Budapest 10-13 June 2011

We arrived in the afternoon on the 10th of June and checked into our apartment that was centrally located. The first thing we did was find the nearest Tesco Metro! and stocked up on some bevies. We then took a leisurely stroll down Andrassy Street, this iconic boulevard is lined with spectacular Neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses it was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 2002. Along this street you will find many restaurants and shops and the stunning State Opera House. Once we got to the river Danube, we walked along the promenade and took in the spectacular view of the castle district on the hilly Buda side. As it was a warm summer's evening , we decided to dine alfresco and were spoilt for choice in this area with numerous restaurants along the river. We were drawn by the smells of the barbeque at Peppers restaurant at the Marriott Hotel. The food was fantastic albeit a tad on the pricy side. A great spot to catch the sunset.

The next day we got onto the hop on and off tour bus and saw all the main sights the city had to offer. Among them were Heroe's Square where communist demonstrations once took place and St Stephen's Basilica one of the city's most sacred sites. Along the river on the Pest side is the unmistakeable Hungarian Parliament, inspired by the London Houses of Parliament and one of Budapest's most recognizable sights. On the Buda side, we visited the Castle district with it's imperial style architecture. It is also a Unesco World Heritage site popular among the tourists. Nearby is Matyas Church and the Fishermen's Bastion where there are spectacular views of the Pest side. In the afternoon we headed back to our apartment to enjoy a bit of relaxation before our evening on the tiles. We had a lovely meal in one of the restaurants in the Liszt Ferenc ter area. It's a great outdoor location to enjoy the balmy summer evenings. After dinner we had several delicious Strawberry Daiquiris at the nearby Incognito cocktail bar, listening to the music and watching people go by.

Today we had a more relaxed day and visited The Gellert Hotel and baths, one of the best known and most luxurious baths in Budapest. We also strolled down Vaci Utca one of Pests oldest streets. It is a popular pedestrianized shopping street which is always busy. As it was a beautiful sunny day we hopped onto a boat and sailed on the Danube taking in the sights from the river. We got off on Margaret island which is a green oasis in the middle of the Danube. It's a popular place on the weekends especially in summer and is filled with families enjoying a picnic under the shade of a tree or a stroll around this lush secluded island. In the evening we had a wonderful meal at Cucina della Mamma, an Italian restaurant near St Stephen's Basilica. This was followed by a delicious ice cream at a nearby gelateria. Each ice cream ordered was expertly formed into a shape of a rose, a unique way to enjoy an ice cream. All in all a great destination for a cheeky long weekend.