Budapest - Pearl of the Danube

Sat and Sun (3 & 4 Nov 07) - We were in Budapest for a weekend and really liked it. I can see why people refer to it as "the Paris of the East". It is a really pretty place with lots of nice old buildings and has a UNESCO protected boulevard called "Andrassy ut" which is modelled on Paris' Champs-Elysee. Budapest is a great value for money city. Food and souvenir are relatively cheap as compared to other European cities. The Hungarians are also really good with their cakes. If you are ever in Budapest, you've got to try the cakes at Ruszworm in Buda and Gerbeaud in Pest.



Budapest used to be made up of two cities, Buda and Pest, which joined together in the 19th century and are still kept apart by the Danube. On our first day, we strolled along the Andrassy in Pest and made a stop at St Stephen's Basilica (Budapest's largest church) where we saw St Stephen's mummified arm. If you drop a coin into a slot, the glass case with the arm in it will light up for you to see the arm clearly. After climbing up the Basilica to get a panoramic view of Budapest, we strolled along the Danube towards the Hungarian Parliament (third largest in the world). Then we walked across the Chain Bridge to the Buda side and explored the historical Castle District, where we saw the Royal Palace, the Fisherman's Bastion, Matyas Church.

Budapest is especially pretty at night with its buildings and streets all lit-up. The Chain Bridge looks awesome at night too. Sunday was spent exploring Heroes Square, Szechenyi Spa, Gellert Hill, Gellert Spa and the Cave Church nearby.

One of the highlights for me was listening to a choir and orchestra rehearse at the Basilica. Maybe cause the acoustics of the Basilica were really good (or the fact that it was free) , but the choir just sounded amazing. You can hear it on the YouTube below (thanks to Garry).

Guanabara 3rd Birthday Celebrations

Tues (30 Oct 07) - We went to Guanabara (a Brazilian Club in Holborn) to celebrate its 3rd birthday. Trung was also in London that week and it was Valerie's last week in London, so it was a good opportunity to catch up with them. There was an interesting fashion show at the start (my first time seeing wedding bikinis complete with veil and bridal bouquet), followed by a group of dancers who did amazing stunts.

The night ended with a great Brazilian band and us on the dancefloor (yes, I can just see Deb laughing away & thinking back to the time when she took me clubbing in Madrid, according to her, I dance like a block (ie. feet glued to one spot and one hand holding a glass of coke...hehehe...I think I totally stunned the Spanish barman when I ordered a glass of coke. He kept saying: "Are you sure?! Just coke?! uh...okay, that would be 6Euros thanks.") *SIGH* Yes, I know, most expensive glass of coke. I am such a nerd, but hey, still got asked to dance by a French dude (despite me being in sneakers, bobby socks and skirt below my knees & flashing my wedding ring around, obviously the rock is not big enough to be noticed, Garry, I think it's time for an upgrade!!). On reflection, I think I only got asked cause French dude's Spanish friend ("Pedro") wanted to dance with Deb so needed to get rid of the daggy sister!

Anyway, a lot tamer at Guanabara. I was trying to copy Tom's dance moves..he was pretty good...but hmmm...I wasn't too sure about those boxing-like moves!! Still it was great fun. Garry video-ed the band so you can listen to it (click on YouTube).


Max, Tom, Val and Trung on the dancefloor

With Max and Trung

With Tom & Max

No can of coke this time but Tom got us a nice Brazilian softie...tasted a lot like Kickapoo (a Singaporean fizzy drink). Hey Deb, how's my "block-dancing"?!