Brannon's Euro-Trip

Pest

Despite being promised 5 days or rain and flurries, today was a beautiful day in Budapest. I met up with Madeline but it was too pretty outside to go to the baths just yet..plus she hadn't bought a bathing suit. We're going tomorrow. Today we did a bit of wandering. We found an amazing, huge market. Food on the bottom, clothes and souveneirs on top. I'll probably go back and grab some fresh produce. We went by the Danube river which was windy and cold. Then we went by St. Stephen's Bascilica and saw the good saint's mummified hand. Which was a bit gross, though beautifully incased. Then we went by the famous Opera House... where we are going to either see Romeo and Julia (yes Julia in Hungary), the ballet or Rigelleto. Then we walked down to the city park past many famous buildings that we didn't bother checking on the map. In the park there is an ice skating rink (also a plan) and the baths that we are going to tomorrow. We ate at a nice restuarant. Mostly because we were starving. I got vegetable soup and ravioli with paprika cream sauce. I hear they put paprika in everything here so I didn't want to miss out. After that we went on a quest for a bathing suit. And I visited Madeline's hostel which got an influx of 12 Spanish boys.
I've already decided to stay an extra day. I love my hostel. It is very laid back. Last night I did yoga with the other lodgers, led by the guy in the bed next to me (for Dad: duh,not the same bed). I can't really figure out if he works here or is just lodging here extensively. He's practically a contortionist and loads us up on loads of Eastern thought and strange foods. Right now I am waiting for my laundry to run. I just can't face going back to handwashing everything. Tomorrow, I want to go to the Statue park. And take a communism tour. We didn't cross the river to Buda today but stayed in Pest. I want to go the island in the middle of the river especially if I get another sunny day. Flurries are still in the forecast.

posted by Brannon @ 10:16 PM