The Hen-ger Games Part #1 - Budapest

SATURDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2016

All was not quiet
All was not still
All we could hear was the sound of Jo's shrill!

An adventure ahead
Jo could not have guessed
That the hens were all off to Budapest!

The only information disclosed to the bride in the run up to half term were the dates of travel, a list of appropriate clothing which would be prudent to pack and to ensure her passport was in date.

The time was set, the first venue booked and Cabot colleagues from past and present gathered in The Cuban where the destination would be revealed. One by one, cryptic clues were passed to the bride and, with each question, Jo's face passed through the emotions of confusion, hesitation and uncertainty until, thanks to the lyrics of a particular red-haired singer/song writer, the destination was between two very different yet desirable destinations: Barcelona or Budapest.

The final clue was handed over, read and quickly answered...with a sheer shriek of excitement, Jo knew where our flight would be landing.

With suitcases in tow, the brood of hens arrived at the airport, were through security with no additional searches (although quizzed as to the contents of our hand luggage and if there were any 'naughty' items which security should be aware of) and passed the time waiting for the announcement to board our plane with a glass of the finest vino.

Arriving at the apartment close to midnight, we swiftly decided on sleeping arrangements certain a good night's sleep would be best for our first full day in Hungary.

SUNDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2016

Through the light of day the true magnificence of the accommodation could be properly observed and it was the a little spot of luxury we had all hoped for.

Situated between Belvaros, District V, and Elizabeth Town, District VII, it was the prefect position to be within walking distance from many of Budapest's sights and attractions, close to the metro and, most importantly, the main drinking establishments of the city.

Over a leisurely breakfast, we mapped out our first day from places to visit and sights to see to how we would travel there and which mode of transport to use. However, all was not to be...

Casually rambling along the road, all were chatting and gossiping, pointing at interesting edifices and stepping around the homeless as we passed them by. The first inkling that something may be awry was the sudden realisation that we had walked a couple of kilometres and the first sight should have been reached within 800m. Reviewing the map and re-orientating ourselves, we set off again in what we hoped to be the correct direction. However, all was not to be...

During the next leg of the mis-adventure, the architecture diminished from grand to utilitarian, the tidy streets began to become littered and the frequency and sound of sirens increased. All of the brood were confused and unsure how we had made such a mistake again and wandered into a part of the city not meant for tourists. With time passing by, we climbed onto the next tram to exit this part of town and, with the desire to explore the city ever present, Jo took it upon herself to communicate with the locals to get us back on track.

Following another tram and a metro ride, we alighted at Astoria station two hours after leaving the apartment: Astoria being a two minute walk from the accommodation! Unknowingly, our fatal mistake occurred at the end of our road when each person of the party failed to spot that we had turned left and not right. After this point, every time we studied the map our west was actually east and the same was true of north and south. Hence, our unfortunate incident of the teachers in the day time!

Back on track, the first official sight was The Hungarian Parliament building. Inspired by Pugin's Westminster Palace, architect Imre Steindl embellished the Gothic Revival style with Renaissance and Baroque flourishes to design a building spanning 268m along the embankment, a central dome 88 meters high and adorned with 88 statues of Hungarian rulers.

Our path led us over the River Danube crossing the Margit Hid (Margeret Bridge), out of Pest and into Buda.

Lunchtime had been and gone but, if we were to sustain the rest of the day, refreshments were in need. Following the course of the river south along the embankment, we stumbled across a little square with the ornate St Anne's church on one side and a local bar on another. Here, a couple of ciders were quickly drunk and a little nibble on a local pastry was soon swallowed (we dismissed the lure of one unfamiliar drink!).

There was a distinct echo of Paris as we walked along the winding cobbled streets leading up to The Var. Scaling the steps and entering the summit from below Fisherman's Bastion, the imposing yet magnificent sight of Matyas Church met us with its colourful diamond patterned roof and pristine façade. This was swiftly followed by the undulating white rampart of cloisters and stairways intersecting at seven conical turrets of Fisherman's Bastion and the serene view looking down over Buda, across the River Danube and on into Pest. Between Matyas Church and the bastion is a statue of King Stephen, the founder of Hungary and surrounding this area of The Var are beautiful buildings and streets.

