2geonomads

23rd April 2014

It’s Blog Boredom time again, folks.

Finally set off on our 8 week trip to Europe.

Qatar Airways for the first time and we finally have to ‘come clean’ and confess that we now travel business class on any long haul flight. After all those years of  flying economy, in my case trying to save a large company like Coats Patons money on expenses, Gail and I have decided that we deserve to travel in comfort in our dotage. We had heard some rave reviews on Qatar, especially business class and they certainly lived up to this reputation. Nothing was left to chance and we arrived in Doha in fine fettle an d ready for the 5 1/2 hour flight to Budapest.

Arrived in Budapest shortly after noon and after a cab into the centre and checking into the Sofitel Hotel ( situated overlooking the Danube and the Chain Bridge) we decided to venture out almost at once.

To keep the jet lag at bay we walked across the Chain Bridge to the Buda part of the city and trudged up Gellert Hill,named after Bishop Gellert who was brought in by King Istvan after Hungary converted to Christianity in the year 1000. Sadly, for the Bishop anyway some Magyars decided he was not their favourite person, placed him a barrel, drive in some long nails and rolled him down the hill into the Danube. He was eventually made the patron saint of Budapest, which seems scant reward for being’tenderized’ as Rick Steve, the travel writer, so quaintly puts it! It was disappointing to see the statue to this martyr and the surrounding walls desecrated by so much graffiti and the whole of the park area on Gellert hill looks in need of some TLC.

The top of the hill us dominated by the fortress known as the Citadella and the Liberation Monument  and this vantage point offers a fine panorama over the Danube and the Pest side of the city.

 Back to the hotel for a meal ( by now too jet lagged to check out other eateries) and turn in for an early night suitably drugged up on Termazapan.

Cheers

The Obese Ferret.