6th August 2019 – I have a fitness app. It’s called Google Maps

I walk places instead of taking a bus or taxi. The station looked welcoming when I arrived, but a bit old and in need of renovation from the outside. On my walk I could see there is a wealth divide here. On the way, I could see other rucksacks and I knew I was going in the right direction. After about 30 minutes I found my way. At 1800, Janos was running 20 minutes late, so it gave me a chance to book in. Once I did, I only had £16 available funds in my account. I wish I’d made that transfer yesterday, but I lost track of my payments, and they can take a couple of days to be processed. I bought a small beer and waited for Janos. It was great to see him. Why did I leave it so long?

The Hilton Garden Inn is right in the centre. City taxes and the falling pound have made it more expensive, but it is comfortable and a good spot. The sights are right on my doorstep. Janos and I walked down to the Danube. I wasn’t planning to follow it everywhere, but then again I wasn’t planning to plan anything.

On the Pest side, where we started, I’m next to a St. Pauls replica – from the outside. It reminds Janos of when he used to work in Wood St. We crossed the river, up an escallator, and two floors in a elevator. What a view!

They have a larger version of Marlow Bridge. The same man built (designed) both and it turns out that Budapest and Marlow are twinned. Who’d have thunk it?

We were looking for a beer and somewhere to eat. I was a bit embarrassed as I wasn’t expecting to be out of funds at this point. Detail is important!

We walked past newly built old buildings, and Roman ruins that were being excavated and then filled in again. The ruins could have been a tourist attraction. We saw an ancient cat too!

Houdini was Hungarian, and so was the Lady who directed the Terminator movies. That’s more things for the list. What have the Hungarians ever done for us?

You can enter the Houdini museum, but can you get out again?

Parts of the Old Town still have WWII bullet holes in the walls – lots of bullet holes. This is a first experience for me, and you can only imagine how bad things were.

Next up was a tank. The only signs were for no climbing. No explanation was necessary. This was a Russian tank used to quell the Hungarian uprising of 1956. There is a lot of history here. The Communists decided that some of the roofs on building were too opulent and had them rebuilt.

There is a time to experience and not take photos, so I don’t know where we ate and drank, but the restaurant outside was brilliant. I had goulash soup in Hungary! And this was followed by a great beer and spinach pasta. This is a favour I’ll repay when Janos returns to the UK before the dark day of October 31st.

We took the underground back and I was pointed in the right direction. Then fell asleep on the bed with the TV on. Bloody beer!