Budapest - 14/15 October
14 October
The day started with an early morning trip to the train station and a 7 hour train ride to Budapset. We learnt from last time we did training Europe to book the first class seats, beautiful leather reclining seats, power, free wifi, complimentary bits and pieces and lots of room. The journey worked its way through the Czech countryside and then over the boarder through Austria. Once we were in Austria there was a notable change in the buildings and masses of windfarms. The wind turbines would stretch as far as the eye could see to form an impressive sight. Apparently a good spot on the plains as there is a perfect wind tunnel between the Alps and the Carpathian Mountain ranges.
After arriving in Budapest we caught a Bolt to the boat ( they don't have Uber in Hungary). As soon as we had our suitcases on the ground outside the Bolt we had ship staff greeting us, taking our bags and leading us onto the ship. No security, no queues, no other guests in sight. Once on board a quick checkin at reception, the same as any normal hotel and we were done. The experience was a far cry from the checkin procedure on an ocean cruise where you feel like cattle being hearded. Absolutely loved it!
After a bit of exploration on the ship we spotted a bar on shore overlooking the city, so after a long day of travel we didn't feel like doing much and headed there for a drink.
The afternoon was a brilliantly sunny 25°c day and we had some local beer on the sundeck with some of the locals with a DJ playing (at 3pm) and a beautiful view of the city.
The food on the ship was as good as any cruise we have been on, and they try to include some regional dishes in the menu. Luckily we are averaging 22km walking a day to work most of of it off. Logan tried some local river pech (a bit average in comparison to our fish) and I had a paprika chicken and dumpling meal - paprika is a favorite spice here.
15 October
We started the day with a city tour this morning. Giving the legs a rest was nice and we were bused to the City Park. This is the 4th Largest green space in a city behind New York, London and Paris. There is a half finished amusement park being built that they have half finished and run out-of money, then it leads to the Zoo and Hero Square. We picked up a little sample of chimney cake to eat on the way which is much the same as the Czech trdelník. Hero Square was built for the 1000 year anniversary of the Hungarians taking the land in that area, but construction took a year longer than predicted, so they just changed the year of the land taking to align. It depicts the heros through Hungarys history, and the photos don't do justice to the scale of it. They host a lot of concerts in the Square, but generally classical music otherwise the animals in the zoo get upset.
Driving through the city is a fascinating view of old world, meets war, meets communism. Hungary have had so many occupations, and the buildings really tell the story of their history. Every modern building is where the previous buildings were destroyed in WWII. Then there are blocks and blocks of communist apartments. All of the original buildings are crumbling in disrepair either from war damage or lack non attention during the communist era.
After a local lunch of pork goulash on the boat, we headed out on foot to explore on our own. Turns out the Budapest Marathon was on over the whole weekend, so heapsof road closures made the city a bit quieter than usual. We stumbled across a DJ and electric violinist playing music for the runners, and the locals were hanging and jamming out to the music.
Needing a quick loo stop before heading to the castle we found the nearest pub, grabbed a drink and some Langos (Hungarian fried bread) and enjoyed a 3 piece playing classical music.
After so much walking and a few blisters, we crossed Chain Bridge, which was the first bridge to connect Buda and Pest, and took the Funicular (cablecar) up to castle hill. There was a Concert going on up there as well, celebrating a Budapest Oktoberfest in the front of the Palace.
We wandered around the grounds and enjoyed the views from Fisherman's Bastion at the end of the precinct, but the main attractions of St Stephens Hall was all sold-out by the time we found it. They were doing a heap of building work up there, and recreating an entire building from scratch which I imagine is an expensive business in this day and age.
Our last mission was to one of the ruins bars on the Pest side. Simpla Kert is the original one. There are now over 100 in the city that are old buildings that were destroyed in WWII or neglected to the point of ruin during the communist era that people have turned into bars. An interesting concept that NZ H&S would have a field day with!
Dinner on the boat was more local treats of stuffed ragu pancakes and a 3 layer sponge. All Devine.