Day had quickly turned to night and it was time to head back to the apartment for fun and games before heading out on the town...much of which remains a blur.

Mini Break #3...Tenby

WEDNESDAY 27th - SATURDAY 30th JANUARY

Geography had always been considered one of my stronger subjects in school and, in fact, I achieved a 'B' grade at GCSE which confirms this statement. However, on this occasion, my geography failed me.

When one has recently travelled long haul, any impending form of travel which consists of sitting down for more than 2 hours is not high on the agenda (even as comfortable as World Traveller Plus makes a long haul journey). But spending quality time with your other half after being separated by 6,000 miles for 2 weeks is high on the agenda.

The answer...a mini break to the coast within a two hour drive.

The result...a mini break to the coast with a 3 hour plus drive after mistakenly assuming Tenby to be between Cardiff and Swansea (a 1.5 - 2 hour drive) rather than checking the map and entering the postcode into a route planner to accurately confirm the distance. Fortunately, when you have good company, many laughs and the 'yellow car' game to fill the time, the distance doesn't really matter and is all part of the experience you want to share together.

This delightful little seaside harbour town is full of character from its extensive history. Starting from the first settlement as a Welsh stronghold due to its hilltop position, leading into a Normal Castle and walled town in medieval times, part of which survives today, and now a bustling place with winding streets, little alleys and cobbled lanes to explore. But the true highlights of this town are the beautiful beaches with the feel of soft golden sand underfoot, the sound of the waves repeatedly crashing into the harbour wall and the smell of fresh sea air filling your lungs with every breathe.

It was the latter two which we were able to experience on our first night, deciding to play a derivative of pie-face. Standing on the cobb of the harbour with the tide rolling in and the waves becoming more frequent and ferocious, the splash of waves were becoming higher and higher and breaching the height of the wall to soak the walkway behind. The objective was to stand next to the wall and observe the waves rolling in, waiting for the loud thud to indicate the wave was about to splash over and soak anyone standing there until, at the final moment, moving away with such speed as to avoid the impending sea water.

Casually walking along the coastal path back to our humble abode, a sudden alarm started to sound and a crowd had gathered overlooking the darkened view of the Bristol Channel. Expectantly, the voyeurs were poised to witness the daily drill of the lifeboat launching into the Bristol Channel from the RNLI Lifeboat Station and it didn't disappoint.

A spell of poor weather is usually expected in most months when holidaying by the coast in the UK and is more or less a prerequisite in the month of January. This January was to be no exception but the day had started with the sun high in the sky, a few clouds created a patchwork of grey, white and varying shades of blue and the cool, firm wind heighted the senses. These conditions allowed for a perfect coastal walk, re-tracing our steps from the previous night and seeing the beauty of Tenby in fresh light.

A full day of exploring the local area, including an afternoon within Pembroke Castle, worked up a healthy appetite and sampling the local ale as part of our evening meal was a must.

The weather did not hold back on the third and final full day. Assuring ourselves that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes, we wrapped up as much as possible, fastened the Gore-Tex lined boots and headed ten minutes west to The Welsh Zoo. Unfazed by the lashings of rain pouring from above, money was exchanged for tickets, a map and a knowing smile from the cashier. The animals within the zoo were wiser than us taking shelter within their dens, sheds and other covered areas as we traversed the puddled walkways trying to glimpse these elusive creatures.

With a low success rate and feeling the cold, scheduled walks and feeds were the best bet of seeing any of the animals. The first of which was the 'pig walk'.

Thankfully, the heavens emptied its contents and the sun fought through the clouds which made most of the animals emerge from hiding and appreciate the freshness that comes after a heavy shower allowing all to enjoy the rest of the day.

The final morning was once again bright and sunny with a wind that was light and cool. Wanting to enjoy the view, the sound and the smell of Tenby's coast one final time, a morning coffee with traditional welsh cake was required before setting off home.