Budapest the amazing city!

Wow what a week it has been, well actually two weeks actually I guess. I was away last Sunday so that is why I did not update. This past week we had our February break, it is in between the 2 semesters, so they take a nice week off and I happened to take advantage of the break and go out and about :) I had a fabulous time as well so now here will ensue the adventures of my journey :)

My journey started in Suceava, Romania, where I spent a lovely evening with Melody, one of my group members. It was so nice because I never really got the chance to get to know Melody during training, I knew I liked her but never got to know her. So it was a lovely chance for us to talk and hang out before my train early the next morning. While I was in Suceava, Melody took me to see the world's largest traditional Easter egg. On my facebook page you can see a picture, I am just a little midget compared to this egg, I couldn't believe it!

So then the next day was pretty uninteresting, I just spent the whole day on a train, 12 1/2 hours to be exact. There was this cute little girl in my compartment though and every time I brought something new out like a book or some work, or my crafts (counted cross-stitch) she just thought that was the coolest thing. She was really cute and had a good time looking at what I was doing, as well as the beautiful scenery outside. We traveled through the mountains, since I was going from Moldova to Transylvania. It was such a shorter trip than going around the mountains, it would have taken me more than 20 hours if I would have gone that way!

So then I arrived in Arad to spend a few days with another volunteer, Shaneka. It was nice to spend some time with her and see her city. We walked around, she introduced me to some of her friends, and to here really fun landlords. We also had a chance to go to a museum, and I found a map with Trusesti on it! I was so excited, it was a really old map too so that proves my town does exist and it has been around for a very long time :) So Trusesti exists just like Reedsville does it just might not be on every map :) Then we also went to another museum called the butterfly museum and while we were there there was actually the largest traveling reptile exhibit in Europe. While the exhibit was really cool, I felt so bad for the reptiles because there would be these big ones like pythons or alligators and they would be in a cage that was about 1/4 of the space that they deserve. We also saw an alligator in a box with water, and nothing else, no trees, no grass, no foliage, nothing. You know it is something when you feel sorry for alligators and pythons. There was a gila monster that was trying to stage a break out, he had enough space, but it was entertaining because I have never seen any zoo animals trying to escape from there confines, but I guess I can't blame him.

So then we hung out and chatted some more, and on Monday I went to work with Shaneka, and saw what she does at her site. It was really nice and I got to practice my Romanian with the kids and see what exactly her organization does. So the org that she works for helps individuals who are living on the street or have very very little at home. They proved a hot meal and showers, as well as laundry, and for the kids they offer help with homework and something fun to do or just a warm place to hang out for a few hours. It is really nice for them, and it is something for them to hold onto and enjoy even if it is only for a few hours each day.

So then I was on my way to Hungary. It was just a 4 hour train ride there and I arrived at about the same time as my colleague Connie who I was meeting there. So we checked into our hostel, which was lovely. They had showers, washing machines, comfortable beds, a kitchen with everything, a common room, friendly staff. It was great, it was like staying in a really big apartment, just something nice, a home away from home. So after checking in the adventure began.

The first night there we walked the journey to Buda and on the way ran into the Opera House. Unfortunately we did not get to go in, but I did see a picture in a museum and I wish I could have seen the inside it looked absolutely fabulous! The outside was beautiful though as well, the detail that goes into these buildings is amazing and unbelievable. From there we ran across St. Stephens Basilica. I have never seen such an amazing building. The outside is beautiful and just plain awe inspiring. Then we went inside, the beauty just went on and on. I wish I was more gifted with words so I could give this basilica all the credit it deserves, but I can't. I took pictures as well, but they did not do it justice, I was just honored to be able to see it first hand and take in all of its beauty.

So from St. Stephens, we continued our journey to Buda, and actually ran into a shop that sells Polinka, which is a rather strong liquor, which is a Hungarian specialty. We decided to go in because they had free sampling and I wanted to try some. We didn't happen to buy anything but it was interesting to see all the different types and to hear about it the process and how the different proofs work. So from there we made our way to the Danube, to cross the chain bridge, which is a fabulous suspension bridge over the Danube. I loved it and it was so nice to see the whole city. Then we made our way to Buda castle, we wanted to see Pest from Buda, and the journey up the large hill was worth every step. I also took pictures of this, but it's beauty cannot be captured again. I have never seen anything so beautiful in all of my life. When I was up there looking at all the lights in Pest, the lights on St. Stephens and the Parliament, it was like every trouble in the world went away. It was just spectacular, I just wanted to stay up there and enjoy this site for hours.

