Notes from Budapest

Finally making it to the city I thought most about leading up to the trip.

The Szechenyi Chain Bridge and how it framed views of other parts of the city depending on where you were standing on it. 

Figuring out the metro in a different language for the first time on the trip because the walk from the bus station was going to be too long.

Never being more thankful for a hotel room all to myself and taking the longest “everything shower” of my life.

The details and views from Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and the Fisherman’s Bastion.

Learning that Budapest was once three different cities mostly separated by the river–Buda, Pest, and Obuda. Today, Buda and Pest are still usually locally referred to separately.

How laid back and welcome I felt my first night out walking through the city.

Langosh with cheese, red onion and pancetta; Hungarian pelmeny, poppy seed langosh cake, and an overpriced Chimney Cake with Nutella. 

The Drum Cafe being super busy, even on a Tuesday night.

Accidentally going through the House of Terror museum without an English audio guide.

The girl asking me to take her picture with a disposable camera who thought it was “so cool” that she wouldn’t see how they turned out until later.

Getting a Dreher Meggy beer every night with dinner.

Shoes on the Danube Memorial.

Learning about Hungary’s WWII history and feeling like so much of the history from this region was left out of what I learned in school.

A tour of The Hospital in a Rock and Nuclear Bunker.

Hungarian Parliament Building.

Washing my clothes that were stinky from the washing machine back in Slovenia in a shallow bathroom sink with no stopper and washing machine cleaner that I accidentally bought instead of detergent. 

Old men who looked like they were from ZZ Top playing oldies rock in the hostel bar.

Blow-drying my socks because they didn’t air dry all the way overnight.

Finding hidden tiny statues. 

Identifying the Brits at breakfast because they were so happy there were beans offered in the buffet.

Spending a day relaxing (and people-watching) at the Szechenyi Thermal Baths.

The feeling of going from the salt sauna to the cold pool.

Buying the most obnoxious souvenir sandals I could find since I forgot my shower shoes at a past hostel and had to have them for the thermal baths and the rest of the trip.

Trying to go to bed early and knocking my water bottle off the top bunk to the floor where it cracked and got water all over the hostel floor.

The weird pattern in the sidewalk tiles that my suitcase kept catching on.

A huge club sandwich with sweet potato fries after my longest day of walking so far on the trip.

Being annoyed at rude, pushy influencers and wondering if they were even taking the time to put their phones down and appreciate the views and buildings they were posing in front of. 

An overcrowded Central Market Hall.

Being asked several times a day if I would take people’s pictures with their phones because I was carrying my nice camera.

Finally finding a Coke Light (instead of a Coke Zero).