May's Longest Day

If you think May Day in central Europe is a celebration of work – think again.

With May 1st falling on a Tuesday, this unusual weekend began Friday evening and didn't end until Wednesday am.

I expect the extra Monday will be accounted as a "bridge" holiday, which usually requires a Saturday to be worked the following weekend.

Anyway, now the tourists are here, the atmosphere over four days of non-work became one of a long summer holiday – aided by weather reaching 32C.

I decided to try to fulfil an ambition – to get to the top of János Hill and view Buda and Pest from the city's highest landmark.

It takes a bus ride to get up to the general area. But, as you see from the photo, I seemed to alight at a point rather distant from my objective. I expected to find a cogwheel railway – as advertised – to the top of János Hill, but others getting off the bus denied any such thing existed.

'You'll have to walk a long way in that direction,' they said. So I contented myself with a walk through the area – Normafa – where I was.

If you know, and like, London's Hampstead Heath then you will appreciate the Buda Hills. The environment is similar – only bigger. In fact, it is remarkable how apparently impenetrable green-clad mountains turn into perfectly walkable woods and grass-scapes when you're there.

And, like Hampstead Heath, the area was well-populated by walkers, sun-worshippers and families enjoying the weather, plus the occasional organic play areas for small kids and the opportunity for adult kids to set-up barbecues without breaking bye-laws.

On May Day itself, central Pest turned into a sponsored racetrack. There were sports racing cars, formula one cars – and Jenson Button. I fancy Button had the better view of proceedings. With roads cleared, he stormed in his F1 between Parliament and Pest's ring road with a terminating straight up Alkotmany utca, which opens onto the vista of Parliament Square.

Although little could actually be seen, a memento remains in my ears and across the zebra crossing where Button performed his wheelies!