After walking around some more and enjoying the old castle district, we decided after 5 hours of walking it was time to go home and enjoy the homemade meal that the hostel offered on Tuesday nights. So we went back and enjoyed some company and a good warm meal after a long day of walking. It was very interesting at the hostel, we met people from all over the world, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Holland, and around the city as well, for example more would be Austria, Portugal, Italy, France, China, Japan, etc. and all of them spoke English perfectly, maybe better than me! I could really see how English was the universal language, it was just very interesting to me.

So then I crashed for the evening to get ready for another day of walking and exploring. So the next day we made our way to City Park to see the statues there, and then to the castle on the lake. While on our way to the castle, we actually ran into a spa and went in to see it. It was beautiful I wish we had the money to experience it, but we didn't quite have it...oh well maybe next time! It was actually a spa with an outdoor pool and it was interesting to see the people swimming around in the warm water while the snow was coming down around them. It was simply glorious. So then we found our way to the castle. Again the glory of the castle cannot be expressed properly, it was fantastic. The architecture was simply stunning and the details into every little thing are what made this castle an outstanding building. We actually went in to check out the museum as well and it was nice to see all the animals. We went up into a room that had a lot of taxidermy in it and the attendant was having fun with us, he wanted us to take pictures next to everything, he knew about 3 English words, "come", "photo", and "souvenir" it was hilarious. We actually came upon a bear and he had me stand on the exhibit next to the bear for a picture. I just had to laugh because I have never experienced anything like that. It just made me giggle.

So then we took the second oldest underground in Europe (next to London's) to get back to the Buda side. We walked past the Parliament, my absolute favorite building in Budapest. We did not get a chance to go inside, but I was just happy walking by it. I just loved seeing it from every angle, and to see it from the bridges and lit up from the Buda side of the Danube. I could not get over it. So we made our way over to Buda again and walked around in the hills and the castle district again and just enjoyed the sites again. It was spectacular.

Then we made our way home, bought some supper and chilled out and enjoyed some company and recharged for the next and final day in Budapest.

So we started early again, and made our way to the Buda side again to see Liberty Statue. This statue was so glorious, you could see it from every bridge right on the top of a hill and it was just spectacular to me. I was just amazed by it, so that is why we went. It was a long journey up there, but it was worth it. The view from the journey was amazing and we took a lovely picture of me sitting on the stairs overlooking Pest from Buda, just fantastic. I think I would have loved it up there at night, seeing all of the city just lit up :) So we made it and it was spectacular and there was a nice little circle with vendors and interesting people and again a wonderful view. Then we made our way down and crossed the bridge yet again to find the central market. There were so many wonderful things there and I wish we could have purchased so many things...but I had to use discretion and decided upon 2 small bottles of Polinka, I figured it was what was traditional for Hungary and it will be worth enjoying with friends later on in the summer probably :) From there we went to see the Jewish synagogue, but did not go inside because it was too expensive, but the details on the outside were great and it was still a magnificent building. Then we went to the Lutheran church and the museum and looked around. It was nice to see something that I can relate to again, and the ladies at the museum were so lovely and basically gave us a private tour of the church (for free!) so that is always cool! Let's see after the church we made our way to the house of terror. This was about how Hungary was effected during the Holocost and communism. It was a spectacular building, but very disheartening to see everything that they people went through during this time. It puts into perspective how lucky I have always been, I have never had to go through anything like that.

So then it was time to go home, we made our way to the train station and began our journey home. It was rather long, because we were about 40 minutes late, but what are you going to do I guess. So I was able to rest before my next train ride on to Suceava again. That train was on time, but long, 9 1/2 hours. I was so glad to be so close to site. It was nice because I happened to get a very nice taxi driver to take me to Melody's and it was nice to chat with him and he was impressed with my Romanian :) That made me happy. So then I enjoyed a little more time with Melody and got some more rest and made my way back to site the next day.

So after this fabulous vacation, I arrived home and thought I would get some laundry done before my water went off. I went to turn on my tub, not my shower, so I had to push down on the faucet and the faucet fell right off! I just wanted to cry. Thankfully all the water went into the tub, I also shut off the water, but I had to wait for my tank to empty before it would stop. I was able to call someone and we got it fixed, but it was so frustrating after such a great vacation. Now it is all fixed however, and the faucet is much better than the one I had before. So I did get lots of laundry done and now it is back to the grindstone for a few more months until summer break :)

I hope you are all doing well and I miss you all like crazy and sorry for the long post, but I had a lot of adventures to talk about :) I hope you survive the snow and cold, I here there is a big snow storm scheduled to hit the east coast! Hopefully nothing like that comes into the Wisconsin area! I hope you are not freezing and that you are all happy and healthy. I love you all so much!

Va iubesc!
Va pup!

Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.