BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
When I was still in the Philippines, the idea of traveling never crossed my mind. I wasn't crazy about going to different places, let alone experience new cultures. It all changed when I set foot Budapest.
Due to a whirlwind of unexpected events in my life in early 2018, I decided to give traveling a shot. At the time, I was thinking of going somewhere for my birthday. When my friends told me they were planning to go to Austria, Hungary, and Czech Republic, I hopped right in.
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First order of business upon arrival: FOOD.
I arrived in Budapest at lunch time. Thankfully, my friends were already in the city centre at the time so I didn't have to wait. I'm sick of fish, chips, and rice so I decided to get Hungarian sausage from a local restaurant called Bestia located near St. Stephen's Basilica. The restaurant has a selection of traditional Hungarian dishes including the famous Goulash.
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Goulash is a stew made with meat and vegetables usually seasoned with paprika and other spices. It is Hungary's national dish.
Shortly after lunch, we headed to the famous Chain Bridge. The bridge connects the eastern and western sides of the city known as Buda and Pest. Looking at it at afar, I was fascinated with its construction. No wonder it was regarded as one of the wonders of modern engineering.
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We then decided to ride the funicular on our way to the Buda Castle to have a good view of the bridge. As expected, it was truly a stunner! The lights that draped the entire bridge glimmer in the waters of the Danube River which made it more appealing.
Early morning on our second day, we decided to visit the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Hungary is famous for its medicinal thermal baths.
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At midday, we explored more of the city's wonders. We headed to the Fisherman's Bastion located near the Danube River which gave us the best view of the Parliament Building.
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In front of the Fisherman's Bastion is the Matthias Church. The church's exterior depicts the classic Gothic architecture while the interior is a visual feast with walls hand painted with green, orange, brown, and gold patterns.
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To end the day, we decided to ride the Budapest Eye to get the best view of the entire city.
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Budapest was unexpectedly one of the best cities I've been to. Plus, it's the cheapest to travel to! It's probably one of the cities that I won't get tired visiting again and again!
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