I did something that I never thought that I’d do. I planned a trip to a foreign country alone. This trip is to Budapest. Having visited nearby Prague in the past I had always wanted to go to Budapest. So I happen to find cheap airfare on the internet and booked my trip. All of my planning has been through Rick Steves’ books.
I flew from Nashville to Newark. Once I got to Newark I changed terminals and therefore had to go through security again. The Newark Airport Authority should make it to where if you go through security once you shouldn’t have to go through again. Having spent an extra several minutes going through security and getting lunch I just had enough time to make it on board my plane to Dusseldorf. At my terminal there seemed to be more non Americans than Americans. And why is it that European seem to dress so much different than Americans? For example I saw some Russian guys wearing a football jersey from the Pittsburgh Steelers, tight camouflage pants and Adidas shoes with fluorescent orange writing on them. Honestly the guy looked ridiculous but he must of thought he was hot stuff. Also I’ve noticed that anytime you see Tommy Hilfiger it’s always the European wearing it. Tommy Hilfiger went out of style in America in the early 2000s.
Throughout my whole flight going from Newark to Dusseldorf I was worried about my 45 minute layover in Dusseldorf to my connecting flight to Budapest. Honestly I wasn’t sure if I would be able to wait for everyone to deboard the plane (I was in the very last row), clear customs, find my gate, get my boarding pass in time to board the plane to Budapest. However I am pleased to say that I did make it with extra time to spare. I later found out there were several people on my flight to Dusseldorf you are also going to Budapest. Those Russian guys who were dressed strangely we’re on there. Also I met a nice couple from California who are spending a few days in Budapest and then going out on a Danube river cruise.
I had trouble finding the ATM but eventually I found it and withdrew some Hungarian currency. Hungarian currency comes in denominations much higher than US dollars or Euros therefore it’s kind of hard to do the math in your head when calculating charges. I am mostly using my credit card and keeping track of the receipts.
I boarded the 200E bus to the next subway stop. it seems to take longer than usual as I think there was a lot of traffic on the Hungarian interstate. What made it a little bit more difficult was I was standing the entire time. Budapest is notorious for not having a subway line all the way to the airport. And I get the feeling that they’re not going to build one anytime soon.
I got lost going to my hotel and started walking down the wrong street. I asked the lady in a bakery if she spoke in English and she said no. Eventually I found my way to the hotel. The young man at the front desk was thorough in his explanation of how things work. If you plan on leaving the hotel you actually give them your room key. You have an outside key to get in but I’ve later found out that that he really doesn’t do anything on the outside door unless I’m using it wrong. [Editor’s note: It was actually a plastic piece on the key ring itself that unlocked the outside door] The hotel is nice. The room is small but big enough for me. Although I wish we had more English channels. Right now only get CNBC in English and the rest are all dubbed in Hungarian. Currently I’m watching a show about rednecks on the Discovery Channel dubbed in Hungarian. I’m afraid that television watchers in Budapest might get the wrong impression about a typical American by watching the show. Right now they’re making references to Smokey and the Bandit which I’m not even sure was popular in Hungary.
After getting settled in my hotel room I decided to get my bearings straight on how the town was set up. I got lost a few times but I’m no worse for the wear. I found my way to Heroes Square which is a Square with statues of Hungary’s original founders and those who played a pivotal role in Hungary’s history. It is like Moscow’s Red Square or something of that nature. I got up my GoPro to make some videos and I’m not even sure how they turned out. I guess I’ll find out whenever I get home. Afterwards I went to the equivalent of Budapest’s Central Park. They have a miniature reproduction of a castle and church with in the park. Also I found a bust of Winston Churchill and a full statue of George Washington. Europe’s second oldest zoo is near the park.
I stopped by one of the baths but I did not go in as I would have had to pay to get in to actually see the outdoor swimming pool. I also saw the memorial to the 1956 Hungarian Uprising against the Soviets. Within this memorial for vertical metal pillars in brown. Off to the side there is also a political display of art which I’m not sure what it represented because all of the writing was in Hungarian.
I had heard that the Opera House gave tours at 4 p.m. in English so I headed toward the Opera House. As it turned out since the new season in the Opera House had started they were not holding a 4 p.m. tour today. Instead I bought a ticket for tomorrow store at 2 p.m. I figured this would be the best because it could go ahead and let me get the tour over with and move on to other things. I decided to go to the Memento Park which is basically a part of old Communist era statues. I had heard there weren’t very many statues of Stalin because he was so hated and they destroyed all of the statues at some point after his death. I enjoyed taking pictures of these communist relics and hope they turned out.
For my meals today I decided to stick to American favorites I had subway for lunch and KFC for dinner. Although people make fun of me for sticking to American foods while I’m overseas I feel as though this is my vacation and I should be able to eat whatever I enjoy eating without having to worry about whether or not I like the food. Also like the fact that their drinks are out to where you can refill them as much as you want which is a European anomaly.
I’m slowly finding my way around the Budapest transportation system. I’ve gotten lost a few times but I’ve always been able to find my way back.
For tomorrow I’ll be touring the Hungarian Parliament at 9:45 a.m. also as mentioned before I have a tour of the Hungarian Opera House at 2 p.m. there is a museum called the House of Terror which documents the atrocities committed by Nazis and the Communists during Hungary’s history of last century. I will try to tour the House of Terror tomorrow as well.
The weather forecast is calling for 100% chance of rain tomorrow with localised flooding. So I decided for all indoor activities tomorrow.
Right now I’m pretty tired because it seems as though I’ve been up for several hours without much sleep. I’m planning on going to bed early in order to try and let my body adjust to the jet lag.