Made it to Eastern Europe - Budapest, Hungary

Jo Napot! (Good Day!)

Ladies and Gentlemen I have decided to tackle the unthinkable for most. I went on my 1st vacation ALONE! Some people can’t even go do dinner alone so this idea I thought about backing forth to decide if I was serious and that I plan everything exactly how I would like it!  Since I have not made my way to Eastern Europe I thought that Budapest would be great place to conquer by myself if I planned everything out.  I was right and wrong at the same time.  I did plan every detail out using my all time favorite reviews from www.tripadvisor.com and got some great new things that I would not consider to do if I was with someone else, thinking that they would not be too interested. But I was wrong that I would be alone, I mean I slept alone but was constantly invited into conversations and to join groups when they noticed I was by myself.  Techinally I was “working” my research on this country would probably foster the opinions of many people that are in my network about ever visiting Hungary.  I took my job serious. 

First things first, www.wizzair.com covers must of Eastern Europe and this was my first experience with this budget airlines like ryanair.com it lack the typical amenities of a flight.  The people in Italy and in Hungary that worked for this airlines seem like they all need to go on ‘holiday’ soon.  They all had the worst attitude and after having a difficult time at the ticket counter and being charged for my carry on when others where able to pass with larger bags my lock was  broken.  Anywho, I had some schedule a taxi to come pick me up for the airport for a fixed cost of 15 Euro, this is a must!! Taxi’s  typically jack up the prices for every city you fly into but here since you are using the HUNGRAIN FORINT (HUF) and don’t know how to convert very typically from your Illustrious Euro they take advantage of this opportunity.

Driving into Budapest, to be honest not so much ‘Love at First Sight’ more like Scared at First Sight! Lol Look like a war just ended a few years ago and this was their efforts of rebuilding a city.  After learning more about this recently changed political system of the country from COMMUNIST it all makes sense.  Especially when you realize that very little people here speak English because it was not even taught in schools until after 1980s.  My stop first on my itinerary was the largest Jewish Synagogue  in Europe. I was able to do a tour of the synagogue and marvel over its design and the history of the large population of Jews that resided previously in Hungary before the war.  After hearing stories near the memorial of the Holocaust it brought me to tears.  From here I was off to something that was a little more up beat.  Something that was listed as one of the top things to do in Budapest, Fungarian Lessons, www.fungarian.hu Here I met with Miklos a local who taught me all the words I needed to know to sound official.  As I learned about the language I was able to learn more about the culture of the people.  The language is said to be 3,000 years old and use the original writing from the countries founders still today. 95% of the population is Hungarian and it is bordered by 7 different countries.

Here are a few useful words:

Jo Napot! Good Day!  Koszonom-Thank You    Igen – Yes     Nem-No

Miklos was able to direct me to some good local restaurants that had good Hungarian traditional food and city must dos! 

Now that I was full loaded with the language I was ready, the rest of my trip included seeing all of this small city and uncovering the cities’ gems. 

Later on this evening I had reservations at an wine cellular underneath the Hilton (but not related) in the Buda Castle Area.  Faust Wine Cellar was great! My personal sommelier, Gabor, can to my table and brought me a personalized wine menu he put together for me from our discussions during setting up the reservations.  Hungarian wines were very full and you taste all the essence of each fruit.  My favorite was the Szekszardi Pinot Noir Rose 2011 (from Ferena Takler winery).  I made sure that I also tasted the Hungarian official Palinka, they compare it to brandy, but to me it seemed like a vodka. This was good and I ended enjoying some more of this out side of the tasting.

Next Day Itinerary:

Tour the city on the Tram – The #4,6 tram circles both sides of the city Buda and Pest nice views and local stops. This is considered one of the longest tram tracks in Europe.  Stopped at park that is an island with hotels on it and two spa locations.  Its almost like Central Park but surrounded but water.  It was great to walk through and see Autumn at its best. I do not get to see much of the season change from Rome.

Pest had more going on so I ended near here at night walking around.  This city is perfectly lite and a lot of energy.  One of my favorite things to see while here is the Chain Bridge at night and the views of the Roosevelt Buda Castle.

I rode on the first underground train in Europe. I took the Yellow Line train M1 from Vorosmarty stop to Szechenyi furdo and was able to witness one of the largest out door thermal baths in Hungary in the middle of a park.  From here I walked to Heroes Square and went to the Museum of Fine Arts.  A great buy while in Budapest is the Budapest Card most hotels sell them.  There is a pass for 48 hours and 72 hours and it pays for your local transportation in case you are stopped, all systems run on the “honor” system.  I was only checked once while approach the first stop. You are to get into museums for fess and get discounts on restaurants and other attractions.

