Budapest
Eastern Europe
Hungary
travel
Budapest, Hungary
4:37 PM
Budapest - also the last leg of my exchange journey before heading back to Lisbon and to home. Have long heard of all the Buda-best puns but because it was my final trip, I didn't really have much expectations. It was our reunion with Belle and Keefe (well for me anyways because I hadn't seen them since I left in July) so I was also taking the backseat this time and just enjoying the company.
So obviously the city truly lived up to its name and despite it being -15°C, we ventured out of our comfy apartment whenever we could. This very apartment was also the one Jade and I spent hours looking for lol it was such a joke - we were right outside but no one heard us ring the bell so we ended up going to a couple other buildings and floors because we weren't sure we were at the right place thx Budapest. Turns out Keefe and Belle were in the apartment worried about us hahahaha.
Thoroughly enjoyed our soak in the thermal baths because the water was soooo welcoming in that winter weather. It was January man come on, our hairs were freezing up like popsicle (hairsicles??) no kidding. We had to run in our swimwear in and out of the water indoors and outdoors. Some of the thermal water even had healing properties (ok so they say). Spent a few hours there and was kinda reluctant to leave the warmth.
The city is divided by the Danube River into Buda and Pest sides. There's long been a debate on which side is "better", and if you Google you'd see questions like "which side is better to stay on?" "which side has more life?". Tbh I felt that both sides are exciting in their own rights. Atop a hill in Buda sits the grand Hapsburg palace whereas Pest is bustling with activities (yes the night life). There were slabs of ice on the river -- -15°C was not cold enough for the entire river to freeze completely. It was, however, freeeeeezing to us Asian kids used to Singapore's humidity (I missed the heat terribly).
The big reunion!!!!! (after Jade and I got caught not validating our metro tickets, after we walked up and down the building trying to the find the apartment, after a naked man opened one of the doors we knocked on, after desperately trying to hook onto any free wifi nearby, after sitting on the steps of a building calling Annabelle's and Keefe's names) It was also coincidentally the eve of Lunar New Year how apt :')
Looking over at Pest where our apartment was situated (it was a far, far walk)
My iPhone 6 definitely did not do justice to the breathtaking night views of the Parliament behind us on the other side of the river
Look at this beauty
Had really good beef goulash and fries (that was all we had and the waitress looked at us so skeptically as if we didn't order enough)
Spent one of the nights at a club and damn it was dodge thank you Keefe for being the protecter hahahaha (beer was so cheap tho I miss that)
On our last day I met with my Hungarian friend Anita (also my personal bodyguard in Lisbon because she'd send me all the way to my doorstep on our crazy nights out, and hold my hair back when I projectiled into the drain HAHAHAHAHA)
Always said she looked more Asian than me look at those eyes ;) (I actually asked her if she had Asian blood in her somewhere lol)
The view from the Chain Bridge
Heading home to Lisbon w Jade :')
Very thankful to have met the three of them before heading home. Definitely felt a lot of fomo because they were just embarking on the best time of their lives while it was the end of mine :'( Nonetheless, thoroughly enjoyed the company and of course the city as well. Budapest is on my "to-go-back-to" list but I think I'd prefer going back in the summer hahahaha.
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