Hand Luggage.

Portabello Road

One of my favourite places in London is the hectic, bustling Portabello Road and its markets.

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From antiques to food, vintage fashion to costume jewelry, it’s another shopping (and happy snappers) delight.

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Whether you’re after a refreshing drink of coconut water, some eye wateringly pricey fungi or just fancy indulging in a little pastry heaven, you’re bound to find it in this crowded, sprawling shoppers paradise.

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I was a woman on a mission, after some hand carved wooden print blocks to display in my printer’s case. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t get totally sidetracked by other shiny lovely (tasty)things!

This time it included my FIRST EVER taste of a macaroon (lemon) – gorgeous (fitted in my mouth whole) – amazing!

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And the discovery of a side shop stacked high with door knobs *quivers with excitement*

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There’s hand knitted Rastafarian hats, hot hot chillies and every conceivable trimming, feather and sequin on the haberdashery stall.

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Not to mention Paella, continental cakies and quiches. My stomach is grumbling just thinking about it. (Salivating as I type).

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Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.

The Tower of London is currently host to a poignant reminder of the futility and horror of war as a sea of poppies gradually turns the green moat into a blood red sea.

888,246 ceramic poppies are gradually being placed around the tower and each one represents a British fatality in the First World War. A visual, heart breaking remembrance to the fallen of just one tiny corner of the globe.

The impressive installation is called Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, taken from the title of a poem by an unknown soldier.

The first poppy was placed on 5 August to mark one hundred years since the first full day of Britain’s involvement in the First World War. The last poppy will symbolically be planted on 11 November 2014

The poppies are crafted in my home county of Derbyshire by artist Paul Cummins and the poppies are being arranged by stage designer Tom Piper.

You can buy one of the poppies here and all money raised is going towards six service charities.

Here’s the poem that inspired the incredible poppy sea.

The Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red By Anon – Unknown Soldier

The blood swept lands and seas of red,
Where angels dare to tread.
As I put my hand to reach,
As God cried a tear of pain as the angels fell,
Again and again.

As the tears of mine fell to the ground
To sleep with the flowers of red
As any be dead

My children see and work through fields of my
Own with corn and wheat,
Blessed by love so far from pain of my resting
Fields so far from my love.

It be time to put my hand up and end this pain
Of living hell, to see the people around me
Fall someone angel as the mist falls around
And the rain so thick with black thunder I hear
Over the clouds, to sleep forever and kiss
The flower of my people gone before time
To sleep and cry no more

I put my hand up and see the land of red,
This is my time to go over,
I may not come back
So sleep, kiss the boys for me

Girly weekend in London!

Let’s take a detour from me droning on about Central Europe as I’ve just got back from a whirlwind trip to the capital city.

Me and the bestest gal pal have been talking about a girly trip to Camden and its associated markets for years but never quite made it, until now.

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So, men free, wine bottles in hand, cash cards at the ready and all thoughts of financial solvency cast to the four winds, we trundled off for a couple of nights in the big smoke.

Dropping the bags off at our base for the trip – the Tower Hill Travelodge – we first headed to the bastion of cheap consumerism (Oxford Street Primark) before enjoying a tasty meal at The Minories

But the main event was the quirky destination of Camden Town, with its tacky London souvenirs, Cannibis themed clothing / lighters / tea towels / bongs etc, goths, bovver boots and antiques.

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Not to mention the moped seats, bunting, food from every corner of the globe, feather boas, carpets, wood carvings and nail art.

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Basically it’s a tourist mecca crammed full of things to buy, stuff to eat and people to goggle at.

In the Stables market, antique mirrors and suitcases are cheek to jowl with retro record players, vintage clothing and boxes of old book pages. Naturally I have to check out the wares!

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Colourful incense sticks, hippy tie dye and endless food stalls assail the senses and tempt the wallet. Head spinning neon and cyber punk sit side by side with Mexican tacos and Banksy wall art.

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It’s all a little too much! We have to stop for a bite to eat and a rest from the relentless pace of Camden.

With a mind boggling array of cuisine to choose from though it’s not a straight forward process! There’s Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, Italian and more.

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Once we’ve scoured the Stables market we pop over to Camden Lock for a look at the moped seats and the canal.