Last night their met up with a fellow Nomad-ness Tribe member from Hungary that moved to Budapest.  She was a great hostess of the night life there.  I was able to learn more about Palinka, lol, and experience the night life.  We went to a club name “white angel”.  Very far from everything that I have seen during my stay but was worth visiting.  By time we arrived around 1am the place was packed like New Year’s Eve in NYC.  I was slightly confused that this many people come out to a club on a regular.  It was CRAZY in there.  The décor was very modern and hip. The music was techno/alternative or like fast speed pop. I was happy to have this experience. 

On my last day there it was very fitting for me to visit the SPA!! Yes Hungary is also considered one of the Spa capitals of the world. Ultimate winner for me in my book.  I love to relax as much as I love to tour.  I woke up went to visit the Statue of Liberty since it was near my hotel and straight down for the mountain was Gellert Thermal Bath Spa. www.spabudapest.hu This experience was Ahmazzing!  You pay for a pass to get in and you have different services that you can pay individually for or just take your time lounging around in the different out door and indoor pools and thermal baths, saunas, and steam rooms.  So yes I ended staying here all day until it was about an hour before my flight.  Nothing could knock my high after this tranquil experience.  I would diffidently come back to Budapest again, probably during the 1^st or 2^nd week in September for Castle Zone Wine Festival. 

Beauty of the City of Buda & Pest is separate by these very amazing bridges.

Thermal Bath Time!!!

At the Christmas Market eating a little Hungarian Fast Food

Pilanka

Holocaust Memorial at the Synagogue

Promo for the Club

Yes the Metro looked as if no one every use it.  It has maintained its beauty after all these years.

Just me near the Cable Bridge

Inside the Club!

Xtreme Sports Event called FRIDGE it was crazy

A Week in ESPANA!!! Part 2 Barcelona

Spain, Barcelona

Yes I made it to the place that was the cover of my Spanish texts book in High School.  I started marveling over this imaginary land of people what looked they can be from anywhere in the world since Sophomore Year.  Yes Ladies and Gents Barcelona is my Hawaii.  After flying on the best low budget plane EVER www.vueling.com my cousin and I headed for our 1^st trip to CATALUNYA!!  Barcelona is considered the capital of Cataluña not Spain and they locals are trying their best to keep separate the history of their culture.  The language is this fused mixture of Spanish and French due to this regions history and location which it was conquered by the near by French.  All signs giving directions were written in Cataluña 1^st then Spanish and if you are lucky English.

First the airport was the most tranquil place I have seen. Airports are usually very un organized and loud.  But not here! Gives you that big city yet easy going vibe straight out the gate.  Ok not only was this our first adventure in Barcelona it was also my 1^st really www.airbnb.com experience as well.  If you don’t know about this site, in short, it’s a site that coordinates short term rentals of home owner’s spare rooms or full apartments at a good price and great locations.  We were with two of the most accommodating host. We flew in at 1 am so trying to find their apartment was not going to be good but they offered to come pick us up (for a price of course) but that beats the expensive cost we would have paid for a Taxi.  Our newly build condo was close to the Selva de Mar Metro stop which was walking distance to the beach and the downtown attractions.  One of the first things I do in any city especially if they have a metro/train/underground system is get a MAP.  This helped me weave through the town like I lived there. In during our short time there we tried to get as much as we can  in without any official tour of the city.  Usually at this time I would suggest getting on a hop on hop off bus so I can as much in as I can of a city. 

City attractions that we were able to visit:

Les Rambles was basically a strip filled with cheaper stores  and great fashion as you go up from the beach area to the city center at Plaza de Catalunya.  Didn’t realize how much of a Spain was influenced by fashion just like Rome, Paris, and London.  This is after all the home of ZARA!

On our first day into the city near Plaza de Sant Jaume we notice that tickets were on sale for the soccer match! After leaving in Europe for a year I think there was no way to leave the continent without watching some live FUTBALL! So I realized I didn’t know much about soccer because I thought it was going to be all night since I am use to “American” football and we missed have the game. Lol #smh The stadium was huge and we sat right in front of 2 avid Barcelona fans. 

There is so much to see in this city and there is big mixture of modern and historic architecture. Due to Gaudi’s designs and influence on modern art it was evident just by walking to various places in the city that the city pride its self on this creativity. All of the Gaudi’s sites are a MOST SEE especially the apartment building, la Pedrera and the Sagrada Familia and the Park (my favorite) Parc Guell, take the local city bus #24 north for best city views from this location.

The city was have managed to keep the historical structures still in tact  like the original Roman walls of the where they inhabited when ruling. We also able to visit the Catedral it was very magical and grand within the Roman the walls. The areas along the port are very modern and were mostly built for the past Olympics here.  All in All Barcelona was another place I felt I had to come back.  I love Cities!! Especially if they give me a reason to come back and felt a connection to explore Barcelona during the summer. Can’t wait!

Check out some of my Pics for the trip: