Hungary: Budapest

Caught a train to Budapest with two cute Swedish girls who giggled and sung nonstop and then in a blink of an eye were both fast asleep with mouths wide open! Was hilarious but I didn't know them well enough to take a photo.. Haha

Loved my new hostel 'Enjoy Budapest hostel' in a big old apartment building. My huge bedroom had only 7 single beds spaced out in it, where other hostels would squeeze 20. Big lounge room, kitchen, big bathrooms. So warm and comfy. Met a Melbourne girl called Sarah and we had a funny night playing cards in the kitchen with an English girl, two Scottish girls, and three Canadian guys. Then we crossed the bridge from Pest into Buda to go to a club.

Sarah & I checked out the thermal bath-houses the next day. They are a leftover tradition from Turkish invaders. We had 3 main choices; the oldest baths, the grandest and poshest baths which is apparently like taking a bath in a cathedral, and the biggest baths with the most to do. We went to Szechenyi baths; the biggest one.

It was a massive mission trying to work out what sort of ticket to get (english translations made no sense) and then working out how to lock the lockers with our electronic wristbands, how to work the weird changeroom cupboards, how to get into the pools...

Inside were different size and temperature baths with different minerals in them. One made us smell of sulphur and turned Sarah's silver jewelry bronze much to her disgust. Outside was a whole other world. Massive pools, one had the strongest whirlpool I've ever been in. Get swept too close to the jets and you're at risk of having your bikini blown off! May have reverted into acting like kids in here. In the middle of the whirlpool was a spa.

On the other end of the lap pool was a hot 38 degree big pool with a fountain, and chessboards where old men were playing chess in the water. Had seen a photo of this in my big lonely planet at home, except it was in winter so hot steam was coming off the pool. Glad we chose these baths so I got to see it in real life. Was sunny but not quite warm enough to sunbake, still people were laying all over the concrete trying. Pity they were all saggy and fat and wearing ill-fitting bathers...

Went to a cool bar that night where seating choices included old cars, bath tubs and pommel horses.

Everyone deserted me next day; Sarah to Prague, Lizzie to Munich, Canadians to Bratislava, Scottish girls who knows where.
So I actually walked around the city. It has a pretty grungy vibe especially at night. So many homeless and crazies. Went on a communist walking tour and learnt about life during the regime, how Hungary was better off than other eastern bloc states after their uprising in 1956. But it rained and was freezing so I was happy to return to the awesome cosy hostel, cook pasta and not go out that night!