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Budapest, 3 - 10 July 1999
Budapest, 3 - 10 July 1999
Peter Cameron2006-03-12 09:29:00
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3 July
Woke at 6:10, quite tired after a heavy week. I was out of the front door by 6:35. Everything very quiet; little traffic, few people on the Tube. It all changed when I changed to the Piccadilly line, crammed with travellers and luggage. But still to the airport in good time, and nothing worse than a long queue at the security check.
Once we were on the plane, they announced a delay for air traffic control, but I had two crosswords to keep me occupied. The Guardian crossword's theme was "written by du Maurier, shot by Hitchcock", so we had "The Birds", "Jamaica Inn" and "Rebecca". But I do think it's a bit unfair to expect us to know where Rebecca came from! (Seems it was Manderley.) I didn't quite manage to finish it, and I dropped and lost the plastic bit of my pen, without which it is not much use.
Not bad lunch; better than Alitalia managed last month, with French Chardonnay. Clouds over England and France, but fine views once we reached Germany, mixed fields and woods with the occasional road or small town, mountains in the distant haze to the south, and flocks of small clouds safely grazing. We flew high (37000 feet) and fast (with a tailwind) trying to make up time. Further on, more clouds, fields and towns, less forests, and first sight of the Danube.
We landed and I got through the airport without any hassle. I like the way they have exchange, hotel reservations, and minibus ticket counter all in the baggage hall. The minibus takes you to any address in Budapest for the princely sum of 1200 forints (slightly more than three pounds), or less if you buy a return. The down side is that you may have to wait for a minibus - about twenty minutes in my case. Then off along the airport road a mixture of old boneshaker, new superhighway, and detours for the bits in between. All of a sudden, the 49 tram to Deák tér; the patterned tile roofs, characteristic bulging church spires, and narrow
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