Budapest

9/09/2008

Breakfast was a very friendly arrangement on the terrace with another couple who were from Auckland. They were going on a walking tour of Slovakia across the Tatra Mountains, so we were able to tell them of our train trip and our impression of the countryside. We lent the our guide book as they did not know so much about the history of the country.

We had lots of good advice from Judit on where to go and how to get there and the best option for bus and rail passes around Budapest. We are lucky where we are staying as it is just below the Fishermans Bastion on the ˝Buda˝side, and 10 mins walk to Bethyany ter, where there are plenty of reasonably priced restaurants and a few that are recommended by Judit. Also the metro stop so we bought a 3 day pass.

We did 3 the hopon-hopoff bus tour which seems to be in nearly every major city. Really good for getting orientated and to know what to see. We then did our own walking tour using our guide book on the ˝Pest˝side. We ducked int Maccas to use the loo thinking we would not have to pay. But there was the little old lady sitting there with her hand out, just waiting for us. At least it was clean....

We walked back to the metro along the Vaci U and got the metro back to Bathyany. I must say Budapest metro has the fastest escalators in the east - jump on and get the fastest ride - like a funfair - then thrown off the other end... had it mastered after a few goes.

We have a bit of a climb up stips to our street - so after a day on our feet it is pretty exhausting.

We had dinner at the a la carte restuarant in Bethyany ter.