After I last blogged about the trip (which was Friday the 20th aka day 2 in Budapest) Mom and I had just gotten back from the national holiday celebrations and decided to relax after all that heat and getting mild sunburns (which turned into a sun rash). We went out exploring a little in the early evening around the castle district when the crowds weren’t as thick and the heat wasn’t so oppressive.

This is where I’m going to show my American Water Buffalo nature (thank you for that, Dave Berry Does Japan) and ask: is personal space a really American concept? I think I, more than other people I know, really don’t like it when strangers touch or brush up against me. I think, with the heat, it really got to me that day… plus I’m sure I was still really, really jetlagged.

Anyway, onto the next day, day three: Budapest (again)! This day we met up with people from the river cruise to do some exploration of the city outside of the castle district. The planned activities? A tour of the large market (Grand Market Hall – Nagyvasarcsarnok) and an art nouveau museum.

The market was full of lots of produce and meat stands on the main level which, in certain parts, made it smell amazing.

Since Mom and I aren’t huge shoppers we decided to make the most of our hour and a half free time and went and wandered around the street to get a few pictures.

And stopped by Burger King to get a Coca Cola Light.

Next we stopped by the Art Nouveau museum.

Then stopped at a charming cafe for some coffee and dessert. Afterwards we were taken back with the group to the hotel where we were separated and those of us just starting our journey were whisked away to the boat to get our cabins and learn of our new home for the next eight days.

We were given a few to get situated (and giving me an extra awesome view from our window of a creepy shirtless man) we heard over the loud speaker that there was going to be some sort of tour. Now, Mom heard it was going to be a tour of the boat while I heard we would be going outside to explore somewhere close by. Naturally, being the good daughter that I am, I decided to listen to my Mom and not lead the way (thus hoping we wouldn’t run into hobos as is my habit) and found that ultimately I had heard right and we were going off the ship. I didn’t, of course, take my camera since I thought we were just looking at the boat.

We explored this long avenue that was full of lots of shops and basically where the young people come to hang out. The heat was oppressive at that point so Mom and myself, along with a few others, followed the tour guide back to the boat where we proceeded to bask in the fine appreciation of man-made AC.

Later in the evening we had a meeting in the ships lounge to meet our tour director and hear safety instructions before a grand meal and enjoyment all around.

After a long day full of many activities Mom and I were very happy to go back to our cabin and fall asleep in our beds.

… unlike the cabbie we saw earlier resting on the job:

I bet he wishes he was in bed, too.