to all go and check it out. Mom and I ordered chicken, the rest ordered beef. The Döner Kabobs were absolutely amazing! It turns out I was previously, incorrectly calling them Gyros. I have learned that Gyros, come from Greece, and Döner Kabobs come from Turkey. The Döner Kabob shop in Pápa, sells just that, Döner Kabobs. We have also had Gryos, but at Kattanis and Vita Fit, all of which were good, but absolutely no comparison to the Döner Kabob!!
Today, we have all decided to take a day of rest. No one will be able to enjoy their time here if they are exhasuted! It is so important to rest wherever and whenever you can. We went with Grandpa to Tesco and picked up some groceries. Then we headed to a bakery down town, directly across from the Villa Classica, to pick up some fresh pastries for the morning. Dusty and I had not yet been to this bakery, so it was a new experience for all of us. It turns out, we have been missing out! The prices were a bit cheaper than we have been paying (by a few cents ), and the woman behind the counter spoke English and was even a little friendly!
For our lazy day, I have a pot of spaghetti sauce cooking on the stove, a fresh loaf of bread to slice up, and all of the fixings for a large salad. We just finished lunch which consisted of sandwiches with fresh bread, local meat, lettuce, tomato, ”Heilmans” mayo (straight form the states) and Hungarian mustard...yum!
2010. augusztus 17., kedd
Big Surprise!
Grandpa and I took a small tour of Pápa yesterday! We walked down to the Reformed Church and then into the walking area where we peered into shop windows and explored a few allies. When we reached the end of the walking area, Grandpa and I crossed the main drag to make our way over to the Roman Catholic Church. Unfortunately it was closed…surprise, surprise! LOL! Actually though, it was surprising seeing that it has been open most days lately. However, we enjoyed admiring the outside of it, and discussing the history of it.
We made our way around to the back of the church, and continued on to the Esterhazy Palace. The construction of the mansion is magnificent. We reveled at the fact that it is still standing after so many years!! We plan on making another trip to the palace, with the family, and go inside to check it out!
Grandpa took pictures of the sights and we admired the detail put into the simplest things, like fences and cobble stone. On our way back towards the house…we stopped for ice cream!! WOO-HOO!! We of course stopped at the best place for ice cream which is the small shop down on the Roman Catholic Church side of the walking area (my mom’s favorite ice cream spot). After attempting to figure out what each flavor was, Grandpa decided on the “citrone” lemon, and I on the “yoghurt” with cherry. We enjoyed our cones as we strolled back through the walking area and eventually back to the house.
For dinner we barbequed hamburgers….so good….with all the fixings, and French fries! It was wonderful to have everyone here for dinner! We all sat at the dining room table, listening to and discussing music. The “American-style” meal was fabulous…great idea Grandpa!!
After dinner, Grandpa delivered a HUGE surprise!!!!!! We will all be going on an 18 day “Best of Europe” tour with COSMOS (http://www.cosmos.com/)!!!! We leave in 9 days!!!!
COSMOS “Best of Europe” Tour: “This classic tour of Western Europe includes the must-see cities and sights and is a Cosmos favorite. Begin in London with free time to see the major landmarks, then ferry across the Channel and board a motorcoach for Amsterdam. Travel along the banks of the legendary Rhine River to Germany and stop in Heidelberg before crossing into Switzerland. In Lucerne, marvel at the famous Lion Monument. Drive through the St. Gotthard Tunnel to the shores of Lake Lugano, and continue to Verona and see Juliet’s balcony. In Venice, enjoy a canal boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and see the Bridge of Sighs, Doges’ Palace, and the Basilica. Visit Assisi and St. Francis’ Basilica, then head for Rome, the “Eternal City” for a visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. South to the archaeological site of Pompeii, destroyed in 79 AD by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Enjoy two overnights in Sorrento, a boat trip to the glamorous Isle of Capri, time in Tuscany and Florence, and a stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower. Finally, cross into France for a taste of Provence, continuing to the alpine town of Grenoble for an overnight. Stop in Burgundy’s Beaune on the way to Paris, the “City of Light.” (http://www.cosmos.com/)
This is such an unbelievable surprise!! In addition to everything that is included in our trip, such as guided tours, hotel accommodations, and some meals, there are numerous Optional Excursions and Activities, each for an additional charge. We will be busy, over the next few days, planning exactly which “extras” we would like to include on our trip!
