1. All of these countries are "melting pots" of cultures. All have welcomed immigrants.

2. First floors are really second floors... The first floor is called "ground level"

3. Biking is not only encouraged but accommodated. Train stations have special elevators for bikes so that people don't have to walk them up and down stairs.

4. There are more bike racks than parking lots.

5. Money conversion is confusing. Hungary is part of EU but has kept their currency...this has completely baffled me..,I resorted to "here's what I got, what can I get? A bier? A cup of tea? What?"

6. Internet is a problem for those who want connection. This does not bother the locals only the travelers. The locals don't know anything different.

The locals actually sit and visit at bier gardens and coffee bars. The are still engaged with each other. The visitors are known because they are looking at their screens, frustrated! (😔guilty)

7. Helmet hair is attractive only when everyone else around you has it too!

8. Cold Cuts and fresh veggies are offered at every meal here. They are staples. Like pretzels, you can have them breakfast lunch and dinner.

9. The drinking age is 16 in Austria and with all the Bier Gartens...and 'open containers' being carried about, there has been very little public drunkenness...
At least, that we have seen.

10. Creature Comforts are missed.

I dreamt my cat was walking on me last night and woke, disappointed.

Laundry done in your hotel sink and hung on your camping clothes line is clean, but stiff.

Water! All we want is water! Don't forget to buy a bottle before you retire for the night.

Cobblestones are harder on newly healed broken ankle than bikes ever were. And how do these German women walk in heals on cobbles?

The thunder and rain were noisy and swift! We were on the top of a cobblestone path by the Engenstrom Bascillica. Our ship was miles below us docked on the Danube.
This was The one time we ventured out and didn't carry our rain coats...

We snuck into a cafe that was more an outside cafe than inside spot. The cushions and table stuff for the 10 tables on the patio took up most of the tables inside.

The cafe keeper was prepared for the downpour.

We ordered some drinks to wait out the storm. The room was small with tiny windows and circular walls. We realized the cafe was housed in an old castle defense turret. 4 small tables inside and a young girl on a desk top computer!

The girl was struggling with the Internet... Calling for her mother in Hungarian. Her mother would pop out from the kitchen and try to help. They spoke no English.

Soon the storm passed. Mark asked the girl a question and she ran to the other room. She is smartly trained to not speak to strangers.

She came back with her mother and Mark asked the mother if they'd play a game. Pick a hand?

They chose his left but in his right he handed her the tightly folded cash.

Rebeka curtsied and said Thankyou.

I was trying to figure out the bill, 15,000hh and how to pay it with the Hungarian and European Union cash I had when we heard a scream in the kitchen.

Mark leaned over and said, "they just figured it out, how much money I actually gave her"

Her Mom comes in apologizing and refusing the cash. Saying "is this a joke?". Mark says "no, it's for a new computer, her education..."

She says "too much"

Mark puts his hand on his heart and says "please, accept."

She gives her smiling daughter a hug and has her daughter tell us in never before used English...

"This amount will really help us."

We are humbled.

We shared emails, Facebook pages and mailing addresses. Rebekah's mom took photos of us together.

On her mothers Facebook page was a selfie of the four of us and the caption read by translator said:

"American Angels stopped in today to get out of the rain... "

Who knew?
The impact?
a Simple gesture goes long way...

Best souvenir EVER!

The thunder and rain were noisy and swift! We were on the top of a cobblestone path by the Engenstrom Bascillica. Our ship was miles below us docked on the Danube.
This was The one time we ventured out and didn't carry our rain coats...

We snuck into a cafe that was more an outside cafe than inside spot. The cushions and table stuff for the 10 tables on the patio took up most of the tables inside.

The cafe keeper was prepared for the downpour.

We ordered some drinks to wait out the storm. The room was small with tiny windows and circular walls. We realized the cafe was housed in an old castle defense turret. 4 small tables inside and a young girl on a desk top computer!

The girl was struggling with the Internet... Calling for her mother in Hungarian. Her mother would pop out from the kitchen and try to help. They spoke no English.

Soon the storm passed. Mark asked the girl a question and she ran to the other room. She is smartly trained to not speak to strangers.

She came back with her mother and Mark asked the mother if they'd play a game. Pick a hand?

They chose his left but in his right he handed her the tightly folded cash.

Rebeka curtsied and said Thankyou.

I was trying to figure out the bill, 15,000hh and how to pay it with the Hungarian and European Union cash I had when we heard a scream in the kitchen.

Mark leaned over and said, "they just figured it out, how much money I actually gave her"

Her Mom comes in apologizing and refusing the cash. Saying "is this a joke?". Mark says "no, it's for a new computer, her education..."

She says "too much"

Mark puts his hand on his heart and says "please, accept."

