Budapest: It All Begins

Take Off (Yes, I robbed this photo!)

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Departure

And so the journey begins. Departing Dublin at 14:50 headed for Budapest. All goodbyes are said at the airport and despite being in the airport 2 hours before the flight, I manage to be the last person onto the plane. I wasn't in the departures areas long enough to hear if they were threatening to off load my baggage as I ran from the security check with my boot laces ope!

Touchdown in Budapest was ahead of time, but that was balanced staring at the conveyor waiting for my bag to appear. I eventually found the hostel down a back alley after some other tourists came to my aid while totally lost, or so they thought?

And so day one begins. Not sure how I felt, with a really long road ahead of me. Leaving cosy living to voluntarily travel with 14kg on my back as my only possessions. But the challenges all lie ahead!!

Budapest Castle

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Budapest..... out and about

My next destination was Brasov in Romania. My first mission to book my ticket on the overnight train at the Kaleti station. My memory of trying to book an international ticket in Budapest five years previously was, with great difficulty: slow, short opening hours for booking and lack of English. Blame the EU but this time was a whole lot different. With little difficulty I got my ticket booked for an 18:10 departure.

From there the city was mine to explore for the day. Maybe just a coincidence the metro stop that I decided to get off at wass the Parliament, but one of the latest additions that I noticed immediately in great abundance were the EU flags blowing side by side with the Hungarian green, white & red. It's mid April, but the weather is beautiful, about 16 degC on a cloudless sky. With the time of year, tourists are fairly thin on the ground. I wandered down the Buda side of the Danube towards Margaret Island, a green haven amid the grey city that is situated in the middle of the Danube. Spring flowers are in full bloom and mothers are out enjoying the weather with their children. The Danube doesn't look too bad for a river that in places has hit it's highest level for 100 years. A leisurely stroll brings me along the Pest side of the river under the imposing castle, before heading back westward. Don't want to overdo it on the first day!! I take no shortage of park bench breaks to watch the city slip by.

Budapest Parliament

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The city seems as alive as any western European city. There are business people on the move in most directions. The locals don't come across as the friendliest bunch in the world, but behind it seem genuine in their effort to be of help.

Onto the train and headed for Brasov. No problems at the border, though I'd prefer if he didn't stamp my passport on the page opposite my Iranian visa. Hope that won't cause me trouble down the road!