Buda-Pesh…still feels weird saying it that way, but do as the Hungarians do, right? I remember Kelly Schwartz, who served here in the past with the Canadian Infantry and called it Buda-Pesh. I asked him finally, “why do you say it like that?” His response, “that’s how you properly say it”…
I had no clue what to expect from Budapest. Honesty, I dropped it on the itinerary as we were close to it from a destination we wanted to see, Vienna, away we went.
So here we are, in Budapest, and it is spectacular! Top 3 spots so far, and close to taking over Edinburgh. The city is clean, walkable, scenic, with some amazing architecture and the world renowned baths were something else. Situated on the Danube River it is very attractive despite what side of the river you are located: Buda or Pest (two cities that became one when the Chain Bridge connected them in 1849). I would say the people are less than friendly but I anticipated this going into the adventure. The Hungarian people have endured a difficult past: fascism, communism, recessions and are one of the lowest paid workers within the EU. They are pessimistic people at best, but look to be hard working (not a ton of people on the streets, unlike some other countries we’ve visited).
Would definitely come back. Looks to have quite the nightlife (classy, unlike Prague) but than again, there is so much more of the world to see.
