My last Budapest story

There was never any grand plan to write so many stories about Budapest; I just somehow kept getting commissioned another one, and another one and another one.

The well has now officially run dry. My last travel piece on the Hungarian capital has just been published in the latest MAS Magazine (click here to read).

Beauty and Kindness in Budapest

Today's Sunday Star Times' runs my story on Budapest (click here to read).

Catching my breath

Apologies for the radio silence - has been a week of visitors.

First up were my parents, over from Oz for a few nights. We had barely dropped them off at the airport than Marty's cousin and his partner from London arrived for the night. I am becoming a dab hand at washing sheets.

There is also a shit-ton of work to get through before I go to Europe, so that is being squeezed into pockets here and there.

This week my first Budapest piece was published in NEXT Magazine (click here to read).  Only two more pieces from that famil to write...

      

Hot in the city

Apologies to y'all in the Southern Hemisphere but when Budapest puts on her sun-dress you'd better break out the SPF40.

On my way back from the world-famous Gellert Spa for a story, I passed a temperature sign which read 34 degrees. I am in heaven, albeit one where the air-con in my room is complaining about being cranked so high.

I have yet to upload pix from the ludicrously photogenic Bratislava (one of next week's jobs) or of yesterday's arrival in Budapest but here are today's. I also lucked out with my hotel room - check out this view of the Castle district from my window.

Minutes after photographing the delightful sculpture above, I introduced myself to this gorgy four-month old Schnauzer puppy, Rosie (and her owner, of course). Am missing my wee Bristol terribly.

And one more random pic - of last night's farewell dinner (in a castle, no less). It has been a fabulous media trip and I am sad to say goodbye to these new friends.

Below is the castle. Doesn't everyone get piped into dinner (note the musos on the balcony)?!

Almost time

Colleague to me today: "Are you getting excited? You're so lucky to have an all-expenses paid trip to Europe."

Me to colleague: "Yes, I'm really grateful and can't wait to leave winter behind but holy mother of god, I'm going to miss the Hound."

Colleague to me: "Oh don't worry, he won't miss you. As long as dogs are fed and warm and in their own environment, they don't really care whether you're there or not."

Needless to say, my colleague is a moron (and if she's reading this, I mean that in the nicest possible way!)

In other news, the Vienna/cruise/Budapest/UK itineraries are being finalised. As I am one of the first of our group of 12 journos to arrive in Vienna and have a day or so to kill until the rest get there, I asked the PRs to help sort me with a visit to the Sigmund Freud Museum. I'm not sure if they're trying to mess with my head or if Astrid is just a really common name in Austria, but THREE of the women I'm currently dealing with are called Astrid. Which isn't confusing in the slightest.

And finally, as I gird my loins for the stupidly long and painful 30+ hour flight tomorrow, here's my two favourite boys who I shall miss like crazy (whether they miss me or not).

See you on the other side...

      

Hallelujah

After days of jiggery pokery with the courier company I finally received my media tix/vouchers for the maiden voyage of the Avalon Waterways Illumination Cruise from Vienna to Budapest. No love to the horrid courier driver who told me he "hates dogs shorter than his knee who bark all the time". Swings and roundabouts mate, because I  hate skinny white guys with bad acne who look like they dress in the dark.

I am, apparently, the last of the 12 journos (three Kiwis, three Americans and six Aussies) to receive their documentation so am very pleased it's finally here.

The morning was spent interviewing an amazing foodie who once ran a catering company with the late Clarissa Dickson Wright, from TV's Two Fat Ladies show. We laughed like drains and ate large chunks of the delectable lemon polenta cake she kindly brought over. It's just one of several stories I need to write on the painful 28 hour journey to Vienna on Thursday. #can'tsomeoneinventatardisalready?


   

Oh Vienna

A less than stellar week (too many deadlines, people flipping out, etc) ended on a fantastically high note - I was offered a media famil on a cruise from Vienna to Budapest in the first week of June! I was last in these parts about four years ago, again on a media trip, and all I can remember about Vienna is a gi-normous Zara (where, of course, I spent up large) and cafe after cafe filled with sachertorte that was like a snog from an angel.

But wait, there's more: when I asked the PR company in Sydney if I could tack on a week in the UK afterwards, they agreed! So although I didn't manage to get to Bristol and London in March, looks like I am going to see my lovely mates in June.

Tonight, I am well and truly on my way to Happy Town.

   (Pics of Vienna: Google Images)