I am using a new "blogger" program from now on. I am rather shocked though: I thought I had only posted 653 days - turns out is actually 798 days ... coo ... !
Had a lie in today - awesome. Moo was snoring beside me so alright is the world. Forgive the pun but it really has been "four seasons" here today - snow, heavy rain, sun and drizzle.
I actually miss the chill of Budapest - at least it was dry there!
So - the Four Seasons Gresham Palace.
The site was once Nako House, a neo-classical palace built in 1827. In 1880, the London-based Gresham Life Assurance Company bought the property, at a time when it was illegal to invest money in stocks, but rental income was a wise investment. The company later decided to build its foreign headquarters on the site, and decided that they needed a grander setting for them. They commissioned local architect Zsigmond Quittner to design the new structure, and in 1904, they began construction of the Gresham Palace, which was completed in 1906.
Originally, the palace served as an office building as well as a home for wealthy British aristocrats connected with the Gresham company. During World War II, Soviet soldiers eagerly took up residence in the extravagant palace. Eventually, it fell into disrepair and served as an apartment building during the Communist rule of Hungary. When democracy was restored, the national government presented the palace to the city of Budapest. In 2001, it was bought by the Four Seasons hotel chain, and was opened in 2004 as a luxurious hotel. Original details restored by the new Irish owners include a sweeping staircases, stained glass, mosaics, ironwork and soaring winter gardens.
This property has 179 rooms including 17 suites and it sits on the bank of the River Danube in Pest at the head of the Chain Bridge. It offers a bar, restaurant, spa with pool and meeting rooms set over five floors.
The attention to detail in this hotel is SUPERB. This property is arguably the most visually stunning & best designed in the Four Seasons group ...
