Alsguth Travel Blog

 So - we had such a good time in Budapest!  The city is vibrant and a bit noisy, but lovely! On Wednesday we went on a tour of some caves under Buda Hill.  This is the third cave tour that Carsten and I have been on in the last 4 months but it was unlike any we had seen before.  Generally, these caves were different because they were formed from below by hot water instead of from above by cool water. (that is my version of Geology 301).  The formations we saw were unusual: Popcorn: Lasagna tiny stalagtites. they grow at a pretty slow rate, about 1 millimeter per 15 years. this is a side view of sorts with crystals in the middle. this is the "witch" - can you see her? honestly - this was the "funnest" thing - we popped out of this little door from the cave into a lovely little park.  you can see the door here. In the next cave, we found these little rock formations which look like teeth finally, a 40 million year old seashell & a sand dollar. On Thursday...

 Honestly, we are to the point where we cannot remember what we have seen or done.  There are so many beautiful things in all these cities, it is almost overwhelming!  But, on we go to Budapest! First of all, it is pronounced BUDA-PESCHT.  So - we have to try to get that right! A few overall impressions first: - no masks are required anywhere (radical change from Germany and Austria)  - the streets are very narrow, compared to Vienna - the metro is extensive - but their app is good (2nd oldest underground).  you can take regular buses, tram-buses (these are electric, so tied to the lines above the roads), streetcars or subways.  the map has buses in blue, streetcars are yellow and subway is red.  the map is complicated. - we call the buses "formula one" buses because the driving is a bit extreme at times! - the escalators down into the subway move FAST, long and steep - it is frightening the first time you step on. we were all astonished at the pa...