We have a few hours to kill before our connecting flight to Austin where we will team up with our daughte, Melody and her new husband Geoff. It’ll double our pleasure not only to visit with them but to experience our European Christmas together!

From the tram, I spotted an interesting church spire and Mimi recognized it from a previous trip so we got off to walk around and explore.

The tram stop is by an interesting statue so we took some pictures of this as well.

City Bus 190 took us two stops to then catch the Tram 19 into the city.

Neither the bus nor the tram had the automated machines to pay be credit card for our day pass from public transport, only coins and we didn’t have enough. A nice gentleman saw our dilemma and even offered to give is his change but still not enough so we decided to purchase on the next tram. Still no luck. Finally we found a machine in the Karlsplatz train station and purchased a group day pass.

We got off the train at Maxmonument again to show Geoff & Melody the statue and church from the day before and also took pictures of some of the government buildings.

We caught the tram again and rode to Maximilianstraße where the girls could window shop in the designer shops along the boulevard.

Melody spotted a famous beer hall, the Hofbrauhaus down a side street in Marienplatz where we introduced Geoff to real beer and the Bavarian veal Bratwursts.

The hall was very crowded so we had to share a table with a local couple. The lady was from Bavaria and gave us a lot of tips for sightseeing and the man was from the north near Berlin and shared local lore. The Germans again are very helpful and proud of their heritage.

After the beer hall we strolled around Marienplatz and Karlsplatz, did some shopping and took more pictures of the city’s Christmas decor. We were taking turns shooting one another when an older gentleman offered to take a picture of the four of us.

It turns out he’s an author and travel writer by profession. I thought he was a pro the way he handled the camera. Again, the people here are wonderful not to mention interesting.

We stopped by a BMW dealership that had some awesome spots concepts on display then went for a great winter drink, mulled wine and crepes where we had eaten yesterday. Glüwien, so good on a cold afternoon.

We next tried to find where we could purchase tickets to tour the castles around Nieuschwanstien on our return next week to Munich. We found a travel agency in Karlsplatz and were told we needed to get them at one of th government tourist offices, the closest of which was at the Central Station. However, we opted for the one in Marienplatz as it was on the way back.

This took us down the big pedestrian walk and Christmas market along the way.

As reportedly the most affluent area of Prague, the street was lined on one side starting with the Intercontenental Hotel and continuing with all thehigh end name brand designer stores.

The guide told us that the hotel had just sold that day for over Chk Krona 1billion or over $40 million. We noted it also houses the local Rolls Royce dealership.

The other side of the street is home to historical houses and other structures of the Jewish community and a very old cemetery which has many remains from the horrors of WWII. There is also a museum recording the atrocities of that war.

We wound our way, taking pictures of old historical residences, churches and the like until we reached a pedestrian bridge where it is said that if you are there, you must cross it at least once. We went out on the bridge but couldn’t make it across and back in the time allotted as it was very crowded. So, we settled for more photo ops and rejoined the group.

The gated entrance to the bridge (the only way to cross the wide river other than swim at that time) has statues of five priests to keep the populace in line. But the royal family, Hapsburg, insurer no one spoke out against them by beheading dissenters and displaying their heads on spikes at the entrance as a deterrent to others.

We continued back on a different route through streets lined with shops, food vendors, restaurants and money changers venturing through a small Christmas market and terminating in the main square which featured a building with a giant astronomical clock.

The clock is quite intricate and the clock’s architect was thanked by the royal family, Hapsburg, by being blinded so he couldn’t produce one for anyone else.

It strikes every hour on the hour with music and articulated figures moving past two windows which open and the shut when the event finishes like a giant cuckoo clock.

Our local guide handed out fliers with bar codes that could be used at the Espirt crystal store for entrance to their WC (Water Closet a.k.a. restrooms) so we wouldn’t have to pay as most in the city required coins to get in.

However, she must have mistakenly given ones that didn’t work so we had to rely on the kindness of those with serviceable fliers!

Since the guide was taking those who had signed up for an optional river cruise, we had around four hours of free time to further explore and shop.

After stopping at the WC in Espit, we walked out the back of the store and ventured down another shop filled lane where Melody & Geoff indulged in one of the ubiquitous cone shaped pastries filled with strawberries and ice cream on top. Quite delicious but very sweet. Probably not health food.

We went as far as another small Christmas market (they’re everywhere) and then turned back to the main square where we had a cup of mulled wine.

With hours to kill, we decided to go back to walk across the famous (maybe infamous) bridge but, when we arrived, there were so many people on it as to make it impassable.

Back the way we came. By that time, we were all tired so found a small cafe where we could sit and enjoy some respite and a small snack. We were running low on the local currency so looked for a place that took credit cards.

When we went to pay, they apologized explaining that their credit card machine was out of order and they only took Ckz Krona, not even Euros. Luckily, there was a money changer next door. Problem solved.

