Snap lions

Back to Budapest for my snap set this week with 4 of the many lion statues to be found around the city.

The two on the left are on either side of an entrance to the Parliament building - if you look closely you can see that a different clay finish was used in creating the casting model for each - the bottom one is smooth but on the top one you can see how the pieces of clay were laid on - I wonder if this was intentional or if something stopped the top one from being finished.

The back of the lion is from a statue on one of the bridges across the Danube - the front faces towards the presidential palace but I liked the flow of the tail and the behind view

The fourth is on top of a tall tower near Parliament - it is fighting the snake that is wound around its body.

Fascinating to see so many different images of the one animal.

We are half way through the year of snap sets - loving all the themes and new ideas

Snap on a food tour

I booked one tour beforehand for my trip to Budapest - a culinary walking tour with Taste Hungary.  I've been on several food tours before in other cities and really like them as a way to experience the culture and taste a wider range of items than I'd be likely to otherwise.

We started in the food market in the middle of town (top photo) - a massive building full of stalls and locals doing their shopping and tourists.

On the ground levels were bakers, spice sellers (lots of paprika), lots of fruit and vegetable stalls, sausage, pork and poultry sellers.  I loved seeing all the food on display and not a pre packaged selection in sight. Downstairs are the smelly things - mostly fish and pickles.  Upstairs are cafes.

I had a wander around the market on my first day as it was very close to my hotel. I enjoyed some strawberries - which were just in season.  I also discovered some fabulous mini cheese scones that were warm when I got my bag.  I bought them after seeing a local lady pop one into her mouth as soon as she had her bag and the look of pleasure on her face made me want to try them - they were delicious.

I was surprised to see that the pork shops were selling crackling and 3 different types of animal fat - people buy a block.  The poultry places had every part of the birds on offer.

So back to the food trip.  We started as many Hungarians would with a shot of Umicon - an aperitif that is said to have digestive qualities - first time I've drank spirits in the morning for a very long time.  Then another local norm - langos - a piece of deep fried bread dough covered in garlic oil then sour cream and grated cheese - very tasty although I was glad we each had a portion and not the whole thing.  I like that Hungarians are not embarrassed to have garlic breathe.

Then to a sausage stall for a selection of sliced meat - all tasty.  Then downstairs to the pickels stalls (middle photo).  A whole aisle of stalls displaying pickled gherkins, peppers, melon and more garlic.  They were lovely and crunchy and some were spicy - they are a great compliment to the rich bread and meat.

Then we left the market and walked a few blocks to a popular restaurant that specialises in meat - a meat with meat meal is common here with pickles providing the vegetable content.  We had several sausages and roast duck leg.  All very tasty and filling.

We then walked around looking at several building to make some room for our next stop - an old coffee house and the lovely array of cakes in the photo (we each had a taste of each one).  The apricot tart was my favourite - big Austrian influence in the cakes and pastries - and the coffee culture comes from the earlier Turkish occupation.

We finished our tour with some wine tasting - Hungary produces great wines but doesn't export much.

4 hours after we started I left feeling very full and happy.  I'd highly recommend these tours - if I'd been staying longer I'd be tempted by their Jewish food tour and their dinner over 4 restaurants tour.

Lots of lovely food, locally grown and produced, and not a goulash in sight!

Looking forward to seeing what snap sets you have to share this week.

Memorandum Monday city break

A big warm wave to you all.  I did plenty of  'new' over the weekend because I was in a place I've never been before - Budapest

Its one of the European cities that has always interested me and so finally I went and thoroughly enjoyed the bustling, cosmopolitan city - fabulous architecture, delicious food, easy to get around on public transport - just what I want from a city.


I travelled on what is reportedly the most scenic tram journey in Europe - tram 2 goes along the side of the Danube and they have kept some of the older model trams to add to the atmosphere

and I enjoyed a boat along the river - I chose the public ferry which does the same route as the fancy dinner cruises

and I luxuriated in one of the thermal baths which take advantage of local hot water thermal springs

and I sat by a very poignant memorial to those who were killed on the edge of the river during the Second World War

I'm just sharing a few tastes here as I took several hundred photos that I need to sort through - some good snap collections in there so I promise more details then and some more thoughts about the city and what I saw and did then as I sort through those too. 

Off to catch up on laundry, food shopping and blog reading now.  Hope you all have a good week