We have all been reading our COSMOS itinerary and travel book, and the “Best of Europe” tour is already full of so many exciting activities and adventures! We will be traveling through 8 countries in 18 days! There are tours planned, along with boat rides, sight-seeing, a zoom on the Autobahn, meals, time to shop, time to linger, time to relax…time to enjoy!! We will definitely blog about any and all experiences, we are so excited!
Over the next 9 days, we will not only be getting ready for our “Best of Europe” COSMOS tour, but we will also continue to sight-see here and around Pápa. The weather has been on-and-off rain, but today offers us the sun and clear skies!
We made our way around to the back of the church, and continued on to the Esterhazy Palace. The construction of the mansion is magnificent. We reveled at the fact that it is still standing after so many years!! We plan on making another trip to the palace, with the family, and go inside to check it out!
Grandpa took pictures of the sights and we admired the detail put into the simplest things, like fences and cobble stone. On our way back towards the house…we stopped for ice cream!! WOO-HOO!! We of course stopped at the best place for ice cream which is the small shop down on the Roman Catholic Church side of the walking area (my mom’s favorite ice cream spot). After attempting to figure out what each flavor was, Grandpa decided on the “citrone” lemon, and I on the “yoghurt” with cherry. We enjoyed our cones as we strolled back through the walking area and eventually back to the house.
For dinner we barbequed hamburgers….so good….with all the fixings, and French fries! It was wonderful to have everyone here for dinner! We all sat at the dining room table, listening to and discussing music. The “American-style” meal was fabulous…great idea Grandpa!!
After dinner, Grandpa delivered a HUGE surprise!!!!!! We will all be going on an 18 day “Best of Europe” tour with COSMOS (http://www.cosmos.com/)!!!! We leave in 9 days!!!!
COSMOS “Best of Europe” Tour: “This classic tour of Western Europe includes the must-see cities and sights and is a Cosmos favorite. Begin in London with free time to see the major landmarks, then ferry across the Channel and board a motorcoach for Amsterdam. Travel along the banks of the legendary Rhine River to Germany and stop in Heidelberg before crossing into Switzerland. In Lucerne, marvel at the famous Lion Monument. Drive through the St. Gotthard Tunnel to the shores of Lake Lugano, and continue to Verona and see Juliet’s balcony. In Venice, enjoy a canal boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and see the Bridge of Sighs, Doges’ Palace, and the Basilica. Visit Assisi and St. Francis’ Basilica, then head for Rome, the “Eternal City” for a visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. South to the archaeological site of Pompeii, destroyed in 79 AD by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Enjoy two overnights in Sorrento, a boat trip to the glamorous Isle of Capri, time in Tuscany and Florence, and a stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower. Finally, cross into France for a taste of Provence, continuing to the alpine town of Grenoble for an overnight. Stop in Burgundy’s Beaune on the way to Paris, the “City of Light.” (http://www.cosmos.com/)
This is such an unbelievable surprise!! In addition to everything that is included in our trip, such as guided tours, hotel accommodations, and some meals, there are numerous Optional Excursions and Activities, each for an additional charge. We will be busy, over the next few days, planning exactly which “extras” we would like to include on our trip!
We have all been reading our COSMOS itinerary and travel book, and the “Best of Europe” tour is already full of so many exciting activities and adventures! We will be traveling through 8 countries in 18 days! There are tours planned, along with boat rides, sight-seeing, a zoom on the Autobahn, meals, time to shop, time to linger, time to relax…time to enjoy!! We will definitely blog about any and all experiences, we are so excited!
Over the next 9 days, we will not only be getting ready for our “Best of Europe” COSMOS tour, but we will also continue to sight-see here and around Pápa. The weather has been on-and-off rain, but today offers us the sun and clear skies!
