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I was born very far from where I'm supposed to be and so I'm on my way home.
--Bob Dylan
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Broke in Budapest
Doesn't that sound like the nickname for someone writing to Dear Abby? Ugh, but it is so true!
I am now officially broke  ... these countries are WAY more expensive than I thought! It's Budapest, for goodness sakes... and I officially just sounded like an ignorant American. Oh well. The way I see it, like my signature esentially says, that's something to worry about tomorrow. And mom, I'm always espousing my independence, but thank you so much for your help with everything. It's a little hard to be totally independent when you're traveling through Europe and Asia with money you DON'T have...
Besides the money woes, I am having a splendid time! I keep meeting Aussies while traveling and they are all great fun. I've been hanging out with a couple here in Budapest who are very chill, just the way I like my company. Thankfully, Budapest has been very good to us. The weather broke while we were here, and it has been remarkably cool. It's supposed to be like that pretty much for the rest of my trip: that is: until I get to Kyrgyzstan- Thanks Zach! However, seeomg as I've been averaging about 7 hours of walking a day in about 105 degree heat for a few weeks now, that's old hat for me! <--apparently I'm a ninja (I really have no idea, I just like these smiley things)
Budapest has caught me off guard because it is way more modern than I was expecting. The country has such a rich history, it seems like every empire in the world has invaded them. Yet, they've still be able to maintain the ideal of "Hungarian" and create a disparate culture from all the ones they were influenced by. I'm becoming a little desensitized to the random fountains and statues that are all over this region of the world, though, and Budapest is no exception. I find everything simultaneously irritating yet beautiful and I couldn't figure out why... then is dawned on me: everything is so BAROQUE. It's my least favorite period for art. While the craftsmanship might be admirable, everything is just so overdone. Maybe that's just because the U.S. is so not like that. I just, you can only look at so many buildings with corinthian column balconies and marbled statues sitting in the alcoves before you're simply over it  . I also keep getting surprised by the modernity of these places until I remember that these changes are an important part of a country's history as well. Many of the places I've been to have relics of their ancient times, but at some point or another were ravaged by war. Like any place wanting to flourish, they have to rebuild. Hungary is remarkably good at this apparently.
My first day (technically my 2nd, I got in on the 27th) I walked along Chain bridge, where people sell all kinds of goodies, and spent most of my time up on Castle Hill (nope, not the one in the Bronx!). It's this massive area with churches and museums and sites of all kinds. I went to a Marcipan museum with these HUGE sculptures made entirely of Marcipan, it was hillarious. Most of the scenes were cartoons from when i was little like the smurfs...I took an obscene amount of pictures for something so silly. Yesterday (the 29th), I was exhausted and decided to just take it easy. I took the tram to the mall and ended up buying a dress at Marks and Spencer that I didn't need... but it fit SOOOOOO well! Then I went and saw transformers, which was awesome (we miss you Greg). The movie and a small popcorn and drink was about 7 USD! So, today, the Aussies and I are going to a place called statue park where all these old communist era statues that were going to be thrown out and destroyed are. It should be fun... then Goulash!
My one regret before I leave for Vienna tomorrow is that I didn't go the baths here... there's always next time! Or whenever I can visit Turkey.
Just to complete my tales until now: I must do better justice to Croatia. It was really stunning, like I might honeymoon there stunning. I had a good enough time in Zagreb, which was very relaxing, but Split was a whole different ball game. It's this beautifl area on the coast that basically ocean on one end and Roman ruins around it. I didn't realize that until then, I hadn't been near the Ocean since Semester at Sea. I walked a TON that day, but kept finding myself near the water, just sitting on the dock as the waves crashed below and sniffing the sea air... it brought backa many memories. I wish I had much more time in Croatia, there are so many islands to see and the people were really great.
Ok, so you're all up to date. It's 9:30 am here on July 30th and I have a tour to go on very soon, so see ya!
So Far:
Switzerland: Geneva, Bern, Luzern, Interlaken, Zurich
Bavaria
Austria: Salzburg, Villach
Slovenia: Ljubljana
Croatia: Zagreb, Split
Hungary: Budapest
next up Vienna then the Czech Republic and possibly, Poland (it wasn't originally part of the plan, but eh! Things change)
"Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming ... WOW! What a ride!"�--Anonymous
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Posted: 1:39 AM, 7/30/2007 in Unspecified |
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