Random musings going to Budapest

Please excuse the appearance of this post as I'm doing this on my phone.

I felt like writing a post now which goes against the grain because it's like writing a review for a show during the first interval.

I flew to Budapest, Hungary today to take the waters and see a friend. I was getting withdrawal factors of hot springs in Korea and Japan so thought this was an excuse to discover a city I kept meaning to visit.

I flew Ryan Air which is a budget airline.

Only budget airlines and private jets board from the tarmac nowadays.

Had the funniest guy who was part of one of many stag parties.  I asked why they chose Budapest and he said it was the only plane last minute that had seats for 6 people. Ryanair has changed the way people travel...

While chatting he told me how his girlfriend was a shopaholic. When they first dated his missus, she wanted to make an impression and bought a special dress she bought in town. ( I think they were from Essex/Suffolk borders.)

She asked him what he thought to which he replied, "nice" but he told me he thought it was too lacy but it was too early in the relationship to say.

She then said - Nice? This is "dolce gabbana"! ( but say it in a Essex/ east Anglian accent)

He went - yeah well it's a bit of dodgy garb on ya but you look lovely.

Dodgy garb?!

It's bleeding Dolce bleeding gabbana.

Apparently it's their inside joke now but I got such a kick out of the story so wanted to share.

Another highlight was a lady in the opposite row offered me ten quid for my pret a manger sandwich which cost less than half that. I say a black market of non Ryan air food is an untapped market. FYI - I didn't sell.

As I arrived in Budapest, I realised how in prepared I was. I brought Euros but they have their own currency even though they are in the EU like the UK.

I know they were part of the Austrian empire but not much else.

I can make fun of most nationalities but realised I couldn't mimic an Hungarian accent and how would I take the mick out of a Budapest resident? 

How do you even refer to a resident of Budapest?  Budapestan? Budapestian?

I knew about goulash too though I didn't have that for dinner.  I went retro and had a schnitzel with ham and cheese with a side of stroganoff spaghetti garnished with oranges which must be a communist vestige.

I then tried the Hungarian version of topfenknudel. ( forgive my spelling to those from Central Europe)

It was the size of two fists and the cottage cheese and curd mix was like dough polenta and stale oatmeal covered in sour cream and powdered sugar.

To burn off the stodgy fare I visited Szechenyi baths which was one of the main reasons I came here.

It's one of the most magnificent public institutions anywhere. If I lived here, I would be here with my friends wading in the 3 outdoor pools, double digit indoor pools and saunas. A nice way to socialise that is healthy and not sedentary.

Hope you have a lovely weekend x

Ps will be replying to any comments when back in London