So finally after arriving a few days ago, 4 hours of sleep this afternoon and a Hard Rock Cafe Margarita I finally feel "alive" and ready to write - although its a couple of mushy brain days to write about - so I don't know how I'll go!!
The flight was a flight - although the boys and I got thru first as Barry had to wait to see if he'd get on staff travel - which he did - in business class - he did come to visit us plebs in coach once during the trip. Meanwhile I bought myself a new camera. A little one that easily fits in my pocket/handbag, rather than my big SLR….. its a good camera and shows just how much the technology has advanced in the 10 years since I bought my digital SLR - this one takes better shots in low light than the old one!
We arrived in Budapest (pronounced by the locals as Buda- p-e-sh-t) to -1C, but clear and sunny. It snowed last week so there was still white stuff on the ground, but it has gradually been disappearing over the time we've been here, thanks to some "freezing rain" yesterday and this morning. Yet again we search for snow - to no avail - next year we think we might go to Sweden or Norway - think we might be guaranteed some snow up there during winter!
After arriving at our hotel, which is located just off the start of the main shopping precinct, 1 block from the river and the Elizabeth (Cissy) bridge, we went in search of lunch which we found up the mall at the delightful "Anna's Cafe". The very helpful waitstaff pointed us in the general direction of a supermarket where we bought some provisions and headed back to the room. With the early (4.30am) start and my cold we ate early at Casablanca's, found a pharmacy for some cold n flu tablets and a proper sling for Jacob's arm and then I at least was in bed by 6.30pm local!!!
More than 12hours later the bleating of the hungry children led us to breakfast and then we suited up to see the city. We decided on the hop on/off bus as that gave us 2 days travel as well as an overview of the city. We took the whole tour and got off at Parliament for lunch, with intentions of swapping lines to the second tour, but slow service at lunch put paid to that and instead we went to look at St Stephen's Basilica. It struck me whilst I was looking at the beautiful architecture and decorations in the Cathedral that this is what I find so charming about Europe - it is something that Australia doesn't and will never have - for no other reason than its late date of settlement. Each European city I have visited has had its own charm and Budapest is no different - a very pretty city. By this time Jacob's arm was sore and my drugs were wearing off so we returned to the hotel. I crashed - not sure what the boys did! But given Barry's mood when I surfaced a few hours later - they annoyed him!!
We dressed, which coincidently is a full blown operational exercise with Jacob and his broken arm, and ate downstairs at a lovely Italian place next door. From there we headed to the hop on/off boat cruise. The ticket covers 2 days with 2 different bus lines and a boat ride - which at this time of the year is twice a day, 1400 and 1900 - so we and many others opted for the evening cruise to see the city from the Danube all lit up. We weren't lucky enough to get a seat downstairs in the warm cabin so instead braved the weather on the top deck, where the crisp evening air was perfect for picture taking. It wasn't too cold, although my fingers got a bit numb being out of my pocket taking photos all the time, but it did start to spit rain in the last 10-15 mins of the cruise.
Another full nights sleep and breakfast led to Day 2 and feeling the worst I have so far this trip, we headed to a Museum, rather than being outside. At the infamous 60 Andrassy Ave (the Champs Elysee of Budapest) is the building that once housed the Hungarian Nazi party and then after the war, during the communist regime, the prison/ HQ of the Hungarian Secret Police. It is these days the "Terror Museum", a memorial to the hundreds of people who were executed there and a reminder of what damage any terrorist dictatorship can inflict upon the common man. There were no photos allowed, and many of the displays were in Hungarian only, but there were lots of pictures, old film reels and interviews with survivors (with English subtitles) about what had happened to them for Barry and I to follow along. Each section also had a handout in English that you could take to read. The most chilling of all was the basement, with the death row cells and the execution rooms - as we entered this level Jacob wanted to know what the smell was……. it wasn't a mild or mildew type of smell - it was, simply put, the smell of death.
Andrassy Ave is a large boulevard of expensive houses that links the centre of Budapest to Heroes Square and the city park. With the museum located between bus stops of the tour we walked the remaining length of Andrassy Ave to Heroes Square in order to catch the bus. Luckily for us, Jaocb's broken arm provided a perfect excuse as to why the boys could not go ice skating in the park and we happily climbed on the bus back to the hotel for lunch. I once again crashed, this time making sure that Jacob too had a sleep (he had fallen asleep in the Italian restaurant last night on Barry's lap) - 4 hours later I even felt somewhat human!! Once again rugged up against the cold (although it didn't feel so cold - maybe we are getting used to it?) we headed up the mall to the Hard Rock Cafe - anyway I guess Tequila, in the form or a Margarita is good for getting rid of colds as I seem to be over the worst of it this evening. Hopefully another good nights sleep and I'll be recovered!
The flight was a flight - although the boys and I got thru first as Barry had to wait to see if he'd get on staff travel - which he did - in business class - he did come to visit us plebs in coach once during the trip. Meanwhile I bought myself a new camera. A little one that easily fits in my pocket/handbag, rather than my big SLR….. its a good camera and shows just how much the technology has advanced in the 10 years since I bought my digital SLR - this one takes better shots in low light than the old one!
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| View of Gellert Hill from our hotel and me trying out my new camera! |
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| Castle Hill from our room |
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| View of Gellert Hill from room in morning. |
We arrived in Budapest (pronounced by the locals as Buda- p-e-sh-t) to -1C, but clear and sunny. It snowed last week so there was still white stuff on the ground, but it has gradually been disappearing over the time we've been here, thanks to some "freezing rain" yesterday and this morning. Yet again we search for snow - to no avail - next year we think we might go to Sweden or Norway - think we might be guaranteed some snow up there during winter!
