This picture is of the Basilica in downtown Pest.
We ended up eating in the hotel restaurant again tonight (which used up more forints so I didn't have to trade them back). Eleanor wasn't interested in the food stalls outside. We were in our room pretty early and apparently missed fireworks around 10PM. We heard the booms from our room and Eleanor peeked out the window and could see flashes of light, but not the fireworks themselves--I guess they were over the Danube side. We were already in our pajamas and packed to go so we didn't change.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Today was a shopping day (no museums)! We slept in and then headed out around 11 AM or so. On the weekends in the summer, they close some of the roads near the Danube to cars along the area around the Chain Bridge and have a festival with food stands, artisans' stands and music. This weekend appears to celebrate France on this side of the Danube.
We walked over to the Pest side and made our way to the Great Market hall where they have lots of stalls from Hungarian artisans and food vendors. We browsed and we bought! We then had lunch at another cafe where we could sit outside. We like being outside because (1) it is so charming and (2) we can avoid cigarette smoke! We also like to people watch. There are a lot of Americans, Japanese, Germans and French tourists. We did some clothes shopping and other shopping along Vaci ut which is a pedestrian shopping street, but Eleanor didn't see anything she liked enough to spend her money on! She didn't even want anything when it was Mom's money. I guess it's a good thing I wasn't shopping with Amelia. She would definitely buy if it were Mom's money! She did buy some sunglasses and a nesting doll.
We stopped at Gerbeaud's, which is a famous pastry and coffee shop and Eleanor got some ice cream--more properly referred to as Gelato here. It is better than our ice cream too!We then went in search of a bookstore which was in my guide book as having English language books. Eleanor brought 4 books with her and has already finished them. She bought 5 books and hopes that will hold her until we get to London and can pick up our copies of Harry Potter 7. By this time we were hot and tired, so we came back to the hotel to cool off and rest a little.
The phone rang in the room right after we arrived and it was Olivia and Will. It was nice to check in with home!I think we are going in search of dinner at the food vendors in a moment and see what kind of music they are playing outside. We may also go to the neighborhood market for snacks to take on the train tomorrow. Our time in Budapest is almost at an end. We are a little sad about it. As Eleanor said earlier today--I like this country!
We ended up eating in the hotel restaurant again tonight (which used up more forints so I didn't have to trade them back). Eleanor wasn't interested in the food stalls outside. We were in our room pretty early and apparently missed fireworks around 10PM. We heard the booms from our room and Eleanor peeked out the window and could see flashes of light, but not the fireworks themselves--I guess they were over the Danube side. We were already in our pajamas and packed to go so we didn't change.
Stay tuned for more adventures with Kellye and Eleanor. Tomorrow we tackle the international train!
K and E
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