One holiday ends, another starts

Last day and another early start and goodbye to Gabi (in PG's but only walked to the door this time, read below :))

On the journey to the airport we had breakkie of cocoa snail which was really needed to sustain us for the Easyjet queue in Budapest airport. Its such a popular destination this year.

So as my holiday ended, Dzsini's started and we have just finished our fish and chips dinner (oh i'm such a great cook).

See you in a few months time my second home :)

More pleats!!!!!!!

A very early morning for people who went to sleep a few hours before the alarm went off. Brekkie of pick sausage, cheese on toast and an eventful sari putting on event. I bought Miss Vica a sari in Mumbai and while Dzsini read the internet instructions, I helpped Miss Vica put it on. Needless to say, it wasn't easy and had us doubled up most of the time, especially when Dzsini requested more pleats when we had no material left but he wanted more pleats, more pleats :))

In the afternoon we could have had a leisurely walk to the train station to go back to Budapest but thats too easy, why not virtually run in 30 degree heat with backpack?? We did have to cheat and catch the tram part way where Miss Vica did not pay for the ticket. So for those who read the Cornwall trip....need i say more?

Gabi met me at Budapest train station and we did my weekly shop for my survival in England. Pick sausafe, cheese (multiple), chili ketchup, paprika, pear juice, cherry juice, chocolate and of course turo rudi :)

In the evening Dzsini brought Gabi and I a treat.....coffee beans covered in white chocolate. I discovered that this treat was arranged right in front of me while I was at in the kitchen with Miss Vica and Dzsini while they were speaking in Hungarian. Concept of plotting behing my back, while in front of me makes me feel good :)

Family day - table tennis marathon

The Ana furdo was the first stop of the day which I coped with suprisingly well with. Admitidly her majesty bought my ticket, and I've been there before but I walked in like a local :) Walking out was difficult when I set off the alarms for going through the barrier without swiping the pass (and yep, there is a reason why I didn't tell you this at the time Miss Vica and Dzsini :)) I'm a spa-aholic through and through and was treated to langos when I got home. A deep fried bread with garlic which stays with you for 2 days)

Todays expedition was to Miss Vica's family land, wonderful place with fruits, vegetables, a house, table tennis, an outhouse decorated with signs saying 'radiation, must wear protective clothing, open 10-2, open the door and close the door'.

Miss Vica's dad cooked in a cauldron, yep really a cauldron on an open fire. The meal of onion, bacon, potato, beef, paprika, big cous cous (Miss V's translation) and tomato was wonderful and the good vegetarian I am went back for seconds.

The day was spent with family, lying in the sun, sleeping in the sun for me :) and playing table tennis where my table tennis oooo ooooo noises were heard by all family members :)

The picture here is of the family car, the spongiest car seat I have ever been on. A lada with Cyrillic writing on the dash which has wonderful safety measures of a seat belt that doesn't pull and no rear seat belts. I loved it.

Obersterre

I know I have a tendancy to be late for absolutely everything but combine this with Miss Vica and you have a diaster waiting to happen. Well maybe not disaster, but runing it 30 degree heat is compulsory. The night before I caught the train to Szeged to Miss Vica's and todays expedition was to Opusztaszer (or obersterre according to me).

Great day trip with panoramic painting with Hungarian commentary (I had my Miss Vica ear phones on:)) The panoramic picture actually makes you feel like you are in the picture as the scene is carried on below you. Another interesting fact, they have panoramic pictures in London and Bath too. However, suprisingly the picture in London is of Rome (random). The flooding exhibition was my favourite (of course) and my Miss Vica ear phones came in handy again. We enjoyed it so much we stayed twice.

You can visit every house on the complex with fishermans houses, rich peoples house, poor peoples houses , a windmill, yurts with different subjects inside. Great day which was topped off by running to the bus as we were late.....again. By the way, if anyone wishes to loose weight, go to Miss V's :)

The evening was spent at Miss Vica's mum and dad where they fed us great food - Courgette souffle, mince and cheese, potato, chicken (all good) and then the suprises.....coffee beans.....ubi.....and apples with maggots in them (you can imagine the look on my face but I vouch, they are all great.

Wear your PG's in public :)

It is traditional in Hungary to go out in public in PG's, well to me it is after the 2nd time a hungarian friend wore PG's outside. This time was Gabi taking me to the trolley bus stop in PG's :) The morning was spent in Gellert spa which I haven't been to since 2001, sheer bliss apart from the cold bath that I went into up to my thighs and then ran out of :)

As all travellers know, McDonalds and Burger King are great places to spend a penny and as I was coming out I stood at the bottom of the stairs as a lady passed and I was all ready with my Szivesen...and she said merci. I was so disappointed :)

Our first trip turned out to be the whole days trip. We had planned to go to Szententre and then to cog railway but in the end we did neither and went to the castle district to an exhibition by moon-catchi (actually spelt Munkacsy), highly recommended exhibition.

After the exhibition it was lunchtime (around 5pm) so had chimney cake. A bread covered in sugar and walnuts, nagyon finom. I was supposed to save some for her majesty (Miss Vica) but unfortunately her bit was stolen :)

Tapsi Hapsi :)

Welcome to the diary of my 5th visit to Hungary (or tri-annual visit according to some:)).

The trip started without hitch which is miraculous with my track record. However, this was the first week running that I drove to the airport but this time it was for me. Sometimes I realise what a small world it is. I was sat on the plane and just as we landed I noticed a head two seats in front of me. The head really looked like my friend John and I had a giggle to myself as I was wondering why I know the back of Johns head so well but then it turned out to be John!!!!!

It was such a strange flight over and I actually resorted to asking a group of guys ont he bus whether I was on the wrong bus and the women-only bus has left without me. There was just 2 girls on the bus, all men. There were only 4 women on the flight which was bizarre, Budapest has become the stag do mecca.

Dzsini met me at the airport with a bear hug and a smile at the arrivals hall. As we were going to the centre I had such a strange feeling of not being abroad, the different language, different appearance didn't affect me at all, it was so natural (advice on hungary addictions greatly appreciated.

My back was releived when I dropped my backpack off at Gabi's appartment and the last thing Dzsini asked was whether I had my waterproof coat, I didn't so it then tipped down within minutes but Dzsini loaned me his waterproof tent. Our first stop was to the ampitheatre and it rained and rained and rained. We were trying to fin Aquincum museum and asked a postman directions. You would have thought he would know where to go but after walking a bit and then a bit more we resorted to the tram.

Aquincum is a very very large roman settlement with large baths, town hall, craftsman's houses. Fact of the day, the romans fattened up snails to eat (finom, yummy)

Margrit Sziget (Margaret Island) was our next stop where we met Gabi at the musical fountain, it honestly is a huge fountain with speakers around and the fountain corresponds to the music. Here is a health warning for anyone who goes on a walk with Dzsini and Gabi - if you go to the island take a form of transport with thee like a camel, 5.4km isn't a short distance after a days sight seeing. But it was great and the island even has a joggers spongy path.

The evening was spent watching a silent movie in front of the parliament with a piano. I could not tell you the story but the dubbing we made with stories of the online family, harry potter, dating in cemetaries, mass dating and a gay kiss was much more fun :)