A real autumn temptation
Tour "Autumn temptation" TO "Accord-tour"
10/09/2009 -18/10/2009
Day 1. Group gathering at 8-00, departure from Lviv at 8-30. Group leader Orest Yarosh.
Bus "Neoplan". Drivers: two young Ukrainian guys (I don't remember their names).
Group of 34 people. The weather is cool but sunny.
I traveled with my adult daughter, and on the bus we were joined by a girl the same age as my daughter. She was alone on tour.
At 10 o'clock stop for breakfast in the Carpathians at the motel "Okay". By 12 o'clock we arrived in Chop at the border. We passed the border quite quickly, at about 14-45 we went to Tokai for a tasting.
At 16-30 we were already sitting in the basement in anticipation of the upcoming action. The wine is excellent, the goulash and cheese balls are delicious. Cheerful and well-fed at 17-40 bought Tokay wine and went to Budapest to settle.
We arrived in Budapest at about 21:00 at the Arena 4* hotel. The room is excellent, spacious and comfortable, the bathroom has a hairdryer. Took a shower, drank tea and rest.
We didn’t go to the city, because we went on a tour straight from the train, and it was necessary to restore vital energy. In addition, it was cold on the train and I began to cough in earnest, so I took medical procedures in the form of hot tea with Tokay wine.
Day 2. It has been raining since morning. So we didn't get to go for a walk before breakfast. The breakfast is rich and tasty. Anyone who has stayed at the Arena knows what great breakfasts there are. Check-out from the hotel, and at 9-00 departure for a survey. The guide is excellent, our former compatriot Natalia has been living in Budapest for 18 years. We immediately went to the Buda side, walked around all the beauties there, then returned to Pest, and ended the tour on the Heroes' Square. The biggest impression I got from visiting the basilica was just in time for a concert of organ music. On the Heroes' Square, the Hungarian gypsies just on that day staged a protest rally against the government. The rally was unique, with gypsy songs and dances.
They didn't bother us. Everyone found a place in the square. Free time 4 hours. My daughter and I decided to go to the zoo. It's next to Heroes Square. The rain had already ended by this time and we spent all our free time at the zoo with great pleasure. We really liked the zoo.
Some of the group went to the Szé chenyi baths, but I did not risk it with my cough. At 17-00 departure from Budapest, on the way we stopped at Tesco, bought something for dinner, and went for the night to Keszthely, hotel "Kristaly" 3 *. The room is spacious, sleeping three for two. Breakfast is modest after the Arena. There was a hairdryer in the room.
Day 3. After breakfast departure at 8-30. We had to drive through all of Croatia to Opatija.
It rained all the way, but the drivers were great, they didn’t get lost anywhere. On the border with Croatia they checked seriously, they passed 1 person through the frame. But things from the trunk did not get. We arrived in Opatija around 15:00. Quick check-in at the Adriatic 3* hotel.
My first photo in the room was taken at 15-04. The room is small, but cozy and clean, everything was in the bathroom, shampoo, soap, hair dryer. The hotel has a wonderful wellness center, it is included in the price. We left our things in the room and quickly went to the sauna and jacuzzi to treat my cough. Three hours of excellent recovery; there in the recreation area there was a cooler with boiling water and herbal teas, and a basket of apples, so I walked in a circle: jacuzzi-sauna-tea and apples. I did not venture into the pool because of a cough, as the water seemed rather cool to me. The girls were swimming in the pool.
At 19-00 we have dinner in a restaurant, also included in the price. Buffet, the choice is rich, but drinks for dinner are paid. We come for dinner, and they have a free tasting of "rakia" that evening. At the entrance to the hall there is a table, and on it are glasses of brandy of all colors: plum, cherry, apple, honey, plain. Well, just what we need after the sauna!
Opatija reminded me a little of Yalta, but there are no such beautiful magnolias and such a promenade in Yalta.
The sea in October was still warm, they said that it was 21 degrees, and part of the group went swimming in the evening after the excursion. But the air was already 12-14 degrees. So after bathing it was necessary to dress immediately. For me, 21 gr. it's already cold. I love the warm sea, not lower than 24 gr. so I didn't even think about swimming. In the evening, again, a wonderful dinner, but without tasting. After dinner, the girls went for a walk in the evening Opatija, and I worked up during the day and stayed at the hotel to rest. There is where to relax, some people went to the local casino, and I just sat on the terrace, admired the Kvarner Bay.
Day 5. Excellent breakfast and departure for a tour of the Istrian peninsula. We have to visit 3 glorious cities on the peninsula: Pula, Roven and Porec. The guide Tatyana, a middle-aged woman, but conducted the tour well, actively.
Each city has its own face, its own highlights: in Pula, the Roman amphitheater has been preserved. In our time, grandiose concerts are held in it. In Rovinj there is a very beautiful basilica at the highest point of the city, you have to go up a narrow steep street to get there. The street itself is also old and beautiful. After Rovinj, we stopped for lunch in Liman at a seafood restaurant. I took seafood lasagna and beer, and the girls took a whole set of natural seafood, although it turned out that there are more shells than food.
Porec was the last one on the tour, and the smallest, but so cozy, clean and smart. On the embankment we bought roasted chestnuts, ate with pleasure.
