Off On The Wrong Foot

Carol, Torie, and I are doing a lightning round trip through some of the Christmas market cities of Central Europe. We've heard about the markets for years, and decided this year we wanted to see them for ourselves.

Torie joined us because she had done a similar trip in January for her last J-term at Elon University.  It is nice having a guide who has been these places before.  Of the places we are going (Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich), Carol and I had only been to Vienna (2011).  We loved Vienna back then, but that was summertime.

I got about two hours of sleep on the flight over to Frankfurt, despite taking a generic Ambien (also watched Toy Story 4, so that's a happy movie that makes you feel good about everything).  Well, in the Budapest airport I wasn't feeling good about everything.  

There was supposed to be a taxi driver waiting for us just outside of the arrival hall (arranged through the hotel), but instead there were multiple women with long lists of arriving passengers.  I checked in, and she told us to wait.  After 10 minutes with no sign from them, I checked back -- five more minutes I was told.  

It was pretty much chaos.  I was regretting having set up the ride -- it would have been quicker to go out and grab a cab.  Finally she called my name.  We went outside into the cold, cloudy weather and crammed into the cab.  And then sat there.  Because three buses were trying to fit where there was space for two at most, there was a massive back-up.  I watched the cabs in the lane closest to the airport drive away unfettered.  Finally traffic in our lane starts moving!

We checked into the hotel -- turns out it was right on Danube, very close to the Buda Castle funicular, the UNESCO World Heritage Chain Bridge, and a medium-length walk from everywhere.  It was a funky Marriott hotel (good use of points!).  

Just down the block was a Michelin recommended restaurant (not starred, but just a bit below), Zona.  Our check-in clerk at the hotel also recommended it, saying it was the favorite restaurant of the guests.  She also made it clear we should not eat at the hotel, and we took that advice.

Torie and I had the deconstructed Hungarian pork Goulash, while Carol had some lamb.  I thought the goulash and the lamb (had a taste) were both fantastic.  Torie was underwhelmed by the goulash, but I suppose not everyone can like every meal.

After feeling tired and a little put upon, the meal perked me up, and we were ready to go exploring.

Before we get to that, the three of us, at some point, had a discussion over whether this was a vacation.  We decided it is not -- it is a trip.  A vacation is when you go to a beach or a resort (a cruise too perhaps) and do very little.  A trip is when you go multiple places with the goal of sightseeing and immersing yourself in the culture.  A journey is similar, but a bit more intense.  Any perspectives on those different types of travel is welcomed from readers!