Budapest, Hungary

I am going to leave the history part of Budapest to Nathan because he is WAY better at explaining the facts than I am, but the history of this city was the most fascinating and captivating part, by far. [How did I become the resident historian here? Here goes: Like Poland and a few other countries in Eastern Europe, Hungary dealt with two take-overs by two opposing regimes in a short period of time. Interestingly, the Nazis didn't take control until late in the war and only held power for a little over a year. During that time, however, their impact was intensely destructive. Shortly after the war, the Soviets set up shop in Budapest and terrorized Hungary for another ten years until the 1956 uprising. The revolution was thwarted by the Soviets, but caused them to leave control of Hungary to a puppet government that enforced communism under the Warsaw Pact until its fall in 1990. During the time of Nazi and Soviet occupation, Hungarians were made to live in fear that anything they did or said might land them in an internment camp or prison, or cause them to be executed.]

The oppression these sweet people have faced throughout their lives, and really so many other countries across Eastern Europe too, is incredible. To see elderly people walking down the street and think about the crazy things they have endured during their lifetimes was just unfathomable. The most memorable and incredible thing we did while we were here was visit the House of Terror, a museum dedicated to the oppressed history of this country and the two regimes that terrorized it for so long. It was not only the most well done museum I think I have ever visited (so many cool, creative exhibits), but it was extremely powerful and effective in explaining the history of this country.


(the beautiful city of Budapest)

(memorial to the 1956 uprising...these show the bullet holes that were left in the buildings nearby and cover the entire block)


(can't get this picture to flip, but here is the roof of the house of terror museum)

The city itself is beautiful. We hiked around to see the sites and took lots of pictures. We also spent an afternoon at the Hungarian Baths, which was very cool. We hopped around to the different saunas and steam rooms, and dipped into the hot, cold and luke warm indoor pools. Then we went outside to find a HUGE outdoor pool area complete with a whirlpool which, of course, Nathan and I just had to see what the fuss was about...and it was so fun! You have to time it right so that you don't knock into the people around you but you jump into the current of the water and it sweeps you up and literally catapults you around the pool...we banged up our feet and elbows a bit (it is that forceful), but it was definitely worth it!

We also found out that my good friend Alex and her friend Lindsay just happened to be in Budapest the same day we were so we met up at Szimpla, this great chain of restaurant/pubs that takes over abandon buildings and refurbishes them with local neighbors' donated furniture - very fun, hip atmosphere! It was so fun to see them and catch up and so crazy that we just happened to be in the same place in Europe at the same time! That is two friends we have seen now and we have only been in Europe for three and a half weeks!

(my dear friend Alex...hanging out at Szimpla)

Next destination...Slovenia. Getting closer to the Mediterranean!