Saturday, June 7th

2008 saw Dungroamin Holidays add another destination to it’s portfolio with another sojourn to the former eastern block countries, this time with a trip to Budapest – (Hungary for those not sure). And with our growing reputation for holidays to remember (for one reason or another), we had a first timer, in Geraint, an ex–university colleague of Alan and Jerry’s. Geraint can be described as a high–jumping, high–diving, violin playing, mechanical engineering, sports vision optical Thespian with a problem with gluten. (.....or was it a jumped–up, nose–diving, highly strung, short–sighted wheat freak drama queen!)

For the journey to Budapest, five of us decided to fly from Luton, whilst Jerry and Fiona had opted to fly from Gatwick. We arrived at Luton airport to find Geraint sat in the coffee bar looking like he had been there for hours – which he had as he didn’t want to miss the plane.

As our plane arrived at Budapest, we had to cirlce because there was a thunderstorm at the airport and we could not land. We could see the lightning in the clouds in the distance.

On arrival at the airport, we wandered towards the exit thinking what next. But a few enquiries directed us to the Airport Shuttle desk where we were able to arrange our transfer to our hotel. Jerry and Fiona who had arrived before us, had relished the challenge of the Budapest underground, and had made there way by this route.

Upon arrival at the Ciy Matyas Hotel, we were just in time to get something to eat in the restaurant, where we were serenaded by a string quartet (or maybe quintet). Violin playing is obviously a key part of Hungarian culture and Geraint, being a bit of a dab hand with the old bow, was particulalry appreciative of the artistry displayed. So much so that he started collecting CDs of random Hungarian string ensembles – that is as long as they didn’t have wheat in them!

Of course Geraint was very brave coming to Hugary without establishing the Hungarian for ”I am on a gluten–free diet”. So for next time, Geraint, an Hungarian gluten–free card is included below. Shame we are planning to go to Poland.