Ok, I'm declaring up front that this post is not going to do this great city justice. I am too far behind and need to post a lot, so this will be short and picture-filled. I can also declare that my three nights were nowhere near enough time in the long ago merged twin cities of Buda and Pest (pronounced Pesht).
As I previously mentioned I scheduled my trip to coincide with my Athens' host, Mihailis', trip so we could reunite a mere two weeks later. So while I had a CS host of my own, it worked out fine that he had long work days of his own as a photographer. He did have an awesome penthouse apartment in an awesome location just a block from the Opera House.
But Mihailis and I proceeded to hit the town each day....
We saw this bus in the water and freaked out because it was moving really really sat and looked like it was careening out of control as it looked like it might be trying to do a U turn, but it might have just been a strong current. It was a new take for me on the "duck tours" which in America are boats with wheels for both sea and land tours, so seeing a bus in the water made me do a double take!
The Opera House
Lots of movies have apparently been filmed in Budapest. Even those that don't take place there. For example, the movie Munich had scenes meant to be in Paris filmed in Budapest instead (lower cost, duh!) and while I was there we ran into the set of Die Hard 5 (below) which I suspect will not be taking place in Budapest either! (And yes, Bruce Willis was in town according to the papers).
One of the city's main train stations was designed by Eifel - the same guy who designed the tower for the World's Fair.
I loved the mushroom goulash I discovered! I had it once for dinner and went back later to have it for lunch!
I loved the blankets that were on the backs of the chairs of many restaurants and cafes for when it got cold in the late evenings. The outdoor cafe culture is so strong that it being cold outside isn't an excuse for staying in!
These iron shoes were a memorial to the Killing in the Danube River where Jews had been murdered by firing squad in lines along the Danube during Word War II. It was really hard to imagine that sort of horrifying and methodical killing scene in such an open and public place.
I finally had starbucks for the first time, but there was no coffee. Must a free strawberry frappucino I think they called it with no coffee in it, but very heavy in the whipped cream. Delicious and free for their grand opening!
And I also I got my haircut with the help of another CS translator.
Before....
After....
My photos of the Ruin Bars don't do the interiors justices. Ruin Bars, named for their signature ruined look and their locations within rundown buildings, are the main staple of Budapest nightlife. Usually filled with strange, where strange is the biggest understatement ever, decorations and really just kitschy crap, they have a super laid back and young vibe.
This was the grand opening of another ruin bar that was actually going for the minimalist look...
Of course watching the Euro cup...
I got to also see just how much city pollution can really discolor a building. I would have loved to know how long it had been since it was last power washed. I would think 30 years, but I was told probably only 6-12 months!
I loved how design was everywhere in Budapest. Certainly some ruin bars look kitschy, but no bar, restaurant, or shop could ever be called bland. Why build a normal fence when you can spell out something instead?
And similarly, even the American Fast Food joints fell in line. I saw a Burger King made to look like it was straight out of the 50s in retro diner style and McDonalds by the train station had such a turn of the century look to it.
I suppose my main disappointment in Budapest was not making it to one of the thermal baths. The tradition of public baths was made popular from the Turks that occupied Hungary during the 16th and 17th century (those Turks really went everywhere... As I write this I just saw more evidence of their outreach in Bologna). So sure it was summer and sure it was hot and so there was no need to pay to take a soak in 90+ degree bath water, but the photos I had seen really made me still want to do it. Unfortunately, I was talked out of it/out-voted and we gave a normal public swimming pool a try instead, but I will return one day to make have a splash in the baths!
Other notes...
1. The Hungarian language sounds Asian to me... I inquired and was told it had to do with the Mongolian influence
2. To say "Cheers!" in Hungarian you say "Egészségedre!" I became quite practiced at saying it with my host each night when we shared a drink called Palinka, which is a traditional and strong drink made from pears. It's fun to say!
