Greetings from Budapest - the capital city of Hungary.After a typical early start from home and a 2-hour flight, I arrived at Budapest (Ferihegy)Airport to freezing temperatures! Brrrrrr! Snow everywhere and a rather harsh wind blowing!
Looking after me for the next two days is Martina - the PR of the Four Seasons Budapest AND Prague - where we filmed last year. As it happens, the Prague show premieres tonight! It was a fun show if I remember correctly.
It's a 30-minute drive from the airport to the FS Gresham Palace. I have stayed in many, many FS properties but I have to say that this one is the most elegant & palatial. More about it tomorrow with photos ...
After a lovely lunch with the new General Manager Yves Giacometti (formerly of the FS Buenos Aires) we headed out into the chilly city. Lucky I had my Russian hat (& cigar) to keep me warm! Ha!
Budapest is made up of three parts - Buda & Obuda and Pest - separated by the River Danube. We went for a little wander in Pest (where the hotel is located).
The Basilica is magnificent!
We also popped into the New York Cafe - part of the New York Palace Hotel. We had mulled wine in a stunning Hungarian coffee room. It was opened in 1894 and features stunning frescoes on the ceilings, lashings of marble and gilt and opulent chandeliers. It's a fantastic room ...
So tonight I am wine-tasting - Tokaji & Bull's Blood (I hope) and a first look at Budapest by night! Can't wait ....
Yves Giacometti
St. Stephen's Basilica
Once an open courtyard ... now enclosed ...
The ceiling at the NY Cafe
