I left my heart in Budapest
Budapest is beguiling. Like true love’s kiss, a visit to this Hungarian capital left us all pining for more.
Our group of Trafalgar guests and guides, led by Helen Hao, GSA of Trafalgar Tours in the Philippines and vice president of Pan Pacific Travel, cruised at night down the breathtaking Danube river. It was cold and the freezing temperature on the deck of the cruise ship proved to be a welcome respite to most of us who braved the cold to get the best views. North of where it divides Buda from Pest, the wide Danube twists through the narrow valley that many consider the loveliest stretch of the river’s entire 1,890-mile course from the Black Forest to the Black Sea.
Our night cruise proved how beautiful Budapest truly is. The city is revered and respected for all that it is. No wonder it is called the jewel of the Danube. One will be mesmerized by the Parliament building both in the evening and the day. Built in eclectic and neo-Gothic style between 1885 and 1904, the House of Parliament was designed by Imre Steindl to house both legislative chambers. The fascinating building is a fine memento of the quest for grandeur and pomp that Hungary pursued while preparing for its Millenary Celebrations in 1896. The visitor, arriving either from Europe or any other countries besides Europe, is amazed by the outstanding geographical vistas of Budapest.
The Romanic Buda Hills, the plain of Pest and the Danube give a special atmosphere to the town. It is gorgeous to see and hear the murmuring metropolis or its lights at night from the top of one of the Buda Hills.
The celebrated Danube Bend is famous for its classic towns, which are historical as well. The most popular of these riverside towns is Szentendre, set up during medieval times by Serbs escaping the Turkish invasion to the south. A plethora of galleries, cafes, museums and churches can be admired here. Stroll by and watch the world go by.
Buda, the more antiquated portion on the left bank of the Danube River, is definitely a sight to behold. Lodge your cameras for the best photographs of the thoroughly constructed Buda Castle of Royal Palace with mesmerizing views of the Danube and Pest’s monumental buildings. For the most fascinating view of the town, check out the views from the Castle Hill. The Castle Hill of Buda is 1.5 kilometers long, one-half-kilometer wide on its widest point and raises 180 meters above sea level. Using the good aptitude of the area, the place has been inhabited from the most ancient ages, on the slopes of the Castle Hill.
Here, the Hungarian kings set up an imposing showpiece residence they called home for seven years. It houses four museums including The Hungarian National Gallery, and some of the nine miles of medieval underground tunnels used during World War I. There also exists in this hill the Museum of Military History, Golden Eagle Pharmacy Museum, Museum of Catering and Trade, Jewish Tabernacle from the Middle Age, The Telephone Museum and Museum of Music.
The Fisherman’s Bastion, on the other hand, is a fascinating place where you can have a scintillating view of the city of Budapest. Hungarian architect Frigyes Schulek built one of the most peculiar buildings of Budapest, the Fisherman’s Bastion in neo-Romanesque style between 1899 and 1905 as part of the ancient castle wall behind Matthias Church. Its lookout towers, terraces and passages resembling the cross corridors of cloisters create a unique atmosphere.
We strolled through the seven turreted Fisherman’s Bastion during the day while some members of our group sailed with the bewitching views from the cruise during the evening. There is something peculiar about the Bohemian aura of the place that fills the ambiance in the cozy coffee houses and bookstores but the fascinating UNESCO-protected neighborhood with its winding pathways and stalls selling handicrafts thrive on its wide-eyed visitors. Some of the ladies in our group like Stephanie Ty, Helen Hao, Judy Chua-Tan and others looked around for knick-knacks. As we watched the world go by, my BFF Bum Tenorio and I sat on a bench and thawed under the sun while munching on soft pretzels filled with orange marmalade and syrupy chocolate, which we bought from a random stall in front of the St. Matthias cathedral.
Other places one ought to visit in Budapest include Café Gerbeaud for the sweet tooth triathlon. It is Budapest’s famous coffeehouse that is a neo-Baroque throwback to imperial times, a delectable place for chocoholics. Since 1858, Gerbeaud has astounded people by its delicacies such as its seven-layer chocolate cake and its famous cherry or apple strudel.
For this special trip, with an itinerary that included Budapest, Prague and Vienna, you can certainly be guaranteed that there simply is no better way to travel than with Trafalgar Tours. You will simply fall in love with its witty, intelligent and charming tour director, coach driver and the entire staff that made sure that no passenger request would be unmet for this sojourn.
Special mention goes to the beautiful and brainy Choy Teh, public relations specialist of The Travel Corporation, which owns Trafalgar. She shared that Mr. Stanley Tollman, founder and chairman of the Travel Corporation, belongs to a family that has proudly run the business for over a century and is now in its fourth generation. His nephew Gavin Tollman, Trafalgar’s Global CEO, has certainly made revolutionary developments for the brand since he took on the role five years ago, which includes developing the exclusive Be My Guest dining experience.
What makes Trafalgar an exciting travel experience is the presence of other perks like Hidden Treasures (discovery of a particular place that is not included in the original itinerary) and Be My Guest (a gastronomical experience provided by restaurants that will normally not be discovered by just another visitor to a particular city.)
While we were in Budapest, we were brought to a typical Hungarian restaurant called Schieszl just a few minutes outside the city. Founded in 1896, Schieszl preserves a century-old tradition of Hungarian and Swabian food specialties and its own brand of good wine from Csopak Gyongyos and Villany. Its owners know how to respect their guests by giving them the best gustatory experience. They themselves also help in serving the dishes that include homemade cooked and smoked pork knuckle, roasted duck with sauerkraut, bean soup, and rice pudding with mascarpone cheese. Homey is the mood as guests are entertained by the owners with stories about the restaurant and the food served.
Helen Hao, VP and manager of Pan Pacific Travel, which is the general sales agent of Trafalgar in the Philippines, lovingly led our group from the Philippines that included 13 travel agents and media people. Our travel director Malcolm Macrae proved to be a very dedicated and charming fellow who led our coach of 44 passengers that included other members of the delegation from Singapore, Malaysia and India.
We had the chance to dine at the Café New York in Budapest. Before leaving Manila, our dear STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte advised us of this beautiful café and we certainly understood what he meant once we set foot in this place for high tea. With a very rich history, the café displays opulence and class reminiscent of its period. The scones and clotted cream with sandwiches and special tea flavors accompanied the classy chandeliers that hang from the ceiling of this very attractive place. The regal and luxurious touch can still be appreciated today. Walking along Erzsébet körút on Grand Boulevard, the soaring building of New York Palace Budapest will catch the eye.
While in Budapest, we also had the chance to sample its delectable Hungarian goulash and chocolate cake at Gundel, a Michelin-recommended restaurant at the city center. We were told that Gundel is so popular heads of state and religious leaders make a stop at the restaurant whenever they are in the Hungarian capital.
Budapest will enthrall you and arrest your senses with a sweet and gentle kiss that will impress you long after you have left your heart in this beguiling paradise.
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Get 20-percent trip discount on Europe and Britain Brochure and 17-percent on Coast Saver Brochure when you book Trafalgar 2016 European Preview sale by Dec. 29. For information, call Pan Pacific Travel Corp., the GSA of Trafalgar in the Philippines, at 536-1265, 810-8551, 243-6666 or its Cebu office at (034-254-0343). You can also email to trafalgarmanila@panpacifictravel.com.
For flight details call Cathay Pacific at 757-0888 or visit their website at www.cathaypacific.com.
Email the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.
