Our race to catch the next flight was hardly any easier.
About an hour and a half before landing, the cabin lights came back on and breakfast service began. Unfortunately, it was another meal I couldn’t really eat. The tray did include a small square of cheese, so I asked for a few extra pieces and ate them with the peapods I had packed from home.
We landed in Paris at 8:15 a.m., and thankfully, the pilot had made up most of the delay in the air. That relief was short-lived. We quickly learned that our next gate was in a different terminal, about 20 minutes away, and boarding would begin at 8:55. By the time we got off the plane, it was already 8:25.
What we didn’t realize was that we had to go through security again and then take a 15-minute airport shuttle bus to an entirely different building. We hurried through the airport as fast as we could. I actually ran ahead at one point to make sure we wouldn’t miss the flight. And of course, our gate was at the very end of the terminal. By the time we arrived, boarding was already halfway finished — but we made it.
Thankfully, the plane took off on time, and I’m happy to report that the final leg to Budapest was completely uneventful. We landed. There was no additional security check, which we thought was odd, and we went straight to baggage claim.
Arranging an Uber in Budapest was a little confusing at first because it works differently from the United States. You request a ride in the app, receive a number, and then wait in the designated Uber line. When a driver arrives, you show your number, and the driver matches it to the number and name in their system. You don’t verify the driver’s information the way we usually do in the U.S. They verify yours. The tricky part was finding the correct line — there were actually two lines merging into one, and several travelers were loudly arguing about who was next. Eventually, we sorted it out, got our Uber, and headed to the City Center of Budapest to our Airbnb.
About an hour and a half before landing, the cabin lights came back on and breakfast service began. Unfortunately, it was another meal I couldn’t really eat. The tray did include a small square of cheese, so I asked for a few extra pieces and ate them with the peapods I had packed from home.
We landed in Paris at 8:15 a.m., and thankfully, the pilot had made up most of the delay in the air. That relief was short-lived. We quickly learned that our next gate was in a different terminal, about 20 minutes away, and boarding would begin at 8:55. By the time we got off the plane, it was already 8:25.
What we didn’t realize was that we had to go through security again and then take a 15-minute airport shuttle bus to an entirely different building. We hurried through the airport as fast as we could. I actually ran ahead at one point to make sure we wouldn’t miss the flight. And of course, our gate was at the very end of the terminal. By the time we arrived, boarding was already halfway finished — but we made it.
Thankfully, the plane took off on time, and I’m happy to report that the final leg to Budapest was completely uneventful. We landed. There was no additional security check, which we thought was odd, and we went straight to baggage claim.
Arranging an Uber in Budapest was a little confusing at first because it works differently from the United States. You request a ride in the app, receive a number, and then wait in the designated Uber line. When a driver arrives, you show your number, and the driver matches it to the number and name in their system. You don’t verify the driver’s information the way we usually do in the U.S. They verify yours. The tricky part was finding the correct line — there were actually two lines merging into one, and several travelers were loudly arguing about who was next. Eventually, we sorted it out, got our Uber, and headed to the City Center of Budapest to our Airbnb.
Our Airbnb turned out to be lovely. It was a charming one-bedroom apartment that sleeps three, full of old-world Hungarian character: tall ceilings, old-fashioned windows, and a view into a courtyard covered by a glass dome overlooking a shoe store below. The apartment had a small kitchenette, a dining table, and a sofa bed, and it was conveniently located in the City Center, near many of the sites we wanted to visit. After settling in, we headed out to see the Dohány Street Synagogue.
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The synagogue was only about a 15-minute walk from the apartment, and we could see its two tall towers from several blocks away. The building was enormous and beautiful. Since we had purchased tickets in advance, we were able to go right in. The scale of the sanctuary was impressive, and it was clear they hosted tours regularly — signs in multiple languages lined the center aisle. Naturally, we joined the English tour.
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Our guide was a petite Hungarian woman with a soft-spoken voice, but she was incredibly knowledgeable. She explained the history of the synagogue and why its architecture resembles a church. Although the congregation was traditionally Orthodox, the synagogue is part of Neolog Judaism, a Hungarian Jewish movement with its own customs and practices.
The sanctuary was vast, with two levels of balconies and seating for more than 3,000 people. The guide pointed out many important religious features, including a striking 12-branched candelabrum representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The synagogue also has a large pipe organ, which is unusual in a synagogue. |
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From there, we followed her into the courtyard, passing memorial plaques honoring Jews from Budapest who were killed during World War II and whose bodies were never recovered. Beyond that was a garden containing a remarkable metal sculpture: a weeping willow tree shaped like an inverted menorah. Each leaf bore the name of someone lost in the Holocaust. It was a powerful and moving memorial.
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After the tour ended, Linda and I wandered through the Budapest Ghetto Museum and the Jewish Museum.
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By then it was around 4:00 p.m., and we were both hungry and exhausted. We found a restaurant Google recommended just across the courtyard from our apartment, which felt like perfect luck after such a long day.
We treated ourselves to traditional Wiener schnitzel with a small salad and mango fruit tea. I also ordered a side of pickled vegetables, and you could immediately tell they were homemade — the pickles were fantastic.
Back at the apartment, we finally settled in for the evening. I did a little writing while Linda tried to read, but she fell asleep before finishing the first page.
We treated ourselves to traditional Wiener schnitzel with a small salad and mango fruit tea. I also ordered a side of pickled vegetables, and you could immediately tell they were homemade — the pickles were fantastic.
Back at the apartment, we finally settled in for the evening. I did a little writing while Linda tried to read, but she fell asleep before finishing the first page.