Shared Illusions

Left Biarritz last Sunday, 30th June. Took a bus to Bayonne, train to Bordeaux, then a bus to Bordeaux airport. Ryanair employee not helpful. Ryanair app not helpful, yet it all worked out. We arrived in Prague (Ryanair doesn’t fly to Budapest,  but they do have a flight out,  to Paris.) around midnight. Stayed at Marriot by the airport as it was so late. Had a great breakfast there before heading into Prague for the day and one night before getting the 6:15 train to Budapest. Prague is as beautiful as I remember it to be.

The 6 hour train to Budapest was comfortable – and pretty inexpensive – just 50€ for both of us, and it included a bottle of water and free coffee on board. I recommend Regiojet! They also had a lounge in the station for ticketed passengers with free coffee and ice cream, but the ice cream maker was out of service. Too bad. I was rather looking forward to an affogato at 5:30 am!

Our apartment in Budapest is centrally located on the Pest side of the Danube, the more lively area with shops and restaurants/cafés galore. It’s also a short walk to the Danube, a metro, and the bus we’ll need to get to the airport on Sunday. 

So, we arrived Tuesday in Budapest. We were pretty beat after a long day. Walked around a bit, found dinner, and turned in. Wednesday found us on Margaret Island, basically a very large park.

We visited the market.

Went to another park. These large European cities sure know the value of green space. There’s always several large green spaces. This one has a castle, now housing an Agricultural Museum.

The famous Chain Bridge was closed when we were here in Fall 2022, but open now!

Ed came down with a cold on Thursday afternoon, so I’ve been on my own some. Took a walk to Parliament.

Visited the bronze shoes again.

I sit there, contemplating, imagining these people standing by the river. I imagine the n@zis, gruff, devoid of feeling. The bodies tumbling into the river. Were they all shot at once, or did some of them have to endure seeing others fall, listen to shouts and cries?

This morning I took to the healing waters of Szechenyi thermal baths. This is the iconic bath house in Budapest. It’s magnificent. So many pools, indoor and outdoor, a salt inhalation chamber, several saunas. I spent four hours there!

We are finding Budapest to be more expensive than it was two years ago. Or maybe we don’t remember having to pay to visit a church, to use a toilet. At least this apartment is a good deal.

Last night, Friday, Charlie was feeling better so we went to a ruin bar – the original ruin bar, Szimpla Kert in the old Jewish quarter. Four partners bought an old, dilapidated building to create an inexpensive meeting place for community and artists. It opened around 2002. Free entry, free concerts three times a month, Sunday market and brunch. It’s two levels with eclectic grunge decoration and furniture.

I’ll finish this long thread with a photo from the Budapest ferris wheel, which is a very tall one.

And last word before I get on to a new post…Budapest is beautiful and I’m glad to be leaving. It’s too big for me, especially in July. We failed to factor in the high season. This trip just might be two weeks too long. Still, I look forward to our return to France 🇫🇷 and seeing what the 9 days brings.