I would never have thought that I would get the chance to visit Budapest, Hungary. I’ve heard of the city before. You know, The Grand Budapest Hotel…
No, I haven’t seen the movie, BUT I have seen Budapest. I even saw some hotels but none very notable…just big and grand and out of my price range!
Place to Stay: A Hostel
My first hostel experience happened in this friendly, beautiful, and safe city. My friends and I stayed at the Hipster Hostel. And you know what? The space looks like it does in their photos!
We stayed in a mixed common room with ten beds. All the other roommates kept to themselves, and we usually only saw them as lumps underneath their blankets as we snuck in late at night or left to explore early in the morning. Bedding felt and smelled clean. The bathrooms were cared for, and those who checked us in were so friendly. For 8 euros a night, this was a great experience and so much better than I expected!
Food to Eat: Goulash and Pálinka
Naturally, I’m a research-crazy person, so I like to read up about the place that I’m visiting. Therefore, I had read that a very Hungarian food was goulash and a very Hungarian drink was Pálinka. Yeah, well. My friend from Slovakia burst that bubble with the announcement that Eastern European cultures really favor the same foods and drinks with only slight variations to recipes.
Goulash was a steaming soup/stew of deliciousness served with bread. It was flavorful, but perhaps that’s because I was so hungry by the time I was eating that anything would have tasted good!
Pálinka is a fruit brandy. I was informed that it’s good for cleaning and keeping from being ill. They serve the drink in a long-stemmed shot glass. My friend sipped his, but it’s meant to be taken quickly. The flavors cover the scope of fruits available to the region.
Landmarks to See
Honestly, a simple google search will tell you everything you need to know. So I’m not going to repeat those guys! But let me tell you that Budapest is absolutely dressed up for the arrival of stars and moon. The light-illuminated buildings almost blur out the stars while boats cruise the dark Danube River framed in glowing-light bridges. Young people climb up onto the bridge structures, smoking, talking, and enjoying the cool summer evenings.
My friends and I wandered throughout the city, allowing ourselves to be guided by our curiosity. It would have been easy to plan and schedule our day around museum visits and tours, but we climbed as we willed, detouring for food when the desire arose.
I’m the kind of person who deems a trip a success if the food is good. Maybe this ought to be a food blog. But here’s the problem: my food is usually consumed before I think to snap a picture for posterity or internet’s 5 seconds of fame.
Must Sees According to Barbara!
The Ruins. This portion of town used to be where the Jews were kept during World War II. Now, it’s the hippest part of town with unique eateries and creative bars.
The Bridges at Night. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Go. And See!
The Cathedral on the Hill. I imagine it has a name, but our wanderings took us there, where the sidewalks brimmed with tourists. If you wander around the side of castle looking building, you’ll discover what I fondly think of as the secret garden portion. When we were there, no one else was. It looks like it can be a little restaurant, but it wasn’t for us.
What About You?
Have you ever considered visiting Budapest?
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