2010. augusztus 16., hétfő
Our family has joined us in Hungary! The three of them (mom, Rachel, and Grandpa) arrived Saturday night. They were all exhausted, after having a challenging trip across the globe. First, their flight out of San Luis Obispo was an hour and a half late, and that gave them barely enough time to check in at the San Francisco Airport. Once they arrived in London, they were again behind schedule, and had a difficult time finding their way around the fifth largest airport in the world. Dad picked them up in Vienna and then brought them home to Pápa. We all stayed up for a few hours talking and catching up.
Sunday was Dad’s birthday, and fortunately no one was too jet-lagged. We took Grandpa to Tesco and Interspar, he enjoyed checking out all of the Hungarian products. For Dad’s birthday, we all got ready and headed out downtown.
We began our “night” at Dad’s Talbot. Mom and Dad had fun playing the slot machine while the rest of us watched. Rachel was very popular with the local guys, and they practically fell over themselves trying to light her cigarette. We next went to Ürdog and finally to The Red Box for dinner. Dinner was absolutely wonderful!! In addition to the six of us, four friends joined. As a table, we enjoyed different steaks, pork and chicken dishes. For dessert, we had the server bring Dad a chocolate-rum cake with lemon dressing, on a plate with a candle. After dinner we headed into the restaurant’s bar and then back to the Ürdog. Dad really enjoyed his birthday and all of us had a great night.
Sunday was Dad’s birthday, and fortunately no one was too jet-lagged. We took Grandpa to Tesco and Interspar, he enjoyed checking out all of the Hungarian products. For Dad’s birthday, we all got ready and headed out downtown.
We began our “night” at Dad’s Talbot. Mom and Dad had fun playing the slot machine while the rest of us watched. Rachel was very popular with the local guys, and they practically fell over themselves trying to light her cigarette. We next went to Ürdog and finally to The Red Box for dinner. Dinner was absolutely wonderful!! In addition to the six of us, four friends joined. As a table, we enjoyed different steaks, pork and chicken dishes. For dessert, we had the server bring Dad a chocolate-rum cake with lemon dressing, on a plate with a candle. After dinner we headed into the restaurant’s bar and then back to the Ürdog. Dad really enjoyed his birthday and all of us had a great night.
2010. augusztus 13., péntek
Dusty and I have been spending our time hanging out around Pápa, with the exception of the drive to Vészprem. We are becoming increasingly more comfortable communicating with people around us, and have been complimented a few times on our Hungarian (by Hungarian people) . We continue, of course, to have our moments of complete confusion! While driving to Tesco we approached a construction zone. One of the workers approached the car, speaking Hungarian. Dusty told him that we didn’t speak Hungarian, but the man continued speaking…in Hungarian. As he went on and on, Dusty said, “Nem yo” (no good)…the man replied “yo, yo” (good, good). He finally waved us through; we still have no idea what he was saying!! LOL
Today, my mom, sister and grandpa arrive. I am sure they will have jet-lag for a few days, at least. Once they begin to feel up-to-par, we plan on doing some traveling! Our exact plans are still unclear, but we know are going to be traveling to Germany and Italy.
I have just recently been in contact with family in Germany. Johannes, a cousin, is my age and is planning on showing us around. He lives in Broggingen, which is the town our relatives are originally from. We are eager to travel to the “Father Land” and see where we come from!
Last night, the biggest storm we have ever seen, roared through Pápa. At first all we heard was loud thunder but then came the lightening. It was a majestic sight, the clouds lit up bright pastel colors as the bolts of electricity streamed across the sky. As the night progressed the storm grew in intensity. We opened the blinds in our bedroom so we could watch this beautiful phenomena from our bed. We eventually had to close the blinds because the lightening was so intense we couldn’t fall asleep. This morning, we woke up to beautiful clear skies.
Today, my mom, sister and grandpa arrive. I am sure they will have jet-lag for a few days, at least. Once they begin to feel up-to-par, we plan on doing some traveling! Our exact plans are still unclear, but we know are going to be traveling to Germany and Italy.
