Critical Mass Budapest

King of the Hill

Ahh, beautiful weather! Sunshine! The great outdoors! While visiting Robert in freezing German January, he wisely pointed out everyday the weather gets a little better; this week it is really starting to show. Note that I'm just wearing a t-shirt...yep, no jacket today! Taking full advantage of oncoming spring, I went hiking in the Buda hills with Jake from Wisconsin. Riding to the end of tram 61 puts you on the extent of the city and the beginning of nature. We hiked up to an observation tower, atop which we were able to see Budapest in its entirety below. Awesomeness.

End of the line, kid.
upside down flowers
Off the beaten path.
The view from above.
Jake and I with the countryside behind us.
Just enjoying the sunshine.

Jogexploration!

With the weather here in Budapest starting to warm up enough to enjoy being outside, I feel more and more pent up inside the apartment during the day. I still haven't found a bike yet (perhaps I'll work on that more this weekend), so I've decided to pick up this alternative the people do to get around and exercise: jogging. Today I went down to Margit Island to check out Budapest's Exercising Hot Spot. A 5 km (hey look, I can use the metric system) track runs the perimeter of the island, the kind of track made of that nice spongy paving. Transversing the island counterclockwise (positive K direction, as we would say in my current math class) the Duna runs on your right, the parks of the island to your left. The result is an enjoyable little run on a sunny, early March afternoon.

Best sights I saw on the jog:
-Kayakers paddling up and down the river along the bank of the island, I want to do that one day!
-Families pedaling around the island in Bicycle cars, rentals I'm guessing, another thing I need to look into.
-Old Roman Ruins (I'll go back for some pictures)
-A ZOO! I saw some storks and other large birds
-The gigantic Gothic Parliament building spiking the riverside skyline, glowing in the low afternoon sun rays (need pictures of this too)
-The beautiful angel bust sculptures on the pillars of Margit Bridge
-Being in the middle of the Duna with the two sides of the city stretching out and the sunlight illuminating it all

I promise to return on another sunny afternoon, Camera equipped, to share the awesomeness with you. At the end of my jog, I descended a staircase to the bank and sat relaxing in the sun. The river has risen in height since my first arrival in January. Last week you could still see some of the rock banks, now the water level is halfway up the river walls. I'm looking forward to the weather continuing to improve and making new explorations in this crazy place!

Yes, that is snow, and yes, that is a Nuclear Reactor Training Site behind me

Hey, being in real snow is such a cool experience for me. We received a fresh blanket overnight. Will keeps on making fun of how often I make little comments about it.
Thomas: "Check out the icicles on the parked cars"
Will: "Have you ever been north or east of Arizona?"

Nonetheless, I continue to enjoy it like a child. I feel like it's Christmas again. The air isn't chilly, it's brisk, enjoyably nippy. Well, at least during the day, once the sun sets it's downright chilly. What else is new? I'm 200 pages into Bonfire of the Vanities. I found it in the random's closet of the apartment. I bought a little Basil plant and a Rosemary plant for 200 forint each at the market. I missed having something growing around. Classes are going well, and I'm meeting with a professor tomorrow to learn about some robot research we'll be doing while we are here. Stay sharp dear readers.

for your eyes

Winter Wonderland and Scrumptious Sandwich!

Finding Velodromes

Today's little adventure: Find the Velodrome. I took the metro to Keleti train station, and then began to wander through the large sports complex nearby. I had read online that the very old Budapest Velodrome, over a hundred years old, was somewhere in this area. Finding it was quite difficult. I met many rusted, locked gates, fences, and no help from signs indicating where I might look. Eventually, I happened to glance down a side road and saw this sign in the distance:Looked promising. I went through the open gate in the fence, and wandered through the wooded area behind. The large hill seemed to suggest I was on the right track (track, pun, ha ha), and a staircase leading up the hill confirmed my suspicisons. Topping the stairs, I found what I had been looking for.The track, despite its age, stood below. It was empty so I spent some time wandering around. Unfortunately there was no one around to ask about races, or if it is still even used. I'll have to do more research online. At least I know where it is now. On the way out, I spotted something else you may enjoy:Bike Tire Tree

International Kids

To finish up our orientation, the International Students Community planned fun activities, beginning in the afternoon and continuing into the night. We started out with a bus tour of Budapest, receiving some more history of the city, and ideas for more places to go explore. Hero's square was awesome, and there is a huge park and museum complex around it. I will definitely go back there. We also toured inside Mátyás (Mathias) Church inside the castle walls, which had amazing stained glass windows, gilded alter, and (in restoration) towering spires intricately decorated with color tile and stone sculpture.After the tour and returning to the University, we met our international mentors, local students who are here to help us adjust and show us the fun of the city. We broke up into little groups who went to various bars and restaurants for individual getting to know each other. The groups met up at a big international dorm where the mentors planned lots of fun activities and games.
It is fun meeting new people, and I'm looking forward to making some good international friends.

Rain

Today I have a picture for you.

It was a rainy day again, but we made some important discoveries. The mixture of architecture in Budapest is crazy. The inner city streets are lined with hundred year old buildings ordained with color and sculpture, but worn by time and the events of passing time. On the outskirts, ominous soviet apartments loom, matching the gloomy sky above. The occasional modern building stick out just as much, rising above with shining glass facades that contrast the antiquity around it. As we wandered around today, I thought about the numerous lives lived here before I was even an spark in my great great grandparent's genes (or jeans, ha ha).

