Wednesday 30 April (day 61)

Queensday in Holland! Unfortunately no feast in Hungary. We wake up around 7 am and take a hot shower at the hostel. Admittedly, these are worthwhile showers. We have a self-made breakfast and head into town. First a long walk to Buda: up castle hill to the Hungarian National Gallery. Thousands of paintings over five floors from every era showcased. After we have our fill of paintings of old white guys and scenes of Jesus and Mary we walk back across the Danube and stroll through the shopping streets of Pest. It is springtime here and the flowers and trees are in bloom. In the afternoon we wander along the Danube past the fanciful Parliament building and through the winding streets before our early dinner at Arany Pince. We find this small cellar serving Hungarian food near the hostel. Niels has paprika chicken with dumplings, Stanley has fillet medallions with mushrooms, peas, sausage (Hungarian style) and Julia has fried goose leg with champagne cabbage and mashed potatoes. The fried goose leg is the best meal Julia has had in a long time. If you are anywhere near Budapest get to Arany Pince (1072 Budapest, Dob u. 4) near the Red Bus Hostel and get the fried goose leg! Hard to believe we only have a couple of days remaining in our trip. We could happily keep going although Eowyn has now mastered the phrases "Me do it!" and "No don't want it!" which she uses liberally so maybe it is for the best that we are ending this particular adventure soon.

Monday 28 April (day 60)

It is Orthodox Easter Monday. Anguel and kids collect us from the hotel around 10am and take us to a bakery. The entire front room of the bakery is filled with Easter cakes waiting to be collected. We have a strong coffee and smoked salmon sandwich chased by a glass of tap water – we are truly back in Europe now. Then we caravan about an hour outside of Sofia to where Anguel's family has a cottage and where we will celebrate Easter Monday with his family. We have really picked the right day to be in Sofia. The cottage is in a small village in the hills – a beautiful location. Niels and Stanley put on their overall and Anguel a flashy "Shell suit" and together they do a full oil change of the car. Work had to be conducted fast because lunch was being prepared. Lunch consists of meatballs, sausage, an amazing lamb and rice stew, salad, bread, feta cheese and a paprika sauce. Bulgarian wine and beer is flowing – the red wines are EXCELLENT. After a huge lunch we have coffee and Easter bread and something that is similar to chocolate covered baklava. After all of that we make a walk through the hills before returning to Sofia. One stop at the local super market to stock up on Bulgarian wines before going to bed.

Tuesday 29 April (day 59)

We leave Sofia early heading to Budapest 800 km away. For the border crossing into Romania we would have to go East first, so we decide to go through Serbia which is West and North and looks to be a faster route. The only consideration is that Serbia isn't part of the EU and thus not covered under our new 388 Euro insurance but we decide to chance it. The result was that we had to pay 130 Euro for insurance (valid for a month) and 30 Euro in road toll for a few hours. Scenery doesn't change much, it's just an endless road. Kilometer after kilometer we try to keep the spirits up, but Eowyn really became fed up saying: "mama…… mama……. mama…… mama…… mama…." etc. For hours, no matter what we replied in a soft understanding way or a shouting angry voice, the next word was "mama…".

At around 8 pm we arrive in Budapest trying to find a campsite, but given the busy traffic and poor maps, we decide (read "where forced") to go to a nearer hostel: Red bus. It is a quiet place conveniently located in the middle of town, but otherwise not very inspiring. But before arriving at the hostel... We drove on one of the main streets and needed to go to the left. On these streets you are only aloud to go straight or once in a while turn right. How to solve this while almost driving off the map... Stanley suggested to just make the left turn, so Niels did. Not so perfect timing, all traffic started to drive, ambulance with sirene coming to the crossing and just infront of us a police car turning on his lights... Better to make a stop at the side. Police man came to the left front door of the car, Julia being the copilot and we driving a right handed car. Police man started talking to Julia, she tried to say the right side had the driver, and the police man continued: "Madame, YOU!" but soon realized the stiringwheel... The police man asked Niels: "What do you do and where do you need to go?" He told us left turns are not aloud and gave directions to the hostel. Never met such friendly police.

Sunday 27 April (day 58)

We leave Istanbul heading to Bulgaria. The exit from Turkey is so easy we don't realize it is over until we see the Bulgaria sign. You don't even get out of the car. The Bulgaria entry is equally easy. The Immigration official (at the drive through immigration window) says "you drove from where!?" The next customs window: "you have any whiskey?" – No " you have any guns?" –No " You have any drop?" – Stanley could not answer, wondering why the officer would be interested, but Niels and Julia quickly replied: "No, we don't have drugs either". Must be the cravings that amend the hearing…"We only need to get out of the car to purchase a 'green card' – 3^rd party insurance for the EU. One month is a whopping 388 Euro!! But with no alternatives we shell out the money. We have one question on the fine print and the agent has to make some phone calls to get the answer. While we are waiting she looks at us and asks "Are you Christians?" No, it isn't possible!. We are having flashbacks to the doctor in Aswan and we stand there dumbfounded and half expecting her to launch into a Christian speech. Instead she says – today is a really big holiday (I guess explaining why it is taking time to get the answer). Really? "Which one?" we ask. She has to look it up on line because she doesn't know the English word. It turns out to be Easter Sunday. Not being diligent Christians we have no idea although we thought it was Easter in March. Maybe this is a different one? We'll have to look it up on line when we get the chance. We are heading to Sofia to meet up with Anguel, a good friend from Rwanda. He meets us on the side of the highway just before Sofia when we get there around 8pm.