Budapest walking tour

Sorry for the delay in getting to this. We're nearly done in Zadar so this post is very late but we've been terribly busy eating, drinking and having fun.

On our 2nd last night in Budapest we had the retrospective forethought to book an expert in eating, drinking and coffee - and the Jewish quarter - for a walking tour to suss out the best spots. We had actually wanted to do it earlier to maximise the intelligence gathered but alas, it didn't work out that way.

So anyway, we booked Judit for a private 4 hour walking tour. It was great. We learned a lot about the sobering history of the Jewish quarter as well as contemporary culture of the area. We did some tasting of Hungarian wines in a little place with a great set up.

Jeanie tasting wines under Judit's instruction

We also stopped for tasting of local cuisine, where you could get a tasting plate of three different stews for the equivalent of $5. Encouraged by Judit claiming deliciousness, I tried rooster testicle stew along with my more acceptable options of veal cheek and mushroom stew. It wasn't terrible and the sauce was quite tasty, but it had a texture similar to liver which is not favoured by my mouth. Judit expressed her pride that someone who's not Hungarian would give it a go, so I guess that was gratifying.

specials menue - I had 2 specials + mushroom stew

spectacles, testicles, wallet, watch...no wait, testicles, cheeks and mushrooms. don't leave home without them...

Linda looking smug because she didn't eat testicles, with Judit and Jeanie
(who also didn't eat any testicles)

An obvious highlight was the ruin bars, which were established out of ruins from war activity on the basis it was a cheap business venture, but have become the trendy drinking place of choice. I also tried the local liqueur Unicum, which was apparently made originally as a medicine from 40 herbs and 'tastes like medicine and smells like a hospital ward', according to our guide of the previous day's walking tour. I would not dispute this account. I should have worked it out when Judit, after encouraging me to try it, asked if I wanted a water with it.

1st ruin bar

1st ruin bar, my shot of unicum in the foreground

2nd ruin bar

2nd ruin bar

hookah happiness - 2nd ruin bar

Judit was delightful, informative and personable, giving us exposure to a combination of general tourist haunts and unknown gems in the city.

sites on the walk - light fountain memorial 

speaks for itself, but isn't obviously the Rubik's Cube to the naked eye

We finished the night at Zeller for dinner which was fabulous, both in sustenance and wisdom imparted.