We had a lovely sleep in - luxury, hot up at 8am. After the hotel breakfast Liz went down to the hotel spa, smells just like Rotorua! There were a few other cyclists enjoying a relaxing soak. Then we walked the 2km back along the river road into town. There are a large number of once grand and now derelict buildings, some undergoing renovation and others the subject of disputes regarding ownership in the courts following the collapse of Communism. Some are substantial structures, 3-4 stories high with about 1000 m2 per floor. They have crumbling grand staircases and concrete statues at their entrances. A sign of what was once a vibrant, trendy society.There were a number of stalls selling swimwear and clothing, fur coats and hats, and other tourist products. Also a large number of beer garden/outdoor cafes. Not much else! We walked up and down the (only) main street. The town sits along both sides of a deep ravine. There is a relatively clear river running through, fed by hot spa waters. A few bridges cross the river. There are a number of 1960s style apartments and hotel complexes. After exploring the few shops and stalls, we had a coffee with Jos, Garis, Manon and Graeme.
Wandering around in towns and cities on our non-cycling days we always meet fellow tour cyclists!Manon is Dutch, works in Sydney, and she is carrying on from Istanbul to Beijing - a journey of 11000 ks over 110 days. Graeme is British, works with Manon in Sydney, and is also carrying on to Beijing. Others on the trip who are doing the extra mileage to Beijing are Stewart, Nicole, Dan, Young Al and Mike. Stewart has done Paris to Istanbul two years ago so is using it as a warm up for the bigger and more demanding ride to Beijing.
There are some other lovely people on our trip whom we have been fortunate to meet. Janice and Garis are from Melbourne, Jim, Lady Al, Win and Bill from USA, Maureen and Glen, Karen, Mike, Philip, Terry and John Ross from Canada, Carl and Rita and Jaco from South Africa, Jorg from Switzerland to mention a few. Some have done the most amazing adventures previously. A collection of forty randomly mixed individuals when we set out, who have joined together over the last month and shared every day and night together to become good mates. After coffee it was almost lunchtime, so we purchased bread, cheese and salami and cold drinks and headed for a park bench in the shade. Then back to the hotel for a siesta. It was too hot to sit outside!
At 5 Liz went with Janice, Lady Al and Karen for a ladies dinner. We walked down the river to the spot where Liz and Karen had dined last night. Liz had a delicious grilled chicken breast with boiled potatoes, something we have not had a lot of on this trip. Then we caught a taxi back to the hotel for a grand total of 4lei, or about NZ $2, to be in time for our massage. The hotel has a massage and therapeutic unit at one end, and Liz and Lady Al had booked a massage for seven pm. It was wonderful to have tired old muscles given a firm but relaxing workover! Then back into the hot pool for twenty minutes before having a shower and preparing for the morning. Meanwhile John went out with the boys for dinner. He joined Philip, Garis and Allan for dinner in the hotel restaurant for a pork and bacon roll. Then later we joined Graeme and Manon for desert on the hotel terrace. It was a lovely, still evening, a little cooler than last night. Went to bed at ten.
Wandering around in towns and cities on our non-cycling days we always meet fellow tour cyclists!Manon is Dutch, works in Sydney, and she is carrying on from Istanbul to Beijing - a journey of 11000 ks over 110 days. Graeme is British, works with Manon in Sydney, and is also carrying on to Beijing. Others on the trip who are doing the extra mileage to Beijing are Stewart, Nicole, Dan, Young Al and Mike. Stewart has done Paris to Istanbul two years ago so is using it as a warm up for the bigger and more demanding ride to Beijing.
There are some other lovely people on our trip whom we have been fortunate to meet. Janice and Garis are from Melbourne, Jim, Lady Al, Win and Bill from USA, Maureen and Glen, Karen, Mike, Philip, Terry and John Ross from Canada, Carl and Rita and Jaco from South Africa, Jorg from Switzerland to mention a few. Some have done the most amazing adventures previously. A collection of forty randomly mixed individuals when we set out, who have joined together over the last month and shared every day and night together to become good mates. After coffee it was almost lunchtime, so we purchased bread, cheese and salami and cold drinks and headed for a park bench in the shade. Then back to the hotel for a siesta. It was too hot to sit outside!
At 5 Liz went with Janice, Lady Al and Karen for a ladies dinner. We walked down the river to the spot where Liz and Karen had dined last night. Liz had a delicious grilled chicken breast with boiled potatoes, something we have not had a lot of on this trip. Then we caught a taxi back to the hotel for a grand total of 4lei, or about NZ $2, to be in time for our massage. The hotel has a massage and therapeutic unit at one end, and Liz and Lady Al had booked a massage for seven pm. It was wonderful to have tired old muscles given a firm but relaxing workover! Then back into the hot pool for twenty minutes before having a shower and preparing for the morning. Meanwhile John went out with the boys for dinner. He joined Philip, Garis and Allan for dinner in the hotel restaurant for a pork and bacon roll. Then later we joined Graeme and Manon for desert on the hotel terrace. It was a lovely, still evening, a little cooler than last night. Went to bed at ten.
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