She gives her smiling daughter a hug and has her daughter tell us in never before used English...

"This amount will really help us."

We are humbled.

We shared emails, Facebook pages and mailing addresses. Rebekah's mom took photos of us together.

On her mothers Facebook page was a selfie of the four of us and the caption read by translator said:

"American Angels stopped in today to get out of the rain... "

Who knew?
The impact?
a Simple gesture goes long way...

Best souvenir EVER!

We were atop the "iron curtain". Looking down at old border crossing stations now being used to houses Syrian refugees. Hundreds of former "detainee" buildings that had sat vacant since the end of the Cold War have been repurposed and offered as a roof over the heads of those who fled their neighboring country. These people had to go somewhere and these run down monuments to a terrible time in history seemed like the best option.

Graffitied covered buildings with many of the windows boarded up line our bike path. People sitting in lawn chairs sat watching us pedal by.

The spaces they had to live in were like 8x 6 cells or holding tanks. Theses boxes with windows in the doors were used to lock citizens up who were trying to enter the country illegally. During a time when armed guards and trained military lined this border crossing to protect their way of life. The only "way" they had ever known.

From above the housing units looked like a storage or warehouse facility. In many respects, it is. Rows and rows of doors with windows above. Dressing rooms. Painted blue to cover up the obscenities painted in graffiti in German or Chec.

Some men were busy fixing the roof of one section by draping a tarp and cementing it to the sides of one unit. Others were blocking windows with bricks. We suspected the broken windows were broken and not expected to be replaced so the new inhabitants of this "Cold War prison camp" were busy trying to keep the elements out of their new homes.

There was an old bunker, pill box off to our left with other remains of the war. We were riding single file because the wind was driving right at us. A wind tunnel raged thru this portion of of the ride.


We were at the end of our 28 miles, maybe mile 26.
I was up in front when I heard the crash.

Men's voices yelping, metal meeting, cloth sliding on pavement ... I turned my bike to find Mark on top of his bike on top of Roger. Both men unable to speak, the wind knocked out of them.

I saw blood on Marks helmet and thought "this can't be good". He crawled of Roger and found a patch of grass where he stayed on his hands and knees, protecting his head. I asked him about the blood on his helmet, he could not speak. I touched his back, he yelped, 'my ribs'...

Lynnette uncovered Roger.

Drafting on a bike works best if the person in front knows you are doing just that... Because when Lynette went to brake she had no idea she would set this pile up in motion.


As we sat on the "iron curtain" wondering how injured our husbands were, it occurred to us: what does one do in Slovakia when injured in a desolate bike path? Who do you call? How do you call them?

Fortunately our guys were like "weebles" who wobble but don't stay down. The blood on his helmet was from his hands. Mark injured his ribs...Roger his knee. Both powered through.

We sat at a pub nursing the wounds of the day and pondering the "luck of our birth". To be born free. To have never lived with the fear of those who have sought refuge.

To be a little bruised on the bike trip of a life time...is hardly worth blogging about.

Yet, this was our very blessed and humbling day in Slovakia!

Today we visit Budapest!

We started out at 8:30 because we knew there were only two ferries that took 15 passengers/ bikes at a time. We didn't want to be at the back of the 125 person pack! Second ferry put us ahead of the gang.

Beautiful road along the Danube shared by cars and bikes. A quiet ride. We wondered: is it a holiday?

We noted the Stations of the Cross along the path and memorials. A very Christian country.

We rode with our new Australian friends Lynette and Roger. They travel a lot! A second marriage for both and traveling has been their commitment! We laughed that they have seen more of the US then us!

Roger admits, "when you live in Australia, there is no going on a short holiday... 3 weeks minimum"

He is a retired superintendent of schools and had been involved with the government on developing lesson plans!

She is a successful financial advisor. Together they share 4 daughters and a couple of grand children.

We rode at an easy pace. Stopping for photos. Hundreds of swans littered the waters. The birds were everywhere. The water fowl on the Danube on our left and the forest was alive with song birds on our left.

We were alone most of the ride. We took two ferries across the Danube in order to get to our destination. For two euros you got carted across the river and a shot of schnapps! (Um, no thank you...its 9 am)

Schnapps here is not the peppermint Americans are used to. Schnapps here is more of Elderberry. Reminded me of cough syrup.

We happened upon a bag piper right after we had conversation about how loud they were. He was on his lunch hour. He came to the river side because his wife said it was too loud to play in the house! SMART WIFE!

There were many gifts along the way! The simple pleasures of completing the 28 miles, the yummy packed lunch, finding a grocery to bring food and drink on Board and the crazy beautiful river side ride... Made us pause...

You can make anything happen! Grab those opportunities!


​(no photos, takes too much internet power😂😎)