Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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World Trip 2024: Day 16 – Budapest, Hungary

Saturday 20 April 2024
Highlights: Visiting the Cave Church on Gellert Hill, meeting new tour members

Today was the end of the Best of Eastern Europe Tour and the start of the Croatia and the Balkans tour. While I booked this as one tour this does mean a new Chief Experience Officer (CEO), some tour members departing (Anne, Mary, Andres, and Doug) and some new tour members joining as we start the second leg.

Before that however it was laundry day. We went to a recommended place that actually looked a bit dodgy with an old style internet cafe out the front but it turned out to be very good service. Laundry took up the entire morning during our free time.

I was still determined to see something new in Budapest so Darby and me set out to visit the Cave Church on Gellert Hill. The first modern entrance for the caves was constructed in the 1920s by a group of Pauline monks. After its consecration in 1926, it served as a chapel until 1951. During World War II it also served as a field hospital for the Nazi Germany army.

Cave Church on Gellert Hill – Budapest, Hungary

In 1951, the Soviet Union army raided and sealed off the Church. The Church’s superior, Ferenc Vezér, was condemned to death, and the remaining brothers were imprisoned for upwards of ten years. With Communism falling the cave was unsealed in 1989 and by 1992 was operating again as a church.

Cave Church on Gellert Hill – Budapest, Hungary

In the evening we met our new CEO Nadya Garbova. Our touring group of 16 for this tour will be Ivan, Richard, Kimberley, Susanna, Stephen, Carolyn, Alexa, Megan, Gerolf, Kayla, Cynthia, Theresa, Aaron, Dawn, Darby and myself.

Richard, Susanna, Stephen, Kayla, Cynthia and Dawn are the new members. However Susanna and Stephen are still stuck in Dubai due to floods.

The tour briefing highlighted the challenges and differences for the tour ahead. In particular there will be real border crossings with officials checking (so we should expect delays) and cash is king in the Balkans. Also the accommodation will likely be basic. This made me think fondly of my G Adventure Central America tours which were a lot of fun.

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