Budapest

Saturday

No dramas getting here on the train. The trip didn’t seem to take very long - I fell asleep!

Arrived mid afternoon and taxi’s to our hotel, right in the middle of the fashion district and near the Danube.

Walked around for a while noticing all sorts of interesting things.

Then went to dinner a a place recommended by our hotel. Pricey but very nice and the staff were great. I forgot to take a photo of my very interesting cold soup before they poured the liquid in so you have to imagine a quenelle of strawberry icecream with petals of strawberry surrounding it like a flower. Very unusual but very delicious.

Phillip unwisely chose goulash soup AND a main course x he should have known better. Both delicious but each more than enough on their own.

Sunday

Time for the hop on hop off bus. We’ve taken a ticket for 48 hours - the cost for the second day was minimal.

Toured all round the place, and have been to both Buda and Pest. Due to a political demonstration (elections are coming up), we didn’t always follow the route on the map so will have to work out where some of the photos are from later.

First stop was the castle on the buda side. Had planned to take the funicular but the queue was a mile long so tool a little castle bus instead. Great views. Lots of people everywhere.

then went to the parliament area and walked (and walked and walked) all around. It was quite warm and, although surprised, I was quite pleased when a fine mist of water rose out of the pavement in front of me. The shoes are a memorial to Holocaust victims who were shot trying to cross the river.