K & L's Travel Blog

Our first full day in Budapest. We’re so excited to get out that we have a “false start” and have to return for my sunglasses and our Lonely Planet guide. We’re relying on the latter to get us around Castle Hill and it’s a very sunny day. I am even able to wear shorts—me and the Australian boys. The city is abuzz. The main square is not far, and we pick up a bus that takes us across the Chain Bridge and up the mountain in Buda. It’s about 10:00 before we hit St. Matthias Church and there are throngs of tour groups massing around the church and the Fisherman’s Bastion. It’s a beautiful day with great views across Pest.

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After taking it all in, we wander to a nearby restaurant, “21.” It’s sunny and warm so we sit outside. Kitty gets gizzards and I stick with chicken paprika. Both are excellent, and the service is very nice. We head towards the music museum, which is a bit a bust for us, but we imagine how Annie or Lindy would enjoy the history of the Hungarian music scene and instruments. 

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We decide to try to make our way down towards the chain bridge, and are challenged by all the stairs. We end up snaking our way back and forth for about 2 hours. We take turns cajoling each other as we climb and descend stairs repeatedly, winding back and forth over the same ground and seemingly getting nowhere. But then it’s a beautiful walk with lots of views, and God knows we can use the exercise. We pass through the gardens below the castle and can finally see the bridge below. It’s a pretty quick descent once we get our bearings (there’s even an elevator). The bridge is lovely and we catch a bus just on the other side. 

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We stop at a grocery store on the way home to supplement our leftover Thai hummus from yesterday’s lunch—pita bread, cheese and Harmónia Paprikãs Szelet salami. It all makes for a great dinner. We listen to music and enjoy the balcony and the mild evening and another moon rise over the neighborhood. Our neighborhood is revving up–now there’s a brass band just below our place, and a promised ad for disco later. We turn off our music and enjoy the live show with the best seats in the house. For now…. They have range, from “Jolene” to “Staircase to Heaven.” Check them out: https://flic.kr/p/2htwurT

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