Train to and First Evening in Budapest

We were explaining to a couple from Sydney that it's sometimes hard to tell which end of the train you carriage is on when our train rolls into the station and the four of us are sent scurrying to the far end of the train; getting there too late to cop luggage space. A strong young man helps CJ get our two

big boys into the overhead.  It will be a well built train overhead that successfully carries them all the way to Vienna.

 

Railjet was supposed to be high speed; NOT!  It makes numerous stops and rarely tops 60mph.  It is not as comfortable as the AVE or TGV but rail travel is still comfortable and enjoyable.  We split a tasty pasta dish on the run to Vienna.

In Vienna we change trains and platforms for the Railjet to Budapest.  This time we find an information board which shows the precise location where our car stops on the platform.  We're first on and get the good luggage space.

Keleti Station is Budapest is a dump.  It hasn't been painted in decades and the iron work is badly rusted. Our guide later informs us that we should have gotten out one stop earlier.  Who knew?

 

The view from our room is spectacular.

 

The view from the concierge lounge and its outdoor deck even more spectacular.

Our evening is spent snacking on dinner and drinks in the lounge and enjoying the view as the sun goes down and the lights of the city come on. The white bridge locals call their Little Golden Gate.  Above on the cliffs is their Statue of Liberty monument. The next picture is of palace hill.  It is followed by stunning Mathias church. The Chain Bridge was the first bridge across the Danube in Budapest and began the conversation that resulted in the merger of Buda and Pesh.