The day started with an early morning trip to the train station and a 7 hour train ride to Budapset. We learnt from last time we did training Europe to book the first class seats, beautiful leather reclining seats, power, free wifi, complimentary bits and pieces and lots of room. The journey worked its way through the Czech countryside and then over the boarder through Austria. Once we were in Austria there was a notable change in the buildings and masses of windfarms. The wind turbines would stretch as far as the eye could see to form an impressive sight. Apparently a good spot on the plains as there is a perfect wind tunnel between the Alps and the Carpathian Mountain ranges.
After arriving in Budapest we caught a Bolt to the boat ( they don't have Uber in Hungary). As soon as we had our suitcases on the ground outside the Bolt we had ship staff greeting us, taking our bags and leading us onto the ship. No security, no queues, no other guests in sight. Once on board a quick checkin at reception, the same as any normal hotel and we were done. The experience was a far cry from the checkin procedure on an ocean cruise where you feel like cattle being hearded. Absolutely loved it!
After a bit of exploration on the ship we spotted a bar on shore overlooking the city, so after a long day of travel we didn't feel like doing much and headed there for a drink.
The afternoon was a brilliantly sunny 25°c day and we had some local beer on the sundeck with some of the locals with a DJ playing (at 3pm) and a beautiful view of the city.
The food on the ship was as good as any cruise we have been on, and they try to include some regional dishes in the menu. Luckily we are averaging 22km walking a day to work most of of it off. Logan tried some local river pech (a bit average in comparison to our fish) and I had a paprika chicken and dumpling meal - paprika is a favorite spice here.
15 October
We started the day with a city tour this morning. Giving the legs a rest was nice and we were bused to the City Park. This is the 4th Largest green space in a city behind New York, London and Paris. There is a half finished amusement park being built that they have half finished and run out-of money, then it leads to the Zoo and Hero Square. We picked up a little sample of chimney cake to eat on the way which is much the same as the Czech trdelník. Hero Square was built for the 1000 year anniversary of the Hungarians taking the land in that area, but construction took a year longer than predicted, so they just changed the year of the land taking to align. It depicts the heros through Hungarys history, and the photos don't do justice to the scale of it. They host a lot of concerts in the Square, but generally classical music otherwise the animals in the zoo get upset.
Driving through the city is a fascinating view of old world, meets war, meets communism. Hungary have had so many occupations, and the buildings really tell the story of their history. Every modern building is where the previous buildings were destroyed in WWII. Then there are blocks and blocks of communist apartments. All of the original buildings are crumbling in disrepair either from war damage or lack non attention during the communist era.
After a local lunch of pork goulash on the boat, we headed out on foot to explore on our own. Turns out the Budapest Marathon was on over the whole weekend, so heapsof road closures made the city a bit quieter than usual. We stumbled across a DJ and electric violinist playing music for the runners, and the locals were hanging and jamming out to the music.
Needing a quick loo stop before heading to the castle we found the nearest pub, grabbed a drink and some Langos (Hungarian fried bread) and enjoyed a 3 piece playing classical music.
After so much walking and a few blisters, we crossed Chain Bridge, which was the first bridge to connect Buda and Pest, and took the Funicular (cablecar) up to castle hill. There was a Concert going on up there as well, celebrating a Budapest Oktoberfest in the front of the Palace.
We wandered around the grounds and enjoyed the views from Fisherman's Bastion at the end of the precinct, but the main attractions of St Stephens Hall was all sold-out by the time we found it. They were doing a heap of building work up there, and recreating an entire building from scratch which I imagine is an expensive business in this day and age.
Our last mission was to one of the ruins bars on the Pest side. Simpla Kert is the original one. There are now over 100 in the city that are old buildings that were destroyed in WWII or neglected to the point of ruin during the communist era that people have turned into bars. An interesting concept that NZ H&S would have a field day with!
Dinner on the boat was more local treats of stuffed ragu pancakes and a 3 layer sponge. All Devine.
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