A wedding

All very happy

A week ago last Friday we got on the RailJet at Munich Central Station and emerged about eight hours later in night-time Budapest. Our hotel was the Danubius Grand (above left) on the Margitziget island. Imagine our disappointment when we awoke to grey skies and rain on the day of Ed and Melinda's wedding! Mike went on a soggy exploration of the island, which is frequented by a very large number of joggers and runners in all weathers, but also families on pleasanter days.

Luckily, the day turned out fine just in time for the wedding at the five-star Aquincum. After the funniest wedding service we've ever been to, then snacks and champagne, we trotted off to a nearby square to pose for photos with the happy couple. The wedding breakfast followed with only one speech: Ed's, in English, then repeated by the Mistress of Ceremonies in Hungarian, even though Ed's Hungarian is quite good by all accounts. Congratulations to Ed and Melinda!

The Sunday was a beautiful day, so we went to the zoo with my dad, Stella, my brother Phil, Wendy and our three nieces. Ed and Melinda, naturally tired out from the wedding, came out to meet us in the late afternoon and joined the family for dinner.

Last time we were in Budapest I had dearly wanted to go to one of the beautiful old coffee houses. Unfortunately, we didn't make it, so I insisted that we meet my friend Sue for brunch at the New York cafe on Monday morning. We ate under glittering chandeliers, surrounded by wall paintings and gold leaf, tended to by be-suited waiters. Wonderful.