Man With[in] a Country: I am glad to be back in Budapest!

Public art (and graffiti) in Budapest

Laura, Lauren, and Miran on our blacony

So, if you're my friend on Facebook, you're aware that I spent this past weekend in Budapest, Hungary. This is one of the cities I have been dying to see for awhile now, and it did not disappoint! This is, hands down, the most beautiful city I have visited in my entire life. One of my classmates (Laura) was invited to go along with a friend (Miran) and his roommate (Guillerme), she invited her friend (Lauren) and myself to join. It was a last minute trip and I could not have been happier for the opportunity to go! We drove 4.5 hrs from Graz to Budapest, in a tiny car. Guillerme dropped us off at our hostel and went to spend the weekend with his girlfriend. The four of us checked into the hostel, which was centrally located and very nice. The best part was that we had a balcony with an absolutely breathtaking view!! We then went out to get some food and beer! We found these awesome clubs called "ruin pubs!" They are the coolest! Only a few years old, the owner bought old "ruin" buildings in the former Jewish ghetto of Budapest. Instead of totally renovating them, they brought in junk (old chairs, tables, cars, computers, sculptures, housewares) and anything they could use to decorate. The first pub we went to was so large! It was three stories, had 6 bars, 3 dancefloors, 2 gardens, and 23 different rooms to sit and drink in! This was an amazing place (and something could really help bring nightlife back to downtown York ;-)). The next day was for sight-seeing. Budapest was originally two separate towns (Buda & Pest). Buda is MUCH older and on one side of the Danube River, while Pest (where we stayed) was mostly built-up in the 19th century and is on the other side of the river. So, we decided to walk from Pest over to Buda and explore the older city. There are so many beautiful bridges, its amazing! After walking around and snapping hundred of photos, we stopped for some Hungarian goulash. We then went back for a nap and saw a protest walking down the street ^_^ Budapest is also known for it's public baths. They have two kinds, ones built by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century and "newer" ones built in the 1930s. We went to a bath that was built in 1567, and boy was it relaxing! I have sensitive skin; the minerals, saunas, and hot/cold baths really helped clear my skin up. It was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo relaxing. On our walk back we saw the Hungarian Parliament building all lit up. It is the most beautiful in the world. After we went to yet another ruin pub. This was the "original" ruin pub and is ranked as the #3 "Coolest Bar in the World" according to Lonely Planet.We wandered home and spent Sunday visiting the Basilica and some other site, before meetin gup with Guillerme and returning to Graz. This was one of the best weekends ever, and I'm so grateful to have been able to go! Thanks Laura, Miran, Lauren, and Guillerme (i hope thats how you spell your name)

Ps - Sorry the pictures below are wacky...I'm not quite sure how to organize them.