Friday, 15th July 2005 - Vienna to Budapest.

Filled up with another tank of Diesel and we were on our way to Budapest - having made sure that we had bought a very good map of the city so we had at least a fighting chance of finding the campsite. We weren't sorry to leave the campsite in Vienna - couldn't really recommend it but then I don't know of any others. Amy did the driving today, and once we were on the right road navigating was easy - Hungary is signposted from Vienna, and Budapest from halfway to the border. At the border we changed some Euros to Forints and bought another vignette. There was a cursory glance at the passports and then we were through. The roads in Hungary were good, and we made excellent progress as we drove past field after field of sunflowers in full bloom. The radio was tuned into "Danubius FM" which played the current favourite "Gates of Paradise", and I quote:

"We had 16 tonnes of hardware, Steel and Galvanized, We built 16 supersonic tanks, To crash through the gates of paradise..."

Apparently they lost 15 of their supersonic tanks in the effort, but at least one made it through....When we got to Budapest the driving got interesting, but Amy steered a steady course through the mayhem, we picked up the signposts and arrived at "Zugligeti Niche Camping". The site is fantastic, being made up of the old tram terminus and the cutting leading to it. The cutting is wooded and roughly terraced so each camper has their own little plot. With all the greenery and wood everywhere the site looks like something out of "Robin Hood". It also has a very laid back atmosphere (chap at gate in a Dillon-from-the-Magic-Roundabout voice: "Welcome, make yourselves comfortable..." me "err, don't you want to know how long we're staying for?" "Just make yourselves at home, man...we'll sort it out when you leave"). A very welcome change from Vienna, and they also have an excellent restaurant so it was beer and goulash all round in celebration at landing up in such a cool place.

Saturday 16th July 2005 - Budapest.

Woke up to glorious sunshine, and made our way into Budapest via the 158 bus and the metro.  Very cool underground trains from the 1950's era, shame about the rust though.   Once in Budapest we made our way towards and over the Chain bridge, which had been pedestrianised for the summer, and up to the Royal Palace, where we had some great views over the Danube and Pest.  We had decided to get the little railway up to the top of the hill which to be honest isn't really worth the money or the long queue.  Once at the top we slowly made our way down the hill through little cobbled streets with brightly coloured houses and long steep staircases.  we continued along the cobbled streets towards the Fisherman's Basilica and down onto the riverside (Buda side).

Mark and the Railway up to the Royal Palace.         Amy and the View from the top.

We made our way back over to the Pest side to enquire about having a boat trip along the Danube, we ended up going on the Danu bella where we enjoyed free drinks including a cocktail on the return journey.  We sailed up the Danube to Margaret Island where we had a hour sightseeing.  The hour passed very quickly and all we got to see was a big field and a small Zoo!  Back onto the boat and we headed back to the City center for the evening.

Sunday 17th July - Budapest

Today was an admin and a check Hector day.  Amy did all the fluid levels and we updated our diaries. Everything was fine with Hector, even the transfer box which we know has a little leak in it.  when we realised that we had no food.  We went for a walk in the vague direction of a supermarket, but bearing in mind that it was a Sunday, we were doubtful that even if we found one that it would probably be closed...luck was on our side not only did we find one we found an open one with loads of goodies, we stocked up and by the time we had finished it had started to rain, so we got wet.

After a spot of lunch we went up the mountain which overlooked the campsite by means of a chair-lift.  Fantastic views and once at the top we continued our climb by foot up to the top of Janos Hill, where there was a lookout fort. The views from the chair lift were stunning and we would certainly recommend the trip to anyone who goes to Budapest.

Monday 18th July - Budapest

Back into Budapest but this time with the sole purpose of going to the Gellert thermal Bath House.  We were sidetracked with the utterly stupid idea of walking up the very long and very boring Andrassy Avenue in the midday sun!  Don't do it.  We made it to the Millennium park where we promptly sat down for lunch at Robinson's, who served calf's brain and all manner of weird and wonderful things.

We caught the metro down to the Gellert bath house. The bath house was amazing: a definite must do for anybody visiting Budapest.  It was very pretty inside, it had a sort of art deco/neo classical gorgeousness about it.  We opted to pay for everything, the Swimming pool and the Thermal baths. We went through to what we thought was the swimming pool (it was actually the everescent bathing pool) where the ceiling had been slid back to reveal the brilliant blue sky above, and then into the separate Male and Female Thermal baths.  Most people take their baths naked but a lot of the younger generation were wearing bikini's (thank god).  Inside you have 3 different Sauna's; 60, 70 or 80 degrees and two small pools one at 36 degrees and the other at 38 degrees, which were very pleasant.  After that you can have a plunge in the 8 degree plunge pool before entering the Steam room - you can't see a thing in there for all the steam!  We met each other back in the 'swimming pool' after half an hour had a swim and then did it all again.  

I

Once Mark and I had changed I went up some stairs to the other changing rooms to rinse out the swim wear only to find the actual swimming pool, complete with wave machine in the open air!!!  Make sure you don't make the same mistake we did.

Even though we missed out on the swimming pool that we had already paid for we both had an excellent day and would thoroughly recommend it.  

We strolled back to the metro through 37 degree heat at 18:30, so much for feeling clean and dry after the baths.