We finally left Budapest after eight days instead of the planned two, but we did leave our mark there! The Jewish quarter of Budapest is famous for it 'ruin bars'. Disused factories, warehouses, etc that have been re-purposed as bars - not tarted up just filled with crazy décor. The 'Szimpla' ruin bar in addition to all the paraphernalia it has everywhere also has a 48 spoke rear tandem wheel with a cracked hub. So, if you are in Budapest and need a 48 spoke rear hub go to the Szimpla bar. There are some tasks that you worry about performing when you have a very limited wardrobe and don't want to ruin any of it. So picture this (not a pretty sight) whilst in Budapest I had to change a chain (every 500 miles I rotate 2 chains) then I also had to swap the gears, tyre and tube from the knackered wheel to the new wheel (dirty work)- so my bike maintenance attire is boxers shorts and gloves. Secondly Donna wants her hair colouring to hide her greys! Normally she has this done at the hairdressers but not on tour. Donna in knickers, bra and socks over the sink and me stood on a garden chair (off our balcony) wearing boxers and gloves (not my oily cycling gloves though) following instructions from Donna. The new rear wheel was successfully transplanted and Donna's hair didn't turn green. Back on the road we are experiencing the same thing as have all through Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary - the locals look at us on our tandem as though we are aliens. We wave, say hello but this is mainly responded to with open mouths, staring eyes or sometimes they pretend we aren't there. Occasionally someone is over joyed to see us and Titty but we have no idea what they are shouting at us. Our second day after Budapest started badly and got worse. Breakfast was rubbish, then we had to divert as we weren't allowed on one road, then we were back on route looking for a cycle path that ran alongside the main road. We missed it and went past the 'no cycling' signs. Emergency stop then we had to U-turn on a busy road, I ran pushing Titty, and Donna led the way. Almost over and Donna hit the tarmac hard. There were floods of tears, bruised and bleeding knee - bad news for pedalling, a bruised boob - bad news for me, and a bruised shoulder / arm. We pedalled on but the cycle path didn't follow the main road but diverted us left, right and centre - more miles but it did take us along the shores of lake Balaton, very scenic. Finally, our turn off the cycle path / main road to our hotel appeared - immediately after a load of military jets, helicopters, warheads, etc. The turn shortly ended in several barriers, lots of tall fences and security - blimey this must be a military base we can't go in there. So, we continued along the cycle path. The only other roads I could see on my sat nav leading to our hotel were gated and locked!! We stopped a Hungarian cyclist going the other way, he suggested he went with us to the security office by the military planes and he would enquire. So, we followed! It turned out that it wasn't a military camp but a holiday camp which housed apartments, a hostel and the hotel we booked. The barriers were lifted and we had to report to the administration building. They gave us our key and directions to the hotel and then told us the restaurant was closed as it was a national holiday on Monday but it started on Saturday (their version of a bank holiday weekend but restaurants close instead of being inundated). We rode a KM or so through the grounds to the hotel which had no staff. We got the impression that it used to be a military base! We try to avoid riding in the dark so instead of having a shower and a change we rode off at 4pm in search of a restaurant, after a couple of miles we found a bar by the lakeside that even though it only looked open for food served us very tasty burgers and fries. We were so relieved to fill our bellies and not go hungry in Hungary. Next day started with freezing fog and degenerated into pouring rain. We reached the town where we had booked an apartment but couldn't find it. They said they would leave the key in the door for us, we let ourselves into an apartment with a key in the door but it didn't look like the pics on the internet so we didn't unload Tiity. Cold and pissing down we just wanted to be inside, a phone call later and we were finally indoors in the right apartment (not the one we had inspected). Tomorrow (Monday) we cross the border into Slovenia where it isn't a national holiday and everything isn't shut! Question for cyclists reading - how do you remove a cassette when you haven't got a chain whip tool and an adjustable spanner - google 'NBT2' (probably only to be used on a steel frame).