Paris was grueling. We did everything on our list, but paid for it with fatigue and swelling. What a relief to get back to Budapest. The flat and the neighborhood are familiar, we know pretty much how to take the transport, where to shop, and how to get to the baths. We are relaxing and taking our time.
Photoblogophiles will have to wait a bit while I get some editing done. Since we are taking our time here, there is lots of editing getting done, but lots more to do. We will be at Tony and Francoise house for the weekend and have arranged a studio flat at Earls Court for the week after. Both places have free Wi Fi, so ideally posting will get done.
I am typing on a non English keyboard, so my usual bad spelling and creative use of punctuation is exacerbated. Some things I cannot even find when looking, so I have to ask more of your usual forgiveness for my composition. Also, every word I type shows up as a spelling error. Amusing and frustrating.
So, here is news that I am prettz excited about. Kristine has decided to rent her flat. Her ideal tennant would be 6 to 8 months. Someone here for an academic year or something like that. However, she would be open to renting it via word of mouth, so we can think about it for extending our stay next year, or friends could inquire.
It is a small flat. 3 people could be comfortable if they are very compatible. 4 people would be pushing it. Perfect for 2. Expansive for 1.The bathroom and kitchen have been remodled and the whole flat repainted, so it is light years from what it was our first visit. The only drawback for us is the bed. It is fine size wize, but a bit firm for us. Still, we love the flat and would come back. Its best qualities are its location. There are two supermarkets within two blocks and a Costas Coffee as well. We will never make it to Costas because there is a little espresso machine in the kitchen and Kristine has left us some Starbucks espresso grind, so with a little tej from the Tesco, we are zooming.
If you were to read the guidebooks about Budapest, they would recommend at least a part of one day in this neighborhood. It is lovely, and we think it is better for staying than the usual tourist hotels in the middle of town. There is a good feel to the building and neighborhood, with plenty of good shops. There is a tourist office about 3 blocks from the flat, so information not so far away. We love the little eateries within a blook or two of the flat. We plan our big meal at midday and snack from our refer at night. Thus far we have eaten at the little Hungarian restaurant just around the corner from us and paid less then 3ööö forents or less than 15 USD. Yesterday we ate at the big market downtown and had abundant plates of good food for about 25 USD, and today we ate at Marcias favorite Turkish restaurant about a block away from the flat. About 15 USD. Big meal.
Yesterday we made an excursion to the baths. We chose the Gellart because they have indoor pools and the sun is shining here. When we came three years ago in May, it was cool and the outdoor baths were fine, but it was warm yesterday and we prefered to be inside. They have changed their system a bit, with some advantages and disadvantages. The admission and locker system is now electronic. Im sure the women who had jobs opening doors and sending people on their way were unhappy with the new system. There are times we miss the old gals, like when men come in the ladies changing rooms, but once you get the hang of using the little electronic device that looks like a watch, it is really much easier and less confusing than being ordered around by someone speaking what sounds like gibberish to you.
One can actually forgive the men wandering in the ladies changing rooms, as the place is a maze and most people are there one time, and the signs, though in a kind of English and German and Majar may have at one time been informative but are now sort of general suggestions. I managed to find all of the pools I had visited on our last trip, and actually discovered that the best and hottest two pools are now for women only. One supposes that there are also two like them for men only as well, but being content with the women only, I was not inclined to wander.
The Gellart is not cheap. About 35USD for use of the facilities. We brought our own towells-they might even be towells we bought last time we were here-they look very familiar. This is also a place where ones flip-flops or crocks come in handy. Anyway, we were clean and relaxed and de-swelled and quite pruny when we forced our wet noodles al dente bodies to get on the tram for home.
We only need walk the two blocks to the train station to catch either the metro-two of three lines converge here- or the tram for the inner ring which takes us to the #2 tram that travels along the river and behind the Parliament building to the town center. We bought a weeks transportation pass for about 24USD each. Its easier to deal with than tickets and probably cheaper in the long run. The ticket seller validates it when you buy it so you dont have to keep validating it like tickets. There are subway police out checking, so always smart to buy the pass. Passes good for longer times require a photo. I believe we still have our photos that we had made at the mall here three years ago. Once validated, the whole of the city is yours.
There are plenty of things to do and see here. Check the 2öö7 blog entries for some of the things we did. Thus far this trip we find ourselves more interested in the baths than anything else. Thursday we will plan to have dinner with Kristina at Boglzvar, a restaurant we enjoyed our last visit.
We get your emails-usually on the BB. We may not alwazs respond right away. Check the blog, and when possible we return emails.
Almost forgot. Flat has a brand new washer with a 3ö degree and 3ö minute cycle. With the clothes drying rack we are in business!
KG
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