I think they could make better use of the waters edge personally as it’s a bit run down and rather a lot of dodgy looking characters hanging about (not including us naturally).

Next on the tour we’re off for a posh meal at The Dickens Inn on St Katherine’s Dock, yet more markets on Portabello Lane and a sobering reminder of war at the Tower of London.

The Cave Church

Another little oddity in Budapest is the Cave Church. It does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a church, in a cave.

Saint Ivan’s Cave (Szent Iván-barlang) is named after a hermit who lived there and healed people. The church was founded in 1926, by a group of Pauline monks after a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France.

Originally, the altar was located at the entrance of the cave and the congregation sat outdoors on the terrace.

This is why Cave Church is known as Sziklatemplom (‘Rock Church’ or ‘Church by the Rock’) in Hungarian. Expansion of the cave and structural reinforcement followed throughout the 1930s.

During World War II, the church served as a hospital and asylum. After WWII, the monks were arrested and their superior, father Ferenc Vezér, was sentenced to death by the new Communist regime.

In 1951, the church entrance was completely sealed with a thick concrete wall. A part of the wall can still be seen by the entrance.

The church finally reopened in 1991, was restored and given back to the Pauline monks and it continues to serve as a church to this day.

Mega Soviet statues!!

The shadow of the Soviet Era falls long over Budapest and nowhere shows the actual physical dominance of the USSR better than Memento Park.

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This unusual tourist attraction sits several miles out of the city and hosts some of the regime’s epic statues that used to literally loom large over the citizens. Below is a larger than life Lenin (with a rather undeserved shaft of sunlight!)

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These omnipresent works of art served as daily reminders of the “liberation” of the city from the Nazis, but also, an ever present sign of a new oppression.

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Here we size ourselves up against one of the monstrous statues, striking a typically energetic pose.

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The seeds of the downfall of the Soviet regime started with The Hungarian Revolution of 1956. This was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the Hungarian People’s Republic and and its Soviet-imposed policies.

It was the first major threat to Soviet control since the USSR’s forces drove out the Nazis at the end of World War II and occupied Eastern Europe.

During the revolt demonstrators decided to carry out one of their demands – the removal of Stalin’s 30-foot-high bronze statue that was built in 1951 on the site of a church, demolished to make room for the monstrosity.

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The statue was toppled and jubilant crowds celebrated by placing Hungarian flags in Stalin’s gigantic boots, which were all that was left of the monumental statue. The remains can be seen at Memento Park (see photo above).

Despite the failure of the uprising, it was highly influential, and came to play a role in the downfall of the Soviet Union decades later.

The park also features other curios such as the Communist hotline – fancy a chat with Lenin, Stalin or any of the other commie headliners?

There’s a chance to check out one of the Eastern Bloc’s hottest exports – the Trabant, plus awful, yet slightly comedic, black and white film reels of the secret police’s training in Communist Hungary.

Here’s the trusty Trabant. This odd little car was the most common vehicle in East Germany, and was also exported to countries both inside and outside the eastern bloc.

Despite its poor performance, inefficient two-stroke engine and production shortages, the Trabant is still regarded with tongue in cheek affection.

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More rousing statuary portray the might of the red army, the heroic workers and the ‘liberation’ by the Soviet regime.

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Architect Ákos Eleőd, designer of Memento Park says of the place: “This Park is about dictatorship. And at the same time, because it can be talked about, described and built up, this Park is about democracy.

“After all, only democracy can provide an opportunity to think freely about dictatorship. Or about democracy, come to that! Or about anything!”

Margaret Island

The other half was constantly intrigued by the island in the middle of the Danube. This green, leafy oasis is Margaret Island and it allows a peaceful break from the city.

The island has a range of activities on offer from sedate walks, to a zoo, water park, pubs and clubs.

Imagine how his little face lit up when he also learnt the following things: There were pedal cars, and a musical fountain! (Following the epic, soul destroying episode of the non-event Font Magica in Barcelona, he has been pining for a good musical water feature)

So, like an over sized pair of loons, we were crammed into a tiny, battered child’s toy for a breakneck carouse around the island.

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There are a variety of rules involved in “driving” a pedal car. Stay on the marked routes, do not off-road, do not terrorise pedestrians. Neil proceeded to ignore them all.

