Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, and today I traveled from Bratislava, Slovakia, to Budapest, Hungary. I rode a train, stayed in a really cool hotel with a lot of history, explored a Christmas market, and ended the day with a beautiful dinner cruise on the Danube River. Let’s get started!
Saying Goodbye to Bratislava
We started the day with breakfast at the Arcadia Hotel before packing up and heading to a new train station in Bratislava. It took us a little time to figure out where to go, but we finally found our platform.
Our tickets were for Car #1, but when the train arrived, we heard an announcement that there wasn’t a Car #1 today! So we got on Car #2 with some other Americans. We stowed our luggage and grabbed the first open seats. When the ticket checker came by, she said it was okay for us to stay there—phew!
The train ride to Budapest was about 2 ½ hours. I looked out the window and saw the Slovakia and Hungarian countryside, with rolling hills and tiny villages. It was so relaxing, and before I knew it, we were pulling into Budapest, Hungary’s capital city.
The Mystery Hotel Budapest
We took a short drive from the train station to the Mystery Hotel Budapest, and wow—this place was incredible! The hotel is in a historic building that used to be the headquarters of Hungary’s Freemasons. It mixes old-fashioned architecture with fun, modern decorations.
Our room was so cool—it had a picture of the Mona Lisa, but she was wearing sunglasses and a VIP badge! The hotel was full of little surprises like that, which made it feel mysterious and fun.
We had a light lunch in the hotel restaurant, which is in the old Grand Lodge Room. The high ceilings and fancy decor made it feel like a palace!
Evening Adventures: Christmas Market and a Dinner Cruise
After unpacking, I got ready for an exciting night in Budapest. Since it was sprinkling outside, we took an Uber to the Vörösmarty Christmas Market.
Christmas Market Fun
The market was magical, with twinkling lights, festive music, and stalls selling all kinds of holiday treats and gifts. I saw handmade ornaments, warm scarves, and delicious food. The smell of mulled wine and roasted nuts filled the air. Even though it was drizzling, the market was full of people enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Dinner Cruise on the Danube River
The best part of the day was a dinner cruise on the Danube River, where I got to see Budapest’s famous landmarks lit up at night.
As the boat glided along the river, we passed:
- Buda Castle: A huge, glowing castle high on a hill.
- Fisherman’s Bastion: A fairy tale-like terrace with golden lights.
- Matthias Church: A beautiful church with a colorful tiled roof.
- Hungarian Parliament: This giant building looked amazing with its lights reflecting in the river.
The views were magical, and the food on the boat was delicious. Even though it was raining a little, the city lights sparkled, and everything looked so pretty. The cruise lasted about 2 ½ hours, and I didn’t want it to end!
What I Learned Today
- What is the Mystery Hotel?
The Mystery Hotel Budapest is in a building that used to be the headquarters for Hungary’s Freemasons. Now, it’s a fun and quirky hotel with surprises around every corner! - What is the Danube River?
The Danube River is the second-longest river in Europe, running through 10 countries, including Hungary. Budapest’s landmarks look beautiful from the river at night! - What is the Vörösmarty Christmas Market?
The Vörösmarty Christmas Market is one of Budapest’s most famous holiday markets, full of lights, music, and festive stalls selling gifts and food.
This blog post was created collaboratively with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, to help structure and document our journey.
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