Neszemley to Esztergom - London to Istanbul on a Recumbent Tandem - CycleBlaze

Neszemley to Esztergom - London to Istanbul on a Recumbent Tandem - CycleBlaze

From London to Istanbul on a Recumbent Tandem

By Barry Bartlett

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October 13, 2012

Neszemley to Esztergom

The familiar shape of a church steeple in Hungary.

Homes in a state of disrepair sit alongside well cared for homes.

A glorious fall day in Hungary on a smooth road.

An elementary school

We have long looked forward to getting to Budapest - perhaps tomorrow!

We have been seeing more thatched roofs in this area.

Esztergom's impressive Basilica. It is the largest church in Hungary reflecting Esztergom's status as Roman Catholic capital of Hungary.

As we entered, we were startled by the sound of the organist rehearsing. The sounds were profoundly stirring and resonated throughout. I found myself sitting down and looking up to the pipes of the organ - what a moment!

So much beauty in this church.

Since the 11th century, the Archbishop of Esztergom has been based here.

Franz Liszt composed his well known Gran Mass for the Consecration of the Basilica.

The main altar of Carrara marble was designed by Pietro Bonani. The altar piece is said to be the largest of its kind in th world.

We have seen many impressive churches, but the sheer scale and beauty of its interior is memorable.

The Basilica houses the largest collection of church art in Hungary.

The floors had beautiful details.

We climbed almost 400 steps to the top of the dome of the Basilica to enjoy a view of Esztergom, the Danube and surrounding countryside.

Esztergom is one of the oldest cities in Hungary.

Oh, the glorious Danube at dusk....

After riding along the Danube for so many weeks, we really appreciated seeing it from this vantage point.

Hungary is famous for its thermal baths - the modern blue structure is the Aquasziget, a large thermal spa with a number of pools, water slides and wellness treatments for adults.

We were grateful that the weather allowed us to have a good view.

On the way down...

The steps are pretty narrow - not so easy.

And down, and down...

This statue commemorates the crowning of Hungary's first king, Stephan the Holy in the year 1000.

The front of the Basilica. This picture captures the large scale of the building.

The building dwarfs Barry.

The modern thermal bath complex in Esztergom.

Interesting original art in our room at the Pension.

Our Pension in Esztergom.

Our view from the Pension, situated in the middle of the old town.

Today's ride: 36 km (22 miles)
Total: 3,359 km (2,086 miles)

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