Budapest Memento Park

Memorable Moments in Budapest

We enjoyed Budapest, even if we couldn’t communicate with anyone there. Regardless of what’s in the guide books, here’s what we personally enjoyed most in the city: B’s List Sitting and putting our feet in the water at the fountain on Margaret Island, plus driving a four-person buggy around the island. Eating a giant langos from…

Tuk Tuk Driver

Growing a (Temporary) Heart

Before visiting Phnom Penh, we had done some research on what to expect. Articles and blogs said that one of the primary things to get used to was the constant hassle and demands: ‘Take my tuk tuk!’ ‘Give me money!’ ‘Buy my product!’ I was somewhat concerned, because I hate that kind of pestering. When…

Budapest Door

Where We Stayed in Budapest

Neighborhood: District VII Also called: Erzsébetváros, Jewish Quarter, Elizabethtown Pros: Fairly central to everything, except a few of the hills on the Buda side Near an excellent market, at Hyundai ter (square) and many grocery stores It’s between two subway lines There always seemed to be someone out, even at night Cons: If you stay in…

Eating Pigeon

A Different Class of Gluttony

On a recommendation, we went out for a ridiculously-fancy dinner with my cousin (L) and her boyfriend (E) while in Budapest. It was at Costes, a restaurant with a Michelin star, and they pulled out all the stops. It was the second-most-expensive meal of our relationship (that we paid for), and I left feeling like I…

Hungarian Palinka

What We Ate in Budapest

Rosé Restaurant: This was the first restaurant we went to in Budapest: it had good reviews and Hungarian food, which is what we sought. The place was dark and reminded me a bit of a hunting lodge. I ordered peppered grilled chicken with steak fries. The fries were very well-spiced, and the portion size was huge.…

Budapest Peppers

Buying Bread in the 21st Century

Yesterday, we went to the little market near our apartment. I’ve gone four or five times during our week in Budapest – getting breads, yogurt, and even Hungarian sauerkraut. This time, we were hoping for a few pastries and breads. The bread stand was made of clear plastic, so you could see the different offerings. Most…

Fisherman's Bastion

What We Saw in Budapest

We spent 5 days in Budapest. Margaret Island: This was a fun pedestrian island, not unlike Djurgården in Stockholm. We sat with our feet in the cool fountain, watching the different patterns of the jets and helping a toddler fish out his rubber ducky. We ate some hot dogs, steak fries, and pickled things. Then, we rented…

Budapest Transit

Fearing Tram Ninjas

My cousin, her boyfriend, B, and I were on a tram in Budapest. We were standing near the doors and chatting casually in English, with our stop still four or five away. B had a plastic shopping bag with our bathing suits, my cousin’s boyfriend had a small backpack with theirs, and my cousin and…