Eastward Ho...!!!

Our first taste of the former Eastern Block counties was Budapest - and immediately across the Austrian/Hungarian border and the difference is obvious! It is obviously a poorer country. The houses are not as well kept, the rail lines not as efficient, the views wilder and less manicured than the ones in Austria.  In the towns the houses and roads badly need maintenance. I guess the people are too busy making a living,  rather than worrying about prettying up the place, and the governments probably don't have enough money to spend on infrastructure. (Does that sound familiar? Think of the potholes we battle each day).  However, for tourists, those are minor inconveniences.

On arrival in Budapest, we were immediately accosted by dodgy taxi drivers. They come onto the platforms, and offer their services to you as soon as they spot a suitcase. Bob got rid of them.  The station was having extensive renovations done, so half the exits were closed.  Our Hotel was supposedly close to the station - but we have learned to ignore this as quite a few hotels boast this to entice the tourists, and when you get there, it's actually quite far away.

We had the name of our street, but walked quite a distance with our cases, through potholed and missing footpaths - in the wrong direction! So we had to go all the way back to the station and start again!  We finally found it, and it was a nice hotel. 

It was in a dodgy looking street however, which fascinated Bob, as he was sure the blokes over the tiny cobbled street were doing drug deals - and he was keeping a close eye on things.  This entailed sitting in the hotel cafe, drinking coffee and staring out of the window at the comings and goings of the "drug den". Who knows what they were really up to?

Buda, the hilly side of the river, and Pest, the flat side, were fascinating. Buda has The Citadella that dominates both sides of the city, in the same way as the statue of Jesus does in Rio, Brazil.

The Citadella is a very old fort, used to defend the city centuries ago. It has a colourful history, but today it is one of the prime tourists attractions.   Our Hop on-Hop off Bus provided us with a few freebies, and one of them was a free authentic lunch of Hungarian Gulash soup at the Citadella. Not only was the soup very tasty, but the surroundings, in the old arched rooms of the castle was fabulous. The rooms were obviously original - dug out from a central access corridor. Now it is a fine dining restaurant - but I wonder what they were originally used for?

Going through the Citadella passageways

Bob admiring the room while waiting for his lunch

The hill of the Citadella is also the "lungs" of both cities, as it has acres and acres of beautiful gardens and trees, which were in their autumn glory - very pretty, and had a lot of lovely statues depicting famous people in the history of Budapest.

Can you tell which side is Buda and which is Pest?

This is the first bridge, the chain bridge, that links Buda and Pest.  It is the iconic view of Budapest that we all recognize. Everyone has their photo taken here..

Bridge linking Buda and Pest

On a rainy night we decided to go to the theatre to see the Hungarian National Folk Ensemble singing and dancing their national songs.  What could go wrong? Catch a taxi to the theatre, have the concierge tell the driver where to go, no worries!

Except...they perform in two venues in the city, and the driver dropped us off at the wrong one.

"Here!" He said when we questioned why the theatre looked dark with no one around. "Just up there.

So we get out and walk there, and all around, in the rain, and finally found a cafe whose owner said, "no, not tonight. tonight in Pest" so they kindly called a taxi for the foolish tourists and we made the concert only 5 minutes late.

Hungarian National Folk Ensemble

We also visited the biggest Catholic Church in Budapest...just gorgeous...perhaps my friend Ruth could translate the inscription: Ego Sum Via Veritas Et Vita.

So, while we were here, we met a nice girl who was trying to get me to buy some local souvenirs...(but sadly did not succeed)

First $2 shop

Checked out some fast food possibilities

And learned how to make (and eat) a "Chimney Cake" - a Hungarian delicacy. They wrap a "string" of pastry around a wooden log with a handle, then shove it in the oven.

When it comes out they roll it in whatever topping you want.

It then unravels as you tear bits off. Tastes like doughnuts...yum!

Till next time...