Tomb of Gül Baba

Tomb of Gül Baba and Its Neighbourhood

Not being a hearty eater I went on towards a flight of stairs leading somewhere a couple of ten meters above street level. I climbed the stairs and ended up a secluded tiny park,Margaret Square (Margit tér), with a few benches and trees. The grass covered hilltop is a peaceful island in the midlle of buzzing north Buda where you can take a rest and listen to the humming city life.

On the street leading past the hill Margitkert Restaurant (address: Margit utca 15., Tel: 326 1862) invites you to taste traditional Hungarian dishes and listen to gypsy music on the evenings.

From Margit utca turn into Mecset utca that leads you straight the Tomb of Gül Baba(Gül Baba Türbéje) a moslim pilgrimage site. A giant plane tree greets you after climbing up the steps to the garden.

In fact in the well-kept, terraced memorial park (opening hours: 1st Jan-30th Apr: 10.00-18.00 daily, 1st May-30th Sept: 10.00-18.00, closed on Mondays, 1st-31st Oct: 10.00-17.00 closed on Mondays, 1st Nov-31st Dec: 10.00-16.00 daikly,
admission: 400 HUF/adult, 350 HUF/student, 250 HUF/pensioner) contains several gravestones from the 150-year Turkish era but the Tomb of Gül Baba survived the centuries the best.

Gül baba was a Dervish and legend says that he died of over-excitement during an orgy held in today's Matthias Church that was turned into a mosque at that time.

He was a talented horticulturalist and introduced cultivated roses to Hungary, that's why this part of Buda - today an exclusive residential area - is called Rózsadomb (Rose Hill). The rose bushes in the garden commemmorate this fact. His sarcophagus lies in the octagonal-shaped, domed tomb built between 1543-48.

You might not be enthusiastic about moslim monuments but the stunning view is worth climbing up there. Behind the tiled rooftops of residential Buda the Parliament building and the silver ribbon of the Danube draw the eye.

Fill up with caffeine at the cafe next to the memorial.

Daubner - the Best Confectionery in Budapest

For the best cakes and pastries in Budapest you'll have to walk a bit more, up Frankel Leó Street than continue on Szépvölgyi út where an unpretentious confectionery, theDaubner sells the most luscious cakes I ever happened to taste.

Take tram No 17 from Margaret Bridge if you're don't feel like walking (though some physical exercise lessens the guilt felt over the huge calorie-intake) and get off at the 4. stop at Kolosy tér, from there walk up to Daubner on Szépvölgyi út.

The long queue winding in front of the counters packed with creamy delights like Dobos cake, Caramell Cake, Chocolate gateau, or Chestnut cake, reflects the popularity of the place among Budapesti people.

Their ice cream is also of top quality.

Salty snacks, scones are also sold and they're just as delicious as the sweet desserts. A slice of cake costs around 200-300 HUF.