Monday September 21, 2009 Bangkok to Munich, Germany to Budapest, Hungary

Day 24 of 36


Bangkok, Thailand to Munich, Germany to Budapest, Hungary
Flights 11 and 12 of 18
5816 miles of 22,121 total miles to be travelled

I am scheduled to leave Bangkok at 12:50 am Monday morning and arrive in Munich at 7:15 am. Then I just realized I have a 4 hour layover until my flight on Lufthansa from Munich to Budapest. Why did I schedule this like this? Oh well - a day of travel.

I got a bulkhead seat in Business Class on my Thai Airlines flight - on the aisle as I like. I had dinner - but didn't eat it all and watched "The Proposal" - funny movie. And that is one of few movies out that I have wanted to see. Then I put my seat down (but it didn't go back all of the way) and slept - probably for about 5-6 hours off and on. Pretty good for me.

I got up before they came around with breakfast so I watched "Imagine That" with Eddie Murphy and his daughter - it was good too. I had a big breakfast as I wasn't sure how meals would play out during the day. We arrived in Munich at 7 am - about 30 minutes early. Munich was very, very foggy and hazy - and very cool. I had to go through security to get to the Lufthansa Service Desk to get my boarding pass to go from Munich to Budapest. Got my boarding pass and then had to go through immigration to get back to my gate - does that make sense? The lines were long so this wait was a bit aggravating. Then I had to go through security yet again - and got the third degree this time. He patted me down over and over and questioned everything - "What's that in my pocket" - "A pen" - "Oh". Over and Over and Over.

Finally I got through and went to the Business Class lounge - she actually let me in the next higher level club since I'm Priority Gold with US Airways. Had some coffee, read an American newspaper, and watched the news on TV. Used their PC to update email. Left a bit early to get to my gate. They took us on a bus to a remote plane and we left early. Not many of us in Business Class. They served us a meal that was actually pretty good so that will be lunch today.

We arrived in Budapest early. The Airport Shuttle desk was just inside the terminal before we even got our luggage so I bought a round-trip ticket. My bag was one of the first out (I was surprised) and headed out to the shuttle. There was no immigration check - that really surprised me. I found an ATM and got some Hungarian florints. The driver called for passengers going to my hotel and off we went. It was about a 20 - 25 minute trip from airport to hotel. The driver had to take several detours as they seem to be working on lots of streets in Budapest.

I was the first stop for our shuttle so got off at Le Meridien. The bellman got my luggage while I checked in. They offered "an upgrade" to me that includes a junior suite, internet, and breakfast. So I took it. I like the attention!

The concierge escorted me to my room and it is magnificent. It has 12' ceilings, a hallway, huge closet, and huge bathroom. It is on the corner of the building on the front and has a great view of the park across the street. I couldn't wait to shower and shave and that helped me a lot to "get going". I took off on foot with a city map and walked to the Danube. Lots of sidewalk cafes in the area. Le Meridian is ideally located right near St. Stephen's Basilica and the river. Watched the river traffic for a while and the Chain Bridge. They walked to the Gresham Palace, now the Four Seasons Hotel. Beautiful architecture. Walked across the Chain Bridge and then took the funicular (Siklo) to the top of the hill to Buda Castle. Beautiful large old buildings here and gardens too. I walked all around and took pictures of Budapest from up above.

I then walked down a winding sidewalk back to the other side of the Chain Bridge and went back across. Near the Maquar Academy (beautiful) a group of people were setting up for some sort of ceremony near a large statue. They had a large band (more like an orchestra) of young people getting ready to play. I waited a while and listened to them practice. Then walked to St. Stephen's Basilica. Will go through it tomorrow. Stopped at a Budapest coffee shop (lots of them here) and got a frozen strawberry white mocca kozep. It was like a frappocino and was GOOD.

I then roamed through parks and neighborhoods off the beaten track. Beautiful architecture. People won't look at you here! I can tell my neighbors from Richmond (the Tolnays) were from here - strong features.

After walked the streets for several hours, I headed back to the Le Meridien to change for dinner. Bill and Lynn had recommended a restaurant to me, Cafe Kor. So I asked the concierge for directions and it was less then 2 blocks away - just on the other side of the Basilica. As I walked there I noticed that most restaurants were empty or only had 1-2 tables full. Cafe Kor was PACKED. I didn't have a reservation so she offered me a table behind (literally) the front door. I refused that table so rather than lose the business, she offered me a prominent table virtually in the middle of the restaurant near their daily special board. A couple I talked to from San Francisco told me that they apologized if I thought they were staring at me but they were just checking out the board. We laughed.

Being the first night in Budapest, I had a large Hungarian beer, delicious honeydew and proscuitto (sweet), and beef tenderloin goulash in red wine sauce with croquettes. It was all so good and filling. After settling my bill (I found out you don't say thank you until AFTER you get your change at a restaurant or they will keep the change), I went to Gelato Rosa for a gelato of strawberry and pistachio. They scoop the gelato out to look like a rose - it looked beautiful and was delicious - just like in Italy.

Short walk back to the hotel, did email, investments, etc and then to bed about 11. I am pooped. About midnight the phone rang and it was room service wanting to know if I ordered room service. NO! I had just gotten back to sleep when he did it again. NO ALREADY! Finally to sleep for a restful night not on a plane.

A good overview day in Budapest. More detailed touring tomorrow.