Budapest, Hungary

Budapest Album
Caving Album
Terror House Album

This city has so many fun things to do, a single post would not do it justice. Still, I must try.

There are a few things one needs to know about Budapest, most importantly, it's pronounced Buddah-Pesht, and is actually two parts named Buddah and Pesht. Most of the good stuff is on the Pesht side, including the big bath house at the park on the north-east side of the city; it is amazing and a must see. You should also try Langos while here (pronounced Lan-goush), it is essentially deep fried bread with cream and meat. Your health will suffer but your taste buds will rejoice in the ensuing deliciousness.

These must-see attractions aside, the city in general is very beautiful; it is very easy to simply spend days walking around enjoying the sights both day and night. My favourite random sight has got to be the parliament building by the river at night. They light up the night sky, and sea birds flying overhead appear like fireflies circling the rooftops.

The night life too is amazing, as the city is home to many "ruin-bars"; pubs constructed inside of abandoned building and decorated by artists to various themes. In addition to these, a group of hostels within the city has taken it upon themselves to organize nightly group events such as dress-up parties, boat cruises, and bar-hopping nights to ensure there is never a dull moment.

One such organized event was the caving tour in the north-west side of Buddah which takes you deep underground to crawl through one of the largest tunnel systems in Hungary. It is a fun experience, and gives you a strange appreciation for coal miners.

Lastly, there are a great number of museums in Budapest worth visiting. Paramount among these is the "Terror House"; a museum built inside of an old police station dedicated to the horrors that took place under the Nazi and Soviet regimes in Hungary. It is a very dark and twisted museum, better reserved for a cold rainy day.