Vienna to Budapest

Friday, November 2, 2018

Vienna to Budapest via Bratislava

Today we left Vienna to continue the cruise to Budapest vial a short stop in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The two principal sights in Bratislava are St. Martin’s Cathedral, and the Primatial Palace. Both have an impressive history, but both also involved a lot of walking, which….

Well, I’m having an unexpectedly enforced rest day. Last night as I was getting up from one of the opulently comfortable, but decidedly low, chairs in my room I pulled my back. The choice was to have a doctor come onboard from Vienna, but if he recommended I terminate the cruise and return home I would have very difficult flights. I made the decision to rest and go on to Budapest where the flights would be better if I did have to leave.

The cruise was, again, extraordinary. Although I didn’t get to go into town, I did get a picture of the 18th century Grassalkovich Palace which is the home of the president of Slovakia.

As we arrived in Budapest it took four pictures to capture the entirety of the Parliament Building. After a day set aside for touring Budapest, we moved to a second mooring after dark from which we would disembark tomorrow. As I sat at the window while we maneuvered, we again passed the Parliament Building. This time it was completely illuminated. It was so beautiful and breathtaking I didn’t even think about taking pictures of it. This is one scene that will have to remain one of those special events hidden away in my memory bank.

Pictures: Pictures from the day’s cruise, including the Palace and the Parliament.

Reflections: Because of my limited walking ability I have missed out on a number of the available excursions, but I have absolutely no regrets. I am so blessed to see what I have seen, and to have experienced the company of such wonderful traveling companions. During on of the days we were sitting in the Leopard Lounge (a quiet library bar at the fantail of the ship) we talked with an 82 year old gentleman who was facing knee surgery. He had just finished a 30 minute workout in the ship’s pool. I have to admit I admired him greatly, but I have not a trace of envy for the circumstances of my life. I have too many blessings to be concerned about “what might have been.”

I do expect, however, that this will be my last cruise unless I improve a lot more than I expect is possible at my age and with my health conditions. But God has surprised me many times before, so who knows. And even as I write this Frank is already making plans for us to attend the Oberammergau Passion in 2020. As they say in Austria, “Grosgott” - Praise God.