It is already day 8 of our trip. The weather is again warm and sunny. After a large breakfast we are off to the Centre of Budapest. Jansci had to work during the night from 10 pm to 6 am but he is ready and willing to go downtown with us. I drive because we have air-conditioning and I want the experience. Jancsi directs us to the large Csarnok not far from the Elizabeth Bridge. We start off walking down Vatci Utca the large pedestrian street that is very popular with tourists. Here we find some souvenirs at a decent price. We stopped for cappuccino at an outdoor cafe while Jansci goes back to the car to put more money on the ticket for parking. They watch this very closely in Pest as we have seen.

After Vatci Utca we head into the large indoor market or csarnak. It is a hive of activity, lots of people and tourists buying anything from diamond rings to carrots or desserts. We only buy dessert...a very nice cherry retes or strudel.
Then we move our car to near St. Istvan Basilica. We also visit a fountain that you can walk through... it stops just as you step into it. Very interesting. It is noon so we turn down a street to go to St. Stephen's Basilica. It is modelled on Rome but smaller. It is free to get in and you can go up the main aisle to the altar. The dome is breathe-taking. We did not go around the apse to see the hand of St. Stephen. I have seen it before. It is his right hand in the thumb's up position. It is quite black and dried out...for 1100 year's old that is not bad. It will cost you to see it. They turn on a light for several seconds when you pay... at least that is what they did 4 years ago.

Off for a quick beer (not for me since I drive). We go to an outdoor cafe which is cooled by two fans with a water spray.

We go back into the noon traffic. The streets are torn up because of METRO4 the new underground, so traffic moves very slowly. Driving a stick shift in this type of traffic can be painful, but I did not have any problems since I had at least 1 navigator.

We get back to the house and after a quick lunch and fruit salad with cream dressing we are off to get Nancy some new cooler cloths for Italy. While we are at it, I buy a cheap mouse for the computer... it gives me 1 hour's joy then dies. Nancy buys two dresses and then a pair of open toed shoes for better comfort.

It has been decided that we will eat outside of town in a nice etterem (restaurant). Jancsi and Gyorgyi have not been there before so they use the GPS to go there. Not necessary and time-consuming. It is about then that a huge rain storm hits the downtown and then heads our way. Jansci goes back to the house (not far)to put the awning up. The rain teems down and we are forced inside...which is a little cooler anyway.

Gyuri and Baby arrive and we order. After a quick phone call to Peter, we learn that Ibi and Feri are also coming, along with Peter's girl friend Amie.They both speak English.

It was a very good night with lots of "kibitzing"(kidding around).The food was excellent. Nancy and I had the pork steak covered with onions. We also shared a wonderful uborka (cucumber) salad. It was a wonderful night. Who knows when we will see each other again. Peter told me that this was the same restaurant that they took Michael to 2 years previously. It was named something like "the Thirsty Monk".

It was getting late so we went back to the house. On the way Jancsi got gas; it is about 350 HUF per litre... about $1.75 CAD per litre. So you think $1.04 per litre is bad. Diesel is only a little better at about 325 HF per litre.