Bath time in Budapest and there is no shortage of options to take a dip.
Szechenyi Baths though is the most popular for a reason.
With its 15 indoor baths and three outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms, a rooftop spa greenhouse and a beer spa.
It is 8am though when we arrive, Szechenyi (£20pp) opens at 7am and closes its doors at 8pm, and I’m done with beery breakfasts.
Or Brut brekkies too with that option open at my billet at the InterContinental Hotel on the Danube front.
Breadth of bathing options
With the breadth of bathing options on hand it would be easy to lose your partner… and, of course, I did.
We have a history of miscommunication as any married couple will recognise.
And we agree to meet at the outdoor pool after my sauna.
My little mermaid is no fan of the rocks and had even taken but one breath of the steam room before taking flight.
But we had shared both outdoor pools, gently warm, and warmer.
And at least half a dozen of the inner ones and jacuzzis on the right as we you enter back in from the outside.
She’s hot and she’s cold
Masochist that I am I tiptoed into the freezing cold ones.
Just as I had done in the Czechia Spa Triangle back in the day.
And almost as quickly leapt straight back out.
The baths are, of course, carefully monitored and measured to be of staggered temperatures.
So don’t be alarmed if a member of staff sticks a thermometer in near the step where you’re sat.
The temperature was certainly rising as having dipped my toe in the indoor pools and taken my sauna I repaired to our rendezvous.
Only to find that there was no sign of my little mermaid who could only be spending more time inside.
Trunks and disorderly
Now an hour in the hotter of the two pools outside surrounded by all God’s creatures, fat, slim, tattooed et al.
I took matters into my own hands.
And returned inside, my stars and stripes swimming shorts clinging to my skin, shouting Her name.
Only to find her outside, at the other outdoor pool, outside the cafe, clothed, eating a snack and drinking a coffee.
Water on the brain
Of course, had the middle lanes pool been open as we’d hoped my little mermaid would have been there eating up the laps.
As with such matters I put the misunderstanding down to water on the brain.
Now they say the human body possesses 60% water.
And after more than three hours in this H2O heaven I reckon I’m up to 80%.
Not that I’m complaining as I’ve never been so clean and reckon I won’t need another dip for the rest of the year.
After my bath time in Budapest.
Bathed and beautiful
Now our four-day loveholidays city break to the Hungarian capital, flying with Ryanair and staying at the InterContinental for two (£1,099) is drawing to a close.
And we’ll share the last knockings with you, only not now as we need our sleep with a redeye in the morning.
And no time even for a sink wash.
