When I think of Budapest in my mind's eye I see Buda, some Indian people, Communism, war torn streets, poverty and crime. I guess this is because I had no idea what Budapest was like before I went there and just assumed it was related to Buda the Indian god. I couldn't have been more wrong on all accounts. My first surprise upon getting into the city was that it was not very different from the central and western European cities I had visited. I went out to a club in the subway with some friends the first night, and got a real appreciation for the energy of the city. I was also surprised to find out how safe Budapest was. I felt safer walking the streets at night here than I had ever felt doing in Italy. The next day I went for a walk around this beautiful city and enjoyed the laid back atmosphere that can be found in many places even while the hustle and bustle of city life continues around you. We went for a night walk to see all the important buildings lit up along the Danube, and it felt like the entire city was all sleeping; it was so peaceful. We walked along a main road, but the street was pretty much deserted on 9PM on Sunday. The next day we went to a Turkish bath house which was one of the coolest things I have done in my travels and one of my favorite things I can remember in my life. It was great to just relax and play in the water jets, air bubles, and warm pools. It was a great final thing to do in one of my favorite cities in Europe. I then said goodbye to my friends and headed for Koln, Germany.

Labels: Travel, World Tour