Boiling Budapest - Hungary

The sunflowers and wind farms saw us safely over another border crossing into Budapest. There is field upon field of turbines here surrounded by their gloriously sunny neighbours who don't seem to mind their drafty environment, nor are they found complaining about the after hours noise. Patrick is internally at war with the Australian Liberal Party and it's lack of love for renewable energy. Already, on seeing the many smart travel options available in Europe, he has penned his thoughts to our local Mayor regarding improvements for Vincent. So I will be interested to see how he tackles this next hurdle.

Daniel meanwhile, content with his last two purchases at his side (Salzberg offered him a cork shooting cross bow), was able leave the cares of the world to his brother and drift off and let the hours of the journey slip away. 

Budapest is full of beautiful architecture. Thousands of years of history in one little spot. However, when travelling with two energetic, action seeking sons who haven't seen an oval, let alone a ball for weeks, it's time for some fun. Sometimes this needs to be cultivated for when your family is your only company, fun isn't always top of the priority list. So with the heat wave in full swing now, we decided had to be wet!

Brothers - chewing the fat...aka gelato

Elizabeth Island sits between the banks of the Danube and was a 15minute walk from our apartment in the hip and happening Pest area of the city. It is a pedestrian only island where the locals and tourists alike come to engage in Tai-Chi, cycling or the driving of funny little electric cars (for a fee!). There is a great fountain that 'goes off' on the hour and is not dissimilar to a fireworks evening. I found myself half expecting to hear the tiresome Australia Day fireworks soundtrack of the last decade and so was relieved to hear the more culturally appropriate numbers. The synchronicity was impressive and we happily cooled our feet and let ourselves be absorbed by the scene.

We were unsure if today's adventure was quite what our family was after, but seeing as it was wet and local, we were determined to make it FUN also. After following our fellow sojourners to what we thought was a public pool, we were excited to see not only that, a wave pool, a whirl pool but also a fab waterslide area.  

After the boys tried Blue (hopeless unless you are 5), Graeme defied gravity in Orange (and came away with G-Force face-ache), we all decided Yellow was good but over pretty FAST. Purple was the definite winner when you're seeking F-U-N. It had single and also tandem tubes to share the ride and although the queue was getting a little lengthy by the end our time there, it was certainly what we were after.

There was a purchase of a skim ball (and a soccer ball but for future use) that took Hungarian pool side bathing to another level. Our kids were the only ones in rashies and playing "King of the Pack". I don't think they really got us Australians that day.

King of the Pack Australians vs Canoodling Hungarians

The wave pool wasn't my idea of fun. It was like a big communal bath full of Europeans who may have obviously never been in the surf as we know it. It's popularity was clear when at certain times of the hour, a bell was heard echoing across the waters, calling those who wanted to hang 10...minus the board of course. It was a frenzy of activity and we became the 'mean parents' who set limits on our charges. Earlier in the day, Daniel had already found himself half submerged, pinned between a pool wall and three big ladies attempting to exit the Whirlpool. Not fabulous so we were on guard.

With the day had cooled and our energy levels depleted it was time to leave the party and head home. There seemed to be a change in the air and we noted an ominous sky heading our way. What was moments earlier the best day ever for our Patrick, was quickly becoming a catastrophe. Although not admitting it at the time, he later revealed he felt we might all die! To be fair, the winds did seem cyclonic in strength and the people huddled in shops and doorways to escape the unfolding drama. Daniel, however, seemed to find great pleasure in the crisis. These innate responses reminded me of when I spun us in the caravan back in 2010

Making for home

Fallen branches and street chaos were not just a figment of his vivid imagination. Why don't we listen to you my boy?

Architecture, as I mentioned, wasn't highly prioritised by our band of merry men. Mathias Church on the high side of the Danube, charged to get in, so we didn't. Perhaps Sunday services are not so well attended? Or perhaps parishioners 'give' at the door, rather than on the plate during the service? Either way, the only architecture we did take some time to get to know was the bronze miniature of the Castle district, including Mathias. Obviously much loved due to the missing patina, it was wonderful to enjoy the tactile nature of sculpture, and there was even a section of braille for the sight deprived.

Another bronze we visited was a tribute to Czech victims of Nazi concentration camps. Daniel asked "Why shoes". Was it to show the very place they were removed from the shore they loved? Shoes are, at their most basic, very personal items. Perhaps it was a representation of everything they lost during their imprisonment, not only freedom and possessions but identity.

House of Parliament-impressive though not visited

Views from the Fisherman's Bastian

Another Budapest bronze

Our last evening in Budapest was a treat at 'Hungarikum Bistro'. Always fully booked the traditional home cooking style restaurant was a winner from it's waitstaff to it's food and back to it's live Cimbalom playing musician! A 'cimbalom' is a Hungarian instrument that looks like the inside of a piano, sounds like a harp and plays like a xylophone. When maestro began pumping out some more recognisable tunes, a few family members were a touch embarrassed when their mum decided to first hum and then sing along! But as it seemed to put a twinkle in this old man's eye, I paid no heed and believe I may have made his evening. I eventually received his, and the crowd';s, applause, so that made my night!

Interesting presentation - Patrick's platted pork

Playing one night only to a full house