He Who Wanders

My time in Budapest was bittersweet, mostly sweet, but also bitter. It was my last stop on a trip through Bratislava and Vienna. Everyone bragged to me about Budapest’s beauty and fun vibe. I had to enjoy it because I knew it was my last hoorah…and oh, I would.

My friends and I arrived later in the day, so obviously one of my first stops was a bar. A long day always demands a glass of wine to relax. Not too far from the hostel I stayed in (Maverick City Lodge; classy and cheap; check it out) was a ruin bar. A ruin bar is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a ruined building that was once bombed to smithereens. Instead of reconstruction, people took advantage of the unique aesthetic and built a bar. Well, it seemed like a collection of bars interlaced with dim lights and quirky, urban decorations. There was a beer bar, a wine bar, a hookah bar, and lots of space to socialize. I’ve heard there are many different ruin bars, so you should try at least one of them

The next morning we headed out to St. Stephen’s Basilica. I thought Christians were supposed to be humble and give to the poor. Well, the architects of this luxurious church must’ve lost their faith for a few years. This place is phenomenal. And as everyone knows, luxury would not be complete without the decaying hand of a saint. Personally, I find that creepy and absurd, but to each his own. Amen to that.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Next on our tour of Budapest was the Budapest Opera House. I hate opera so forgive me for not going inside or actually seeing an opera. I leave that to you. But here’s a look at the architecture. Oh and a cool sculpture of a man and a skeleton not far from the opera house.

For those of you who know anything about Budapest, you know what the real attraction is; not some opera house or even a fancy church with a shriveled-up hand. The real attraction is the Hungarian Parliament Building. Just imagine going to work here every day, what, with the gardens of bright lavender and fragrant flowers, and the wonderful view on the Danube. Needless to say, I milked as much out of the view as I possibly could.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

From there, my friends and I took a walk along the river. We came across a line of metal shoes. It’s a memorial for the Jewish children who were killed and thrown into the river during World War II. Then we went across the Chain Bridge and up the funicular to Buda Castle.

Inside the castle was a collection of art featuring works by Picasso, but for time’s sake, I merely walked around the castle to enjoy its architecture, a creepy section of ruins, and superb views of the city. While I walked around, I met a friend. Who knew ravens were so friendly?

Chief among the wonderful views was a spot next to a statue, high up on the hill, without a fence to keep you from tumbling down to your death. I felt atop the world, but I still had a mountain to climb.

But before that mountain, we came to the Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion. The latter of which reminded me of a brilliant sand castle left out until it petrified. It was whimsical and grand and I had no idea why a fisherman needs it.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I left, pondering this question, and headed for the largest lookout point in Budapest. There it is.

Yes, it was as exhausting as it looks. I climbed steep paths and stairs that twisted around the mountain, offering only a few spots to rest. Just before my stubby legs gave out, we made it to the top. We were all so tired that we just wanted to sit and eat. Thankfully, some genius thought to put a food vendor at the top. As the rain started to come down, I enjoyed a hearty Hungarian goulash in a bread bowl. Mmmmm…

After the meal we checked out the statues at the very top, took some pictures of the city, and headed back down to rest in our hostel.

Perhaps an hour or so later, my friends and I headed back out to see Heroes’ Square and the Varosliget City Park. Inside the park, other than a calm, forested atmosphere and the set of some Bollywood movie, was the Vajdahunyad Castle and the Szechenyi Bath House. After an exhausting day, I would’ve loved a hot bath, even if it did require stripping down in public. Sadly, the baths were closed. I’d missed my chance. All I could do was go back to the hostel, enjoy a few glasses of wine, and sleep before an early journey back to Russia.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.