Posh café, steam rooms, and ruins with fairy lights - Part III
On the third day, we did something new and once again quite typical for Budapest. We visited a bath. Budapest is a city that boasts over 100 natural geothermal springs that have played a significant role in the development of many bathhouses across the city. These thermal baths are a prominent attraction, and they offer a unique experience that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. Visitors from all over the world come to enjoy the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of these hot springs, which have been used for thousands of years. The thermal baths are not only an excellent place to relax and unwind, but they are also a significant part of Budapest's culture and history. It's no wonder that the city was dubbed the "City of Baths" in 1934, as the water's healing powers and the experience of being blissfully submerged in the warm water make it an undeniably clear choice for anyone looking to enjoy the ultimate spa experience.
Gellért’s Bath is a famous spa and hotel perched on the east bank of the Danube, in the centre of Budapest since 1928 and it is one of the most beautiful ones. I had lived in Budapest for 31 years before moving to the UK and I had never been to this bath before. I am probably not alone in the notion that visiting popular touristy places in the city where one lives is not something that one often does. Being here with James and playing tourists made it easier to explore places like this bath.
We were not well-prepared for this adventure though. No towels, no swimming caps, and no flip-flops. We had to purchase everything on top of the entry fee. Live and learn. Once we were in, we plunged into the thermal pool outside to poach a bit before hitting the cooler swimming pool to have a few laps. Then we created some content for TikTok (it was great fun) and shuffled to the steam and sauna rooms for some warmth again. We felt brave and submerged our heated bodies in the 16-degree Celsius pool that took our breaths away. Everything for health!
We enjoyed a few hours in the bath and then it was time to see some sights. We originally wanted to go to the shooting range, but when we looked at the price, we felt that it was not good value for money and I am a pacifist anyway. Instead, we jumped on a Lime/Tier scooter each and whizzed across Budapest to Hero Square. James loved the grandiose nature of the monument and put it ahead of the Brandenburg Gate. Point to Budapest. I showed him the Vajdahunyad Vár. It is a copy of Hunyad Castle, known as Corvin Castle, in Hunedoara, Romania. It was built in 1896 as part of the Millennial Exhibition which celebrated the 1,000 years of Hungary since the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin in 895. I took lots of photos of James in these scenic surroundings and we had a stroll in the park before hopping back on the scooters to go back to the hotel for some chill time before dinner.
Out of two possible options (Greek or Italian), we chose a local Italian restaurant because we both craved the. comfort of carbonhydrates. The meal was lovely, our waiter was funny and we had a great time even without the help of alcoholic beverages. It was time to pack our bags and have the last sleep before flying back to London the next day.