After it, we returned to Opatija and had time for dinner, where we dined with great pleasure on sea fish with french fries. After dinner, we still managed to visit the pool and sauna, with herbal teas. And so I cured my cough.
Thus ended our last day in Opatija.
Day 6. Excellent breakfast again and it is with great regret that we leave this wonderful hotel "Adriatic" in Opatija. Departure at 8-00. Ahead we again move the Croatian border to the Schengen zone, and the direction to Venice. The border was again passed successfully through the frame one person at a time. Through Slovenia we go to Italy. At about 13-00 we board a boat in Mestre and sail to Venice.
Near the pier we are met by a local guide - a woman. The tour from St. Mark's Square to Rinalto Bridge and back lasted 2 hours. The tour is interesting, but there are a lot of people, so you had to watch all the time so as not to get lost in the crowd. Luckily, the weather was dry and warm and there was no tide, so after the tour my girls floated down the canals on a gondola, and I stayed on the square to listen to a concert of symphonic music by a local orchestra. Venice left me with the impression of Cinderella at the ball.
Carnival all year round. And Venice itself is shabby and unkempt, like Cinderella after the ball. And the stalls on St. Mark's Square with the Chinese were just annoying, because because of them it was impossible to take normal photos, they always came across in the foreground. But, since this is a reality that we cannot influence, we had to contrive.
An hour later my girls returned and we went to eat real local pizza. I will say right away that I did not like it, it is too dry and hard. After lunch, we had free time until 19:00, walked around the shops, bought souvenirs. In all cities where I visit, I buy books and maps in Russian. So now I have a wonderful book about Venice with a city plan and 235 photographs. Time flew by quickly, at the appointed time everyone was on the pier near the boat. And again on the road.
On the way, when we stopped at a gas station, I bought a bottle of real Italian Chianti wine in a supermarket. Ahead of us is a transit hotel in Austria in the city of Villach. Hotel «Ebner 4*». We arrived late at 24:00. The rooms are spacious, in our room there were two large sofas in addition to 2 beds. But I didn’t have enough hot water, I had to wait another hour for the boiler to heat up again. At 2 am, I finally fell asleep.
Day 7. Breakfast is very modest, after the "Adriatic" none at all. Departure at 9-00 in the direction of Vienna. In the morning we saw the first signs of winter. There was frost in the air, and the grass was covered with frost. We drove to Vienna through beautiful terrain through the mountains along overpasses and tunnels. We saw mountain peaks with snow. We arrived in Vienna at 2:30 pm. Vienna met us with a little rain, so the tour was short from the monument to Maria Theresa, through the Hofburg to the Rosenberger cafe. There we had a delicious lunch, and until 19 o'clock we had free time.
In a cafe, when buying a cup of Kaiser-melange coffee, they gave a branded cup as a souvenir. I did not refuse the souvenir. Again a little shopping, buying Sacher coffee as a souvenir.
At 7 pm everyone was on the bus. We are going to Hungary for an overnight stay in the city of Mosonmagyarovar. This is such a long title. Hotel «Panorama 3*». Very beautiful hotel with good repair and new furniture, in the spirit of an old palace. We arrived at the hotel at 22:00. Our room again has three beds for two. The bathroom has everything, hot water too. With bliss I take a shower and bainki.
Day 8. Breakfast is decent, not like in Austria. Very tasty bread, white and fluffy, there was enough slices for everyone. Hot coffee with cream. Departure at 8-30, so we have time to take pictures on the amazing sofas in the lobby with a black child, and on the street against the backdrop of the hotel.
Today we have a day of relaxation at the end of the tour; visiting the thermal baths in Egerszalok.
We prepared for this event in advance, took swimsuits and towels in separate packages. We went to the baths at 13-30 and were two hours. For 2 hours 10 euros. The water temperature in different pools is different, from 22 to 38 degrees. There are indoor and outdoor pools. I didn’t go outside, but I visited all the indoor warm pools. I really liked the baths, it’s a pity that we didn’t spend much time there.
After the baths, transfer to the city of Eger, and a short tour of it. The town is small, but interesting for its fortress and basilica. Then Orest organized an excellent dinner for those who wished, and after dinner everyone went for a tasting of Eger wines. The tasting was very interesting, with various competitions and prizes. I liked Eger wines even more than Tokay ones. After the tasting, we bought a flask of wonderful red sweet wine and went home.
Baths, dinner, tasting - a real relaxation! We reached the border quickly, the whole bus was sleeping, the border guards woke up
. We didn't stay very long, two hours and we were at home. In Chop we made a sanitary stop at a gas station and drove to Lviv. And then a surprise: snow fell in the Carpathians! But the road is already cleared, the drivers are great and we are at about 6-30 we are already at the train station in Lviv!
Now, after six months have passed, I see what a wonderful tour we have done!
Unique Croatia, wonderful cities with excellent excursions, two wine tastings, baths. There was everything in this tour, both for the mind, and for the heart, and for the soul, and for the body.
The head of the group, Orest Yarosh, was also on top, everything was on time according to the schedule. There was enough information, and moreover, on the subject of the tour. Upon arrival, there was a well-deserved applause for everyone, both the drivers and the leader of the group.
