There are probably colder places in the world, but at -10ºC, with the River Danube frozen into thick blocks of ice and with a bittter wind biting at your face whichever way you walk, it was hard to imagine where these may be.
I was in the capital of Hungary, along with another 37 blokes, on a stag-do (stag-dos contribute to most of my European travel needs). After a very early easyJet flight from Luton, we arranged to meet in a bar/restaurant around the corner from our hotel for some pre-pub crawl sustenance.
Before meeting, there was a window of opportunity of around ten minutes – I was aware that this might be the only time I’d get to see Budapest sober, so I left the hotel by the sliding doors to investigate. It was actually so cold, the instant the doors opened my face turned blue.
Our hotel was on the banks of the Danube (more White Danube than Blue Danube) on the Buda side. I just about had time to walk along the river, cross a bridge into Pest, walk past the Parliament building and then cross the river back to the hotel via the famous Széchenyi Chain suspension bridge.
When I rejoined the stag party, I’ve never been so thankful for stodgy goulash and dumplings to thaw me out. Coupled with a few Dreher beers and some shots of the local spirit, Unicum, I was ready to brave the cold again.
I can feel the chill eating into my bones just looking at that first photo, Rich. It’s a cracker!
Cheers Jo. Writing about it has given me manflu now!
Yes, that is a briliant photo.
Cheers Colin, that is the same view you see on most postcards of the city (minus the ice)!
Oh god not Unicum!
Nasty stuff, but at least it keeps you warm!
That looks very cold indeed. I visited Budapest in January and was lucky to have two days of sunshine!
The sun was out, it was just a bit nippy!
Could have been the same weekend! Just nabbed a bargain – Hull to Rotterdam tomorrow night with cabin £24 return each!
Sounds good – I’m doing the same trip in a couple of weeks, so I look forward to reading your review for some tips.
I visited Budapest in November and it was chilly but certainly not cold enough for the Danube to freeze!
January must be the coldest month to visit eastern europe – never again!
This stag do must have been the ICE-ing on the cake to a fabulous wedding!
Cheesy! It was one of the more memorable stag dos I’ve been on…
I’m off to light the fire now Richard brrrrr! I love this city and would like to go back. I went in May but still needed to snuggle up in the fleecy blankies they provide in the outdoor cafe bars.
I’d love to go back too and see a bit more than the inside of a bar! I bet it’s lovely in summer…
Can’t wait to see it frozen that way! No snow planned until 24 December.
Catherine
Wrap up warm, I’m getting a cold thinking about it!