Budapest

Budapest is so far one of the BEST cities I have been to. First off, if you didnt know, Buda is actually one city and Pest is another and they are linked together by bridges. Anyway, there are over 2 million people here, but it doesnt feel that way at all. It has this great small town, homey feel. I loved it so much, I extended my stay here by two nights.

Mary and I arrived here on the 3rd and were greeted at our hostel with beers in hand and they showed us our room which was unreal! I have slept in a few hostels so far on this trip with triple bunk beds and such, but the past two hostels we stayed at were awesome! Like Split, Mary and I had yet another apartment complete with kitchen and huge room and shower... it was great!

We headed out that night for a late dinner---authentic Hungarian Pizza.. i know, i know.. but it was the only thing open that late...

The next day we crammed alot in. We went to the Buda Castle, St. Stephen`s Basilica and we walked the Chain Bridge that links Buda and Pest together as well as Vaci Street which has amazing shopping. Realizing that we are now starving, we head into this really cool looking restaurant that has a beer garden for a late lunch early dinner. And man was it GOOD! The waiter was probably the most Hungarian looking man I have ever seen. (If you think of Hungary and what a man would look like, you would picture him. Really tall and manly, thick accent.) it was great! We ordered their "Tourist Menu" aka Prefix and ate this amazing lamb soup for an app. and lamb and potato meal (Minus the HOOF of course!!!) with this yummy apple struddle for dessert. Mary and I were so STUFFED, but had to continue on our way. So we head to the Szechenyi Spa Bath, which is this awesome Country Club looking place with these huge pools and saunas. But what is so cool , is that the pools are HOT like a jacuzzi because Budapest was built on this thermal land or something.. so the water is heated form the ground. It was really cool.. and HOT!! After the baths we continued to walk down Andrassy Aveune and Hero`s Square. To top off the evening, we enjoyed an amazing cheese platter and wine at Liszt Square which is lined with cafes and trees, it is really quite nice.

Now Mary is gone and I am solo again for the remaining portion of my trip, well, until Ireland (the end of my trip) where I meet up with my brother and sister-in-law. But I am having a blast! I have met up with my new friends, Dick and Erzsebet who are long time friends of a cousin of mine and they are nice enough to let me stay with them til I head out tomorrow.

Yesterday I took in alot more sights. Matthias Church, Szentharomsag Square, Fisherman`s Bastion, the Parliament and the House of Terror. WOW that place is outrageous. It used to be known as the House of Loyalty but then the Nazis and Communist teamed up together and used that house for killings. It was awful and heartrenching. Later in the day, I met up with Dick and we headed back to his house where Erzsebet had this amazing homemade Hungarian meal waiting for us. It was made with Onions and Sausage and peppers and tomato and SPICY and it was really good! Then after a brief HAIL STORM... crazy i know! we headed into town for fantastic live gypsy music. It was beautiful! Dick got up to dance with the locals while Erzsebet and I hung back at the chairs. It was alot of fun!

Tonight i am off the Opera House to see a ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet. Should be quite exciting'