In a couple days I will embark on a mini vaycay to Budapest to visit the boyfriend. We chose to meet in this city almost haphazardly, typing in random cities on expedia and seeing which airfare ended up being the cheapest. Of course, a trip to Europe is anything but cheap; however, we weren't going to drain our bank accounts by meeting in London or Spain, just because they are more familiar. Besides, we strive to get away from familiarity when visiting another country. Budapest will certainly be a new cultural experience for me. Hungary, Budapest in particular, is a bit of a mutt, taking from Roman, Ottoman, Austrian, Romanian, and Russian culture. The Hungarian language is a complicated mix of Turkish, Mongolian, and Siberian languages. To me, it sounds a lot like Turkish. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Budapest was the center of Bohemia. Hungarian literature thrived and the new Parliament building was the largest in the world. It was the first European city to have underground rail systems. Progress slowed during the middle of the century, due to war and Communist rule. However, in recent years, Pest has been making a comeback, as more and more art museums and theatres are popping up. Many abandoned buildings in the predominantly Jewish District VII have been converted into trendy "ruin pubs." I am excited to see Szimpla Kert, one of the first ruin pubs in Budapest. I have attached a couple of pictures of the things I am most excited about seeing in the towns of Buda and Pest.
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