Budapest Overview

I wanted to do a general post about my impressions of Budapest.  Here are some comments:

Cleanliness

The streets of Budapest were “semi-clean.”  They were not filthy and in disrepair like in Istanbul, but they were not particularly clean – you had to really watch for dog mess and broken glass all of the time.  The sidewalks were in relatively good repair and there were usually adequate curb cuts. 

Stroller

We took our MacLaren MX3, a 3-wheeled stroller with wide wheels.  The sidewalks and cobbles were appropriate for this buggy, but it would have been a struggle with an umbroller or other stroller with small wheels.

Queues

 The culture in Budapest seems to be one where queuing is not particularly important and pushing/shoving/blocking abounds.  When we were watching the military parade, (I was not really watching because I could not see through the crowd), I saw a couple of grannies being blocked from approaching.  They eventually gave up.  Also, the crowd was so close to the parade that they actually had to back up to allow the soldiers room to complete their exercises.

Language

It was relatively easy to find English-speaking assistance at shops, restaurants, etc.  I did notice that many of the English-translated signs left off important details.  For example, one sign indicated that a lunch item was “500 Forints” but it was really 500 Forints per 100 gms, which made a significant difference in the price.  I gather that this was done on purpose.

Jaywalking

 Only someone who was suicidal would attempt to jaywalk in Budapest.  The intersections are unpredictable and the cars move fast.  Even the locals do not jaywalk.


Souvenirs


As you know, I am terrible at buying souvenirs.  Instead of seeing trinkets to memorialize our holidays, all I see is future dusting.  So I almost never buy any.  Budapest was no exception, I bought a small tin of local paprika and also a wooden letter toy for each of the boys (handmade locally).