Budapest The Beautiful Day 1

We are staying at the Marriott right on the Danube. The view is beautiful, to our right is the Chain Bridge, the left we are across from the Cittedel and opposite the Castle. Couldn't ask for a better spot! Yesterday we took the tram (which runs right past our door) to the Parliment, the Musuem of Ethnography, the train station with the fanciest McDonalds I've ever seen. After stopping for a spot of tea we went on to St Stephen's Bescillica. Not to forget something for a very late lunch. Dinner was at a fusion restaurant; wonderful fresh food with offerings from Japan, China, and of course, Hungry. The decor was very modern with the addition of some Tera Cotta warriors! Those guys do get around. When we were told that they did not serve mint tea we decided to return to our hotel for a cup. The TNS group had taken over the bar area so we had tea and dessert in the main restaurant. This hotel has an interesting feature, you can watch the kitchen over a live cam on your tv. We had been watching earlier in the day but weren't quite sure what they were making in the pastry kitchen. We quizzed the dining room manager and then asked if we could go on a tour of the kitchen. What a place! Would you believe besides the main kitchen, meat slicing area, banquet kitchen, room service area, there is a chocolate room (locked), pastry kitchen (how much larger it looked on tv) with its own fridge (locked), vegetable prep area with its own fridge (not locked!)main chef's office, toilets for the staff! What a place. The hotel is in the process of being renovated and they must have started with the restaurant. Good idea, bringing in revenue while renovation continues!