I have just recently been in contact with family in Germany. Johannes, a cousin, is my age and is planning on showing us around. He lives in Broggingen, which is the town our relatives are originally from. We are eager to travel to the “Father Land” and see where we come from!
Last night, the biggest storm we have ever seen, roared through Pápa. At first all we heard was loud thunder but then came the lightening. It was a majestic sight, the clouds lit up bright pastel colors as the bolts of electricity streamed across the sky. As the night progressed the storm grew in intensity. We opened the blinds in our bedroom so we could watch this beautiful phenomena from our bed. We eventually had to close the blinds because the lightening was so intense we couldn’t fall asleep. This morning, we woke up to beautiful clear skies.
2010. augusztus 9., hétfő
We finally were able to go inside of the Roman Catholic Church, which stands at the far end of the walking area, downtown Pápa. While out walking around, like we love to do, we noticed the front double-doors of the church were open. This was the first time that we had seen them open. We crossed the street and slowly walked up the steps, we wanted to be sure that we were not about to interupt a service or ceremony. Seeing that the church was empty, we entered.
The outside of the church is very large so we were expecting it be big inside. Though very tall, the church was not as wide as we were anticipating. Like other churches that we have seen, the ceilings were hand painted, depicting beautiful scenes of angles. There were also large paintings hanging on the walls. On each side, just beyond the entrance, were two confessional booths made of dark wood with crimson curtains.
The church had an intimate feel, in that wherever one were to sit in the pews, would be close to the priest. Unlike what we would expect in a Roman Catholic Church, there were not many statues or much grandeur. We didn’t feel comfortable to walk around the church because did not know why the front doors had been open. Perhaps it was not to appropriate time to walk through, we just were not sure. A young man appeared speaking Hungarian, after telling him we didn’t speak Hungarian, he went back through the door he came out of. We were not sure what he had said, so thought that was a good note to leave on! LOL
Now, we are still eager to sneak-a-peak in the other church, which is Protestant and is said to have The Black Christ on display.
The outside of the church is very large so we were expecting it be big inside. Though very tall, the church was not as wide as we were anticipating. Like other churches that we have seen, the ceilings were hand painted, depicting beautiful scenes of angles. There were also large paintings hanging on the walls. On each side, just beyond the entrance, were two confessional booths made of dark wood with crimson curtains.
The church had an intimate feel, in that wherever one were to sit in the pews, would be close to the priest. Unlike what we would expect in a Roman Catholic Church, there were not many statues or much grandeur. We didn’t feel comfortable to walk around the church because did not know why the front doors had been open. Perhaps it was not to appropriate time to walk through, we just were not sure. A young man appeared speaking Hungarian, after telling him we didn’t speak Hungarian, he went back through the door he came out of. We were not sure what he had said, so thought that was a good note to leave on! LOL
Now, we are still eager to sneak-a-peak in the other church, which is Protestant and is said to have The Black Christ on display.
2010. augusztus 4., szerda
Gyros at Döner Kabob
We had the absolute best gyros at Döner Kabob, which is on the main strip right next to the Griff Hotel. Döner Kabob is a very small restaurant with two tables inside and two tables outside. the owners spoke English, the husband more so than the wife. They were extremely friendly and even offered smiles!! When we ordered our gyros, one beef and one chicken, we watched as the wife made them fresh. We also watched as the husband was busy making fresh dough. The gyros were warm, fresh and wonderful! They were full of meat, lettuce, cabbage, onions, paprika and a spicy "yoghurt" sauce. We definitely can not wait to go back!
2010. augusztus 2., hétfő
We spent the day in Veszprém, Hungary. The GPS system, again, took us the long way from Papa, but the drive was beautiful through the Bakony Forest. It was a perfect summer day, sunny and almost 90 degrees. Veszprém is a pretty big town with a beautiful centrum. The town is situated amongst rolling green hills. Steeples peak through the trees in all directions. We found a parking spot pretty close to downtown and paid 480 forint for 2 hours.
