BudaPESHT

Budapest was much different than Prague and Vienna. It is a young democracy and the proof is everywhere. There are a lot of homeless people in Budapest, but it definitely had the most character. The town is actually referred to as two separate areas. Buda, on the west side of the river, and Pest, on the east side of the river. After our late night out at Praterdome in Vienna, we left at 7:30 am on Friday for Budapest. When we arrived we got McDonald's and then found our way to the hostel. Although it was snowy outside, the hostel was very warm and clean. We had to take off our shoes as soon as we got inside and put on the slippers they provided us. We took a nap at the hostel then we went to the szechenyi outdoor baths that night evening! It was just what we all needed towards the end of this exhausting vacation. There were three outdoor pools/baths. As you went from one to the other, they got hotter and hotter. Inside there were more baths and a few saunas! We were so relaxed after than we just got a late dinner (mexican) and then went back home to catch up on sleep.

Szechenyi Baths 

Heroes Square

The next morning we got up early to walk around some more and we went to the big market. This is where we had lunch and tried some traditional food (that I definitely did not like)...

In front of the green bridge 

Eating some food at the market

Market

We went on a communist free walking tour after which was really interesting and educational. I learned a lot about the history of their country and the tour guide had a lot of first hand experience. We passed by apartments that were built during communism that are very small with even smaller kitchens. They did this so that way people didnt get together in kitchens to eat and drink and TALK about their views on communism (or any new ideas to oppose it).

Standard communism apartment

We saw the only remaining soviet communist monument in Budapest. They promised to keep it as long as a cemetery for Hungarian soldiers was protected in Russia. It was actually right next to the american embassy... after walking down a path there was a bridge next the a statue of Ronald Reagan. Apparently the hungarians love Reagan. 

This symbolic bridge connects the communist monument to the parliament building on the other side. 

In many building you can see bullet holes still. In one building near the parliament, they filled every whole with a black knob.

For our last night (Saturday) we went to the castle hill and palace. It's on the Buda side of town and we were able to get a great view of Pest.

Buda Castle at the southern tip of Castle Hill

View of Pest (parliament building and bridge) from Castle Hill