Dinner Cruise on the Danube

Day Two in Budapest started with a walking tour with Your Trip to Budapest guide, Boulaj, who was very informative and entertaining. The walking tour was a bit strenuous for some members of our group and we needed to sit for lunch immediately upon finishing the tour.

We asked the tour guide about taking a cab and he said we must download Bolt (the Uber of Hungary) and not to take a regular cab at all. So we took the subway to avoid walking. I had read in Rick Steves about a new Hungarian food hall that was less touristy than the Great Market Hall but after an additional 10 minute walk, I could not locate the place. I asked a few people and even connected to wifi to google it but it was no where to be found. Unfortunately, we were then surrounded by tourist trap restaurants and Johnny complaining that he needs to eat immediately (he had already had 3 separate snacks by this time) and so I elected not to sit down at whatever restaurant they went to. Alyssa stuck with me, and we found the Great Market Hall and walked around.

We had some sausages in a bread cone with sauerkraut and bacon, walked all around the market and took a stop in Aldi, and then walked back to see if they were still at the restaurant. The waiter told us the “orange hat people” had already left so we headed back to the apartment.

Before the cruise, Chris, Alyssa, and I went for a happy hour drink, and took some to go cups over to St Stephens Basilica for a quick look. Then went back to collect the parents for dinner.

Of course, after the strain of all the walking, we downloaded the Bolt app right away. We took a bolt down to the river and settled in for a 4 course meal over 2.5 hours on the Danube driver while listening to live music. The singer started with Frank Sinatra and finished with jazzy versions of pop tunes.

One of the dishes I have seen often is goose liver appetizer, so basically Foie gras. Naturally I started with that dish. It was super delicious. Normally I look for some sort of jam with it. It this was good just on the bread. One this we have learned here, not everyone knows what butter is…..

Second course was pumpkin soup which I liked at first and then somehow it evolved and I was no longer a fan. For the wine fans, we ordered a bottle of dry Tokaj wine which is the Furmint grape and not seen fermented dry very often (typically they make dessert wines)! It was good, not my fave ever as it is a bit acidic.

Entree was duck, one of my favorite items to order with sweet potatoes stolen off of papas plate.

Finally dessert was panna cotta and I ordered a dessert wine to pair with it. After all, we are in the country of Royal Takaj, one of the most famous dessert wines in the world. Across the table you will see a brownie with a caramel sea salt syrup and whipped cream that was pretty incredible too.

During dinner Christopher peer pressured Alyssa and I into going out with him for a nightcap. After much begging we did give in and have two late nights drinks and let him dance a bit until two girls asked him if he was “a homosexual” because of his mustache. Hahahah.