Budapest

Day 35 and we are on an overnight bus from Budapest to spend a couple of days at Oktoberfest in Munich. We really liked Budapest, in part because of the company we had (Makrina), but we also found plenty to do and see. We found the people here a little more approachable than in Prague but the city itself wasn't as stunning nor well kept. It was a lot less touristy though which was a huge plus and everything was just that little bit cheaper. As an example, we had a coffee and a piece of cake for less than a euro. It soon became the currency for Makrina when she started working out how many cakes she could get for the money she was about to spend like when she didn't want to pay to go to the toilet as she could get a cake and a coffee for the same price.

View of Pest side with the chain bridge over the Danube river

We all turned up to a free walking tour that covered a lot of the sites and attractions as well as a little bit of history and a couple of Hungarian words thrown in. They say see ya (obviously not spelt that way) when they want to say hello and hallo to say goodbye. We learnt that Hungarian is the fifth most difficult known language and that when they want a character in a movie to speak jibberish, they often use Hungarian. It all sounded Russian to me but I wouldn't describe myself as being very worldly.

On the walking tour at castle hill on the Buda side

Roman Catholic Cathedral

A statue at castle hill

Must have been a great photo opportunity

Mak and me at castle hill

Other than the walking tour we went to a chocolate festival (which wasn't as awesome as it sounds), a huge food market similar to the Victorian market in Melbourne, a Jewish memorial on the Danube and plenty of cool pubs/clubs and restaurants. They have these pubs/clubs called ruin bars where some abandoned residential buildings (often damaged from the war) have been converted into some very cool drinking establishments. One we visited had cut out bath tubs for chairs, old black and white movies playing and all sorts of unusual bits and pieces.

Hungary makes this very potent spirit called polinka that ranges from 40% to 80%. Because of Prague's spirit prohibition we all felt like we had missed out so we made up for it and had a shot of the 60% polinka that tasted like nothing in particular but it did burn going down. We were also introduced to a local, pizza style, national dish that has a deep fried base that is similar to doughnut dough but savory with garlic, cheese and what ever else you want on it called langos. We were also informed that the locals eat them before a big night out to line their stomachs. We all shared a few of them before heading out one night and I am happy to say that it did lesson the after affects from the night before.

Market hall that was built in the 1800's

Some awesome hats that would have made us too cool for school if we had of purchased them and worn them back at home

Jewish memorial of metal shoes remembering those men women and children who were lined up and shot next to the Danube

Awesome pallet chairs

A couple of ruin bars that we had a great night in

Langos. I wish they had this at home, it was brilliant.

Some architecture

Our trip to Budapest was a pleasant surprise and it was so good to share it with a good friend. Thank you Makrina for flying from Spain to interrupt your own travels and join us in Prague and Budapest. It was an absolute pleasure sharing it all with you.

Gastro street ... We decided to stay away from that one

Shall end the post with Chain bridge at sunset

 

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