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Vajdahunyad Castle and Heroes Square, Budapest

I am grouping together the Vajdahunyad Castle and Concert with the nearby Heroes Square, and the City Park amusement area. The Zoo and Szechenyi Baths are also in the same park. The little paddle boats in the lake are really cute and the park itself is stunning. There is no entrance fee to the park but the attractions have individual fees. Prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the venues. Two Tickets to the concert were $23. You could easily spend a day or several days here, depending on the number of attractions you are interested in. It’s a great place for a picnic but there are restaurants available as well, if you prefer. City Park is not on the normal tourist track, but it is centrally located. It is on the Pest side of the Danube and easily accessed from public transportation. Your stop will be called “Hosok Ter” which is Hungarian for “Heroes Square.” To enter the park, walk down the sidewalk behind the monuments and across the bridge. You will love this place. A definite Savvy Senior thumbs up.

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The Streets of Budapest

For some reason I wasn’t too excited about coming to Budapest. We have been “on the road” for over three months. I am a bit travel weary. After London, Berlin, Prague, and Vienna, what else could Budapest have to offer?

It turns out, a lot. Budapest has become my favorite city, and the only one that I would like to turn into an extended stay on a future trip. Here’s why:

Budapest has it all. Art, music, architecture, history, local and international cuisine, handicrafts, and traditional culture all wrapped up in a vibrancy and with prices that are a Savvy Seniors dream.

Budapest stands back with a wink and says, “Ok, you have seen castles but check this out. You like art? What about an entire Frida Kahlo exhibit straight from the museum in Mexico? Want music? Try a symphony orchestra, in an enchanted castle setting. Tired? A dip in a natural hot mineral bath would hit the spot.”

And then to add the “piece de resistance” Budapest wraps this up in a metro system that is bar none for efficiency, and comfort.

(I am covering the Szecheny Baths and the Vajdahunyad Castle in other posts, so please check those out, as well) For right now, let’s take a stroll around the streets of Budapest.

Pics of our first day in Budapest, including a few of the lovely Urania theater:

Budapest night scapes:

Budapest, a few of the rest:

The Gellert side of town. The exquisite Gellert Baths and Gellert mountain. The guide books talk about Gellert “Hill” like it is a walk in the park. Don’t believe them. Yvonne and I made the grueling trek nearly to the top but the last hundred yards or so were torture. This is not a hike for the elderly or those not in good physical shape. Check out the pics and our satisfied smiles at the top. You can see the tower at the top of some of the other pics on the right side:

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You’re Never Too Old To Stay in a Hostel–Castle Rock Hostel

Say the word “hostel” and most people see a mental picture of teenagers sleeping in bunk beds, 12 to a room. Most people don’t realize that Hostels today often cater to an older traveler. Private rooms, free breakfast, reasonable prices, unique decor and other activities make hostels an attractive option for seniors traveling on a budget. Make no mistake, hostels are not the Radison but the quirky differences can add to the charm of a hostel stay. The Castle Rock Hostel, in Edinburgh, Scotland was right across the street from Edinburgh Castle. It’s a good example of what I am talking about. Our room was up a lot of steps and was not much bigger than our closet at home. But take a look at these pictues and I think you will see why we LOVED our stay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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US$$$ Translate To Expensive In Norway

Over the last few years we have spent very little time in Norway.  We usually will spend a day or two, while in transit to another country. It’s not because we don’t want to.  We love Norway! Unfortunately, we can’t afford to. I have considered staying longer for the sake of weight loss but i have no willpower.  That would be a disaster. I would be broke and overweight.

The meal you see in my photo above cost a mere $54.83. Something to consider if traveling to Norway.

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Planning For Extended Travel Abroad

When we first shared with our friends our plans to travel for six months, they were amazed and bewildered. “How do you begin to plan out a trip of this length?” “How much time goes into the preparation?” “It’s nice to have that kind of money”
Its really not that complicated and no we dont have “that kind of money”.

It all begins with the following:

1. List of countries to visit
2. 6 month Climate chart
3. USD exchange rate

First Steps To Follow

Continue reading “Planning For Extended Travel Abroad”

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Cruising Transatlantic The Economical Way

We have just completed our second transatlantic cruise and we are still hooked!  We love it!  We set sail on April 15th for our 13 day cruise on the Celebrity Silhouette.   Along the way we stopped in Bermuda, The Azores and Lisbon, arriving in Southhampton, England.  Sailing transatlantic to  Europe can be economical for the savvy traveler. The cruise lines are repositioning their ships. They are eager to offer reduced fare bookings on these routes.

Important Fare Saver

The key thing to remember, is not to pay your fare in full until the final due date.  Paying your fare in full before the final payment date will exclude you from fare price reductions. These reductions can only be applied if a balance remains open on your booking. We have a fabulous cruise agent, Darlene Foti at American Discount Cruises. We highly recommend her.

October 2018 Transatlantic Sailing on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas

We are booked on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas for our return back home in October. We are super excited about the return. We will be traveling with our two close friends, Maria and Cesar.  If any of our other friends are reading this article,  you are all welcome.  More to come….