reporting live from budapest

Yes, we are in the Hungarian capitol for 3 days, and a good thing too. I phoned my mum this morning, who told me it was grey and cool at home, with heavy rain on the way. Here the sky is an unbroken blue, and the temperature hovers around 32 degrees. Fortunately the humidity is low, so the heat is bearable; indeed it is quite gorgeous. I was born for this sort of weather, though admittedly as I write I have retreated indoors until it cools a little. There is no air-con in the room, but there is a powerful fan and the curtains and windows are closed to prevent ingress of the oven-hot air. This will count later on when we try to sleep.

Budapest is an ancient city, with evidence of settlement going back well before the Roman occupation. However, much was destroyed in the convulsions of the 1848 revolution, and what was left was smashed flat by the Russians as they roiled through here on the way to Berlin in 1945. Consequently, trying to find things of interest here is a bit tricky. I don't really fancy their biggest thing, the parliament buildings (modelled on the British Houses of Parliament, allegedly, though I don't recall the Brit version featuring a huge red-tiled dome)) so this morning we visited the "Castle District" (there's no castle- bombed out and not rebuilt), but there is St Mateus's church, heavily restored in the late 19th century and fortunately not smashed by the Ruskys. It seems to be a blend of Eastern orthodox and neo-Byzantine influence. It must be of interest to the Chinese and Japanese, who throng the place in their hundreds and thousands. I tell you, their penetration is absolutely world-wide these days.

This afternoon we shall sample the famous hot spring baths which are part of the hotel, and in the list of top ten sites in Buadapest according to our travel guide. And it's right downstairs! Tomorrow night we are off to a concert by one of Hungary's most famous sons, Kodaly, in a performance of "Hari Janos". Hari, an old soldier, tells his life story through a series of tall tales a la Baron Munchausen. It's great favourite of Hungarian children, apparently. Sounds promising...