8. Beautiful Budapest (Part 1)

Novotel Centrum - formerly know as the Palace Hotel

Budapest & love at first sight! (April 23rd - 28th)

What a positive surprise Budapest was! Travelling in from the airport to the city we could have been convinced we had landed in a remote country side village. From the airport surrounded by gorgeous green open spaces we gradually started to take in big old apartment blocks that became more and more impressive the closer we got to the city centre. The buildings and architecture were stunning and our senses were on fire, from the beauty but also the hectic driving style of our shuttle driver and his reliance on brakes with short notice!

Arriving at our hotel the Novotel Budapest Centrum we were beside ourselves with happiness. The building was stunning and formerly being the Palace Hotel is still held its glamour. There were floor to ceiling windows, a grand piano on the restaurant landing and chandeliers throughout. And our room...It was just huge, and fully accessible! The low set bed was deliciously comfortable and the bathroom was a spacious set up with a hilariously funny basin set up that was only just above my knees! For me to notice how low it was I could only imagine the challenge those of taller stature would face when trying to use it accurately. It was the first time Dickey or I had seen a basin lowered for accessibility and the irony was that because it was so low he couldn't roll in close and get his knees under it.

For those interested in accessibility purposes it was definitely in the top five of all the rooms we stayed in (still to come!) and it was completely accessible without him having to relying on any assistance from me. Despite being accessible there were a few issues that lacked detail - the shower bench was set quite low and wasn't adjustable, which meant his knees fell to the side and affected his balance and the shower rose's made for difficulty. The high shower head couldn't be adjusted to point towards the shower bench and the hand held nozzle was also set low and to wash anywhere above his belly button he had to hold on to it. That meant one hand holding on for balance and the other hosing him down. But true to formhe made do, and got the job done!

On our first glorious afternoon in Budapest the sun was shinning and from the hotel we wandered off into the surrounding streets of the Jewish Quarter. As became the theme of our six days in Budapest we marveled at the architecture. We stumbled upon the main train station and decided to stick to plan and book our ongoing tickets early. After 90 minutes, multiple trips back and forwards between offices and some language difficulty we were booked on Thursdays train to Prague, hopefully with the assistance of a lift at both ends. That is, as long as our emails had been delivered to the appropriate head office and google translate was accurate! Along more incredible streetscapes and past great building art we found a co-op supermarket to get our picnic supplies. Being big fans of a picnic it was only fitting that we made them a strong theme of our trip. Enjoying the language challenge (!!) we had our first experience of trying to order salami from a deli. Thinking I had successfully ordered six slices of the famous Hungarian Salami, I looked up curious why she was still slicing to discover a pile approaching 60 slices. With wide eyes I managed to call a stop to the slicing and we suddenly had enough salami to supply us for the coming month!! Another great find proved to be the equivalent of a $2 shop. With steps to get in I was on free reign leaving Dickey sitting outside minding our groceries and salami supplies. Inside I discovered a treasure trove and emerged some 15 minutes later with a stock of paper plates, cutlery, a sharp travel knife and bowl. Supplies that saw us through the coming eight weeks and proved to be a very good acquisition Stocked up and with our first purchase of ridiculously cheap, good quality European beer we were back in our room, fed and sound asleep by 7.30pm. Ragers! 

Waking to my 37th birthday in Budapest after 12 hours of sleep was rather cool and after a slow enjoyable start to the day, a phone call home to Mum (who I share my birthday with) and a trip to the gym downstairs we formulated our plan for the day, thankfully after consulting the weather report. We had read it was going to be cold here and had adjusted our packing to suit, but what we experienced once venturing out was another level. It was 6o and the wind was icy cold. We had layered up but it was beyond anything we had packed! Not deterred we made our way along the gusty streets towards the famed 'New York Cafe'. One of Dickey's sisters had been years prior and he had read it was great, deciding it was a good spot for a birthday treat. All reviews were right and to see the grand interior, the frescos and gold trim was just brilliant. Well worth the 30 minute wait in line outside in the icy wind! 

While the outside had been stunning, the interior took it to another level!
Enjoying coffee and cake we took it all in and enjoyed the people watching as much as we did the decor. (Note. There is no wheelchair accessible at The New York Cafe, now is there a ramp entry. It was a matter of popping up 2 marble stairs to get in. Worth the effort).

From the New York we wandered through the streets towards the city centre and the Danube. We were busting to see it! Meeting a kind local along the way who tried to offer assistance as we read our map in the street, we had our first experience (of many to come) that 'accessible' doesn't translate well. She made several suggestions of places we should see or go, none of which could be accessed in the wheelchair. Down Kiraly (street) we spotted a Gyros cafe bustling with people and joining the crowd. In the warm interior I had my first taste of the most delicious chicken kebab! Dickey has a love of kebabs and tells many stories about his previous trips away were he practically lived on kebabs and I think now I saw why!! And they were so cheap - 2 huge kebabs plus a beer (who were we becoming?!!) for the equivalent of $10 AUD!!

The City Centre, Vaci Street and the City Market building were just divine, as was the view over the Danube to Buda. Despite the grey clouds. We discovered our first 'Ruin Bar' - the 'For Sale Pub' and headed in to find a Fireman's nightmare! Great wine, beer, peanuts in shells, paper everywhere, straw and peanut shells on the floor and candles burning on every table and bar. Enough said! Of course just as we were discussing it a poor lone diner oblivious to his surrounds and focused on the huge steak he had been served, sat his napkin down on the table. Right over the candle. As quick as a flash one of the waitresses was there, towel in hand and the fire out. Clearly well practiced!

What a birthday it had been, and a great start to our time in Budapest! A perfect day of wandering and exploring, seeing sites to ignite us and many place to venture back to it the coming days. Despite the cold it had been a brilliant day, all topped off with a gorgeous dinner at The Seasons, Budapest.