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Published: October 15th 2008
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Budapest Budapest, formally two different cities, Buda and Pest, while today still remaining quite different, are the result of 2000 years of conquests by the Celtics, Romans, Bolgers (now the Bulgarians), Magyars, Mongols, Magyars, Ottomans, Turks, Austrians, Nazis, Communist, and than alas it wasn't until recently Hungary claimed the city for it's very own. If the last 2000 years was an hour clock perhaps a mere few ticks of the minute hand would represent their true independence.
Hope on Hop Off Tour
Whenever you have a big city and little time I always recommend a good hop on hop off bus tour to hear and city important cites of a city. Budapest was no different.
House of Terror In visiting the House of terror expect to be bothered or at least sullen with sympathy for a few hours. Despite that I still recommend it. The museum is interesting, entertaining, modern, seemed objective, and goes a long way in helping to understand the recent past of Budapest, Hungary.
Spa Traditional public baths in Budapest are some of the best in Europe. I'm going to leave this one to wikitravel (Don't blow it off
cause I didn't write it and if you do skip this part, don't skip the 'dinner' section):
Traditional public baths (like Gellért, Széchényi) have quite a complicated navigation and Soviet-time service and admission system, but it's worth going through to experience authentic bathing with locals around you. At the cash desk at the entrance, you are expected to select treatments / areas to access in advance. Time to spend in baths is not restricted, but if you're finished earlier, some part of your payment may be returned. The only thing that can't be paid at the entrance is rental of towels and bathrobe (and/or deposit for it)--it should be paid inside, right where they are given (with the exception of Gellért - towels, etc are paid for at the entrance). There are two types of place to change clothes: a common room with lockers is cheaper (male/female-separate, of course); cabins can be used by families and may differ in size (2 or 3 persons). For cabins, you're handed a token with a number, which is also written on a chalkboard inside as a security code; you need to remember cabin number. To open your cabin, show your cabin and
a token to attendant, and s/he'll check it against the number inside. In swimming pools, swimming caps are recommended (and are available for rent), although this is not always strictly enforced.
Gellert Bath
Inside Szechenyi bath
* Széchényi Spa (Széchenyi Fürdő), Pest, Állatkerti krt. 11 (right next to the Zoo; metro: Széchenyi fürdő, M1 yellow line), . Indoor part open daily from 6am to 7pm; outdoor 6-10pm in winter; summer-time hours may be different.. Built in 1909 in the present-day City Park, this is the largest spa in Europe. edit
* Prices: 2.600 HUF entrance fee, includes rental of a locker (locked by a key) or 3.000 HUF entrance fee, includes rental of a changing cabin (locked by a key). 700 HUF refund for leaving within 2 hours.
* There's a number of free safe boxes available - they can fit a notebook bag or attache case, but hardly a notebook backpack. Do not confuse the safe-boxes with the lock-boxes, both in the central corridor between men and women's changing rooms.
* Its recommended that you bring your own towel or bathrobe, as the towels available for rent are more like bedsheets.
Cerloczy Kavehaz Menu
The Restaurant is a block or two of the main road through Budapest, not the easiest to find, but well worth it for what seems to be a french inspired Hungarian restaurant. * Outdoors: Two hot soaking pools and one swimming pool are all open-air (even in winter), and form the center of the baths. All facilities are shared by men and women (except shower and toilets, of course). There's a swimming tube (a whirling corridor): round- (outdoors) or rectangle-shaped (indoors) pool with artificial flow, a feature difficult to find elsewhere. Another specialty is a tradition to play chess while sitting in the water - even in winter. One or two cafes/juice bars are available directly from the swimming deck, near the cabins, year-round.
* Indoors: Several saunas, one steam bath. Cold-water pool, hot tubs, aqua-gym pool with weights. Northern part of indoors baths is more modern and clean.
Dinner I was so compelled by the restaurant Maria choose (seems like she always has good taste!) I thought I'd post pictures and describe everything - See pictures and commentary below.
Travel tips and links: - http://wikitravel.org/en/Budapest
- http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Hungary/Budapest/Buda/blog-334624.html
- If you arrive at the train station with no reservation for the night, no big deal, they have a great accommodations service at the the train station. Typically you can find something within walking distance
and they even offer a shuttle to take you if it's more than a couple of blocks away
- The metro is clean, efficient, and easy to use
- We stayed at a place called Marco Polo. I wouldn't recommend it unless you are in a bind.
- A German bloggers blog on the restaurant: http://skulablogg.blog.is/album/Budapestnov2007/image/373550/
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