Soaking our cares away in Budapest

In the middle of July we joined Angus and Jamie (and Jamie's sister Zoe and her boyfriend Mike) on a weekend trip to Budapest for some Hungarian goulash, spa soaking and exploring in what is reputedly one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Straddling the Danube is Buda to the west and Pest - where most of the modern city area lies - to the east.

On our first morning we ventured across to Buda and climbed the Buda Castle ramparts for a beautiful view back across the river, before venturing down into the (slightly freaky) Buda Castle labyrinth - part of the Castle Hill cave system.

The caves were apparently used as a bomb shelter during WWII but have now been transformed into a slightly odd experiential place where you wander through caves filled with back-lit sculptures of horses, pagan symbols and in one room, an ivy-covered well spouting real red wine. (Shawn tasted it against all advice not to and can confirm that it is red wine, although it has possibly been circulating for about the last 20 years).

Later that afternoon it was time for a soak in one of Budapest's famous spas. While photography is actively frowned upon (I got in trouble for taking these) I can confirm they are havens of relaxation, including the option of having a vigorous rub-down from the resident masseuse before soaking your cares away in the big subterranean pool...

The next morning it was time for an interesting wander around Budapest's old Jewish quarter and markets

before heading out to the place where communist statues go to die - the Memento Park - featuring huge monumental statues from Hungary's Communist period (1949-1989). The park features statues of Lenin, Marx and Engels as well as local Hungarian communist leaders and propaganda statues. It also had an exhibition room with a really interesting video on the methods used by the secret police. If ever required to make a dead drop I am now much more informed...

While it was a brief visit Budapest was a great mix of history and relaxation. Hopefully we'll get to visit more of Hungary again soon.

M