Day two

So the problem with having an apartment in the centre of the city is it is SO NOISY! I had to put ear plugs in. I don't know how the people who live here cope. Oh wait Hungarian wine! Also beer. (I feel you). Anyway I did sleep eventually and took myself out for breakfast but apparently I was too late/ went the wrong way as everywhere had their lunch menu out so I ended up in Costa for breakfast and had a Quark sweet roll (cheese which is sweet?? it works). I then headed off to Buda Palace for the Hungarian National gallery and the funicular railway.

I was excited about the Funicular and waited in line but wondered why it was taking so long. Then I noticed there was a woman WRITING OUT A CHEQUE!!!! This is still a thing? Anyway the world's slowest writer got it done and finally we got to go on the funicular. Apparently there use to be really creepy (unintentionally) wax figures in the carriages so you understood it was history but not any more however the window is quite high up so you can't sit down and look out which was a shame but still fun to be on it.

Stupid hair! (also notice new sunglasses. I had to go to H&M for them as my old ones broke and none of the other shops were open). So at the top of Buda hill I took myself to the Hungarian National gallery, flashed my IKON card and headed up to see The Skylark by Pal Szinyei -Merse. Oh still beautiful and surrounded by his other works I continue to be spell bound by his aesthetic. I know that Karoly Lotz designed practically everything in Budapest but Pal S-M will always be my favourite. Now to wikipedia him. I also took a turn around the historical pictures and the medieval ones as I couldn't remember if Raphael's Madonna was here (it's not and must be at the Museum of Fine arts) but also the second artist I was interested in must be in the 20th Century gallery which was closed (Rippi - Ronai). Then the horror of getting to the museum shop and discovering they do not have a print of Skylark!!!! Nothing doing. So I have every postcard of his other works and a print of The balloon. I was tempted by the book but as I can't read Hungarian I will wait until I get home and see if there is a book in english. I wandered over the hill and past the Sandor Palace (the Presidents residence with obligatory unmoving guards) and past a theatre claiming to have something to do with Beethoven to Lords Street. I will post some pictures for you separately Olivia. I went to Matyas Church and walked around (much friendlier vibe then St Stephen's Basilica). You might be interested Olivia that this was the church that Empress Elizabeth was particularly involved with and again I have taken some more photos for you. I was pretty tired by this point so headed back to the apartment all set to get my swimming kit and make my way to Gellert, Budacard in hand. However I realised that I didn't have a pen (I have no idea when this happen). So going somewhere for a pen would be a good idea as I had wanted to rest before set off anyway. I overlook the place and it keeps being referenced so I thought I St Stephen's Basilica will sell a pen. Wrong glow in the dark rosary, icon of St Elizabeth, yes. No pens (I forgot Catholic isn't it). Anyway St Stephen's went with Big is better rather then Matyas which went with any blank space is just a canvas that has not been filled. They also had the mummified foot of St Stephen (I forget working at the BM that being interested in mummies is not normal). By the way both of these Church were decorated by Karoly Lotz and are basically only 150 years old. I think built on the site of other churches but surprisingly young. I then wandered over the parliament building as again I realised it was nearby. It is beautiful and there is now a museum that they do a discount for if you are an EU citizen (lots of angry americans) but I didn't have my passport so wasn't going to pay full price for something I wasn't that interested in. By this point I still hadn't found any pens so having found the beer festival I managed to find a supermarket with some pens behind the counter and then stopped for dinner which consisted of Veal medallions with potato cakes and pepper and tarrogan sauce but again the dessert selection was that horrible Solomi cake or pancakes so I set off for the beer festival. I wasn't in the mood for a chimney cake so I just found an 'artisan craft' beer with the rock album cover (in honour of Rich) and drank it in the park before stopping a Costa again for take away Crunchie cake (does not look or taste like a crunchie bar). Phew I am tired!

First day

SO I massively underestimated how long it has been since I had flown as I managed to get in the wrong queue and then had to empty my bag as I was already over weight (new bag - possibly heavier?) Anyway I managed it and got through security without issue. Had a lovely filled omelette (boy did I need it, was up at six this was now 10am!) then after putting on our tickets that the gate closed at 11.15 they did a east coast train on us and announced the gate number 10 minutes before it was suppose to close! There was even a sign saying it took 10 mins to get to the gate! This turned out to be a fake out (the plane wasn't even in yet!) But we all rushed for nothing. Anyway the flight it's self was fine. Basically a busy commuter train but the length of a national service. Read my book and listened to (sorry Andrew) Officially the most middle class conversationTM. I will note at this point that airports all look the same and when we started to descend I looked out of the window to find fields that looked like England and that Budapest looked like any airport (Ryanair still makes you walk to the plane) but you start to notice the language. It took a while to shake the feeling of sameness. Especially as we pulled out the airport and drove past... a giant Tescos! Same looking people waiting at bus stops and crossing the road. Same homeless people and same 'I can tell I am not cool enough for this bar' bars. You realise how 'European' we really are. I had another problem to deal with at the airport in Budapest. My conditioner had leaked. GAhh! So after been shown around my new apartment I spent an hour cleaning my bag. Lucky not on my clothes but basically everything else was covered. Now my apartment smells like Treseme. I decided I had better get going if I was going to Gellert baths and set off... without a map! No worries I found a baths (turns out it was Rudas baths) which was nice and pleasant and had a panoramic pool on the top floor and ALOT of Saunas (you would love it Olivia)! It also prepared me for the unisex changing rooms thing. I was tired and hungry so took myself to Vaci Utca (the main shopping street) and found a lovely restaurant that made Pork matured in Pilsners beer, cabbage and little roasted potatoes. That's right I willing eat cabbage! it was delicious! Not sure about fat still on the bone that was served with it but yum! I ordered the Somloi dessert which wasn't very nice but I think I don't like the ingredients rather than being badly made. I headed home and watch Hungarian tv which is dubbed but they have done a much better job matching the voices and I am excited about what appears to be an Emma Thompson season (also breasts. In the adverts for films . Not Emma's I hasten to add). Here are today's pictures.