New Zealand to Budapest

Howdy all....well we finally arrived in Budapest yesterday being Saturday avo here.  It took us a mammoth 31 hours travelling altogether.....all I can say is thank god for shift work (who would have ever thought you would say that ah) as it sure helps to build stamina for jet lag! 

Our flight from Hong Kong to Zurich (the second long haul flight) was delayed by 2 hours as there was a thunder storm in Hong Kong.  It was all a bit confusing but we finally got on the flight in the early hours of the morning, took our sleeping tab and konked out for a few hours.  We arrived in Zurich late and consequently had missed our connecting flight to Budapest but Swiss Air were very good and had us rebooked on a flight 4 hours later.  We got a meal voucher so hung round the airport after a good brekkie on them.  Flying in to Zurich was lovely - very green farming pastures all around the airport.

Budapest is very impressive and very surprising.  I guess I had an image of small woman wrapped in drab clothes with head scarves - have only seen one of them begging in the street!  We are staying in Vaci Utca which is right in the city centre and in amongst all the shopping precints - apparently all the rich hang around here and I can see why.  My motto on this trip is 'you aren't here to shop' rather you are here to see the sights and soak up the culture, and so far I am keeping to this...early days though I hear you say!

After one of the most fabulous showers I have had in my lifetime, we headed out to see the city centre.  It was a lovely warm day yesterday (and today the same) so we walked around and ended up by the Danube River having a local beer - which by the way was divine.  Then we headed in to the precinct area and had dinner and people watched.  By that time we were starting to flag so headed off to the hotel for an early night - sleeping horizontal is NOT over rated!

We have a day sightseeing till this avo when we join our river cruise ship so we are going to head to the Great Market Hall and then to the Holocaust Museum (this is closed tomorrow so we will miss it on the tour with the river cruise). 

I have posted some photos on my facebook page - if you aren't a friend of mine yet - add me.