After arriving at our hotel, which is located just off the start of the main shopping precinct, 1 block from the river and the Elizabeth (Cissy) bridge, we went in search of lunch which we found up the mall at the delightful "Anna's Cafe". The very helpful waitstaff pointed us in the general direction of a supermarket where we bought some provisions and headed back to the room. With the early (4.30am) start and my cold we ate early at Casablanca's, found a pharmacy for some cold n flu tablets and a proper sling for Jacob's arm and then I at least was in bed by 6.30pm local!!!
More than 12hours later the bleating of the hungry children led us to breakfast and then we suited up to see the city. We decided on the hop on/off bus as that gave us 2 days travel as well as an overview of the city. We took the whole tour and got off at Parliament for lunch, with intentions of swapping lines to the second tour, but slow service at lunch put paid to that and instead we went to look at St Stephen's Basilica. It struck me whilst I was looking at the beautiful architecture and decorations in the Cathedral that this is what I find so charming about Europe - it is something that Australia doesn't and will never have - for no other reason than its late date of settlement. Each European city I have visited has had its own charm and Budapest is no different - a very pretty city. By this time Jacob's arm was sore and my drugs were wearing off so we returned to the hotel. I crashed - not sure what the boys did! But given Barry's mood when I surfaced a few hours later - they annoyed him!!
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| Buda on the left and Pes(h)t on the right of the Danube |
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| Elizabeth Bridge. All 8 bridges were blown up in WW2 and then rebuilt, all in the original style except this one. There is a church on the Pest side that was in the way when rebuilding, so they put it on wheels and moved it to the left a few feet so that the bridge could be built! |
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| Other side of citadel - so Pest on left and Buda on right - looking south |
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| Statue near parliament |
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| Parliament building. Lots of work being done around the city - drainage, repaving etc |
We dressed, which coincidently is a full blown operational exercise with Jacob and his broken arm, and ate downstairs at a lovely Italian place next door. From there we headed to the hop on/off boat cruise. The ticket covers 2 days with 2 different bus lines and a boat ride - which at this time of the year is twice a day, 1400 and 1900 - so we and many others opted for the evening cruise to see the city from the Danube all lit up. We weren't lucky enough to get a seat downstairs in the warm cabin so instead braved the weather on the top deck, where the crisp evening air was perfect for picture taking. It wasn't too cold, although my fingers got a bit numb being out of my pocket taking photos all the time, but it did start to spit rain in the last 10-15 mins of the cruise.
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| St Stephen's Basilica |
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| Cathedral was still decorated for Christmas |
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| Dome |
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| Altar and main dome |
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| St Elizabeth |
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| King St Stephen - the first king of Hungary's right hand. |
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| Square in front of the Cathedral |
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| Fountain in the biggest park in central Budapest |
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| Walking through the park on way back to hotel |
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| Parliament, from the river side. |
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| Margit bridge |
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| Castle Hill |
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| "Freedom" statue on top of Gellert Hill |
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| A modern bridge, with the Performing Arts Centre on the left |
Another full nights sleep and breakfast led to Day 2 and feeling the worst I have so far this trip, we headed to a Museum, rather than being outside. At the infamous 60 Andrassy Ave (the Champs Elysee of Budapest) is the building that once housed the Hungarian Nazi party and then after the war, during the communist regime, the prison/ HQ of the Hungarian Secret Police. It is these days the "Terror Museum", a memorial to the hundreds of people who were executed there and a reminder of what damage any terrorist dictatorship can inflict upon the common man. There were no photos allowed, and many of the displays were in Hungarian only, but there were lots of pictures, old film reels and interviews with survivors (with English subtitles) about what had happened to them for Barry and I to follow along. Each section also had a handout in English that you could take to read. The most chilling of all was the basement, with the death row cells and the execution rooms - as we entered this level Jacob wanted to know what the smell was……. it wasn't a mild or mildew type of smell - it was, simply put, the smell of death.
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| Boys were intrigues this morning after "freezing rain" overnight with the ice that coated many of the cars we saw parked this morning |
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| Iron Curtain memorial statue out the front of the Terror Museum |
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| Whole outside of the building has these small photographs on it of those that perished. |
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| Walking up Andrassy Ave |
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| Houses on Andrassy Ave |
Andrassy Ave is a large boulevard of expensive houses that links the centre of Budapest to Heroes Square and the city park. With the museum located between bus stops of the tour we walked the remaining length of Andrassy Ave to Heroes Square in order to catch the bus. Luckily for us, Jaocb's broken arm provided a perfect excuse as to why the boys could not go ice skating in the park and we happily climbed on the bus back to the hotel for lunch. I once again crashed, this time making sure that Jacob too had a sleep (he had fallen asleep in the Italian restaurant last night on Barry's lap) - 4 hours later I even felt somewhat human!! Once again rugged up against the cold (although it didn't feel so cold - maybe we are getting used to it?) we headed up the mall to the Hard Rock Cafe - anyway I guess Tequila, in the form or a Margarita is good for getting rid of colds as I seem to be over the worst of it this evening. Hopefully another good nights sleep and I'll be recovered!
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| Heroes Square |
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| Tomb of the unknown soldier |
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| The mall this evening as we headed to dinner |
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| earlier this morning as we headed out to the museum |
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