World Hungary Budapest Budapest

LSL 2011 g&b

Budapest Apr 5, 2012

After spending a leisurely morning in Vienna I left for Budapest on the 11.45am train. I was put off by some of the comments on Trip Advisor which warned travellers about the taxi drivers at the train station in Budapest. I armed myself with a limited amount of Budapest Forint that my hotel advised would be what I should pay. I approached the first taxi driver and showed him the address of my hotel and he wanted 5400 Forint plus 10 euros. I looked surprised and said I didn't have that money and offered him what I had. He refused as did the second and third taxi drivers who had come up to me. I replied that I would catch the underground to my hotel and went over to a nearby bench to consult my map and gather my thoughts. Whilst standing there another driver came up to me and agreed to take me to my hotel for the amount I had. I was worried when he asked me to follow him and I prayed that he was a registered taxi driver. Fortunately he was and I handed him his money at the end of the journey and wished him a Happy Easter and told him he was an honest man. Not sure if he understood me but I sure felt better. Once again my hotel was very central and I went for a walk down the mall and found the Easter Market. I ordered some food and a beer (which I needed after dealing with the taxi drivers). I was standing at a table enjoying the music and markets when a couple of women asked to join my table. I agreed and as we started talking they explained that they taught German at the nearby university and told me about some good sights to see for free. It was delightful standing in the square chatting with them and a great way to meet people rather than in a restaurant. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of west-bank Buda and Óbuda with east-bank Pest. The buildings and history of Budapest are fascinating and the older part of the city across the Danube from my hotel is situated on the top of a hill and the remains of the old wall around the town are visible.