3. People love dogs in Budapest. Finally a city where I didn't see any stray dogs! (Although I think I saw more more dog owners in Zagreb.) Mihailis' friend had a dog so we got to take him for a walk one day!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
As I previously mentioned I scheduled my trip to coincide with my Athens' host, Mihailis', trip so we could reunite a mere two weeks later. So while I had a CS host of my own, it worked out fine that he had long work days of his own as a photographer. He did have an awesome penthouse apartment in an awesome location just a block from the Opera House.
But Mihailis and I proceeded to hit the town each day....
We saw this bus in the water and freaked out because it was moving really really sat and looked like it was careening out of control as it looked like it might be trying to do a U turn, but it might have just been a strong current. It was a new take for me on the "duck tours" which in America are boats with wheels for both sea and land tours, so seeing a bus in the water made me do a double take!
The Opera House
Lots of movies have apparently been filmed in Budapest. Even those that don't take place there. For example, the movie Munich had scenes meant to be in Paris filmed in Budapest instead (lower cost, duh!) and while I was there we ran into the set of Die Hard 5 (below) which I suspect will not be taking place in Budapest either! (And yes, Bruce Willis was in town according to the papers).
One of the city's main train stations was designed by Eifel - the same guy who designed the tower for the World's Fair.
I loved the mushroom goulash I discovered! I had it once for dinner and went back later to have it for lunch!
I loved the blankets that were on the backs of the chairs of many restaurants and cafes for when it got cold in the late evenings. The outdoor cafe culture is so strong that it being cold outside isn't an excuse for staying in!
These iron shoes were a memorial to the Killing in the Danube River where Jews had been murdered by firing squad in lines along the Danube during Word War II. It was really hard to imagine that sort of horrifying and methodical killing scene in such an open and public place.
I finally had starbucks for the first time, but there was no coffee. Must a free strawberry frappucino I think they called it with no coffee in it, but very heavy in the whipped cream. Delicious and free for their grand opening!
And I also I got my haircut with the help of another CS translator.
Before....
After....
My photos of the Ruin Bars don't do the interiors justices. Ruin Bars, named for their signature ruined look and their locations within rundown buildings, are the main staple of Budapest nightlife. Usually filled with strange, where strange is the biggest understatement ever, decorations and really just kitschy crap, they have a super laid back and young vibe.
This was the grand opening of another ruin bar that was actually going for the minimalist look...
Of course watching the Euro cup...
I got to also see just how much city pollution can really discolor a building. I would have loved to know how long it had been since it was last power washed. I would think 30 years, but I was told probably only 6-12 months!
I loved how design was everywhere in Budapest. Certainly some ruin bars look kitschy, but no bar, restaurant, or shop could ever be called bland. Why build a normal fence when you can spell out something instead?
And similarly, even the American Fast Food joints fell in line. I saw a Burger King made to look like it was straight out of the 50s in retro diner style and McDonalds by the train station had such a turn of the century look to it.
I suppose my main disappointment in Budapest was not making it to one of the thermal baths. The tradition of public baths was made popular from the Turks that occupied Hungary during the 16th and 17th century (those Turks really went everywhere... As I write this I just saw more evidence of their outreach in Bologna). So sure it was summer and sure it was hot and so there was no need to pay to take a soak in 90+ degree bath water, but the photos I had seen really made me still want to do it. Unfortunately, I was talked out of it/out-voted and we gave a normal public swimming pool a try instead, but I will return one day to make have a splash in the baths!
Other notes...
1. The Hungarian language sounds Asian to me... I inquired and was told it had to do with the Mongolian influence
2. To say "Cheers!" in Hungarian you say "Egészségedre!" I became quite practiced at saying it with my host each night when we shared a drink called Palinka, which is a traditional and strong drink made from pears. It's fun to say!
3. People love dogs in Budapest. Finally a city where I didn't see any stray dogs! (Although I think I saw more more dog owners in Zagreb.) Mihailis' friend had a dog so we got to take him for a walk one day!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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