Gellert Hill (Budapest)

I'm not sure when this habit started- but we have been walking up hills to get a panoramic view of the city. Often, the trek is a tiring one, but the rewards at the end of it often justify the trek upwards- pretty much like life, isn't it? 

One of my favourite places that I visited this year (July 2013) is the Gellert Hill. 

Gellert Hill is named after Saint Gerard who was allegedly was thrown down from this hill. 

While buses go up the hill, I would suggest walking up the hill if you can. The best time to go up is probably in the evening at around 5- 6 p.m., so that you can catch a few scenes- the afternoon sun, the sunset and how beautiful this city looks at night when it is lit up. 

Maybe bring some picnic food and water up- it's worth the wait to see the sun set and the city light up.

Although there may not be much on the top of the hill, if you have time to kill, it's always nice to enjoy the breeze up there and to watch the world go by! 

For those with kids, there is a playground on the hill. Other things worth looking out for are the citadel, the Liberty Monument and the cave church.

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Hungarikum Bisztro (Budapest)

Hungarikum Bisztro offers a value for money set lunch. After walking at the nearby Danube, we decided to drop by for lunch. 

Homely setting. Local folks kept entering in the restaurant. We went there at 12 and they were serving only set lunches then. If you want to order their a la carte, be sure to check out what time they start serving dishes on the a la carte menu!

We chose the 3 courses (1390 HUF) option. This included choices between three kinds of soup, three kinds of main courses and two desserts. I had the Cream Soup of Mais- a little too dilute for my liking but still pretty alright.

The Creamy Stripes of Turkey with Rice was something I imagine a European mother would cook for her child when he or she comes home from school. A totally unpretentious dish. Haven't really figured out how the rice is seasoned but a google search tells me that it might be pilaf. The cream sauce was done just right and went well with the rice and turkey.

The best way to end a meal is always good dessert. The Chocolate Tartlet with Marmalade was made with slightly bitter chocolate, with a dollop of Marmalade on it.

The meal here does not seek to impress. It just tries to make you feel at home without breaking the bank. The service here is also compatible with the food they serve- down to earth and very friendly.

Hungarikum Bisztro
1051 Budapest, Steindl Imre u. 13.

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