It's my Birthday and I'll cry if I want to!

Welcome to this yearly post of events happening in the world aaaaand this time it's all about Coronavirus! BOOOOOO! which means I am sitting at home (should be in Japan), drinking a bottle of Asti I found in the cupboard and eating a takeaway from Backyard BBQ and cakes from Ridiculously Rich by Alana

As of today 5pm press conference by Boris Johnson (daily occurence as of this week) all of the restaurants/pubs/cinemas/gyms/leisure centres etc are to shut their doors for unknown time. They are still allowed to provide deliveries and takeaways though. Also the government announced that they will pay all of those workers 80% of their wages. (meanwhile shop workers still have to go to work and risk getting infected with covid-19 with no extra pay). All schools are closed as well. All sports events are cancelled most possibly even the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the summer.

Italy is in FULL lockdown for about a week now. Reports are saying that the canals in Venice have crystal clear water, fish and swans have returned and even Dolphins!

China has reported that the spread of the disease is drastically slowing down their, no new cases reported and the special hospitals are being demolished.

There's a lot of people stuck in foreign countries and special flights and ferries are being put on for repatriation. Apparently there are a bunch of Baltic citizens stuck on the border of Poland as they won't let them in to drive home.  Most countries have closed their borders completely. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit being Royals and moved to Canada. (a short while ago not today). 

All exams have been cancelled. 

Yeap so it's all about Covid-19 at the moment. Expecting UK to go into full lockdown soon as well...

Self isolation thoughts

Covid-19 is officially a pandemic now. It started in China as an *exaggerated flu* and a few months later the whole of Italy is in lockdown. European countries and the USA are closing their borders one by one. UK seems to be the last one to properly respond to the evolving situation. I am feeling half panicked. Everyone is told to self-isolate (well if you have a cough or fever) but nothing's been cancelled yet by the government and the nation is in uproar, but still going to cafes and castles etc. Although obviously not as much as before. Very slow response, meanwhile other countries are declaring a state of emergency and closing all schools and banning events. At the same time life here goes on as normal. Just a feeling of doom and anxiety has rooted itself in me. And I'm also thinking about all the little businesses. Can they survive this time? If they're forced to shut down either due to the lack of customers or due to government forcing everyone to stay at home just like in Italy.

I should be in Japan at this moment of time. We finally managed to sort a trip after 2 years of trying and here I am sitting at home doing nothing... Feels so wrong! Luckily they cancelled so we'll get the money back. Half of me wishes though that we would've been able to go. If only everything had unfolded a week later... I'll go visit Emma in London soon. But that also fills me with dread. Is it safe? well yeah, millions of people live and work there everyday duh. BUUUUUUUTTTT What if!? You never know if you're a carrier or not, especially if you have a strong immune system. And I do. So I'm very rarely ill. There is only one confirmed case in the county at the moment but they're not really testing anyone anymore. Mr. Special has a chest infection and he wasn't even given any antibiotics or anything! You're young and strong, you can fight it off yourself. Since when has that ever happened?

I'm not self isolating because of any medical reason, just by having nowhere to go. How can I show my face in town when I know work is struggling a little bit. But if I do go in I won't have had a rest since September! My December trip was ruined because people phoned in sick and I went in. Not happening again, plus I can't just take my holiday days later because they'll disappear end of April and new ones start in May. Excuses excuses I know but can I be selfish just for once? Please? Just in a strange limbo feeling at the moment. Probably made worse by the fact I haven't left the house in a couple of days and all I do is read the news and stories about others panicking and panic buying to the point where huge supermarkets are running out of stuff. Not because there's an actual shortage of something but because all of the sudden the demand has taken a huuuuuge hike and they just can't keep up with deliveries and restocking.

At the moment I am trying to upload photos to my Greece post (trying to be a little bit productive and write posts from last year). But the mac doesn't want to cooperate...

Also thinking about finally applying for my Masters course. How long will I waste my life away here?

