The final stops from our river cruise were in Hungary.

We traveled into the Puszta countryside to the Bakidpuszta Horse Farm.

Here, we watched traditional Hungarian cowboys and their highly trained horses put on a lively demonstration. It was an amazing show of skill and horsemanship.

In Kalocsa, we visited the Cathedral of the Assumption and were treated to an organ recital.

Our final cruise stop was Budapest. It rained off-and-on for two days, but we were still excited to revisit the beautiful city.

Between rainstorms we walked paths up to the Citadella, admired the Statue of Liberty (of Budapest) and enjoyed sweeping views of the city.

“Buda” lies on one side of the Danube, and ”Pest” on the other.

We also toured the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Lunch at the Food Hall included a delicious “goulash sampler” and hilarious interactions with local musicians. To escape the noise we went outside, but then it started to rain. To escape the rain, we found a tiny cafe with a big umbrella and lemoncello spritzes!

Another rainy afternoon we toured Etyek, a small village about 30km from Budapest. The wines, cheeses and meats produced here supply not only the village shops, but many of the best restaurants in Budapest.

It was a delightful day, in spite of the rain. We met friendly and talented artisans who shared the most incredible spirits, cheeses, meats and wines.

It was one of our all-time favorite tours!

Riverboat cruises are always fun, and with this trip we saw new countries, had many new experiences, and enjoyed our fellow travelers and our truly outrageous activities director! 

We are now off the boat, but will continue our travels by car. Stay tuned!