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Europe’s Public Transportation System

Using public transportation while travelling abroad can be challenging and stressful. Relax take a deep breath and you will find that most European countries share similarities in the way that their public transportation operate.
As savvy senior travellers we make the most use out of the public transportation offered by different countries. The public transportation system in most European countries are quite extensive in their coverage of the tourist areas, as well as the outlying areas. In many countries you can take advantage of the senior discount fares.
Vending machines are available for ticket purchases. Most European countries use the BKK vending machine. The most important thing you need to remember, is that once you purchase your ticket you must validate it. There are heavy fines associated with not purchasing a ticket and not validating your ticket. Make sure to watch the youtube video on how to use this machine. It is very useful and will save you time. Vending machines will have several options. Don’t panic when you first look at the screen and can’t figure out the instructions. Somewhere on the screen you will see a box with the word “English” on it. If all the jibberish looks the same to you and you are a visual person like me, than look for the British flag. If you have no clue what the British flag looks like, I’d suggest you do so, before you embark on your trip. If all else fails, stand there, stare at the machine and look pathetic. Block the ticket machine, until the babushka grandmother behind you, grabs you by the arm and drags you to the information center, as was my case in Czech Republic. Oh, and don’t forget to take your credit card out of the slot, as you’re being dragged away.

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Budapest Airport

Getting to the Budapest Airport from the city center, is quite easy and affordable.
Bus 100E will take you to directly to the main terminal. The cost is 900 Forints, which converts to roughly $3.50 USD. The ride takes approximately 30 minutes. A note of advice, get on the bus at Deak Ference Ter. If you get on the Kovam Ter stop, chances are you won’t or you will have to stand. Luggage space is limited. There is also a minivan option that will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport for approximately $14 USD.
Navigating Budapest Airport can be exhausting. I would say arrive extra early but that may not help. It will cause you to have to stand and wait to find out what numbered counter to check in for your flight. There is no seating in the main terminals. At least none that I’m aware of.
Budapest Airport has no airline specific check in counters. Passengers stand around looking pitiful and exhausted, staring at the digital board hoping and praying their flight information will come up on the cue.
Once you check in, you are herded to the security check in point. If you are in terminal 2B, you are directed to security check in at terminal 2A. At this point you would think that you would know your departure gate. Nah, you are forced to once again stare at a digital board and hope that your flight gate appears on the cue. Just imagine dozens of people looking at two small boards, like zombies.
Finally, to add insult to injury, once you arrive at your gate, you are herded into a large non air-conditioned hangar to wait with anticipation for the doors to swing open so that you can escape this whole process, that truly makes you feel like cattle being led off to be slaughtered.
Considering that Budapest has a great public transportation system, I’ll cut them some slack on the airport fiasco.

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Szechenyi Baths ~ S+S+S & S

Because Z and I ocassionally have different viewpoints on the same subject matter, I’m posting my take on the Szechenyi Baths.
I loved both times we visited the baths. After, my second visit, I concluded that the Szechenyi baths are for those who enjoy S+S+S & S. I guess I should break that down. Selfies+Suntans+Single & Sleep. Not necessarily in that order.
On on our two visits to the baths, we spent 6+ hours, so I had quite a bit of time to observe. I found the baths to be overcrowded. The great majority of the people were in the age range of mid teens to late 20’s. They spent most of the day parading their wares from the outdoor baths to the indoor baths, taking selfies and pics of one another. The outdoor large thermal pool looked like a sea of I-Phones extended up to the sky. Once they got bored with the pool photo opportunities, they were off to the selfies in the indoor thermal baths. This made it almost impossible to find a bath that was not overcrowed with people conducting their own private photo shoots.
The outdoor baths were not as popular as the indoor baths. If I had to guest, I would bet that most of the younger generation are not thrilled by the idea of standing in a 100 degree thermal pool in 80 degree weather. Heck, they are not interested in the mineral benefits of the water. That’s for old people, like me, who wake up with a different pain every day. So, what’s better than selfies? Sunbathing and sleeping, of course. This makes it almost impossible to find an open lounge chair. The next best thing is lying out on the concrete slab. So here you have it, my take on the Szechenyi Baths. To be fair, we also visited the Gellert Baths. See our Post Gellert Baths. I’m still debating on which was my favorite. I may have to go back to lovely Budapest to make up my mind. That would be difficult, but I would have to manage.

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The Gellert Baths, Budapest

The Gellert Baths are considered to be the most opulent in Budapest. Although they are only a few years younger than Szechenyi Baths, the general upkeep of Gellert has kept them in much better condition. Without exaggeration this place qualifies for the description, “Stunning!” It is not only the most beautiful spa I have ever seen, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, period. Also, if you are traveling with children, Gellert boasts a large outdoor wave pool that kids will love.
That said, Gellert is not perfect. As other reviewers have noted, the place is a winding maze of steps and passages that can be confusing and grueling. Also the best hot pools at Gellert are inside, which is better for winter but feels confining on a beautiful summer day. There is a small outdoor hot pool, but in nice weather it is much too crowded. And finally, Gellert allows too much smoking in outdoor areas. Europeans will smoke anytime they get the chance, but at least at Szechenyi they make some attempt to control it.
So which is best, Gellert or Szechenyi? (Szechenyi is covered in a previous blog post.) Gellert is definitely more upscale. But even with the upkeep issues, my vote still goes to Szechenyi. I like the easy access outdoor spaces and the size of the outdoor hot pool. When we were there, they were even showing World Cup games on a huge big screen TV.
The Gellert and Szechenyi Baths are wonderful. You shouldn’t have to make a choice. Go to both.

