How often do you get to the end of your holiday and realise you haven’t done everything you wanted to do or see?

This time it hasn’t happened to us. We allowed 6 days in Budapest so we could enjoy everything and not feel rushed. After the swim trek last week in Croatia( if you haven’t read about it please go back on the blog. ) we wanted to relax and enjoy this lovely city.

After our very good dinner last night at Bock Bistro we started slowly and had coffee at the little coffee place next to our apartment.

This area has proved to be a really good place to stay. We like the area of Nyagassy St and the public transport options nearby.

This morning we walked to the markets. All the great European cities have their markets. Here they don’t seem to have more local markets like in France or Italy – they do have lots of little fruit shops around the streets.

The central market is housed in a large high ceiling hanger type building. Very grand from the outside and vast and spacious inside. The aisles are wide and the ground floor has lots of meat stalls with big fat Hungarian sausages hanging and cabinets displaying chicken, pork, veal but not much beef.

The fruit areas are bursting with colour. It’s summer berry season and they are everywhere.

Upstairs there are souvenir stalls with lots of embroidered peasant style blouses. Some very pretty.

Then there are the food stalls. Running the length of one side they are like food trucks with high bench tables. The food looks good so we decide to return after our visit to the National Museum which is nearby.

Once again the size of the Museum is impressive. We toured it starting with Hungary’s history which involved a lot of fighting! This country had others coming at them from all sides. It’s amazing they survived and have developed as strongly as they have done.

The rooms of the Museum are lovely, richly painted, domed ceilings in the central areas and guards who don’t seem to take any notice of visitors as they tap away on their mobile phones!

After a lovely casual market lunch we took the tram 6 and to Buda, across the city. We wanted to take a cog tram up the side of the hill overlooking Buda. Fascinating ride up a very steep hill. There is a carriage especially for bike riders with a rack to store bikes. It’s just so steep!

We got to the top and took a walk. There were lots of trees around so we walked through and found a small train offering a ride through the forest. What was special was that it was completely manned by children.

They were so cute in their little uniforms. There were six stops along the 50 min ride with passengers getting off and on and buying tickets.

They were saluted at each stop.

Such a great ride.

We made our way home to pack and head out to the waterpolo couresty of Rob’s friend Pietro who is captain of the Italian waterpolo team.

They were playing Aus. It was a good game but not the result Australia wanted. Though the Hungarians supported Aus. They don’t like Italy!

Locky Hollis in the Australian team. You may remember him for the Support Rob and Locky campaign. He played so well.

Not a bad way to spend our last hours in Budapest. Surrounded by cheering Hungarians.

And as this looks like being the last blog on this trip, it remains for Frannie’s editor to say what a fantastic observer and author she has become; and also what super swimmer – only a couple of years from “first strokes” to playing with the big kids. Well Done Frannie my travel buddy!