Stage Two

(Parliament)

So after flying on a very long (12hrs) to Germany an on overnight flight which was so basic compared to my last one. Hate to complain, but I will Lufthansa Airlines is backwards. Everyone has to watch the same movie (there are only 4 tv's) per section, the food was crappy and the flight was late. Frankfurt is a chaotic airport and annoying to go through. Not to mention them changing my flight gate three times! Of interest though is that staff bike around on old fashioned bikes from place to place. Kinda cool I thought. Anyway I made it to Budapest to find another chaotic airport. This one however did not have any immigration so no stamp :( for me, and customs were just people standing there greeting you. Anyway once outside it was a bus ride then metro to the centre of town and a quick walk to where I am staying.

Budapest

Well what can I say about this city which I've been in for nearly two days.
It is visually stunning as there is always is something to look at amassment at. The buildings here are so amassing, especially looking at from on kiwi's eye where a huge number of buildings are over a few hundred years old. The place I am staying in looks straight out onto another building which still has bullet holes in it from WW2.

I thought I was in love with this city, but have now after spending more time here realised it is lust. While everything is visually amassing and there is a lot and I mean a lot of places to see, after awhile it becomes just another building. Also there are just too many tourists here (hypercritical I know as I am one). But with all the tourist means lots of people trying to sell tours and sell you expensive food.

This city loves their statues and monuments. There is one nearly on every street and block. Lots of them have people standing in heroic stances or have lions on them. Still have not worked out the significance of the lion yet. I truly think that Budapest has more statues and monuments that all of NZ combined.

This place loves is pastry and its bread. It is hard to escape it wherever you go. Yesterday I tried a national dish which is basically a large piece of fried bread with a selection of toppings on it. Mine had a jam thing. Have to admit it tasted great, though was counting the calories with every bite.

From what I have seen, Hungarian women seem to have a thing for the colour yellow. Sometimes their whole outfit is yellow. The men on the other hand are always well dressed. You can tell the tourist, just because they are the ones in nice but casual clothes.