Saturday School, More Trains, and Jánoshegy

On Saturday I had school; we did not actually have separate classes, but met all 26 boys in 9D as a group. We played a drawing game, another game involving students asking teachers facts about them, and some outdoor activities like soccer and basketball. I was actually able to be home at 11:00. After lunch we went with Scott to the Buda hills. After a stop at Nyugati Pályaudvar (Western Train Station), we took the tram to Moszkva tér, then walked about four or five blocks to the terminus of the cog-wheel train. This train slowly makes its way up into the hills, a steady climb that necessitates the cogwheel to pull it. After reaching the top we walked another 300 yards to the "Children's Train" station. This train is operated totally by kids, with the exception of the engineer. They even wear junior uniforms, punch tickets, and collect money. We boarded the train and took it for about fifteen minutes to Jánoshegy (John Hill actually). The actual height is 527 meters, making this the highest hill in Budapest. The tower at the top affords a fantastic view of Budapest. The hike up and back from the train stop took an hour, so we figured we could get back on the train to continue our one-way trip from one end to the other. Stupid Americans, you can't do that. You must pay for another ticket. This is how we do it! We continued to the northern end, then took another tram back to Moszkva tér. The fall colors are quite beautiful right now, mostly yellows, greens, and browns. It really was a great way to spend our Saturday afternoon.
Here is a link to more information on the site and the Elizabeth tower:
http://budapest-guide.blogspot.com/2007/11/elizabeth-lookout-highest-point-of.html