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Szentendre, Hungary: Day Trip

I have always believed the old quote, “There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” So when Yvonne came up with the idea of a boat trip out of Budapest to Szentendre, I was all over it.
Szentendre is a quaint village about an hour and a half up the Danube from Budapest. Ninety minutes up, but only an hour back because you are going with the flow coming home. The village itself is like a moment cut from time. More 17th century than 21st. Cobblestone streets. The standard tourist shops. Yvonne found a great little jewelry place with some real deals. We had delicious Hungarian cuisine and admittedly a pizza while relaxing in a restaurant and gazing at the Danube. Perfect weather. A wonderful relaxing day. So why were we so tired when we got back? Sometimes taking it easy is hard.

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Vajdahunyad Castle and Heroes Square, Budapest

I am grouping together the Vajdahunyad Castle and Concert with the nearby Heroes Square, and the City Park amusement area. The Zoo and Szechenyi Baths are also in the same park. The little paddle boats in the lake are really cute and the park itself is stunning. There is no entrance fee to the park but the attractions have individual fees. Prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the venues. Two Tickets to the concert were $23. You could easily spend a day or several days here, depending on the number of attractions you are interested in. It’s a great place for a picnic but there are restaurants available as well, if you prefer. City Park is not on the normal tourist track, but it is centrally located. It is on the Pest side of the Danube and easily accessed from public transportation. Your stop will be called “Hosok Ter” which is Hungarian for “Heroes Square.” To enter the park, walk down the sidewalk behind the monuments and across the bridge. You will love this place. A definite Savvy Senior thumbs up.

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The Streets of Budapest

For some reason I wasn’t too excited about coming to Budapest. We have been “on the road” for over three months. I am a bit travel weary. After London, Berlin, Prague, and Vienna, what else could Budapest have to offer?

It turns out, a lot. Budapest has become my favorite city, and the only one that I would like to turn into an extended stay on a future trip. Here’s why:

Budapest has it all. Art, music, architecture, history, local and international cuisine, handicrafts, and traditional culture all wrapped up in a vibrancy and with prices that are a Savvy Seniors dream.

Budapest stands back with a wink and says, “Ok, you have seen castles but check this out. You like art? What about an entire Frida Kahlo exhibit straight from the museum in Mexico? Want music? Try a symphony orchestra, in an enchanted castle setting. Tired? A dip in a natural hot mineral bath would hit the spot.”

And then to add the “piece de resistance” Budapest wraps this up in a metro system that is bar none for efficiency, and comfort.

(I am covering the Szecheny Baths and the Vajdahunyad Castle in other posts, so please check those out, as well) For right now, let’s take a stroll around the streets of Budapest.

Pics of our first day in Budapest, including a few of the lovely Urania theater:

Budapest night scapes:

Budapest, a few of the rest:

The Gellert side of town. The exquisite Gellert Baths and Gellert mountain. The guide books talk about Gellert “Hill” like it is a walk in the park. Don’t believe them. Yvonne and I made the grueling trek nearly to the top but the last hundred yards or so were torture. This is not a hike for the elderly or those not in good physical shape. Check out the pics and our satisfied smiles at the top. You can see the tower at the top of some of the other pics on the right side:

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Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

As hard as it is to believe, the spectacular Schonbrunn Palace was originally begun as a hunting lodge and retreat. Leopold I, Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, purchased a small existing manor, called Katterburg, because it was close to Vienna and offered good hunting. The lodge turned out to be too small. After Leopold’s death, the name was changed and the palace was expanded, by Empress Maria Theresa, to it’s current 1441 rooms. The Habsburgs were not Schonbrunn’s only inhabitants. Napoleon lived there for a time. The British used it for offices after WWII. Today, Schonbrunn is a national shrine and a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is even a suite available for private rental. If you have to ask what the rent is, believe me, you can’t afford it.

Public transportation is the easiest, fastest, and most inexpensive way to get to Schonbrunn. Guided tours are available, but not really necessary. If you are not able or don’t want to walk the extensive grounds, the little tourist train acts as a hop on and off. It is reasonably priced. We enjoyed it.

 

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Szecheny Mineral Springs and Baths, Budapest

Putting together a bucket list? Don’t forget to leave a few blank spaces for discoveries you will write in as you go. The Szechenyi Baths, in Budapest is just such a place. I had never heard of Szechenyi when we started planning our trip. Eighteen separate pools and hot tubs. Numerous steam baths and dry saunas, some with aromatherapy. Massage and other holistic medicinal therapies.  A fun pool. All of this housed in a gorgeous, almost palace like, facility completed in 1913. The wow factor is huge.

People have been drawn to the natural hot springs around Budapest since the early bronze age. In fact the springs were what brought the Romans here in the 2nd century BC. With the spine warming tingle of naturally hot mineral water, it is easy to see why the Romans wanted to build their territorial capital here.  The waters are invigorating, especially if you have joint problems like I do. Szechenyi is the oldest mineral bath located on the Pest side of the Danube. Since the water is hot, almost 170 degrees fahrenheit, the outdoor pools can be open all year. It is an unforgettable place and a most memorable day. Truly, one for the bucket list!

 

 

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Frida Kahlo Arrives At Hungary National Gallery!

Today was the “best day ever!”  My head was still reeling over the Keith Haring Exhibition in Vienna, when I discovered that a collection of Frida Kahlo’s paintings was going to be on display beginning July 7th in the Hungary National Art Gallery.  
The lines on opening day were extremely long, having experienced this at many of the popular tourist attractions in the past, I opted to buy our tickets online and skipped the line. The exhibition on loan from Dolores Olmedo Museum was breathtaking.  There are no words to describe it, so after viewing it, I went back and took the following photos.  Enjoy!