Budapest- a gem on the Danube, totally majestic and melancholy it takes your breath away for different reasons.
We were blessed with breathtaking views, hot and sunny weather for the brief 4 days in Budapest. This city has an age old charm about it, with its beautiful bridges dotted like necklaces along the Danube. A city rich in history, culture, a bit of old and new, with its charming architecture, landscaped parks and peaceful ambience, it is no wonder that Budapest is called the Paris of Eastern Europe.
Walking and taking public transport is probably the best way to explore this gem of a city. Although the Hungarians are not a super friendly lot, they can be quite helpful in giving directions- just don’t expect small talk like the Americans do, which is fine by me.
I personally felt my experience could have been enhanced if I spoke at least one Continental european language fluently. English is not widely spoken in Budapest and it has given me much food for thought-if I am to explore more of what continental europe has to offer, I must brush up on at least my German skills.
Hungarian food and wine is absolutely superb-their meat stew is flavorful and not overpowering, their wines fine and of an extremely high quality. I highly recommend trying Hungarian pork goulash (pork stew), catfish stew and also their cabbage soup served with sour cream (and a sausage too!). Stews are served with generous portions of egg/normal dumplings. A dollop of sour cream is necessary to maximise its potential.
Apart from the usual touristy sights, we were also in for a gastronomic treat, as the Szeptember Fest (September Festival which is also known as the “Stew” Festival) was going on this weekend. From 300 HUF upwards you can try different types of stew served by restaurants setting up stalls in the park. We spent about 1800 HUF on stew tasting (about £6, approx RM42) and left feeling totally satisfied!
Stay tuned for more updates and pictures!
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