Q: Could I live in Europe?

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A: I could if I lived here!

Just to get this off on the right foot - let's clear up the pronunciation. BOODA-PESHT. Official terminology kids.

And officially, this city kicks arse. Sitting snugly in the top three European cities I have been lucky enough to cruise around in, Budapest felt good from the moment I stepped onto that wicked old style train. Seriously, it was like a Bakerlite toaster. Painted a radical pale pastel green with chrome detailing and boxy in shape, I felt like I was hurtling through the historical fifties in some sort of communist comedy.

What else did I love about Budapest?

The sense of turmoil and history that was still evident if you scratched the surface
The most delightful hostel staff I have come across on my travels
The bike rally staged throughout the city
The passionate and sometimes overpowering opinion of Orsi on her adopted countries shortcomings
The chance meeting with some incredible people who gave me more than "the usual" to think about
The metro. It shines! On Metro Lines 2 & 3 there are still the same Soviet vehicles running (same in Moscow, Warsaw and some subway services of Prague). Also the original New York City Subway entrances were modelled after the Budapest Metro entrances
The sheer architectural aesthetic of the bridges and statues that link Buda to Pest
The twinkling and glimmering of ten thousand lights as they adorn the cities buildings and pathways throughout the night
My day on the bike ride getting lost in the suburbs
The Hungarian born, Californian grannie who tried to set me up with a passing stranger due to my "somewhat inexplicable single female traveller status"
Stumbling across a Victor Vasarely exhibition - FOR FREE!
A PDA (which didn't involve touching) on the outdoor lawns of a bar I can't pronounce that was pure raunch (oh, and it didn't involve me either, for the record)
The gorgeous old man who must've seen a hundred years come and go, and who didn't speak a word of English insisting on giving me a personally guided tour of the Obuda Museum - in Hungarian. Bless his cotton socks
The photo exhibition on Hungarian history that led up to the Buda Castle
The alternative circus crew!
The honesty of the Hungarian people
The outrageously funky second hand store I was tipped off about
I even kinda liked the surly girl at the corner store where I bought breakfast every morning
HOWEVER (and I know I'm in the minority here) the Gellert Baths just didn't do it for me. I'm just not one for nudding up and sloshing around in other people's bodily fluids. Too much tinea for me...

If I could go on, I would. And if I could bottle the way Budapest made me feel and sprinkle a little around everywhere I went, the world would be a better place.

But the biggest lesson learnt in Budapest?

BONSAI YOUR THOUGHTS!

(Photos coming soon)

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