The Hills of Buda

Today greeted us with more nice weather, light snow and sun. Bizarre. Will and I headed on over across the chain bridge and into hilly Buda to explore the castle district. A hike to the top of castle hill is the best vantage point of the town. To the east, Pest lays flat, the skyline spiked by the spires of churches and government buildings.
To the west sits Buda below the castle walls, brightly colored apartments against green vegetation, hills rising to the horizon, illuminated by the cloudy sky above.

The Castle Labyrinth stretches beneath the hill, dark and damp. Inside the castle walls themselves were shops, cafes, old churches and ruins of anchient times. This city is filled with so much to see, each day I find something new without even having to look. And for those who are concerned, the falcon man was there.

Sunlight and Another Roomate

Will, the other student from the UA studying in Budapest (and being my roomie), arrived today. The weather decided to be nice and great him with some sunshine. Will slept a bit, the long flights are pretty draining and then we ordered pizza's online for dinner. Yum. Cheap too. For two, 6-topping pizzas delivered to your door, with tip was 3000 forint, a little under 15 bucks. And we have leftovers! Pizza Boy!

I've also been playing around with photoshop a lot...learning, finding brushes and fonts online, creating. Lots of fun. When I make some stuff I really like I'll put it up in a post.

Train Stations and more Wandering

I awoke to light snow flurries falling through the frigid -4˚C air. Flakes stuck to the tile roof out the window and the cars parked along the narrow streets. I had a quick breakfast of rolls and strawberry jam, then began putting on the layers. Thermal undies, pants, shirt, wool socks, beanie, hoodie, thick jacket, shoes, gloves. Pockets: keys, wallet, ipod. Good to go. The cold greats me as I open the door and descend the stairs. Out the gate and then the main door of the apartment, I wait long enough to hear the click of the door locked shut before pressing play. I head towards Jósef körút (Joseph Boulevard) to Rákóczi ut towards Keleti Train station. Keleti Station is quite impressive, it's size allows it to be seen from ways down Rákóczi ut. More constrution is going on in Baross square in front of the station, a new metro line (#4) from what I could figure out. Inside, it takes me a while to find the international ticket counters. The teller spoke enough english for me to purchase a ticket to Würzburg; A night train to Munich, and then a faster Intercity Express train from Munich to the Wü. Thursday morning, I'll be hanging with Robert. All good. Also learned about special deals from Budapest for future travels...I returned home slowly, again letting curiousity lead me. I found one of the large open markets of Budapest just behind the constrution at Rákóczi park. Hopefully it will be open tomorrow...I'm eager to discover local produce! I had great dinner at a cafe around the corner, a goat cheese and fried zucchi dish with seasoned potato wedges, DELICIOUS! I also discoverd that the Frank Zappa Cafe is also extreamly close to my apartment ( http://www.zappacaffe.hu/ ). Totally awesome. I will have to try that someday soon. Final note: I made a flickr set to share more pictures. Looking forward to more awesome adventures soon.

Budapest - First Impressions

Tonight I found myself out wandering the streets, beginning to figure this city out. I took a map, but mostly just let my curiosity guide me. As the small vein streets turned into larger arteries, I found the heart of the city: The mighty river Danube with majestic Buda Castle towering above. Letting my feet take me where they wanted, I continued across Széchenyi lánchíd, the robust chain bridge, passing stone lions that guard each end. Stone Lions don't seem to defer graffiti. I guess the city figures not many tourist come in the winter and let apperances slip...we'll see if it changes as the weather warms up. Ice floated along the river currents and gulls swooped overhead as traffic zoomed by.

Returning home allowed more practice in navigating the streets. Street signs are not too popular, most of them are hiding on a building near the intersection. The major streets glimmer with street lights, neon, advertisements, headlights. The minor streets, like mine are dark and quite.It's growing on me. Tonight's little adventure gave me lots to look forward to in living here. I stopped in the 24 hour shop on the corner to buy some strawberry jam for my rolls, and then climbed the flights of stairs to the apartment. I'll finish up by sharing a few pictures of the apartment and the awesome light switches. Oh, and I found an ATM that works. Tomorrow's goals: navigate my way to the train station and buy tickets to Germany to see Robert.

Inside the apartment looking into the bedroom

Awesome light switch!

holy crap, I'm here

I arrived in Budapest around 5pm (17pm) last night (9am Tucson time). Awkwardly found the minibus and bought a ticket to the apartment. The address the landlord gave me was slightly wrong, but luckily close enough that he found me where the minibus dropped me off...he apologized. We went up to the flat, gave him the down payment on the apartment. We went to look for a ATM that would work, but with no success. Number 1 goal today: find a ATM that will accept my card. Arrived back at the apartment, and the landlord left without realizing he forgot to add my computer to the internet access. The roommate, German grad student Boris, kindly let me borrow his computer to send a few emails home. Shortly after I fell asleep. 24 hours travel with small naps in uncomfortable airplane seats or airport benches=12 hours of sleep. Feeling much better and less overwhelmed. Boris said he'd take me out to find pizza in a bit.

I really enjoyed the warm goodbyes from everyone and I'll miss you...but I'll also be having lots of fun.goodbye breakfastsunsets over the oceanout the apartment window looking into the courtyard