We flew into Budapest without a hitch, in the morning. Instead of taking a bus to the center, we called a Bolt XL for five creatures. Bolt prices are very reasonable, like in Alfheim, or even lower. And what arrives is a licensed taxi. Our impression of all the taxis was very pleasant. They are clean, the drivers speak Shakespearean, they go by the meter, and there is a passenger rights pamphlet in the cabin.
There, as a separate point, is the right to turn off or change the music!
It turned out we were staying right in the famous Gozsdu Udvar. This is an area in the Jewish part of Budapest, next to the largest active synagogue in Europe. It is known for its bustling day and night life. During the day they feed you here, and sell all kinds of souvenirs. I remember soap in woolen outfits, retro-style (60s?) signs, Soviet peaked caps and uniforms. As for eateries, there are steaks from Jamie Oliver for thirty euros. If you, like me, don't know who he is, or prefer vegan food, there is a chic joint Vegan Garden with exquisite dishes made of dead plants.
Once we checked in, we strolled past the center, and admired the Academy of Sciences building. If you interpret the memorial plaque in my ADHD style, you might gather that Count István Széchenyi sat on a diet for a year, and built the academy with the savings. But if you read into it, it becomes clear that the count was someone like Bill Gates. He came up with an analog of The Giving Pledge, that is, he donated the annual income from his estates, and talked three oligarch buddies into doing the same. All this went toward creating the national identity of Hungarians, and shaping them as a unified nation.
Next, at my suggestion, we headed to Margaret Island. It is basically one big park, and I love such places. We took a tram. We discovered that Budapest's ticketing system is quite peculiar. To get on the transport, you first have to scan a QR code next to the door with an app, otherwise there's a fine. This is a very troublesome affair: you have to manage it before the door closes, and the code doesn't always read quickly. On top of that, the code isn't very large, and if there are several of you creatures, you have to crowd and jostle. We were somewhat baffled by this approach.
What we did on the island, you will find out in the next part.
