Let the journey begin! An seven day train trip called the Golden Eagle Danube Express touring the mighty and many UNESCO sites, cities, small and large, with great food, company and a amazing guide…but the train. That was something right from the 19th century.
The journey begins in Budapest— never visited before but such classic beauty and warm, inviting proud people. We didn’t know the entire city was a UNESCO site which seems odd until you taste all of its magic, of which we had a morsel.
Budapest, where we toured for 1.5 days, is like the other Central European capitals we visited (Prague, Vienna) but somehow despite the bustle, the wry smiles and humor we encountered, the very busy city, it had a lingering taste of the Soviet era, like a crumpled edge to a page: on the fringe, but still there. A truly beautiful city, with the Danube dividing the Buda side fro the Pest side.
The morning we left, they took us to a historic rail yard where one of the first of several surprises occured. These “surprises” or unannounced events, were like getting extra topping on a ice cream sundae, one of the best aspects of the entire trip was how they sprinkled these moments throughout.
This one was a send-off from a traditional Hungarian band, red uniforms, gold and silver military helmets. They stood in the cold, while the staff handed out champagne and played with gusto and pride. It was so…classy. And classic.
We will write more of a day-by-day account of this trip, it is simply to deep and rich an experience for one post.
#budapestnow
#thegoldeneagleexpressnewyearsinvienna
#luxurytrains
#luxurytraintravel
Outspoken Traveler 
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