Something is wrong with the Hungarian forint outside Hungary, or at least, that seemed to be the case during our recent travels. No one seemed to want it and we wondered why. At first nothing seemed amiss with the Hungarian forint. When we arrived in Budapest, we found businesses accepting both forints and Euros interchangeably. Though the forint was preferred in most situations, we found businesses and cab drivers equipped for transactions in euro. Then our problems started. After crossing Continue Reading
Is the Blue Danube Really Blue? 15 Ways to Enjoy Europe’s Beautiful Waterway!
Is the Blue Danube really blue? River cruisers and shore observers alike have their opinions as to whether the name of the Blue Danube Strauss waltz is always accurate. But there's no doubt that this beautiful European waterway is a magnet for inspiration and enjoyment. We've compiled fun facts and interesting ways to take in the scenery, culture, and history surrounding the beautiful blue Danube River that we hope will add enjoyment to your experience. This post contains affiliate links and/or Continue Reading
Grand Breakfast Budapest Style
A grand breakfast Budapest style was on the menu in the opulent New York Cafe, celebrating 120 years as "the most beautiful coffee house in the world." Strolling along the Grand Boulevard (Erzsébet körút) in Budapest one morning, we thought we'd opt for a "grand breakfast Budapest style" in a historic coffee house. An understated reference to a stop and gawk on the circular bus route map convinced us we should at least check out the incongruously named New York Cafe. Little did we Continue Reading
Traditional Hungarian Jewish Food in Budapest
An unexpected recommendation from a Kauai friend for traditional Hungarian Jewish food, Fülemüle was his favorite restaurant in Budapest. Now it's ours. On our second full day in Budapest, we still felt rather disoriented in the city. Coming from Vienna, whose luxurious ways had been intimidating and intoxicating at the same time, Budapest at first seemed like a shabby lady past her prime. Ensconced in a disappointing hotel, and confused by the unfamiliar Hungarian language, we looked forward to Continue Reading
Night Train from Budapest to Bucharest
We were running out of time. With choices dwindling, we abandoned our visit to Sighisoara and took the night train from Budapest to Bucharest instead. Our plan had a gray area that spilled over a couple of days between Budapest and Russia, and there was Romania, smack dab in the middle of it. We'd had a run-in with Romania before in the form of a cancelled trip, and I felt like we were losers all over again. I'd become enamored of the idea of spending a night in Sighisoara, which I Continue Reading
Central Europe Architecture: 7 Images of Dignity in Disrepair
We photographed the faded, the forlorn and the crumbling facades. A theme - Central Europe architecture in disrepair - emerged. It was beautiful. When traveling for extended periods, you begin to cluster your impressions. It's no longer a trip which is segmented into days, but a trip comprised of themes. This happens, I believe, because we look for similarities. In new places, we draw upon previous experiences and proceed to compare. Familiarization such as this can be a comfort Continue Reading
Budapest: Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church
In love with Budapest Thanks to Architect Frigyes Schulek, we fell in love with Budapest on the morning we visited Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church. Halaszbastya, the Fisherman's Bastion, was designed in Neo-Romanesque style for Hungary's Millennium. It was built between 1895 and 1902 as a gateway to Castle Hill and Matthias Church in Budapest. The Millennium, which celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarian state, occurred in the middle of the Golden Age of Budapest Continue Reading