Ugh. Just wrote this insert and then lost internet connection and lost everything I wrote. So here is round two. (Actually, lost internet connection AGAIN. So this is really round three of the journal write-up.)

We couldn't sleep so we gave up and decided to grab some breakfast and then hit the Rijksmuseum before heading to the airport. Found a great spot on the water for breakfast at Cafe de Jaren. Make note, this would be a great spot to grab a drink in the evening. Then we dashed to the Rijksmuseum to spend 20 minutes on only the second floor - Rembrandt and the Dutch Masters.

We hurried back to our hotel, threw our stuff in suitcases and then headed for the airport (via tram and train again). I do love how easy it is to get around by public transportation but I am a bit over schlepping my shit on and off trams and trains and up and down flights of stairs -- just saying....

The flight from Amsterdam to Budapest is an easy two hours and we slept the entire flight. Hopped a cab to our hotel – PestBuda Hotel perched on top of the hill on the Buda side of the Danube River.

This city is incredible! The Buda side is elegant with its historic architecture sitting on the hillside, the Buda Castle, cathedral,…. And the Pest side is flat, with beautiful buildings as well, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Parliament and several synagogues. But it also is a bit rundown as well and has a cool, edginess to it with amazing shops and restaurants, food gardens, ruins pubs and microbreweries.

We spent the evening wandering around the Jewish Quarter. Had a wonderful meal and great Hungarian wines at Bock Biztro. Our waiter, Sandro, was the bomb. Then we popped over to a nearby bar for the tailend of the Denmark vs. Croatia World Cup Soccer Match. Super exciting with a double overtime and penalty kicks resulting in a victory for Croatia. Which we are really psyched about as we will be in Croatia for their next match.