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Before the best of Buda and Pest, i’ll share a few shots taken during my previously mentioned early morning meander around central Zagreb…
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Within seconds of stepping up and out of the subway and onto the streets of my to-be local Budapest area i felt a small sense of contentedness (a now unusual feeling)… It even brought about a smirk and very subtle spring to my pathetically soar feet. Certainly a good start by my recent standards. These positive vibes would next be boosted by the realisation of my near-perfect choice of hostel. Not only was the location convenient, the interior homely, my fellow guests easy-going and friendly… but i was greeted by the hostel Don, Gene. This dude pretty much made my stay, and others’ i can confidently suggest. He plotted out a detailed map for Simon (who arrived at the same time) and I, including personal recommendations of places to eat and drink… then when two other guests Alix and Laura walked in, he suggested we all go eat at this local Hungarian restaurant… turned out to be such a great meal, really interesting food and good company. Nothing near what i thought my first night would be like… could have got even more unpredictable if i’d joined the night out, but i really just wanted to sort photos, respond to messages and rest my complaining and irritating consciousness.
The rest of my time in Budapest included more flawless recommendations by Gene (turned out to be more of hungarian culinary feast than anticipated), a day of history, views, and wrong-ways with Simon and a night of experimental techno and ruin pubs… not my usual city visit and i’ll take it right about now.
A quick note on the photos: For some reason i wasn’t really feeling in a photographic mood… as in i felt little to no motivation to capture what i was seeing. It’s a shame, as this city had so much to give. So, apologies for what is probably a weak effort on my part… but still got a good chunk of the sights and delights:
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An unexpected vibrant market leading toward the city park…
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Now… i noticed what seemed to be a national ceremony, clearly being televised, going on in a court yard area at entrance of the park… intrigued, i headed into the middle of said court yard, only to then be shut in for over an hour while the outer track was used for parading purposes… Annoying! But at least i got to witness something completely new to me and very, very unexpected…
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Terror House: An intense and informative experience about Hungary’s history of the Nazi and Communist regimes and what the country and it’s people endured…
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Over the Chain Bridge (first bridge to link the two sides of the city) to the BUDA side…
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In rejecting the Funicular, we rejected observation skills to and ended up here…
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View from the Buda Castle/Royal Palace…
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A town under construction…
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A visually beautiful building…
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A fresh morning, a pleasant breakfast… able to take my time
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The outside of Szechenyi Baths in City Park… didn’t make enough time to experience them, next time… sincerely
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Where hungarian horses live…
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A tease of the tasty, fatty, bubbling, nose dilating cuisine that dominated the streets that weekend…
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I’ll end the Budapest instalment with ‘Bench personalities of Pest’
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What greets me before a journey to a place that i have confused but strong feelings about visiting… i’ve learned not to expect the normal and planned and not even trust my usual instincts about what waits for me ahead.
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I’m in Vienna now… trying to stay comfortable in many odd positions on a cushioned windowsill at this large institutional Hostel… my specifically and tactically marked out maps are folded and ready for use in my day backpack, a task that was completed earlier in a late-night cafe, whilst consuming coffee, Viennese sausage and apple strudel… comfort food? Those cafes really are becoming my happy habitat. Though they always must close and push me back out into the harsher existence that is among the rest of the rotating world…
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I’ll be sure to let you know if my ‘Plan’ works out. I’m hoping i’m right to trust myself in taking this angle on a personally poignant city in these fragile times…
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TraveLens 