Buda and Pest!

BUDAPEST!!!! I just got back from an amazingly relaxing trip to Budapest. Turns out Budapest is actually two towns on either side of the Danube river connected by bridgest. The Buda side is known for being richer and a better place to raise your famil, while the Pest side is where all of the young people lives and is known to be more fun.
We arrived on Swiss air Thursday night and I have to say Swiss air is the best flight I have ever flown on. Any flight that gives be chocolate after great food and free wine on a 1 hour flight earns major brownie points in my book. We finally arrived at our hotel only to have our jaws drop to the floor. We stayed in a 5 star hjotel that the European Defense Ambassadors were staying. There was security everywhere and it also gives you an idea of how amazing this hotel was (we felt a little out of place but soaked in everyminute). We have a gathering right away where we were greeted with champagne and some people even showed up in their robes and slippers from the room. We were living in style. The first full day, friday, we woke up for breakfast and then our city walking tour. I think everyone will agree with me that breakfast was one of the highlights of our trip. It was like a breakfast candy store. Omlets made fresh, smoothies, pastries, endless kinds of cereal, fruit, sandwhich stuff, eggs, hasbrowns, BACON, the list goes on and on and on. Basically we all stuffed ourselves every morning because it was soooooo good. THen we went on to our walking tour which was great to see some of the main sights of Buda and Pest. Also the transportation there with undergrounds, metros and buses make it easy to get anywhere. We saw the palace, monuments, the public baths, the opera house and many more (see pictures online soon). That afternoon, I decided to experience my first public baths with a group of friends. I had never realized how huge they were!! The place we went to had 3 huge outdoor pools (pretty much hot tubs) but all different temperatures. Then it started snowing so we spent most of our time outside in the amazingly warn baths with snow falling on our heads. On the inside of the complex were so many different baths it was easy to get lost, there were whirlpools, hot, cold, scented, colored, sanas, uv rooms, the list goes on. It was fun to explore everywhere, but outside definetly was the best.
Saturday we willed ourselves up again with breakfast galore and then went on our second tour that was communism based. I had never realized how recent it was that communism still ruled HUngry. Our guide had lived through it and gave accounts of the differences in perspectives and lives between her, her parents and grandparents, affected by these times. Our first stop on the tour was the lady with the palm leaf statue that was created during the communist rule but it is now recognized as the liberation statue and is also one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Budapest. Next we went to the communist park where all of the communist statues that were erected were placed after the rule ended. It was very desolate and made you feel disjointed. It was cool to see the stuaes and hear the history instead of them being destroyed. Finally they ended our tour on a positive note by taking us to the underground wine cellars with the largest wine barel in the world (there are only two others like it with the same dimentions).
Then the tour dropped us off at the market where I finally had Langosh (I cant remember how to spell it correctly but thats how it is said). It is a fried dough that they traditionally put sour cream, garlic sauce and cheeze on. it was deliciously bad for you:) We explored a bit got some souveniers and then my friends and I decided to go to the hospital on the rock.
We went on a tour and saw where the hospital was, the old tools and medicines. This hospital was also used in WWII by the Germans as a bunker to hide and stay protected because Hungry sided with the Nazis during the war. I cant believe they actually lived through it and the tours made WWII and communism rule so real and made me realize how recent everything happened.  Of course after all of this touring everyone made it back to the hostel to enjoy their spa with a grand pool, 2 hot tubs, 2 saunas and a steam room. More relaxing was so nice after midterms. we were living the life.
That night was the boat cruise. We had an endless buffet dinner with Hungarian food, wine and a jazz band and beautiful views of the city from the Danube river. We had a blast dancing and eating until we couldnt manage anymore food. Then the next morning I had to fly home:( And now I am about to go to class again.

Update: I also saw my friend Bert last night. He had surgery on his jaw and now has to titanium plates in his chin. He looks much better, feels better and is walking around and will most likely come home today. his mom is here and I showed her around a bit (hopefully she can have a little bit of fun and see some sights while she is here).

Hope everyone is doing well at home. Miss you all!!!