Not too much to report today. Up early and metro to train to airport. Wizz Air, discount polish airline, carried us from Moscow to Budapest. Then a bus to the metro and a short ride to our station. Only a few blocks to walk to the Palazzo Zichy (former home of Count Zichy, but completely modernized inside) and we unload in our room.
Tired from the day, and finally no tours to jam everything in, we hang out in the coffee bar and catch our breath before heading out to dinner. Making some plans with lovely woman at front desk to hear a string concert in Matthias church, hear some jazz tomorrow night, and learn that we’re shut out of the hottest restaurant in the city. Oh, well, we will get by somehow. Nice to know that the best restaurant entrees here are about $40 – in Moscow that was a lunch entree!!
After resting, I really didn’t want to go out. But I mustered the energy and we hopped on the subway two stops, very close to St. Stephen’s Basilica. When we emerged from the metro, we saw a HUGE Ferris wheel in the square. Definitely an after dinner stop!
Dinner was at Aszu, and we were seated outside under lanterned canopies, with delicate lights and ceiling heaters. Service and ambience were delightful, although I was pining a bit for the inside sounds of the piano player. In any event, our meal was superb! I went for the local specialty of grilled goose liver (foie gras anyone?). I couldn’t even recognize the popcorn-sized crunch wad of – yes, indeed – a garlic bread crouton. It was swimming in a bath of some elegantly flavored foam and nestled beside a dollop of sweet tomato and corn succotash. All this and liver too!
And as if that wasn’t enough, I then enjoyed the best thing on the menu: beef cheeks with horseradish-potato rosti, blackberry sauce and cauliflower puree. (picture is kind of pink, but actual dish was not):
Mmmm, this girl is definitely eating her way across Eastern Europe! After coffee, we wandered back to the square and rode the giant Ferris wheel. The view from the top of the bridges, parliament, the National Gallery and St. Stephen’s was breathtaking:
what a great introduction to the city! To get some perspective, I am in the dark by a fountain out in front of the giant wheel:
We wandered up and down some pedestrian-only streets and decided to take a tram back instead of heading underground. A lovely change of pace and we agreed that it’s much easier finding our way around Budapest than Moscow (recognizing letters of the alphabet sure goes a long way!). Back to the hotel, a bit of internet surfing, then down for a good night’s rest before tomorrow’s recreation. Joejt! (sorry, no accents on my keyboard)