Day 15 - Budapest

Last night was warm. Very warm. Didn't get much sleep so I was vision of beauty this morning, as you can imagine. Up and out tho, first stop of the day was Memento Park, the 'dumping ground' of old communist statues from around Budapest. They were very impressive and we learnt loads from the guidebook. We felt very clever when we were done there. We all got our pictures taken under Stalin's boots, on a massive platform that he used to stand on and watch people march past. A Frenchman at the top gave Sarah and I a fur Russian-style hat to put on for pictures. We felt very dictator-y.

Back to the centre of Pest and we made our way to the bridge over the Danube. Yes, I sang. Not even assed. Couldn't waltz over it tho, too many cyclists in the way and I have had previous run-ins with cyclist on this trip. I'm having a ceremonial 'burning of bikes' when I return home. The Danube was lovely tho, the views from the bridge are like postcards. We got over to Buda and went up Gellért Hill on the funicular railway. Here, we saw all kinds of police an road blocks which we continued to see for the rest of the day. A big blacked out car had a little flag on the front, so we assumed it was someone important, but we did not recognise the flag.

We had a wonder round the castle grounds, saw Matthias church (pretty impressive) and Fishermans Bastion and decided it all looked like a Disney castle. We stopped for ice cream at the Bastion in a cafe that was far too good for us. We were serenade by a string trio and they played Habanera from Carmen and it reminded me of Fourte and school. I missed the girls a bit then, not gonna lie. However I did have glorious ice cream in front of me so I didn't miss them for too long. On our way down the hill we saw all the police kerfuffle again, but this time we saw a man in full army regalia, looking all important and stuff (after a cheeky google back at the hostel, we discovered it was the President of Estonia). Back across the Danube we went and made our way to the Spa to buy our tea. We decided to be economical and cook for ourselves tonight. Well, we didn't exactly cook... We made ham and cheese salad. It's too hot and stuffy for any other kind of food. We had a big bag of Pom Bears as well, so they became makeshift croutons and Pom Bear Salad was born.

Tomorrow we leave Budapest for Vienna. I am really excited for Vienna, it's somewhere I've wanted to go for ages and I've only ever heard good reviews. We're celebrating our last night in Budapest with a bottle of wine that cost less than a bus ticket and a pack of cards. We are all really tired today. 2 weeks of non stop travelling and touristy stuff has finally caught up with us. We wanted to go on a party boat tonight but none of us have the energy. Does this mean we are old?

Ps, mother, the waltzing across the Danube was marvellous. However, the bridge was massive. You would have cried.

PPS, Patrick, hope you are enjoying being back in school. Is your hair looking ok? You're in year 8 now so I'm presuming that means you take longer doing your combover before school? LOVE YA BBZ