Budapest Day 2

After a longer night’s sleep, we head, well rested, to a café that has been recommended to us. On the way there (it is already noon and the sun is high and hot in the sky) we pass the famous Parliament building. It is the largest building in Hungary, built of solid stone right on the Danube.

We particularly like the magnificently decorated little turrets and take a great many photos even before breakfast, or rather lunch. We walk a good stretch further along the Danube and reach what is really our first destination of the day, Caffee Brios. We sit outside with pancakes and scrambled eggs and enjoy city life. After eating we spend the whole afternoon exploring the city on foot.

We also look at the Parliament building from the other side, walk straight across the city centre, go into a few shops, visit the opera house, which is under renovation, and finally arrive at a Hungarian market where you can buy food, clothes and souvenirs. However, we soon leave the stuffy market hall again and decide to visit the bar Szimpla Kert, a typical ruin bar. The bar is located in an old, run-down building that has been furnished in a very alternative style. There is a courtyard with lots of plants, unusual seating (a bathtub, car tyres, etc.) and lots of colour.

We have never seen anything like it and would not expect it in the middle of a city either. We really like it here. We each get a cocktail and make ourselves comfortable on the second floor with a view of the courtyard.

After looking round the different rooms, we walk past the synagogue in the Jewish quarter to our hotel. We get changed and ride the Ferris wheel just in time for sunset. The view of the whole city from so high up is wonderful, and the roofs are lit up orange by the setting sun. After this great experience we go to eat at a Japanese restaurant on the square next to the basilica, with a view of the church. The food is very good, and since we don’t have much practice with chopsticks, it is very amusing too. We walk around the lively city a little more and then go back to the hotel, very tired. We have already done more than 15000 steps in the afternoon alone.