That’s right! You chose my first adventure to be beautiful Budapest, Hungary with an overwhelming response. For the month of July we will be seeing the sites, eating the food, and learning about the culture of the beautiful country of Hungary and its surroundings. I’ve never been to Budapest and thought it might be fun to share a few things I have learned while researching.
A Little About Budapest, Hungary
Budapest was officially formed when three cities Buda, Pest, and Obuda got together to be one giant city in 1873. I guess Obuda wasn’t as important as Buda or Pest, it was like the Michelle of Destiny’s Child. Budapest is actually cut into two sides separated by the Danube river, with Buda on the west side and Pest on the east. I guess you could say it’s the Twin Cities of Minnesota in a way.
The two sides are very different many ways. What I am getting from reading about this great city is one side is where you would take your parents and the other is where you would hang with your best friends. Buda is a little slower, with beautiful hills to explore and a place where you can just take your time and enjoy the view. Where as Pest is more lively with popular restaurants and bars and where the action is. Both have a lot to offer in history and art and I can’t wait for us to see what’s in store.
The Arts Of Budapest
I am a big lover of the arts, and Budapest has a lot to offer when it comes to folk art and culture. We can head to the Tanchaz and listen to folk music and learn about Hungarian dance. Honestly I am not super familiar with folk dancing, but I would definitely love to try it out. And this guy with two left feet would be more than willing to take a few classes and share that mess with you. But more importantly I want to see the professionals at work, and watch those feet move.
The architecture in this city is also quite brilliant. A lot of the Roman buildings were torn down and replaced by the Baroque era. Well you may remember Cogsworth once said “If it’s not Baroque, don’t fix it”. Yes I have been waiting to use that “Beauty and the Beast” joke since I was like ten. But, I am definitely excited to show you these awesome buildings that rule this city. As my friend once said “Always look up, that’s where the real art in architecture is”. I have a feeling we will be looking up a lot.
And finally there is the visual art. This isn’t Van Gogh and Da Vinci, these are artist I have never heard of. Honestly I am not an art major and I am assuming most of you aren’t either, so I’m not going to pretend like I know who these people are. But flipping through some of these painting and sculptures, I’m really excited to see this art that is not familiar to most of us. And we’ll have plenty of time to see it, since we have a whole month to explore.
The Food of Budapest, Hungary
Perhaps the most familiar dish we will be eating is goulash. My mom makes her own version, but I have a feeling this going to be a little different. A thick stew that is served as a soup or sometimes over pasta. But there are other great dishes to try while we are there as well, such as chicken paprikash, Hungarian pancakes, and langos which is a deep-fried pastry topped with cheese and sour cream. I’m pretty sure that last one might become a personal favorite. To read up on some more of these great dishes, head over to Our Escape Clause. They have a lot of great pictures and tell about some of their favorite dishes.
The Adventure Continues
I really can’t wait for us to see Budapest, and even more excited to see where you will take me out of the city every week once we get there. There are so many small little towns to see and even big cities just beyond the border. I really believe this is going to be an awesome homestay for the month of July and thank you for choosing it for me. Stay tuned for more info on Budapest and other places we will be visiting. I’ll also be sharing some info on booking things and what not. But, the adventure continues.
That’s right it is time for our next vote for where we go next. After tallying up the votes, Budapest was a pretty quick shoe in. So, I’ve decided to go off of what you all seemed to want and avoid the more touristy spots. Take us to a place that is a little off the beaten path. This is going to be our homestay for the month of August. Click on the link below and tell me where should we go next.
[…] Vote Has Ended. Click HERE to see where we head […]