Wednesday 2 August 2017
Usually the last day of any tour can be a little wasted as time is spent waiting for collection and return to airport and home. Today is very different as nearly all of the participants book an extra organised trip to visit the famous Childrens’ Railway and the cog railway. I had looked at attempting to cover these on our own – so was relieved when the additional tour was organised and the cost was about £20 each.
Normally there is tram route from the City out to the terminus at Huvosvolgy. As our coach gets closer to the destination we can see that the line is completely closed at present and has been replaced by buses. Wholesale modernisation by the look of it. And our coach has to detour around various road works.
The Childrens’ Railway provides children with an education in the ways of the world as well as being a reward for good performance in school. They learn jobs on the railway and interaction with the passengers – checking tickets, saluting our departures from each station and signalling and related matters. For the humble passenger the train travels through some very attractive countryside – although getting decent pictures seems to have escaped me today!
If there is time available there are various activities which can be accessed from the stations along the lines – a zip wire and various walks in the woodlands. We however are simply doing the journey in one direction.
At the destination it is a very short walk to the terminus of the Cog Wheel Railway. The current cog line dates from 1973 when it was completely renewed but the line first opened in 1874, merely 5 years after the Washington Cog Railway we visited last year. Again we are taking a single journey down the line – which passes through an expensive residential area back towards the City Centre.
The photographs are here.
We had identified another restaurant within walking distance of the hotel – so once back we walk there. Again it is very hot (it had been cooler in the hills). To our disappointment it seems the restaurant is closed. We walk round in a bit of a circle but the only place we can find open is the one we used on the first night – so it is I think the only time on this holiday that we have eaten in the same place twice.
Once lunch is finished we wander back to the hotel and enjoy the air conditioning until it is time to return home.
| Journey | Distance |
|---|---|
| London - Berlin | 579 |
| Berlin - Prague | 175 |
| Prague - Vienna | 157 |
| Vienna - Budapest | 133 |
| Budapest - London | 926 |
| Total | 1970 |
So including the coach and river trips this looks like a total of 2000 miles. I am pleased to report that once we were back Jackie’s sciatica did eventually clear up – but it was a long slow process.
In November / December we are heading to South America for Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Watch this space.