Day 154, 5 December 2012, After our 4 hour walking tour it was a wonder we had any energy left to drop into the Hungarian State Opera House on the way to the hotel. We picked up a couple of last minute tickets to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet performed by the Hungarian State Ballet - wow!

(http://www.opera.hu/en/A_diotoro/201212051800/cselekmeny)

This is the synopsis and also check out the gallery. Pictured above is the scene of the Snowflakes.
Neither James or I have been to a ballet before, and we thought if we didn't enjoy it particularly then we could just listen to Tchaikovsky's score and relax. It was, however, utter magic. The opera house is considered to have the third best acoustics in Europe - (La Scala in Milan is the best, followed by Opera Garnier in Paris). The music that swelled from the orchestra was sublime and without knowing a thing about the Nutcracker story we were entranced with the surreal sets, the opulent costuming and the stunning dancing. We will sleep with visions of sugar plum fairies, dancing snowflakes and mouse kings tonight!
PS... Hungary was once a pagan country, then controlled by the Ottomans (muslim), then Christians. As such, at Christmas it is baby Jesus who brings presents. However - tonight, the 5th of December, Santa Claus brings chocolates (if you've been good all year) or a piece of wood (if you've been naughty, or I suppose very, very, very good). You must clean your boots, and place them near a window and in the morning you will have your present). So in an odd way, tonight felt like Christmas Eve for us and the Nutcracker was our gift. Sweet Dreams.