I ordered a beer to start with, then proceeded to order some typically known Hungarian dishes. Some might say I chose the most boring selections I could, but at least I definitely know what a real Hungarian goulash is now. One point of note: Hungarian food has plenty of paprika in it. They also don't mind throwing in the spice.

Soon enough, I was spotted by the musicians and they asked why I was here (probably more because I was by myself). I told them that I was celebrating my birthday and wanted to try some Hungarian fare. You know the next bit... well, it's probably better than dimming all the lights and making all of the waiters stride out in a chorus line, but either way, the two talented musicians played an articulate rendition of Happy Birthday. A small tip later, they proffered to play another choice of song. I asked them to play something Hungarian. So they played the Hungarian Dance No. 5, which for anyone who has ever learned to play a musical instrument before, particularly piano, would know and recognise playing that song some time in their life.

The food came out with a generous bread basket. I thanked the musicians for their performance and wished them a good evening, before tucking into dinner.


This is goulash (gulyásleves). As can be seen, it is merely a paprika laden soup, though there are some variations which are cooked to a stew, but still very soupy.


This dish is commonly called a goulash outside of Hungary. This is called pörkölt, and this one is served with small dumplings...


...and accompanied with a pickle vegetable salad, including some hot peppers and chillis.

I'd have to say that the food tasted great, though that said I'm no authority on Hungarian food so it may have been done better, I don't know. On top of that, being that it's a restaurant in the Castle Hill complex, and they give you a menu in English, there's always a high risk that you're dining at a tourist trap. Still, I didn't have to part with a whole lot of money for what was a decent quantity of food (and very filling at that), so at the expense of taking a naive risk, I think I did well. I thanked the waiter for his service and commended the food, then started heading back to the hotel.

As I walked into the Executive Lounge on the way back to my room, I was intercepted by the Executive Lounge waiter and Executive Manager. They asked if I had a good dinner, and said that it was now time for dessert. I was sat down and offered a glass of Hungarian Tokaji sweet wine, as well as a slice of Dobos cake (Dobos torta). There weren't many people in the lounge, so the waiter managed a good conversation out of me - such a good person to hold a conversation with! - as well as ambitiously keeping my glass topped up with wine. I had to beg him to stop pouring the bottle, otherwise the result may not be ideal! (Didn't help that I still had sec left in my room!)


Slice of Dobos cake and a glass of sweet wine.

I managed to make it to my room on my own steam, and around my room as well. For the rest of the night, I prided myself on not chucking up as I was full of beer, wine and sec. I even managed to do a load of laundry and set it on the air conditioning vent near the window to dry out overnight. A bit of a walk around my room to let the food settle before I laid in bed to get some sleep before my last day in Budapest tomorrow.


Thursday 19 April 2012


I woke up to a sunny last day in Budapest. There was still at least one place I wanted to see in Budapest..... but first thing's first. Breakfast, then packing my backpack, then checking out. Now I would be able to go straight from hotel, do some sightseeing, then straight to Keleti to catch my afternoon train to Bratislava.

Apart from a spa session, the only two other places that came to mind in Budapest that I wanted to see (apart from possibly going into places) were Gellert Hill or Margaret Island. The latter is an island in the middle of the Danube River, and filled with parks and green space - a lovely place to go for a walk. The former was one of the first places I saw as I was being driven from the airport, particularly the large statue on the top of the hill, located near the old citadel that stood there. In addition, caves had been carved into the hill.

So the decision was made - I was going to Gellert Hill (Gellérthegy). A walk down out of Buda Castle near Déli and a bus towards the base of the hill. Another bus in connection took me a fair way up the hill, but even after that it was at least another 15 minutes of walk up the rest of the hill to the Citadella.

You get a great view of all of Budapest once you're at the top of the hill from the citadel; also, it seemed to be a popular hangout for shell game scammers, for some odd reason.




A great view from the Citadella on Gellert Hill.

The citadel on top of Gellert Hill has, to no surprise, been historically a place of great military strategic importance. Most significant in two Hungarian revolutions and World War II, it's been occupied by Hungarian monarchy, Axis powers and the Soviets. The courtyard at the very top of the citadel makes a wonderful place to walk around, as well as showing a bit of history of Hungary's political past, however you do need to pay to get in (but it's very cheap). A special bunker exhibit is an eerie and dark museum about the Nazi occupation of Budapest.


Courtyard at the top of the citadel.


An old gun near the walls of the citadel.


A mannequin guard in an imitation guard house stands near the entrance to the eerie bunker exhibition.


The Liberty Statue on Gellert Hill. This very tall statue can be seen clearly around Budapest at great distances due to its size and position on top of the hill. Erected in 1947, it commemorates the liberation of Budapest from the Axis forces and honours those who have died in World War II.