Wien – Bratislava – Budapest
Cool it feels great to finally be on the road again after a short year of tour abstinence. As you know, the Hungarians closed the borders on 1.9.2020. Therefore, I had to interrupt the Danube route at that time in Vienna and continued from Belgrade (see stage 3).
From 1.7.2021 and the next two weeks I now want to complete the missing piece of the puzzle from Vienna to Belgrade.
With the Covid certificate I got to Austria without any problems. As for Slovakia, it is a bit uncertain for me, because the Swiss Covid certificate is not yet recognized throughout the EU and regarding entry requirements, one gets very different answers. That’s why I decide to enter Slovakia directly on the banks of the Danube and not to pedal on the official signposted Danube cycle path across the occupied border. I feel somehow like an illegal immigrant, who carries, however, all the necessary documents with him! AND suddenly there is no more road …I run through fields, then through a piece of forest, from where I see border stones. Voilà over it goes! No border police far and wide! After a while, a road is to be found again and thus I drive comfortably and reach Bratislava purely.
The next days, bring me at the Slovakian side all along next to the river on sensational cycle tracks to Esztergom.
Simply dreamlike! Danube so blue, so beautiful and blue, by valley and… In Vac, makes the Danube an almost right-angled bend. This place is called the bend of the Danube. Soon after follows the entrance to Budapest. I have never cycled so relaxed into a metropolis. I am thrilled and impressed at the same time.
The capital of Hungary I have already visited a few years ago as a tourist. Nevertheless, I want to gain again a few additional impressions and have rented me a bike for a day. It’s a bit strange to rent a bike although you own one. Well, the possible thieves can be active anywhere in the world. That’s why I prefer to keep my flow in the hotel room. The rented bike I can then without worry somewhere simply lock, comfortably in a store, a church, etc. Of course, this bike should not be stolen but if it is, then my journey would still continue tomorrow with my own bike.
After the Sightseeing the supplies are filled up again (nuts, rice wafers, fruits) and the laundry washed. In the evening, then in a renowned Indian restaurant and instead of Hungarian goulash, I enjoy Nan, my favorite rice Jeera (cumin), Dal and other delicacies. But at least I stick with the local beer with the drink :-).
Good night, tomorrow it goes further south and of course everything along the beautiful blue Danube!
