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Last Night At The Budapest Christmas Market

Ralph Grizzle

Chestnuts, Budapest Christmas Markets
Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire . . . Just a few steps from where Viking Odin was docked on the Danube last night was Budapest’s Christmas Market. © 2012 Ralph Grizzle

We’re off to a good start. Although it was rainy and chilly (just above the freezing point) in Budapest yesterday, a group of us ventured off Viking Odin for what was billed as a “Jet Lag Buster.”

With the majority of guests coming from the United States, many, of course, were tired from traveling across six or more time zones. Even so, a couple dozen of us or so followed our Viking River Cruises’ tour leader to the nearby Budapest Christmas Market.

I’m glad I joined the group.

A Stroll Through The Budapest Christmas Market

From my experience, Budapest has one of the better Christmas Markets along the Danube. The market is close to the river — a five-minute walk; compact — occupying a beautiful city square; yet festive and varied, with vendors selling a wide selection of products appropriate for the holidays.

I did not, for example, see chintzy souvenir-type items, such as t-shirts or decorative ceramics. All of the products seemed to be of high-quality and true to the season.

I enjoyed that many vendors wore period costumes and sold goods produced in a traditional fashion, some right in front of us, such as the Chimney Cake. The cake consists of a thin yeast pastry ribbon wound around a wooden cylinder, sprinkled with sugar, and baked by rolling slowly above an open fire.

Kürt?skalács, Chimney Cake
I enjoyed the smells of Hungarian Chimney Cakes — being prepared in front of us. © 2012 Ralph Grizzle

For me, strolling through the market was a step back into time, and certainly the spirit of Christmas was alive and well, and even contagious, in this wonderful square. I loved the smells, the mulled wine with its many aromas, the roasting chestnuts, the varied baked goods; and the smell of cloves, cinnamon and other spices wafting in the market air.

The Candy Man, Budapest Christmas Market
The candy man wore a tall hat and extended his reach with a basket on a pole. His was a busy booth last night at the Christmas Market in Budapest last night. © 2012 Ralph Grizzle

The mood was festive, with quite a crowd out gathering in the late afternoon on Saturday. Even though it was only 5 o’clock, the sky was already dark, and it felt like early evening.

The crowds were such that I found myself shuffling along slowly behind groups of people, listening to the strange and distinctive Uralic language spoken by the Hungarians. The crowd was so dense at times that I had to turn my body sideways to slice through standing groups. It felt good to “hugged by humanity” and to immerse my soul, spirt and body into such a happy — and hopeful — season.

Mulled wine, Budapest Christmas Markets
Mulled wine. Just like it says on the side of the barrel. Smells — and tastes — delicious. © 2012 Ralph Grizzle

More from my site

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  • Silversea Pacific Island Cruise Review: A New Holiday TraditionSilversea Pacific Island Cruise Review: A New Holiday Tradition
  • European Christmas Markets: Our Favorite Time to CruiseEuropean Christmas Markets: Our Favorite Time to Cruise

Hosted Cruises Budapest, Christmas Markets, Viking Odin, Viking River Cruises

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
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Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
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Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
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