DAY 16 (5/17-THURS) GYOR TO KOMARNO, SLAVAKIA  (9:30-7:00)

Didn’t sleep well-used menthol spray on pillow & inhaler & deep breathing–will take sleeping pills tonight.  Eat breakfast-see Jean leaving.  Cold & very windy again–see Jean in square talking to couple on bikes–he has a GPS & Jean is going to follow them out of town because it is very tricky. Go into town to visit St. Peters–oldest church in Hungary–beautiful–only one in church.  Leave & buy 3 post cards–actually say Hungary on them–go to PO to buy stamps.  Big ordeal-lots of people–man helps me pick a #–stays w/me (15 min) to be sure I get stamps.  Armand waiting outside–very patient.  Go started–many wrong turns & asking for help–people very nice–12:30 when finally got out of town.  No bike paths today–Strong cross wind–am more observant & positive about Hungary.  Countryside is mainly agricultural–could be IA without the corn)–homes are nice & well cared for–seems like every home has flowers–very little litter along rd.  Main stop is ARCHABBEY of PANNONHALMA–almost have heart attack biking us hill to get there.  We’re in luck for tour-film in Eng starts at !:00-A & I are the only ones there.  After film lady comes to take us another big hill to Abbey–1002 King St.Stephen gave land to Monks for Monastery.  It’s still a working monastery w/40 Monks living here–also a boarding school for about 300 boys age 14-18 & considered one of the best schools in Hungary.  Saw the library w/over 400,000 books as monks are required to read every day.  Back on rd at 3:00-stop at abc/coop for snacks-get coke, Lays potato chips, Twix, & cookies–need energy biking hills & against wind.  We had to stop & ask for help many times today–Hungarian people were always gracious whether they spoke English or not.  Twice we were stopped looking at maps–a truck driver on the other side of the rode (stopped traffic behind him) & tried to help us & another man (gog in opposite direction) actually stopped, got out of his car, crossed over to tell us easiest way to bike into destinaton town. Matt was last person to help–was on bike-HS age-spoke perfect Eng-talked to A for awhile-said he wanted to go work in Phoenix for a yr-had friend living there. We had to cross bridge into Slavakia tonight.  Drivers–courteous & gave us plenty of room–no biking shoulder today.  Cross bridge into town–Armand is way in front of me–car pulls in front of my cross walk–try to stop-am going to hit his Mercedes-put on brakes-lose balance-fall off my bike–am 5 min from the hotel!!!!!  We have biked on busy rds, 3 miles of gravel rd, up steep hills, over curbs, pot hole rds–& I fall right before the hotel.  Armand fell off his bike yesterday at place we saw Jean–thought sign said do not enter–tried to stop-lost balance & fell off bike–scrapped his leg.  Jean has not fallen off her bike.  Get to hotel-Jean sees us from her window–comes out-story must be good–she was in at 3:00-it’s now 6:30.  Love our room at HOTEL BOW GARDEN.  Also remodeled–love the bath room even if there is no tub.  Room has most character so far & a bed w/head board.  Eat dinner here–very different from last night–has 2 lane bowling alley (2 guys are bowling).  Order BIG FAT HAMBURGER for dinner–Hamburger like I’ve never seen–beside the hamburger, lettuce, tomato, onions, lettuce–there is FRIED EGG, PICKELS, CHEESE, HAM & French fries.  Never will order this again or the hamburger won’t be the only thing big & fat. 1st place to have ice. Wanted to bowl but it’s too late.  My new favorite place-largest Samsung flat screen TV-A   watching tennis-I do blog.

DAY 15 (MAY 16-WED) BRATISLAVA TO GYOR, HUNGARY  67 MILES  9:30-4:00

Put on shorts–opened the window-rude shock–very windy & turned cold over night.  Today is going to be the longest day-67 miles–were given a train voucher for us & bikes if we didn’t want to bike.  Eat breakfast (now voted #1-cooked omelets & waffles besides all the other stuff).  It’s 8:45 & Jean & other bikers gone–Jean has already told us she is doing different route-shorter but has gravel.  I wanted to see castle, Jewish Museum & buy souvenirs–too cold–start biking.  This bike company produces it’s own maps w/several routes each day–main route takes us inland, through small towns-away from Danube.  Very non-descript again today–fantastic 20-25 mph wind at our back for most of day–if we were going into wind I’d be tempted to take train. Desperate for pictures–see bale of hay w/eyes, bird, gas station, run down border crossing into Hungary –then stop at biggest building we’ve seen.  Look up & see Jean coming to same building (1:30)-again started at different times, different routes & here we are–stay togther for about 15 min.  I just want to get to hotel–stop at ATM to get money-Hungary doesn’t use Eu-rate of exchange is 294 forts=-1 Eu=$1.33.  Get 50,000 F.  Homes start to look nicer closer to town–Gyor is big town & directions not good–ask several people before we find Ibis Hotel.  I’m tired-Armand takes clothes to wash while I rest.  Comes back in 45 min-girl at desk says she will put them in hotel machine.  Washer & Dryer is the same machine-wash will take 1 hr & dryer 4 hrs!!!!  Go to restaurant she recommended–have our best meal-take pictures.  Very upscale–we are only customers–playing my mother’s kind of music from the 30’s & 40’s–Doris Day & jazz-very nice.  High pt of day–have fillet Mignon, princess potatoes, vegetables, 2 cokes–Armand has 2 waters, mushroom soup, pasta, salad & share chocolate cake for dessert–COST IS 7,500 F or $25–absolute best meal yet at unbelievable price & service.  Still windy & in low 40’s–feels like winter. Armand watching golf on TV.

DAY 15 (MAY 16-WED) BRATISLAVA TO GYOR, HUNGARY  67 MILES  9:30-4:00

Put on shorts–opened the window-rude shock–very windy & turned cold over night.  Today is going to be the longest day-67 miles–were given a train voucher for us & bikes if we didn’t want to bike.  Eat breakfast (now voted #1-cooked omelets & waffles besides all the other stuff).  It’s 8:45 & Jean & other bikers gone–Jean has already told us she is doing different route-shorter but has gravel.  I wanted to see castle, Jewish Museum & buy souvenirs–too cold–start biking.  This bike company produces it’s own maps w/several routes each day–main route takes us inland, through small towns-away from Danube.  Very non-descript again today–fantastic 20-25 mph wind at our back for most of day–if we were going into wind I’d be tempted to take train. Desperate for pictures–see bale of hay w/eyes, bird, gas station, run down border crossing into Hungary –then stop at biggest building we’ve seen.  Look up & see Jean coming to same building (1:30)-again started at different times, different routes & here we are–stay togther for about 15 min.  I just want to get to hotel–stop at ATM to get money-Hungary doesn’t use Eu-rate of exchange is 294 forts=-1 Eu=$1.33.  Get 50,000 F.  Homes start to look nicer closer to town–Gyor is big town & directions not good–ask several people before we find Ibis Hotel.  I’m tired-Armand takes clothes to wash while I rest.  Comes back in 45 min-girl at desk says she will put them in hotel machine.  Washer & Dryer is the same machine-wash will take 1 hr & dryer 4 hrs!!!!  Go to restaurant she recommended–have our best meal-take pictures.  Very upscale–we are only customers.  High pt of day–have fillet Mignon, princess potatoes, vegetables, 2 cokes–Armand has 2 waters, mushroom soup, pasta, salad & share chocolate cake for dessert–COST IS 7,500 F or $25–absolute best meal yet at unbelievable price & service.  Still windy & in low 40’s–feels like winter. Armand watching golf on TV.