Toodalooo, 

Winter Wonderland

What better time to talk about Winter Wonderland than August am I right? Got to be prepared! :)

Last year was the second year we went to London around Christmas time and fully emerged ourselves into the huuuuuuge Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. It's free to get into and totally worth it! Plenty of food (and drink) stalls, gifts and rides! I don't normally justify paying the huge prices for a 2 second thrill ride but the haunted house looked so inviting and it wasn't that much (perhaps I'm living in a different reality thinking this should be more expensive).  It's a great place to spend a few hours in the evening (I like the lights in the dark, don't think daylight has the same effect). Be prepared though it might get super busy at times. There are shows that you can buy tickets for, Ice Rink and so much more. Every year I discover something new and exciting to take part in. Not really hard since first time we accidentally stumbled upon it and didn't know what it was. Might even plan for this years visit...

Also went into the Ice Kingdom. BRRRRR.... so cold (obvously!). There were half sculptures that you could stand behind and pretend you're a centaur etc. AAAAnd a little slide :)

This year it's on from 21st November until 5th of January, so plenty of time to check it out (and plan to go there when it's not that busy)

Also when in London you MUST check out the amazing Regent Street Christmas Lights. And the Angels were absolutely magical this year. Totally worth it :)

SUSHI!!! Btw it's the same place I went to in Paris :D yummy!!! Got the balls for free :D

Inside Selfridges, they had live music there too :)

And finally, since our hotel was in the neighbourhood, we went to Notting Hill, and yes the houses are sooo pretty and colourful, but I clearly suck at taking pics so couldn't get a cool one :D

Thanks,

Bye,

Jazzz...

Budapest Christmas Markets

Heippa Hei-Hei!

So it's April and snowing outside :D guess the week of summer we had at the end of February was all we're allowed to have :D Anyway all this cold reminded me that I have to jot down memories from our Budapest trip!

Probably the most underrated capital city in Europe! It was absolutely enchanting! Especially with the Christmas markets dotted around the centre. 

First of all they're using their own currency, forint, and 1 euro is about 320 forints. So looking at the prices everything looks soo expensive, because it's in hundreds! But in the end you'll be amazed at how little you actually spent on everything.

Getting from the airport to city centre is very easy, IF you manage to get on the bus, that is. When we were there, first it said you have to buy a SPECIAL ticket before you board (not just a random normal public transport ticket valid for other buses etc). So we waited in the queue for 2 ticket machines with the rest of the clueless tourists, not even sure if it's the right place etc. As norm when in a new country, or is that just me? Soooo a bus turns up and everyone who had their tickets boards the bus and it's basically full, so we're still in the ticket queue and Mr. Special is about lose his head that we'll miss the bus, because people in front of us are just too damn slow. Then we spot that another family, who we had briefly spoken to at the queue gets on the bus. They got there after us! And we make our way to the driver and voila! He sells us the tickets and the bus is now rammed full. People still left at the bus stop...

Our hotel was very conveniently located between the two Christmas Markets and on the first night we went to the one in Vorosmarty Square. And I found my favourite drink - hot apple and cinnamon drink! :D no alcohol needed, although you could add a shot of their local spirit. But I chose not to. Cinnamon makes it christmassy enough :)

Lots of stalls selling everything you can imagine really! Loving it! So much variety in the stalls and products and the HONEY. OMG about 20 different flavoured honeys! And of course I accidentally try the one that tastes like garlic!!!!!!! Never ever ever am I trying anything ever again!

Food is very different to what UK is used to as well. Pictured is a potato pancake (fritted so very oily!) topped with chicken in a paprika sauce (typical food here). Also there were stuffed cabbages, blood sausages, German style food, that I'm more accustomed to :) So I was loving it and grabbed a little bit of everything :D Yeap the vendors looked at me weird coz the combination does not really go together but hey ho! Tourist life for me!

Pictured above is the other market in front of the basilica, we stumbled upon during our evening walk. There's an ice rink there and an English woman selling cheese :D She lives in Budapest now. Also in the evening there is a lightshow projected on the walls of the Basilica, gifts falling out of the windows etc. Very mesmerising.

