It has taken me so long to get the time needed to send a proper note, not to mention an efficient internet connection. Have been having so much trouble with that. More than one week into the trip, and I have to say it's going at a cracking pace. The days are just flying by. Back to the beginning:

I must set the scene by saying that today is our 9th utterly perfect day - weather wise. Until today we had not seen a cloud of any kind. Today, there are a few fluffy whites in the sky.

Our trip over was trouble free and as is always the case, it was that last little leg from Frankfurt to Prague which seemed to "do us in" in terms of tiredness. Prague was delightful, and it was lovely to visit again. Ever so crowded though and our guide reminded us that there would be 8-10 times as many tourists in town during "the season" - the first of many reminders along the way to avoid travel to Europe before the end of September, if at all possible. It's busy enough now!!! The Charles Bridge is half closed for extensive renovation, which would be a disappointment for those traveling for a long awaited first and only time. Must preparation going for last week's visit by the Pope.

Some of us went to a classical concert in the Municipal House - very much the thing to do in Prague, jet-lag notwithstanding!!

We then travelled by road through the lovely countryside (by way of Cesky Budjovice - the original home of Budweiser beer, and where we enjoyed a fantastic lunch) to Cesky Krumlov where we were lucky to stay overnight, rather than just visit for a day which is usually the case for visitors. A storybook town, exquisitely positioned on a bend on the river, and dominated by a massive castle. We all loved our stay there very much. Had a fantastic dinner in a Catacombs Restaurant - underground as the name suggests, and the site of an old jail.  Food was excellent (fresh trout!). Today we also saw the fantastic Hluboka Castle which I thought was just beautiful and had it high on my list of most wonderful buildings ever, until I got to the Parliament in Budapest - see below.

A relatively long day next as we journeyed through the remainder of the Czech Republic, into Austria, and skirting Vienna, through some glorious Hungarian countryside to our next home, for two nights - Vesprem. A very late lunch en route at Sopron, at a restaurant right on the ancient town square. Our hotel was superb and we all enjoyed the opportunity to stay 2 nights. Dinners were in house - one relatively casual, the other formal (white gloves/silver service). Waiters were young, handsome, flirty Hungarians, and the women at least enjoyed their attention very much. On the first night, we discovered a Rotary meeting next door, which Ray Landgren, John Green and I promptly gate-crashed. Much consternation among the local gentlemen when they discovered that not only am I a lady member of our club but its President - no women members in these parts it seems!! Still, they made us very welcome.

While in Vesprem we visited nearby Herend home of the lovely porcelain, which I love. Having coveted Visnja's pig for many years, it was super to visit, and to add a very very tiny cat to my small frog which Mum bought last year. Lunch was out of town at a village overlooking Lake Balaton (itself quite lovely), and we enjoyed a full on tourist meal with gypsy music - the Hungarian equivalent of a wool-shed dance however we loved it, especially the lemon ricotta cheesecake dessert, the memory of which I doubt will ever leave my taste buds!

From Vesprem it was a relatively short drive (120 kms) to Budapest where we had a nice tour before lunch at the old and famous Gundel Restaurant, and a walk in the Castle District where our hotel (the Hilton) was located. We had a superb view across the Danube to the Pest side of town, and as with all our hotels, the guests were delighted with their rooms. Next morning we took in the sights not covered the day before, and by the time we boarded our ship late afternoon, we felt "the full bottle" on Budapest, and had thoroughly loved every minute of our time there. We overnighted on the ship, and of course, we still had another - basically free day yesterday. I had to get up at 5.00am to do the 3AW segment, and courtesy of a new phone and not recognising "the noises", mistook a text message for the alarm and was up, dressed and in reception before I realized it was only 3.15am!!. Had a lazy morning and then spent the afternoon in Szentendre, a delightful little villa!

Then last evening we sailed from Budapest to Bratislava where we have spent today - yet another of what I believe will be many utterly gorgeous places along the rivers. Wondering if there is anywhere with more cafes and restaurants?

Loving the ship - absolutely nothing not to like. Our crew are fantastic, the food is amazing - as with all cruises, somewhat plentiful so restraint required. So many ships on the river - dozens of them. Again, I wonder often what it must be like in the season.

After only one and a bit days I can see what all the fuss is about over river cruising - everyone should do this, its wonderful.