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!