My mom (Stacey) and my aunt Lisa arrived just a few hours ago for about a week-long stay. They were actually, due to the wonders of air travel, approximately 28 hours late. But, they're here now and I'm looking forward to showing them around the city.
There are a few things that I have done before and am looking forward to showing her, and another few that I haven't done, and am looking forward to doing with her. Basically, the following is a list of things I love about Budapest, followed by a list of things I think I might love.
1) The Turkish Baths. Now, I love water. I love swimming. However, I was still a little skeptical about the baths. I mean, how much can you really do with tons and tons of pools of water? Actually, tons. I had two friends from high school visiting awhile back, and we went up there one beautiful Saturday (back when it was beautiful out, not rainy and cold). I ended up being entirely, completely satisfied. They have tons of pools, all of varying temperatures. My favorite was the ridiculously cold one - something like 8 degrees C. You jump in, gasp a little, bounce around, dunk your head, and move out as fast as possible. Once you're out though, you just want to get back in. This is especially good after a long stay in a particularly warm pool. The other great part of the particular bathhouse that I went to was the whirlpool. This is just a donut-shaped set of walls inside a bigger pool. If you get a bunch of people running around in circles, the whirlpool gets strong enough that you can actually walk sideways on the walls. Great.
2) The Food. This is actually a combo share-discover. Basically, I really, really like paprika. There are tons of delicious restaurants in Budapest. The trouble is that many of them, I cannot afford. I am a student. I am on a budget. My mom, however, is on vacation. I'm hoping for a nicer dinner or two. (Actually, anything better than Kinai Bufe - Chinese Fast Food - is an improvement. Not that I don't love Kinai. Its just that their dishes are sometimes 630 Ft - about $3). I'm also really looking forward to showing her my favorite Hungarian hole-in-the-wall, a place that serves amazing Gypsy Steak - pork stuff - with fried fat on top. Delicious.
3) Parliament and the Castle. Actually, this goes for all of the city. This city is beautiful. The architecture is amazing, especially when you consider that a huge portion of it, including the ENTIRE PALACE and all the bridges, has been entirely rebuilt after the city was destroyed in WWII. I'm really looking forward to just walking around with them.
4) Szentendre, maybe. Szentendre is a city about 40 minutes outside of Budapest. It is absolutely adorable, and has an entirely different feel than Budapest itself. I'm hoping that maybe we can make it, just to give them a taste of the countryside. We'll see though - that may be getting a bit ambitious.
5) Gypsy Music at the Spare Key.
Now, for the things that I am fully expecting to love.
1) The Opera. We are seeing the Marriage of Figaro in one of the most beautiful and important opera houses in the world. I'm psyched. I still wish it was Giselle, which is my favorite ballet and was showing while I was in Italy, but hey. I've never been to the opera before.
2) The Food Not for Students. See above.
3) The Museum of Terror. The Museum of Terror is a museum dedicated to victims of Communism. It is actually located in the block where the torture, etc. took place. I've heard its intense. I'm so excited.
I'm really looking forward to being able to be a bit of a tourist again. I've gotten so wrapped up in living in the city (not that that's bad!) that it's been a long time since I've seen something new. So, this is the time.
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