Boldog uj evet (Happy New Year from Hungary)

Budapest has been wonderful, even without snow.  From Vienna we farewelled the Godfreys and caught a train later.  On the platform I remarked to mum that we hadn't used our seat reservations yet as most trains have had plenty of free space.  Wow are we glad we reserved this time.  The train was packed - people stood in the aisles and in the doorways for two and a half hours.  I wasn't even tempted to offer my seat (ok, maybe if there was an old lady or pregnant lady).  We got to our accommodation with no problems (Budapest is my town and I was in charge of researching the sights and attractions as well as how to get to and from hotels - maybe that's why we had no problems - oops, modest aren't i?).  Directly out from the train near our hotel is the Hungarian Parliament building.  Whoa!  Even seeing it second time was a thrill.  We settled in to our room and never left again that night.  We ate some snacks we'd bought in Vienna and went downstairs to their jacuzzi and sauna, face timed the Godfreys to hear about their day then went to bed.  Breakfast is included in this hotel so we went there and enjoyed a good meal then headed out.  We changed some money and bought a 7 day train ticket so we can pop up wherever the train takes us and give our legs a break (and faces a break from the cold).  We took in a few sights, had some tea then went to the Buda side to see the Parliament building all lit up.  It was about minus three at this point and heading down - brrrrrr!  It was the last day of the year and you could feel the excitement in the air and hear it too with street touters selling horns and whistles ( which every kid seemed to have permanently attached to their lips).
There were some Christmas/New Year markets and so we looked through them, we even looked for some nuts to buy in honour of Kamahl but found none (sorry Mahl).  The city looked lovely at night all lit up.  We walked around for ages then realised it was only 6 o'clock.  We had six hours to wait until midnight (8 hours from sunset to midnight - a long time to wait...).  With it getting colder by the hour and expected to reach minus ten at midnight, we gave up on the idea of celebrating the new year in with locals and tourists alike.  We headed back to the hotel and copied up.  We put our Baileys on the window ledge to chill and turned on some concerts and ticked away several hours relaxing.  The Baileys got cracked open at nine and we toasted the new year in because it was New Years somewhere in the world.  I turned out my light at half past ten but heard the fireworks and street firecrackers in the early hours of the morning.  Our hotel is out a bit from the main tourist streets so our sleep fared better than others.
It certainly made for a quiet breakfast at half past eight the next morning.
A lot is closed today except the baths so we decided to go their fairly early, avoiding the several red throw-up patches on the street (people can be so gross as times).
The Gellert Baths were delightful.  We had a massage in between our soaking and that was great.  It started out quiet but as more people arrived the louder it got.  It would have been marvellous to just have mum and I floating to our hearts content while a string quartet played.  Oh wait, I remembered I am not rich so couldn't possibly have that.  I am sure the wealthy of olde would have enjoyed that as they 'took the waters' in Budapest.  Haylee and Teliah would have loved it but Kamahl and Tanner would have wanted to bombie everyone so perhaps it was for the best that it was just mum and I.  We stayed a few hours then decided to go back to the hotel for a coffee before getting some lunch/afternoon tea/dinner.  We had to dry our hair before leaving as it was minus three outside and not conducive to wet hair.  Mum dried hers then lamented about putting a beanie on and having beanie hair.  I dried mine, looked like an eighties rock star and delighted in squashing it flat.  Even though it was cold, we sauntered back as we were so relaxed.
Tomorrow we plan on getting up early and getting a ticket for the Parliament tour as they sold out or first day here when we tried to go.  Then it will be back for breakfast, then go back to do the actual tour then perhaps a bit of shopping.  Like Vienna the shops are closed on Sunday's (which is kind of strange for a bit European city, not that I begrudge them a family day).  We are going to try and have a cruise on the famous Danube (we have been over it and under it and there is no way I am going 'through it' so this will have to do).  We will try a walking tour sometime also to get some of the history.  So far we are taking it easy.  Going out in the morning, coming back for a free cup of tea/coffee at our divine hotel then going out for dinner and a sightsee.  It is all very pleasant and civilised.
Well I must be off to do my evening meal and tour.
Happy new year and all the best for 2015!  I hope it is a magnificent year for you.

Thanks for reading.