Weather update

Hungarian winter has started to appear around the corner with the temperature set to get down to -3 on Saturday so rugby training could be fun tomorrow, especially if the predicted snow actually materialises - bizarre turn of events considering that it was 25 degrees 10 days ago - soemone has explained to the CEE weather gods about the concept of global warming

Sleeper train from Prague to Budapest

Yet another first - exploring CEE by train - environmentally friendly, quick and comfortable and saves on the cost of a night in a hotel.

Possibly the way to go even for business trips as long as the times aren't too anti-social although I have no idea what it would be like getting to Riga from Budapest on the train - I suspect there is a reason why people fly!

Unfortunately, we seem to have been abandoned for 2 hours in the middle of the Czech Republic whilst we waited for other trains to join us from around the whole of CEE - Warsaw, Minsk, Moscow, Berlin, Bratislava and a number of other places

Red Bull airrace - the support acts

The Red Bull flying team called the Flying Bulls in old Barnstorming planes, a Grummann Wild Cat WWII fighter and a Cobra gunship in the Red Bull colours

Red Bull airrace - the flyers

http://www.redbullairrace.com

with the start to the race being to fly under the Chain Bridge before shooting up and back down the river in a series of serious G turns, this is not a job for the faint hearted - called onto the race course with the immortal lines, 'Smoke on', the pilots are truly flying by the seat of their pants and it is an incredible display of flying - even if we had no idea who won.

Red Bull airrace - the Breitling air display team

A Swiss watchmakering firms version of the Red Arrows - very impressive, especially over the River Danube with the Parliament and Pest as the backdrop

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breitling_jet_team

Budapest Wine Festival

5 days long, up in the Castle - wine tasting, food and amazing views. Very simple approach - within your entry ticket you receive a glass and a carrying puch for it and then you buy tokens instead of cash. The wine producers then charge what they think their wine is worth and the measures are not small either!!

It is a great way to taste some of the best wines in Hungary - although not recommended on a Sunday afternoon though

St Stephen's day celebrations

St Istvan (or St Stephen) is the patron saint and founder of Hungary (as King Instvan) - his mummified hand is in the St Istvan's basilica in the city centre and he is generally seen as an all round good bloke.

The end of August sees his birthday and a 2 day national holiday with military parades at Heroes Square including the commissioning of the newest officers and soldiers into the Hungarian army, the Red Bull air race and a wonderful fireworks display over the river.

This year we were lucky enough to be invited to a friend's flat overlooking the river from the Buda side of the hill and a wonderful view of the festivities. At one stage the national anthem was played and it seemed as though the whole city was singing it - very impressive! The whole event was set to music and it was really very special to see, especially in the company of some Hungarian friends as it showed how proud they are of their city and country. Katy, who claims to be somewhat of a fireworks fan claims that they were the best that she has ever seen, some praise indeed!