Hungary > Exploring Budapest

Hungary - The view of Buda with the former palace

We planned to walk into the city around half past ten. My stomach is still a bit upset, but a pill for diarrhea helps quickly. First, we need to get some Hungarian currency. Only after that can we have breakfast. Budapest is a lovely city, but finding a bank is surprisingly difficult. After plenty of searching and asking for directions, we finally find one. A place for breakfast is then quickly located, just around the corner. We start our tour in Buda. First, we have to cross the Danube. We take the funicular up to the former palace and the Buda church. In this beautifully painted church, we also walk through the cellars in a kind of museum. This tour ends on the church’s second gallery. Afterwards, we continue to the Parliament building. Sandra and Monique take a break, while Ron and I stroll around the immense building. The last building we visit is St. Stephen’s Basilica. Then we sit on a square reading the newspaper until it’s time to eat. We walk into a hamburger place where the TV is showing the Olympic Games. The restaurant isn’t expensive, but the hamburger doesn’t have much flavor. We’re really craving a proper McDonald’s burger.

Hungary - View of Budapest on both sides of the Danube

We cross the street and walk a little further to the McDonald’s. The staff laugh heartily as we place our order. The cause of their amusement is our postcard. They can’t stop laughing at the front side, which shows a little man with a large “peepee.” The back side of the card, completely filled with tiny handwriting, also causes a lot of hilarity. Sandra and Monique catch the same laughing fit, and laugh again when the front side is shown. When Ron shows the card inside McDonald’s, half the place bursts into laughter, especially the staff. In the evening, we look for a phone booth to call Fred in Austria and our family at home. First, we gather a handful of coins by exchanging bills. When we have enough change, we find the first booth is broken. The second one is also out of order.

Hungary - Budapest at night

Several tourists walk in a procession from booth to booth. At the sixth booth, there’s a whole line, so this one must work. We join the back of the line. It’s dark by now. We begin the climb to the top of the city hill. We seem to have a thing for hills. At the top stands a large illuminated statue. The paths up the hill are poorly lit—or not lit at all! Occasionally, we have to feel our way upward. This effort is rewarded with a beautiful view of the city at night. By half past ten, we’re back at the hotel. Sandra and Monique want to go to bed early. When we go to bed an hour later, they’re still busy with the laundry.