A Trip To Budapest

Without the Children!

Now this isn't saying we don't love to travel with our children, as we truly do, but also it's nice to sometimes do things that remind you that you were once a young couple that used to travel easily and frequently. 

My wife (not pictured above) ended up with some extra school holiday, which meant that we could take advantage of a trip that was a little cheaper than ones in normal school holidays. She mentioned it to me, with their nan staying and looking after them, and I said I'd always fancied Budapest. Next thing I know she's booked it, from the Monday until the Thursday. Cheap flights, a nice hotel and a busy city, very different to our day to day lives. 

A big part of me felt very guilty about leaving the children behind (and let me tell you, our middle child did not take it well initially). But I also thought it was great for them to spend some time with their Nan as well, and it really helps to strengthen relationships. It also helps them build some responsibility as there is a lot of jobs to be done each day, and things to look after. 

Travel in Europe by plane always feels a bit mad. It seems crazy that I can go from a field in Herefordshire to the middle of Budapest in a few hours. I'm not a city slicker, never have been, never will be, but I love the culture shock of it for a short time. Budapest is a huge busy city at that, traffic everywhere, people everywhere, noise and movement. 

Like proper tourists we hit all the sites, and did some serious walking - I think each day was around 25,000 steps according to my wife's watch. We got lost a few times, enjoyed the sites, even just normal streets were interesting. I love seeing all the building work going on everywhere. Each street in the city was filled with small businesses as well, I wonder how long it'll be before they become more like the UK's streets where big business swallows them up. 

We learnt loads about the history of Budapest as well. A bit of a rocky road, you could say, and they were just preparing for some celebrations of the 1956 revolution (unfortunately short lived) against the soviets, with streets closed and police everywhere as EU dignitaries were driven around the city to different events. 

The food was incredible as well, filling and hearty. I suffer with food intolerances (cow's dairy) but didn't have to worry too much here. The portions were big, the quality was high and every one was friendly (I know they want my money) so I could ask questions easily. 

 A fabulous trip that made me want to travel again more. Sometimes we become very secure in our own little worlds, my smallholding here and the village around us is mine, and it's good to look at the bigger picture, see what's out there. 

I suppose that leaves me with where to next? In our twenties we had a campervan (which I made out of an old ambulance) and we drive around a lot of western Europe, it would be good to visit a few more places now the children are getting older - with and without them!