Café Gerbeaud by night

Café Gerbeaud by night, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

I've forgotten how dark the evenings are during the winter months. A bit of a shock walking out of the great hall market and seeing the dark skies. The temperature dropped a lot too. So I was grateful for the thick jacket.

This is Cafe Gerbeaud near HRC Budapest and in Vörösmarty tér 7. It is a famous traditional coffee house in Budapest. I didn't get a chance to go in. ( Bummer) On the upside, I'm still able to wear my jeans comfortably.

GERBEAUD CAFÉ

1051 Budapest Vörösmarty tér 7-8.
Post address: 1364 Budapest Pf. 211.
Opening hours: Mo - Su: 09:00 - 21:00

On the Danube

On the Danube, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

The Danube is a very long river. It originates in Germany and passes through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine and Romania.

That's a whole lot of countries. When I got back from Budapest, my dad asked me " so was the Danube blue?" Anyone who's ever had to take piano lessons as a child would have certainly played a song called " The blue Danube". It's a waltz by the Austrian composer Strauss

Palinka

Palinka, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

Hungarians make the best Palinka. But it's biase because Palinka is only licensed to be made in Hungary. So there you go. Something interesting to digest. I read this in a magazine at the hotel. It is a traditional fruit punch. I read this and decided I should return to Malaysia with some Palinka. I spotted this at the Budapest airport. The prices were in Euro which was good. No massive conversion needed in my head. The person serving said the palinka in these bottles weren't as good as the one in the boring glass bottles nearby. So I bought one of those instead. Haven't tried the Palinka...but when I do,I'll be sure to share the experience.

Pssst the alcohol content may vary from 37% to 86%

The brand "Palinka" is protected by Hungarian and EU law and can only be made from healthy fruits by distillation.

Chinese Takeaway

Chinese Takeaway, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

Spotted this shop en route to the great market hall. ( We took the longer scenic route thanks to some misguided instructions from two different people) Eastern chinese fast food. Their menu featured the obligatory Kong Pao Chcken,chicken with bamboo and mushroom, Onion chicken, Peppery fried chicken ( new..never tried this before) Pumpkin with chicken ( yuck) Duck liver( pate I guess) Thailand chicken, Cola chicken ( do they add cola to the chicken in a stew form) Interesting menu obviously tailored to suit the local taste. I wonder how many chinese they actually are in Budapest.

Qatar airways

Qatar airways, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

I love the idea of being given jammies in flight:) Here we are enroute to Doha and sobsequently to Budapest.

cross stitch

cross stitch, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

I have only completed one cross stitch the size slightly smaller than this little pin cushion you see above. It's a very patient person who can sit down and sew bit by bit.

My mum is a cross stitch fan and she has done a lot over the years. The house is filled with evidence of what a patient and determined individual she is. Today's her birthday. I've put a link on her ipad to my blog but I suspect she rarely visits.

Happy Birthday Mummy. May God continue to bless and look after you. Love you loads.

While we're on the birthday note, FB friends reading this would know...we celebrated my paternal grand aunty 's 97th birthday on Saturday. 4th Ee Poh is a lovely lady. we had a gathering of aunts, second cousins and nieces and nephews all united in the great love we share for this special lady.

glass bottles

glass bottles, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

We're big into plastic bottles. Leading to ( I suspect) a lot of used bottles which are not recycled. We were served glass bottles of mineral water; sparkling ( yay) and non-sparking during the meeting. Slight problem once you're open the bottle you're pretty much obliged to finish it otherwise the bubbles will disappear.

Run run run

Run run run, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

This bronze chap looks like he is in a dreadful hurry. There was no sign nearby to tell me what this represents. I tried googling but can't think of how to google for information. I can't remember the name of the street either.

So we will never know what this represents. And who did the sculpture. Boohoo

* this picture was taken somewhere near Intercontinental Hotel Budapest. I can't remember the street

Hungarian Policeman

Hungarian Policeman, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

This fat chap stands facing the Basilica. Presumably in the past this would make sense...guarding the church grounds. He looks pretty laid back with this protruding tummy he's hardly an example of a trim policeman. There's a certain calmness about him which makes you smile.

Budapest has a few more Bronze sculptures littered intermittently around the city. This was the first which caught my attention. I did so want to pose with this policeman but sadly there weren't many people about at 7:15am. The sweeper was busy doing his job I didn't have the nerve to interrupt him to ask for a picture.

Vaci Utca lace shop

lace, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

Okay, if I could turn back the clock, I'ld buy at least 3 of these. Yes yes I'm pretty sure I would. One long runner, a round lace with bright flowers and finally a decent table cloth.

This was taken at a shop along Vaci Street.( main shopping street where prices are definitely higher than the great market.)

russian dolls

russian dolls, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

The more expensive, the more little dolls you can remove as you go along. Surely everybody would love one ( or two) of these. the number of dolls ranges from 5 to thirty. Matryoshka dolls are Russian wooden dolls. It is a sign of fertility and motherhood.

The traditional nesting doll design is one of a young Russian woman dressed in her native costume with a scarf on her head. Can you spot on in the picture?

If you're dying for one...you can buy it on line:) I 've come across from pretty lovely nesting dolls for sale. tempted. Very tempted.

The start of winter

Budapest, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

When you google months to visit Budapest, you are told (wisely) that October is the start of the colder weather. Closer to the date to departure, the weather forecast then tells us that we're to expect a slightly warmer early October. We arrived to nice warm sun and a temperture of 21 degrees celcius. ( Glorious I hear you say).

That evening, the temperature dropped to 13 degrees so our walk back from the great market hall to the hotel was brr brr brr cold. The next two days were crisp and gloriously cold.

My tartan tights made its debut on Day 3. Bought at the street market in Hongkong during last year's APSR meeting. ( I knew it would come in useful eventually)