The boys have now covered more than 1500 miles and are consequently more than 60 per cent of the way through their quest. Bob has headed south and this evening is camping on the shores of Lake Balaton - Hungary's largest lake. Whilst Mark has continued to follow the Danube and has reached the national capital, Budapest.
That heat-wave that affected the UK a few days back has now reached central Europe. In practical terms, any breeze blowing across a black tarmac surface magnifies the heat so that on occasion this afternoon, temperatures above 40 degrees centigrade were being experienced. And to add salt to the wound, said road surface is becoming increasingly pot-holed as we move further east.
Mark's route took him via Estergom which with its domed Basilica is known as 'Hungary's Rome'. Hungary's first king, Stephen, was crowned here in the year 1,000. But in 1249 the Mongol invasion arrived; the Tartars in the Thirteenth Century; and the Turks were only evicted in 1683.Thereafter, some great cycling along the 'Danube Bend' before (unfortunately) having to follow the main road for much of the way into Budapest - 80 miles in total today. Approaching the capital, thousands of Hungarians were bathing in the river or adjacent swimming pool complexes, before heading home as the light began to fade.
The Basilica in Estergom - 'Hungary's Rome'
Incidentally, only we Brits and other English language speakers refer to the river as the Danube. In Germany and Austria it is called the Donau; in Slovakia and the Czech Republic as the Dunaj; and in Hungary the Duna. Apparently, such differences date back to mediaeval times and trade between the European countries.
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