07.50 I just woke up and stepped out of the shower. Now it is time for breakfast before I pack my final belongings.

09.23 Sitting on a bench and waiting for our train. It is a cloudy day today.

11.56 We have reached Trnava. On the train in our compartment, are some happy military guys in their youth. They start to count down each time we leave a station 10, 9, 8, 7 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. We assume they are on their way home. I have some coffee served in a glass. The sun is shining and we are on our way to our new home.

12.48 We are in room 809 at hotel Nukleon. We have a balcony and a wiev over the railway tracks. To stay here costs 343,50 koruna for us. The water in the lavatory-basin is brown, like the colour of rust.

14.15 Bench break, looking up at the Bernolak gate at the same time. It is a gate built in the town wall from the 13th century. The sun is shining, I am hungry and we have bought tickets for 148 koruna.

Trnava

14.51 Time for lunch at pizzeria History. A dark Sariš just arrived and it is time to write the postcards.

15.50 Resting on a bench by the Nikolaus cathedral. We will soon head on to see more and take some more pictures.

16.00 During our time here at the bench, The Church bells tolled. As an answer to this people begin their pilgrimage to the church Young and old, well dressed and commonly dressed.

17.15 We are for sure feeling the heat. Hard to do anything, even to think too. When will this end?

18.22 It ended with buying food and drinking a Zlaty Bažant each, it is for sure Slovakia’s best beer.

19.10 At home in the room. Time to gather strength and plan what to do next. Who knows we might even start to pack.

From our balcony in Hotel Nukleon.

21.19 After a Horden and a Zlaty Bažant plus a cup of coffee from the coffee machine down in the reception we are back in business. Time to rest and sleep.

Friday 20th of June "The walk of insanity"

07.30 Happy midsummer! Yet another morning, yet another shower, yet another yoghurt, still in Slovakia. But not for long today begins our trip to Hungary.

08.44 We are now on the train to Galanta. The journey will begin in fifteen minutes. It will be a short trip before we stop to change train.

09.35 Sitting on a bench and drinking water. We are also watching the Gallant people.

09.53 The train for Šturovo is late, but we are not panicking, so far.

11.00 On the station of Šturovo. Thinking of how to cross Donau. Shall we walk, go by train or boat. By the way, which way is the river?

11.10 No train stops in Esztergom, the town we are going to. At least no train from this station. The lady behind the counter said ”Esztergom zu fuss. The ways of crossing is now narrowed to boat or walk.

12.11 We have walked to the centre of Šturovo. A short walk of 3-4 kilometres. Our bodies are feeling it, mainly our backs and shoulders. The heat doesn’t make us any happier. It seems as if, every year we take a walk of insanity, I hope this is this year's walk.

12.32 Feeling better. Christer is looking for a place to eat and drink. It is needed.

13.01 We found a place with a large menu. The number of dishes shrunk first to four and and soon to just beverages. We are now sitting by Donau with a view over Esztergom. There might be some places to eat at behind us, the bridge over troubled water, is on our right.

13.24 In the restaurant Popeye on a boat on Donau, food ordered and now the beer is here. This will be tasty.

Peter near the river Danube in Sturovo, Slovakia.

HUNGARY

14.33 We have walked over the bridge and exchanged for some forint. Next, time to find a place to stay for the night.

14.46 All rooms booked at Penzion Plata. We carry on.

15.53 In our new home, Balogh Józsefné Fizetővendéglátás, at Tati út 9. Staying at this place owned by a nice old lady.

Peter in the room in Esztergom.

17.43 We have walked the town, bought postcards, took some photos and are now resting. Soon we will attack the cathedral hill, if God and our legs will allow it.

20.06 Took more pictures, shopped for food and had pörkölt with galushka for dinner at Arany Elefant. Before we got here, a lady asked us in German if we know about some places in town. We seems to blend in well.

21.55 Thinking of today and planing for tomorrow. Small insects are dancing around our pendant lamp

Saturday 21th of June "The break"

08.00 Here, one slept well, really well. After a shower and breakfast, I am or we are now ready to go on, towards Szolnok. Now, we hope for two things, that it won’t be too warm nor too hard to find a place to stay.

09.18 Ticket for today’s first stop, Budapest, is bought. There we will make a short stop and buy the ticket for today's last stop.

10.21 The trip goes on through a hilly landscape. Slopes covered with trees and goats on them can be seen.

11.38 On a bench, where else, outside Nyugati station in Budapest. We will stay in town for the night. It will be tough to find shelter in Szolnok and also to get a ticket to go over to the Romanian border in that town.

13.14 We just bought a day pass for the tram and metro. We have of course gone on both to get to our new home. When we travelled here last year, we had to walk parts of the trip (see July 6th 2002). We are now in a new place. It won’t be a 4th stay at Vasarhelyi. Instead, we are, at Martos. Room #8, clean, simple and cheap, 2200 forint/night.

14.15 Back at “our” pizzeria, old, faithful Batka (see July 17th 2001 and July 7th 2002).

16.30 Just took out some money from the ATM, checked for a ticket, took out some more money and paid 9240 forint for the trip into Romania.

18.38 Back home again in our small room. Getting ready for tonight’s dinner.

20.08 Outside, a small aeroplane is circling around. We can hear it dive and climb. It is time for dinner since we are a bit more rested. We feel like we need to have a late morning but know it won’t be possible tomorrow.

22.00 Home after a great dinner at restaurant Wang. Right after getting home I had a shower in cold water and in complete darkness. But I got cleaned. I am tired now but how much more tired will I be tomorrow?

Sunday 22th of June "How we became millionaires.."

05.00 The alarm clock just rang. I think I am feeling more tired, or. Phase one of the trip to Romania, now begins.

06.36 On the train, the trip here went well. Ready for Romania and the stop in Timisoara.

07.36 Moving on into a cool and nice compartment.

08.36 Just arrived in Szolnok. Arrive here today instead of yesterday.

09.36 The landscape around us is just so flat. We passed by lots of stations but can't find any on our radios.

10.36 On the move again after having our passports checked. Time to set our watches to Romanian time, one hour ahead.

Hungarian plain

11.42 We are looking at a man with a plastic bag. Is it the passport police, or not? We don’t wanna relive last year's problems (see July 14th 2002)

11.45 All is calm. We were “just” asked about our destination and how long we plan to stay. After that, it is OK to enter the country.

ROMANIA

12.16 Torn down roads and houses are passing but with happy people having picnics near small lakes.

14.00 We just got to our new home. This time hotel Cina Banatul and room #114. It costs us 1 million lei per night to stay here.

17.44 Out about town to find a place to eat. Sitting on a bench and enjoying the sunshine. Feeling great and hungry.

18.13 Sitting at a table in the restaurant Maestro and drinking a Timisoarena Lux each. Food ordered and now waiting for it. The waitress poured some beer and put aside the bottles, no self-service here.

19.23 Resting after the excellent food and beer. After that I must have mentioned to Christer that coffee wouldn’t be so bad. The waitress must have heard me cause a cup soon appeared

22.01 Just taking it cool and also bought beverage and breakfast in a small store opposite our hotel. The store has different counters for different goods. You point at what you want to buy, pay for it and move on to the next counter.