BUDAPEST

3/11/08 - 5/11/08

HUNGARY

Passing time on the train ride to Budapest with a camera, Ipod and a couple of pages of Sudoku.
Our train arrived late in the evening into the very busy Budapest station, instantly we noticed the change in temperature and had to strip of a few layers of clothing, a nice surprise!

Some of the sights on the way to our hostel.We started our morning at the Market Hall (Grand Market Hall - Nagyvasarcsarnok) which is located in the Pest end of Liberty bridge.
The Market covers 3 storeys with the upper level selling hand crafts and small cafes to stop for lunch.
The ground level is were the fruit and vegetables, cured meats and cheeses are and the basement level is for meat, fish and some pickled goods in Jars.
Defiantly a worth while stop while you are in Budapest.
We discovered a fantastic little restaurant/cafe for in one of the side streets for lunch.
It was called Eat And Go Familiar Foods, (I think this is the address 1056 BP. Molnar U. 4-6.)
It was a small place filled with locals, the food was very basic but tasted great and perfect for a backpackers budget, the set menus were great value and fantastic way to try some local cuisine. Budapest is an exciting city with huge potential. The city is currently undergoing major restoration and reconstruction after breaking away from Communism 1989.
The once beautiful buildings and public spaces have been left dilapidated and run down, but every were you look restoration work and new exciting enterprises are happening.
There is a definite buzz about this city.
Enjoying a coffee and the view from the top of Gellert Hill and atop of a double decker bus cafe.
The Royal Palace which houses the National Gallery.A dumpster in the palace grounds lit up by the late evening sunset.The Palace Gates

Old Buda Castel in the early night looked quite breathtaking, once again I had no tripod...very naughty.Enjoying the mild late night weather.Városliget (City Park) is the largest of in Budapest parks covering 100 hectares/250 acres.

Lonley leaf covered tabel tenise tables.
Heroes' Square

(this picture is taken from the net as no cameras were aloud)

For our last night in Budapest we decided to go to on of the world famouse traditional Bath Houses. We went to the large Gellert Bath House. Although it was underconstruction the bath house was a great experince. The main room house 2 baths/pools for both men and women and to either sides of these bathers were the private baths for women and men. Sarah and I enjoyed a very relaxing but very hot steam room then in to a cold shower and the 38deg bath....aaahhh!

Chain Bridge at night another beautiful sight.