BUDA and PEST

While I was walking down the main street in Budapest tonight, I realized something: Budapest is a city...a real live city. I know this sounds stupid, but let me explain. I realized the past few days, I have treated not only Budapest, but Krakow as well, like a huge amusement park or something. As a tourist, I guess I just treated all the people walking around as if they were being paid to make my experience more "authentic." But seriously, when someone walks past me, he or she is really going somewhere...in their real life. This isn't a big vacation for them too.

With that being said, Budapest is rather small by American city standards. Not as small a Krakow though. I made the mistake on the first day of not buying a metro pass for the day. I thought I could walk wherever I want. You know what they say, "Europeans aren't fat because they walk everywhere." They should probably add a little footnote to this statement..."but not in Budapest." I was lucky for a while though. I snuck on buses here and there. Until a guy asked me for my ticket and I didn't have one. He was a pretty intimidating Hungarian. I caved immediately and was all but forcibly removed from the bus. Tomorrow I will buy a 24 hour transportation pass.

London is like the antithesis of London for me. In London, I knew EVERYTHING I wanted to see. There was notoriety. They spoke English. In Budapest, I know nothing and have zero idea of where I want to go, what I want to eat. I don't really even know the history. Tartars and Hapsburgs and Communism are all words that sound important to me...but I have zero idea about about any of them. This has made touring somewhat difficult, but also significantly more relieving. I have no pressure to see "everything." I really wont know if I have missed something.

I met up with my friend Kris, who I met while doing my research in Stockholm two summers ago. It was great to see him and he gave me some great advice for what to see. I also got him to give me some hungarian lessons.

Off to the Thermal Baths for much of the day tomorrow and getting train tickets to Prague!