We are parked up this evening on a campsite in Pest which you all know is on the other side of the Danube to Buda so we are in Budapest! We arrived yesterday after 150 miles up the motorway which was pretty boring but the journey would have taken twice as long on the back roads. The campsite is excellent, €16 a night and everything is included, washing machines,showers, WiFi and electricity. It's a five minute walk to the Metro and then just five stops to the centre of town. There is a bar and good restaurant on site and it's attached to a community centre where we can watch the locals at their dance classes. Last night was Jive and traditional, tonight it's line dancing. They certainly seem to like a dance in Hungary.
We went into the city today and visited Matthias church, the Church of Our Lady,which was stunning. It's not the size that is impressive but the decoration. Every wall, pillar and the ceiling is covered with paintings, stencilled artwork and murals. Considerable restoration has taken place and the attached museum details this and was really interesting. We were also in time to see the changing of the Guard outside Royal Palace by the highlight of the day was the Labrynth underneath Buda Castle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_of_Buda_Castle. There are many cave systems in and around Budapest and this underground feature was great fun, we managed to get lost a couple of times and were spooked by folk appearing out of dark passageways that we had yet to explore. Count Dracular (Vad the Impaler) was imprisoned here for 12 years and his (alleged) tomb is on display. Bizarrely the last feature is a tiny cinema showing old Mario Lanza film clips on a loop.
We've decided to stay another day although rain is forecast for tomorrow as there is much more to explore in the "Paris of the East". I think a trip to the thermal baths is a must and if the weather clears up by evening a boat trip along the Danube by night is highly recommended.
No pictures today as the WiFi is playing up a bit this evening and I know from experience that this post won't go if there are pics included. I'll post pics on the next post.
Pat
Posted with Blogsy
Eastern Europe is a gem that has hidden behind the soviet curtain but is rich in european history. glad you are enjoying it
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