We headed back then to the main square from which we knew the directions back to our rendezvous with the bus. Still early, we decided on another cafe to sit and enjoy a snack. It started to rain so we decided to head toward the bus but were early and found shelter under a nearby bridge along with several others from our party.

It’s nice to view the countryside along the way interspersed with small hamlets between forested areas and green fields. There can be seen patches of snow but winter has yet to arrive.

Back now in the EU.

After the hour free time, we were joined by the local guide for a drive through the city with commentary.

The drive ended and our guide segued into a walking tour where we visited several government building and summer palace, the Vienna University.

Upon conclusion of the walking tour, we were given another free hour to enjoy the shopping and sightseeing. We strolled the streets at night, alight with Christmas decorations. Of course we stopped for a cup of glüwien.

The bus took us to the Fourside Hotel to check in. It is the worst hotel in which we’ve stayed so far this trip. Very basic and a bit worn. Plus, the restaurant, though less than half full, was closed for a private party which appeared to be another tour group.

We were forced to go out in the rain to find a place to eat. As it’s Sunday many of the places we tried were either closed or closing st 7pm.

Luckily, we ventured down a side street on our way back to the hotel and found an authentic Turkish cafe still open and enjoyed Turkish kebab wraps and a cup of Turkish melange (kind of like a strong cafe latte). All for just €10, and it was good.

We could only finish one so saved the other for Melody & Geoff who had gone off on their own to further explore the Christmas markets in Vienna city center.

Also, unfortunately, it rained the whole morning. That said, the most interesting and enjoyable part of the morning was the guided tour by our guide. You could tell by her knowledge and enthusiasm that she is proud of the heritage born of the Hapsburg’s history.

After the tour, we had a little over an hour of free time again in the city center where we visited the Swarovski crystal outlet. Melody found a Swarovski ring that suited her good taste.

We had more time before our departure for Hungary so grabbed a bite at tge Nordsee seafood restaurant. It was fresh and tasty yet a bit expensive. But we were sated and releaved to avail ourselves of their WC facilities as we faced a long bus ride thereafter.

The Hungarian countryside is pristine and quite beautiful. There are many wooded areas of trees with white bark and I saw some planted in neat rows almost like a crop. So far, I’ve found no one who could tell me what kind of tree they are or why they would be grown as crops.

The Hungarian countryside is also populated with a multitude of wind turbans so this must be a popular source of clean energy.

It turned out to be a Chinese restaurant and it was packed. We were told it would be a 30 minute wait but we decided to stick it out, all being tired an hungry and this seeming to be the only game in town close to us.

We were seated almost exactly at 30 minutes. The food was passable, maybe 7 on a scale of 10 but we were happy. It had turned quite chilly walking back to the hotel which portends we should be prepared to dress warmer the following day.

Buda,is basically an ancient fortress and overlooks the river and across to the city and environs of Pest with magnificent views.

For drinks, we ordered various varieties of cold lemonaids and I ordered a hot one flavored with ginger and honey with fresh blueberries, currants, apple and slices of citrus fruit. The best I’ve ever had

For our entrés we each ordered something different. Geoff had the pulled pork.

Melody had the roasted beef. And Mimi the perch.

And I had the roast duck.

We finished with various desert offerings with me sharing a tiramisu with Mimi.

All in all, it was a very pleasant and fulfilling Christmas evening in the best restaurant in Budapest.

Heading back to Germany, the road from Salzburg to Munich has towering mountains to the left with rolling hills interspersed with small towns and farmland.

Driving through the mountains, Inoticed that they attach a metal netting alongside the road to prevent rocks from falling on the roadways.

When we went back across the street there were crowds of people boarding the buses in total confusion.

It’s about a 2 hour drive south to the Bavarian Alps where we are to visit King Ludwig’s Palace and 2 castles, they highlight being Nieuschwanstien Castle.

The king wanted to build it on top of a hill in the mountains so as to be far removed from reality acording to our guide. This is fitting as it was later used as the model for Snow White’s castle at Disneyland.

I noticed along the way that the farms and forestry operations here and in Austria are extremely clean and well organized, unlike in our area of the US where farm equipment and harvests are strewn haphazardly about.

While it may be less work and more profitable in the US, I much prefer the European way as it appears better organized and is far more aesthetically pleasing. They even shrink wrap their bales of hay neatly in plastic!

Unfortunately much of the castle is under renovation so there wasn’t as much to see as in the past when Mini last visited. The renovations are scheduled for completion in 2022 so we may wish to return after that.

While waiting for our next flight, we noted on the wall of the waiting area the following quote:

Let each man pass his days in that endeavor wherein his gift is greatest. - Propertius

On closer inspection we noted that the artwork is comprised of business cards!

Half the people on the plane and in the lounge are sneezing and coughing so we employed Mimi’s solution of wearing the eyepatches received on Deltas international flights to cover our noses and mouths.

They are starting to show more delays on the Departures monitor but haven’t updated or flight as yet.

Howev