DAY 19 (MAY 20-SUN) BUDAPEST–TOUR DAY

breakfast w/Jean along w/80 other people–highest #of people yet.  Jean has signed up for bike tour at 10:00–She has voucher but we don’t–said we want to do everything Jean does.  Still have our bikes-go out at 10:00–Guy gives us cheaper price than Jean.  Follow guy across bridge to St. Stephen’s Basilica on the Pest side-Mathias (from Transylvania) becomes our bike guide because he also speaks Dutch & we have a Dutch couple in their 70’s going w/us.  Go to Freedom Square, US Embassy (take picture w/R. Reagan–bike history tour lasts until 2:30 since he has to say everything twice–did learn that only 1 Russian Statue exists from Communist days because 1 Hungarian statue in Russia.  Also holes are cut in the middle of Hungarian flags where Russian symbol was & buildings constructed during that time are called dinosaur Architecture.  Universaties are free–must qualify.  This was Mathias 1st English tour–didn’t have anyone after us so we invited him to lunch.  Found out he wanted to be minister but couldn’t because he was gay.  Swam 3 times a week, works out but smokes as do so many people–incredible # of young people who smoke.  I want to go back & look at Basilica–see they are going to have concert in church at 8:00.  Now follow Jean back across bridge (bike/pedestrian lanes) up to Castle Hill–count 13 tour buses up here–besides castle & church there is a whole town up here.  Getting late–we go back to hotel & take taxi to concert–Jean does her own thing.  Never have been in such a beautiful setting for classical concert.  5 piece orchester comes out, no introduction, starts playing, vocalist sings 3 songs-9:00 it’s over w/no one saying anything.  Leave church-young people sitting on steps smoking & drinking.  Go to Subway for dinner-city is alive w/people, bikes, cars & lights–looks like Christmas.  Go over green bridge-cruise ships lined up & down Danube-some seem as long as a football field.  Walk takes us about 1 hr back to hotel–feel completely safe.  another wonderful day.