Autumn in the romantic Budapest, capital city of Hungary
Budapest 13-16 November 2009
Having to consume the good trip with Alitalia we sought the most advantageous offer in a capital that had not yet visited. The choice fell on Budapest.
Alitalia flight from Fiumicino to / € 85.00 € 65.00 adults and children. The party consists of 6 adults and 2 children.
On the internet we booked the Hotel Mercure Korona (€ 289.00: 2 triples and a double for three nights without breakfast. The hotel is very large, spacious rooms, the doormen are very friendly and speak several languages (including some Italian ); sore is clean: we found dirt under the beds, and so remained for all three days of stay and also cleaning the bathrooms left much to be desired.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Leaving Pompeii dawn arrival at Fiumicino airport at 8.30. We leave the car at the parking ParkandFly (€ 30.00 for 4 days) 2 km away from the terminal, a bus takes us to departures, express check-in, flight time and in an hour and a half we were in Budapest.
First thought is to change money: currency exchange at the airport is not advisable to withdraw money from ATMs better, in the center instead, we found more convenient exchange brokers (the best € 1 = HUF 266). In many shops, stalls and restaurants may also pay in Euros typically at a rate of € 1 = HUF 250.
To reach the city center there are several options: Taxi, Metro Bus, Shuttle-Shuttle. We opted for the latter because most people have, the less you pay (www.airportshuttle.hu): 6 adults and 2 children to / € 70 and in half an hour we are at the hotel.
At 16.30 it's already dark, we start our tour heading towards the Danube crossing the beautiful Liberty Bridge. We had already seen the Danube in Vienna but here is another effect: through the center of the city, indeed divided in two. The humidity as well as fatigue begins to be felt, along a stretch of Vaci utca, make dinner and the girls back to the hotel. Swim, dinner and bed.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
We inform you about the various types of tickets and discover that there is a Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children) to 2200 HUF = € 8 about valid for 48 hours while the rest have bought the book of 10 tickets because the center is running well walk.
The morning program includes a visit to the hills of Buda, but arrived on the Danube, we found ourselves faced with an unusual spectacle: Buda and you could not see more than the bank of a river seemed to be on a waterfront, the bridges were lost in the clouds .
We decide to stay in Pest and visit the beautiful Parliament, the Italian visit is at 11.30 and is free for EU citizens. Missing only one hour but there row quickly we get tickets and enter into precise guided by a friendly guide. The visit lasts about half an hour, crossing a part of the building including the main hall of the crown and a classroom of parliamentary work, is also interesting because the guide goes over the whole Hungarian history to the present day.
Outside it is still wet, the fog thinned, but it is still cold, we decided to continue to visit places and so closed by tram No. 2, which runs along the Danube, the Chain Bridge and return to enter into the Great Market Hall where the floor the colorful stalls offering food (fruit, spices, meats), especially souvenirs upstairs.
Upstairs you can also eat at one of the stalls offering hot meals to eat at the bar (if it is placed) or self-service restaurant where you can sit and € 32 (you can pay in Euros) we ate goulash meat, vegetables, legumes and a huge steak with vegetables, bread and drinks (water costs more than coca-cola or orange juice). The market today closed at 15.00 on other days at 19.00 and Sunday is closed.
In the afternoon visit the imposing Saint Stephen. Are 18.00 and is already dark, we arrive at Nyugati station, built early this century by Eiffel (the one in the tower) and the West End shopping center where we were informed, there is a skating rink; so while me and Martina we enjoyed on ice, the rest of the group took the opportunity to go shopping.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Beautiful day, almost spring. Morning dedicated to the hills of Buda. From the Freedom Bridge, the tram 19 there led to the Chain Bridge and from there a cable car (payment separate ticket) led us right to the Royal Palace (the path is short and you can also do walk). On foot we reached the center of the hill with the church of S. Matthias (open only on Sundays between 13.00 and 15.30) and the beautiful Fisherman's Bastion.
We spent Sunday afternoon at the park: buy "bread and butter" and get to the "Woods" in the city from a place of rest and fun for all ages. In the park are the zoo, a funfair, circus stable, a lake for rowing, a skating rink under construction and baths with outdoor pools open in winter. Typical to see people in costume sitting by the pool as it was summer, while we were wearing jackets and hats as the hot thermal waters, the warmth that makes a poolside there is a temperature that could easily be in costume.
We continue around the square of the heroes that closes the park to the west, here stands the Millennium Monument and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier protected by the Archangel Gabriel placed on high column.
We spend the evening in the center along the Danube, its beautiful bridges and the hills of Buda lit. 19.00 am 22.00 but seem to have shot and seen so much, the weather was clement, for a Sunday in mid-November could not be better.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Tonight we go home, we rendezvous with the Space Shuttle to h 16.30. Prepare your bags and leave them in storage at the hotel, we decide to walk to the largest synagogue in Europe. Entrance (1600 HUF 300 if you want the guide) includes a visit to a museum collection of Jewish objects from Roman times to today.
The weather is bad, even if it does not rain, and it is very cold, we decided to spend the last hours of the covered market for the last shopping and have lunch again at the self-service restaurant because everyone liked it, is very clean and the girls ate decorated, also there's always live music.
To 16.30, punctual, and the shuttle arrived within 40 minutes we are at the airport, express check-in and so everything is right but .............. to arrive at Rome Fiumicino's strike with two hours late. When we get home is the night, tomorrow we go to school and work.
Goodbye Budapest.
Gennaro