Downtown consists of small shops, restaurants, many churches, old houses and beautiful walkways. We ventured around town and had a small lunch at an authentic Hungarian restaurant. The small streets were ordained with statues and ivy covered rock walls. After exploring the downtown area, we drove to the mall, The Balaton Plaza.
The Balaton Plaza was much different than the mall in Gyor. To us, it felt a lot more like a mall in LA. Instead of beautiful restaurants, cafes, and bars running down the center of the mall, there were planters and benches. The shops in the mall had MUCH CHEAPER prices than the shops in Gyor! At a store called Cosmos we scored on some clothes that were all under $4 a piece, expect for a really nice “Germany” sweater that was about $5!
After shopping, we stopped at a café in the mall and ordered 2 melange. Everywhere else, a mélange has basically been a latté. To our delight, these were lattés with honey. They were delicous treats. We made sure to take the faster route home, and made it in 40 minutes. We will definitely be venturing back to Veszprém, and to the mall!
Downtown consists of small shops, restaurants, many churches, old houses and beautiful walkways. We ventured around town and had a small lunch at an authentic Hungarian restaurant. The small streets were ordained with statues and ivy covered rock walls. After exploring the downtown area, we drove to the mall, The Balaton Plaza.
The Balaton Plaza was much different than the mall in Gyor. To us, it felt a lot more like a mall in LA. Instead of beautiful restaurants, cafes, and bars running down the center of the mall, there were planters and benches. The shops in the mall had MUCH CHEAPER prices than the shops in Gyor! At a store called Cosmos we scored on some clothes that were all under $4 a piece, expect for a really nice “Germany” sweater that was about $5!
After shopping, we stopped at a café in the mall and ordered 2 melange. Everywhere else, a mélange has basically been a latté. To our delight, these were lattés with honey. They were delicous treats. We made sure to take the faster route home, and made it in 40 minutes. We will definitely be venturing back to Veszprém, and to the mall!
2010. augusztus 1., vasárnap
The only thing new is…food! Ok, so that is not new, but the type of food we have tried is new to us. At dinner on Friday night we tried out a new place in the walking area. It is located right next to the James Joyce Pub and has inside and outside seating. Due to the light rain and cool temperature, we chose to sit inside. There were a couple of other tables occupied. We sat at a small table in the dimly lit dining room. Our waiter spoke a little English, which always makes it easier. For an appetizer, we ordered toast with marrow spread. Yes, bone marrow! It was served with pickled gerkin and it was delicious! For our entrees we ordered one dish of red wine Hungarian beef stew, and one plate of turkey cordon bleu served with potato (unbeknownst to us, it was served with 3 baked potatoes!!) We were naughty and ordered dessert even though we didn’t finish our dinners! “Somló Dumplings” is what I pointed to on the menu when the server asked what we would like. When it came out, it was a mountain of heaven! It was chocolate and vanilla “dumplings” which were like very light pieces of cake, topped with chocolate mousse, nuts, tiny cherries, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. We enjoyed it along with two macchiato.
Today we went to Kattanis for lunch and shared a “Hungarian Pizza.” The pizza consisted of tomato sauce, cheese, sausage, red onion and egg. It was good, but not as good as the pizza we had a few days earlier. The sausage in the pizza tasted just like the sausage in one of the dishes we had in Vienna. While shopping at Tesco today, we picked up some smoked, dried Hungarian sausage. We made sausage sandwiches, with fresh rolls, for dinner. The sausage tasted just like what we had at the restaurants…so good! I am full just remembering all of this food!!
Today we went to Kattanis for lunch and shared a “Hungarian Pizza.” The pizza consisted of tomato sauce, cheese, sausage, red onion and egg. It was good, but not as good as the pizza we had a few days earlier. The sausage in the pizza tasted just like the sausage in one of the dishes we had in Vienna. While shopping at Tesco today, we picked up some smoked, dried Hungarian sausage. We made sausage sandwiches, with fresh rolls, for dinner. The sausage tasted just like what we had at the restaurants…so good! I am full just remembering all of this food!!
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