Attempting to side slide the dinky motor, at one point almost getting us onto a main road (pooed myself at that point) haring across flower beds and generally being a menace.

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Contrary to appearances I am not actually drunk in charge of a child’s toy! Although having whacked my shins on the dash board once too often I think I wished I had been . .

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After our terrifying jaunt around the island we went for a much needed beer and pizza and watched the legion of joggers who use the island as a circuit lap.

History time! (Plus random snaps of the island’s musical water feature to intersperse amongst the thrilling history lesson)

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In the middle Ages it was called the Island of Rabbits (Nyulak szigete) and was a royal hunting reserve.

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In the 13th century King Béla IV. founded a nunnery on the island and made a vow to sent his daughter, Princess Margaret there if he could rebuild the country devastated by the Mongols.

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After the invading Mongols returned home, faithful to his vow Béla sent the 11-year old Margaret to the convent. Since then the island has been known by her name.

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Until 1901 the island could only be approached by boat or ship but the part of the Margaret Bridge that now leads onto the island was built in 1901.

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But enough of that, there’s fountains! Musical fountains! With coloured lights! JOY!

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St Stephen’s Basilica

Another stop on the Budapest whirl wind tour is St Stephen’s Basilica.

One of the top ten most photographed buildings in the world it’s named in honour of Stephen, the first King of Hungary.

Apparently his mummified right hand is rather gruesomely still housed in the Basilica’s relic shrine.

Today, it is the third largest church building in Hungary and is host to one of the most spectacular ceilings I have ever seen! (Brace yourself – it’s going to get fact and photo heavy!!)

Built in a Neo-Classical style the exterior is dominated by two large bell towers. In the southern tower is Hungary’s biggest bell, weighing over nine tonnes.

The north tower houses five bells (presumably to try and compensate for the single, epic bell in the other tower!)

Here’s the ornately carved door to the Basilica and some of the spectacular features inside the cavernous building.

Here’s looking up into the ornate Cupola in the centre of the Basilica. Resplendent with Biblical imagery, culminating with a fresco of God the Father.

It took more than five decades and three architects to build the impressive Basilica. Several unfortunate events delayed the works.

József Hild made the designs in 1845 but construction was delayed due to the 1848/49 Revolution and War of Independence, works finally started in 1851.

After the death of Hild, Miklós Ybl, took over overseeing the construction.

In 1868 the dome collapsed, (luckily nobody died). Ybl drew up new plans and building started again almost from scratch. He couldn’t see his work completed, as he died in 1891.

József Krauser finished St Stephen’s Basilica in 1906.

Apparently, at the consecration mass Emperor Francis Joseph kept sneaking a peek upwards afraid of another collapse of the dome.

I am sure you’ll agree that it was worth all the effort though!

Market alert!!

You know it has to happen, sooner or later I would find where they had stashed the pinnacle of my holiday joy – the FOOD MARKET!!

In Budapest’s case this is the Central Market Hall (Nagy Vasarcsarnok) close to the green Liberty Bridge.

This colourful, bustling cornucopia of consumerism offers a huge variety of stalls on three floors and features a gorgeous colourful roof of Zsolnay tiles.

Here it is with one of the super cute little trams zooming past plus just a sample of the tasty produce on offer.

The building was designed and built by Samu Pecz around 1897 but during the World Wars it was damaged and then closed for some years.

However during the 1990s restoration work brought the market back to its ancient splendour.

Stalls on the ground floor offer produce, meats, pastries, candies, spices, and spirits. Here’s a disturbing goat with goggles, an even creepier traditional doll and an obligatory veg pic!

Then it’s off to the carnivore’s paradise section of the market, pig, cow, sheep, unidentified animals . . . you are all consumable . . .

Amusingly placed sausages distract me from the overwhelming meatiness of this section of the market!!

The second floor has mainly hot, bustling eateries and souvenirs.

From goulash to rice balls, colourful salads to spicy chicken, the food is warm, simple and comes in huge portions!

Neil checks out some hearty Hungarian fare and samples some of the local tipple!

This includes a marvellous lángos stand serving the deep-fried snack either as a savoury or sweet version.

This Hungarian specialty is a deep fried flat bread made of a dough with flour, yeast, salt and water.

This lovely looking snack is eaten fresh and warm, topped with sour cream and grated cheese, ham, or sausages, or -most frequently – without toppings, just rubbed with garlic.

