o this point in our trip, I had begun to think that tourism iin the world was reallly “in the tank”. Everywhere we have gone there were no crowds, no lines, and no people on modes of transportation. The flight coming over was thankfully quite empty and we could stretch out flat with three seats each on our overenight flight. Every train we took there were people, but about 2/3rds of the seats were empty meainng that we could move about taking pictures from any of the windows on the rail cars. Snack service was quick and friendly although the ocasional beer that I have become accustomed to was usually served warm.
We arrived in Budapest at about 9;00PM to a dark empty but historically beautiful arrivals hall. Outside there was one taxi waiting to take us to our hotel on the Danube. The driver quickly announced that we were in good time beause the Formula One Hungarian Gran Prix was to start in the morning. I though he might be trying to qualify for the race as we made it to our hotel in record time!
The front desk clerk welcomed us by telling us that he had held a beautiful room with a view to the iluminated palace across the river. At that point we were so tired....he could of given us a room facing the alley and we would have been happy.
Howeveer the next morning....when we opened the curtains.....the awesome view was next to spectacular. We could not wait to go outside and walk. And walk we did....walk and walk and walk and walk. As a matter of fact we have been walking a lot since we got to Europe. It had not been a problem until we arrived in Budapest! I guess all the missing people on Delta and in Munich and Salzburg and on the train.....had all come here!
Budapest is just teaming with people....europeans and americans....all enjoying themselves and laughing, sightseeing eathing and drinking in the many outdoor cafes that surround the beatiful buildings and parks that make up the Pest side of this city. Pest we fouond out is known as the modern flat side of the city, while the Buda side of the city, l0cated on the other side of the Danube was the historic side built on hills for the defense of this ancient site.
Most of the luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons, Intercontinental, Sofitel and Marriot are located on the Pest side as is most of the activity now in Budapest. There are wide avenues and pedestrian streets loaded with fun shops touting everything from touristy things to wonderful fasion , shoes and antiques. There is a superb and very large flea market here as well which takes hours to wander through. The most amazing thing about Budapest is while they have crushed some buildings to build modern skyscrapers, they prefer to save many of the citys historic buildings, by gutting the inside to modernize them....but leaving the baroque and italianate facades which creates the most fascinating mix of old and new and preserves the rich history of what Budapest has become.
As recently as 1989m Hungary left behind its communist ties with the Soviet Union and today boasts a literacy rate of 99% with only a 7% unemployment rate. The country itself is totally self sustaining with wonderful farms in the couontryside producing a myyriad of producsst for the local maket and for export.
There is so much to see and do and because Hungary has more recently come onto the world state as far as tourism goes.....just a day or two here is simply not eenough to eenjoy its museums, historic churches and palaces, monument and hot springs. It is no wonder that the streets are crowded.
Budapest is the new “in” place to travel to and they now know it. There are so many sightseeing boats on the Danube, tour buses in the streets and restaurants, casinos and clubs to go to....let alone the festivals that are constantly going on.....you could stay for weeks and never see it all.
Tomorrow we board our ship to sail upstream to Vienna. Like everyone else....we hate to leave Budapest so soon. So we take a last minute walk over the Chain bridge to Buda, under
the many spotlights that illuminate the buildings along the shores of the Danube. We are not alone...it seems the world is here with us. What a beautiful and wonderful city.
I will be back!
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