Go east!
I've seen quite some places over the years. I've traveled to countries nearby and far away. I've seen beaches and mountains. I've experienced cold snow and sand too hot to walk over. But for a strange reason, I've barely visited Eastern Europe. I've visited Prague. But as a little kid. And as we all know, kids are not particularly interested in culture or history. Recently I finally decided to do something about it and after a 4 day trip to Budapest I realized I've got quite some catching up to do.
The beautiful stewardess of the late night Wizz Air flight to Budapest seemed to be the precursor of things to come. Just as the 30 degrees at arrival were. Especially if you know that the arrival was at 1 am. Mix beauty with high temperatures and a breeze of intriguing feminine perfume and a guy goes crazy. Luckily I had an Hungarian friend picking us up at the airport, to save us from getting lost.
From the beginning it was clear that Budapest is the ideal mix between culture and history. It's a city thinking and moving fast forward. Nothing 'Eastern' is left about it. People have invested and still are investing in trendyness and modernism. In life. The city's past probably has quite something to do with that attitude. Having to live under terror for decades seems to have made inhabitants of Budapest stronger, with a greater will to enjoy life. Can you blame them?
It's a city where history thus has a lot to say, so you should take your time to listen to it. The House of Terror is probably the best reminder of how things can turn out if mad people get to do their way. But it's also a city of good food and -it just has to be said- gorgeous women, making it a city to go to with friends, rather than with your girlfriend. Don't get me wrong, it's just the looks I'm referring to, one night stands and sexclubs exist -as always- rather exclusively to satisfy those British who just do not know what going on holiday means. And again, do not get me wrong: I'm not referring to all British.
Anyway, I've already been checking the latest tickets to some other countries. Poland and Romania for example. We'll see. First I'll have to survive a reality check of work, stressed colleagues and bills to be paid.
The beautiful stewardess of the late night Wizz Air flight to Budapest seemed to be the precursor of things to come. Just as the 30 degrees at arrival were. Especially if you know that the arrival was at 1 am. Mix beauty with high temperatures and a breeze of intriguing feminine perfume and a guy goes crazy. Luckily I had an Hungarian friend picking us up at the airport, to save us from getting lost.
From the beginning it was clear that Budapest is the ideal mix between culture and history. It's a city thinking and moving fast forward. Nothing 'Eastern' is left about it. People have invested and still are investing in trendyness and modernism. In life. The city's past probably has quite something to do with that attitude. Having to live under terror for decades seems to have made inhabitants of Budapest stronger, with a greater will to enjoy life. Can you blame them?
It's a city where history thus has a lot to say, so you should take your time to listen to it. The House of Terror is probably the best reminder of how things can turn out if mad people get to do their way. But it's also a city of good food and -it just has to be said- gorgeous women, making it a city to go to with friends, rather than with your girlfriend. Don't get me wrong, it's just the looks I'm referring to, one night stands and sexclubs exist -as always- rather exclusively to satisfy those British who just do not know what going on holiday means. And again, do not get me wrong: I'm not referring to all British.
Anyway, I've already been checking the latest tickets to some other countries. Poland and Romania for example. We'll see. First I'll have to survive a reality check of work, stressed colleagues and bills to be paid.
