Budapest - my favourite city

Budapest was a revelation.

It was the third European destination I visited. Vienna was the first i visited; but it seemed too spic and span.  Budapest had only been free for seven years. It gained its freedom in 1989 with “the velvet revolution” and still had that communist diaspora about it. The free delights of capitalism hadn’t turned it upside down.

The funny thing is that there was nothing physically solid about forty years of communism. You can tell it happened by the gentle backwardness of this place. But nothing Soviet is left. Its all been consigned to a museum and consigned to history. The truth is most liberal and affluent iron curtain cities, it programme of enlightened communism meant a better standard of living for its inhabitants. The transition between old and new has been smoother than any other countries.

Modern history is alive and well in Budapest. There was a sense of great things happening here. Of course I was one of the first. Along with Prague there was a sense of occasion. That we were exploring new territory. The best thing to do is just walk the streets. There is such a sense of history here. The inhabitants have witnessed the invasion and destruction and nearly forty years under the communists.

Budapest is divided into two parts. Buda and Obuda west of the Danube (Duna) and Pest to the east. They are connected by numerous bridges including the famous chain bridge. If you want peace and quiet stay in Buda, but for nightlife and shopping, Pest is best.

Homestays are a good idea and an absolute bargain. Those old ladies at Keleti-pu station holding pictures of accommodation are genuine and very useful. They aren't as sweet as they look.There truth is that you can splash out here. The devalued forint goes along way

One thing that benefited under the communists was public transport. Numerous buses and trams dot the city. The trams in particular are full of old character and rattle along the river shore. There is an underground system consisting of four lines each connecting each other to the overground stations. One of the most interesting is the one on Andrassy Utca where you walk from the roadside straight onto the platform.

But Budapest is full of new experiences

Trabants creaking along, Horos Ter, rattling trams, the ‘Labyrinth, baboons at Budapest zoo, ‘Action’ Bar, the tight lipped attendants in the museum, the gruff hotel attendant with large moustache, Ottoman bathouses, Moskva Ter, St Matyas templedom.....Lion Courtyard... the Cardinal of Budapest...Gellert Hill....oh, and the Magyars...