Our first full day here, we decided to go to the Parliament! The most impressive building in town! You can only get in there as part of a guided tour, and have to go through airport style security. Luckily we happened to get there about half an hour before an English tour started and there were still spaces to buy tickets for :)

This is a special entrance reserved for special guests only - like Mandela. On the outside of these doors there are guards and I believe a guard change takes place as well. Inside where the crown jewels are kept you are asked to take precautions and not get too close to the guards or else you might (accidentally?) get stabbed by a sword... Just FYI :)

This side is an entrance to the library. There are guards checking your card even before you can get anywhere near the entrance. 

Sidenote: I had the rest of this post mostly written out a few weeks ago and thought that today, I'd just come finish off the last few pics and publish, but feeling so demotivated seeing that now all my hard work (yes it's super hard work for me) has disappeared. I even searched out how many rooms the parliament has etc etc to be a little informative post for once and not just been there done that. FML!!!!!!!!!!!! And now it won't even justify the lines! - Apologies for my whingefest :D Just now means I'll be posting this even later. Why oh why didn't I catch up with at least a few posts while on my trip to Greece - had plenty of time! - oh yeah... no freaking mobile appppppppppp for blogger.

Just around the corner from the parliament there is a teeny tiny chocolate museum on the first floor on top of a cafe/restaurant. It literally costs about 2 pounds to get in, is comprised of 3-4 small rooms and mainly displays old chocolate advertisements and leaflets and old jugs and small dishes/equipment that was used to make and eat chocolate. You get a sample of some chocolate buttons on your way in and the most remarkable exhibit in the museum is the marzipan Parliament.

The famous Fishermans Bastion - make sure to also go to the church on this square. You'll get to wander through various rooms of it, not just the main hall. And I loooove the narrow steps, the maze like architecture, secret rooms. 

View from the Buda Castle to the Pest side of the city

If you don't want to walk up the hill there's a simpler (more expensive) option: cable car. But the walking part is literally like a walk in the park :)

And all my spa story is gone :(

So we went to Gellert Spa - because the interior looked more grandiose :D And I wasn't disappointed :) Let's be real hot water is hot water. So we got a cabin option which is slightly more expensive than just the ticket with a locker but worth it! And you can get one cabin between the two of you (male and female). It's basically your own private changing room, where you can leave all your stuff :) Only room for one person in it at a time though so the other one has to wait outside :D A little fail that we did do though is that we bought swimming hats - there was a sign that in the POOL they are compulsory... but we didn't fo into the POOL :D it was too cold, compared to the baths :D Another thing I'm glad we did was to check out the outside pool. We were super hesitant at first because one of the pools outside was closed, so we weren't sure if there's anything there worth going. Plus we didn't have slippers so hell yeah... November... and we're barefoot running up about 2 flight of stairs outside. It was worth it though :D

Looks like a Dracula Castle? Unfortunately you can't go in it, but there was a little market in front of it.

One night we decide to go to the 3D gallery. Something we've never done before and slightly caught us off guard. It's basically just different backgrounds you pose in front of and on the photo they "come to life". A bit awks, but got a few good pics :D

Then a quick tour of the Opera House, the main hall was unfortunately being renovated so couldn't see that but we did get a little taster of performances.

My favourite spot is always somewhere high up :D For some reason Mr. Special didn't come up with me this time. And it was super easy because guys! In the St. Stephen's Basilica there's a LIFT to take you up! - It's a choice though, ticket for that is (insignificantly) more expensive than the stair option. I came back down on the stairwell and managed to get lost for a good few minutes :D there's like 2 floors and one has a toilet. And I just couldn't manage to find the door to take me down...

Our last meal in Hung(a)ry. Recommend!

Yum starter but the green pepper thing is HOT! HOT! HOT! I nearly died! And I wasn't expecting tit! I thought it was green pepper/paprika style but OH NO! LORD HELP ME!. I also casually bit into the butter thinking it was cream cheese :D :D :D :D Can't take me anywhere :D

Ttyl ;)

Finally :D

Jazzz...