We arrived fairly late in Budapest. After getting some money we went down to go on the subway. The ticket machine did not like our 10 000 forint notes so we where considering riding the subway without a ticket, but instead spotted a manned window where a ticket could be bought. This ended up being a good call because when we where transferring trains we just so happened to get our ticket checked. We found our hostel and upon arrival where encouraged to meet up with the rest of the people who where out at a bar. We considered it but were kind of tired so after grabbing a burrito at a great Mexican place we hit the sack.
Our first day in Budapest started off at the House of Terror. This very well done museum recounted what it was like for Hungarians during the Nazi and Soviet occupations. The coolest and most disturbing part was that building the museum was in was actually used by the secret police. In the basement there where torture chambers visitors could see. From there we checked out St. Stephens Cathedral, Freedom Square, the Parliament buildings and Széchenyi Chain Bridge. That evening we went to a few good bars with most of the people from the hostel.
The next day we went to the Széchenyi bath. We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and thought a bath of this grandeur and opulence was needed at home. It was definitely one of the most relaxing things we had done on our trip. From the bath we checked out a castle and hung out in Hero’s square. That night the hostel was playing pub golf. Like real golf the goal (well one of them) was to get the lowest score. We had 2 teams and would visit nine bars. At each bar each person got a drink with a par value. The score recorded was the amount of sips it took to finish that drink. As you can imagine no one made it to the final bar and there was no clear winner. Joel got sidetracked by some Hungarian girls and was left behind at about the 6th or 7th bar. He ended up walking home in the daylight. It was a great last night experience. Lucky for us the hostel had no set check out time.
The next day we took a short train ride over to Vienna.
Our first day in Budapest started off at the House of Terror. This very well done museum recounted what it was like for Hungarians during the Nazi and Soviet occupations. The coolest and most disturbing part was that building the museum was in was actually used by the secret police. In the basement there where torture chambers visitors could see. From there we checked out St. Stephens Cathedral, Freedom Square, the Parliament buildings and Széchenyi Chain Bridge. That evening we went to a few good bars with most of the people from the hostel.
The next day we went to the Széchenyi bath. We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and thought a bath of this grandeur and opulence was needed at home. It was definitely one of the most relaxing things we had done on our trip. From the bath we checked out a castle and hung out in Hero’s square. That night the hostel was playing pub golf. Like real golf the goal (well one of them) was to get the lowest score. We had 2 teams and would visit nine bars. At each bar each person got a drink with a par value. The score recorded was the amount of sips it took to finish that drink. As you can imagine no one made it to the final bar and there was no clear winner. Joel got sidetracked by some Hungarian girls and was left behind at about the 6th or 7th bar. He ended up walking home in the daylight. It was a great last night experience. Lucky for us the hostel had no set check out time.
The next day we took a short train ride over to Vienna.