Other ingredients and accompaniments can be mushroom, eggplant and cabbage or for the sweet toothed, jam, chocolate, nuts and cream.

As well as the foody delights, there are also numerous stalls selling traditional crafts and souvenirs.

Rich embroidery and beautiful, colourful lace are staple gifts.

Super special spa day!!!

Budapest is famous for its hot springs and proliferation of spas (about 80 springs dotted around the city I believe.) The natural hot water is so bountiful that it is used for domestic hot water apparently!.

So you can’t possibly visit Budapest without indulging in at least one of its watery based fun palaces.

Today, there are 15 public thermal baths in Budapest, not counting the private thermal spas established in some of the posher hotels.

There’s so many to choose from, from the stately fading grandeur of the old school grand dames such as Hotel Gellert to more modern, state of the art places.

We opted for Széchenyi Thermal Bath as I had seen lots of pictures of the huge, sprawling yellow complex and its sparkling, inviting turquoise pools. (Plus you can book via Paypal before you go!)

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We booked a day pass that included a little cabin for storing our stuff for the day.

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You are advised to bring your own towels as there’s a hefty deposit for one of theirs. Also flip flops and a water proof camera are our recommendations!

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This sprawling complex is the largest medicinal bath in Europe and its water is supplied by two thermal springs – their temperature is 74 °C and 77 °C respectively.

The spa, in planning since the 1880s was built in 1913 in an Neo-baroque style and was designed by Győző Czigler. Did I mention it’s very YELLOW!!

Construction cost an eye-watering 3.9 million korona and the baths saw more than 200,000 people visit in 1913 alone.

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Originally it had private baths, separate men and women’s steam-bath sections, and different male and female public baths.

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Although mixed bathing is now the norm, inside it still retains its old fashioned feel with room after room of pools, all varying sizes and temperatures.

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One of the quirkiest bits of the baths are the chess boards in the water that always attract a certain type of elderly man in small shorts. . .

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The complex was expanded in 1927, and it still boasts three outdoor and 15 indoor pools. After its expansion, the thermal artesian well could not fulfill its purpose, so a new well was drilled in 1938.

Here’s the outdoor section of the baths, bathed in sunshine and just starting to fill up with punters.

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We arrived early to enjoy the pools while they were still quiet – by mid day every crevice was crammed with swimmers and sun seekers.

Between 1999 and 2009 a full restoration took place and it attracts thousands of visitors, eager to soak up the rays in the pools of varying temperatures.

Here we are taking the plunge and enjoying / enduring the various water features and whirly river rapids.

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The rushing water, even though it is heated, is really rather lovely on a sunny Hungarian day.

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See you later dear readers!!!!……….

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Buda old town

After admiring the fantasy Fisherman’s Bastion and taking gazillions of photos of the tiled roof of the nearby church, we headed further into the old town.

From the adorably cute “eye” windows that feature heavily in the local architecture, to reminders of war time damage, the town is full of interesting features.

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Here’s one of the sneaky looking window eyes – super shifty looking!

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As you wander through the streets you will come across the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. The Church, dating from the middle of the 13th century, originally served as the parish church for the Hungarian citizens of the town as only the German residents were allowed to use the stunning Matthias Church.

The church was all but destroyed during World War Two and the proceeding Communist regime and only the bell tower remains standing today.

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Close to the church is this amusing flying Nun sculpture, high up on the corner of a building.Dressed in the uniform of the Clarissa nuns, she breaks through the walls of the building which was the home of the nuns for many years. The statue was created by Miklós Melocco in 1977.

As we head back down the hill towards the river we encounter another of the gorgeous gilded bulb style churches that litter the city.

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This one is the Church of St Anne and features twin, green onion shaped bell towers. It’s one of the finest baroque buildings in the city.

Work began on the church in 1740 and was finished in 1761 by Mátyás Nepauer. On the top of the main gate symbolic figures of faith, hope and love greet the visitors, above them the coat of arms of city of Buda and in the upper niche statues of St. Anne and Mary guard the entrance.

The church has suffered through wars, floods and earthquakes and was finally restored in 1970-84.

Next up – the famous Chain Bridge, a glut of statues and a chillaxing day at the spa!