Hungary!

Okay, you asked for it: The Budapest Recap!

I don't quite know how to say this, but I'll try: Budapest is on par with some of the most famous cities I've travelled to, with the added advantage of a deflated currency to keep things very cost effective. To wit...

1. The City

First, some history. Buda and Pest are 2 cities on the Danube that have merged into one. They were built on thermal and mineral springs, and citizens drink and bathe in their waters to cure all sorts of illnesses. The architecture of the city is a mix of neo-classic, art nouveau, gothic and more. The buildings alone are reason enough to come--everywhere you turn there are more sites to see. The Danube, the river through the city, has gorgeous bridges across it too. 

2. The Baths

Your main reason for coming to Budapest should be the baths. The spas that house pools for bathing in the mineral waters are hundreds of years old, some dating back to the Turks and Ottomans. "Turkish" Baths are a real treat. We went to 3 different ones, and I think if I tell you about them you'll get a good picture of the range of baths there are...and also you'll get a lil jealous maybe....so I am sorry for that. :)

1. Rudas Baths

This bath is built in the Turkish style hundreds of years ago. It's a dark, steamy stone roomwith 5 pools of hot mineral water to bathe in. You float around, talk to your friends, soak in the minerally goodness. Then, if you want, you can buy a massage. The massage was 2500Ft or 8 euro for 20 mins. It was a Turkish massage, meaning they do your thighs, calves, feet, back and shoulders. My first ever massage--it was such a treat! Only, it was an old, old man doing it, which was weird, but he had magic hands so I didn't ask too many questions. 

2. Gellert Baths

These are fancy, ornate baths for rich tourists. They've been around for ages too and offer the same services--massage, steam, sauna, and the pools of course. Their spa was decorated with beautiful tiles and domed glass ceilings. 

3. Szechenyi Baths

The largest bath complex in Europe, this place had over 40 baths! The baths all ranged in temperature and were complimented by 25 or so steam and sauna rooms too! This complex is for leisure and medicinal purposes. The place held a lot of private bath rooms where you could get water therapy treatments, which seem to be more for the old and ailing. This was by far my favorite bath. Look at the outside baths--they were heated! It was freezing out but we stayed around the baths for a couple of hours! It was fantastic.

3. Food

HUNGARIANS DO RIGHT BY THEIR FOOD. The specialties are duck and lamb--hello. They serve up some stuff similar to Polish too, like kielbasa and kraut. They love long, decadent meals with good wine (okay by me!). Their pastries rival those of France. Yeah, I said it! I cannot even tell you how beautiful the pastry windows are, and sooooo tasty too. Lastly, Hungarian wine is FANTASTIC. If you ever have a chance, try Tokaji, or Hungarian ice wine, and also Hungarian merlot. Both knocked me off my feet.

4. Sightseeing

St. Stephen's Basilica

Magyar Cathedral

West End Market

There really is something for everyone in Budapest, but what always gets me is the sightseeing. If you wanted, you could spend lots of time in museums, but I'm more about walking around and getting a feel of the place. Walking along the Danube makes for great vistas, as does hillwalking on the Buda side of the river. There is the citadel on the top of the city that gives great views, and you can walk all the way up to Varosliget Park in the north of the city for views of gorgeous neo-classical buildings on Andrassy Street, the castle in the park, the trees and people too. Budapest is full of things to look at, the way Paris, Barcelona and Prague [I hear] are. 

So that's it. Every day we went walking around, every afternoon we visited the baths for some swimming or massages, and at night we had long, wine-filled dinners. Yeah. That is my perfect vacation. 

Full picture album here, captions and all!

Hope everyone had a happy Paddy's Day (can we put out a notice that it's not "Patty"? Who is Patty? 'Patrick' shortens to 'Paddy'.) Have a great week!