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!
2009-03-12
2009-03-10
Today
Sunshine gleaming through my window woke me up at 7:30 AM, an hour before my alarm. While waiting to meet with my professor for Materials Engineering, I had a cappuccino from a Bianchi made vending machine.
I bought peanuts in the shell at the grocery store. I fixed scrambled eggs with mushrooms and blue cheese for dinner. I also had a glass of chocolate milk.
After finishing up my math homework, I went on a jog down Andrássy út, an old boulevard lined with trees and with the old metro line beneath. It's still pretty chilly outside. My shower felt awesome after the jog.
I can see the full moon out my window. It's a beautiful little orb, you should look at it when it's night where you are.
I bought peanuts in the shell at the grocery store. I fixed scrambled eggs with mushrooms and blue cheese for dinner. I also had a glass of chocolate milk.
After finishing up my math homework, I went on a jog down Andrássy út, an old boulevard lined with trees and with the old metro line beneath. It's still pretty chilly outside. My shower felt awesome after the jog.
I can see the full moon out my window. It's a beautiful little orb, you should look at it when it's night where you are.
2009-03-08
Lake Balaton Weekend
Budapest to Balatonfüred
Balatonfüred to Tihany
Back to Balatonfüred and then to Keszthely
Keszthely to Heviz
Heviz Thermal Lake
And back to Budapest
2009-03-06
A Glimpse of Blue Sky
Some blue sky and sunshine managed to break through the morning misting. Decided to have fun with the camera.
Working out plans to visit Lake Balaton this weekend with the dudes. Hopefully we'll spend Saturday in Balatonfüred and the peninsula area, Sunday in Keszthely and Héviz checkin' the hot springs.
Working out plans to visit Lake Balaton this weekend with the dudes. Hopefully we'll spend Saturday in Balatonfüred and the peninsula area, Sunday in Keszthely and Héviz checkin' the hot springs.
2009-03-05
Turks and Americans invade Szimpla!
Last night all of us really cool guys went and hung out at Szimpla, a real relax "alternative" bar: basically a huge old apartment building converted into an art supporting, eclectically decorated, multistory hang out.
Keremcan and Tuna from Turkey and I
Will just hangin'
Keremcan and Tuna from Turkey and I
Will just hangin'
2009-03-04
2009-03-02
Beograd, Serbia (Belgrade for the Western World)
Journal Entries:
26-2-2009
22:30 Keleti Palyudvar, Budapest. Listening to The Clash "London Calling" album from iPod. I saw a dude in front of the train station with an eye patch and, I swear, a fake plastic hand.
23:01 Train jerks forward, Elliott barely made it, Esperenza had to hold the door open while he ran to board.
22:30 Put The Clash back on, Clampdown is playing while our tickets are checked. Martin, a student from Germany who is studying in Istanbul joins our compartment (he heard the train is a little sketchy when traveling alone). Discussing currencies:
Martin: "Have a Turkish Coin"
Me: "Thanks, I can give you some forrints in exchange..."
Martin: "I'm not rich, but I'm not that poor!"
27-2-2009
06:30 Early Morning. Arrive, depart train, find hostel on 6th floor of an old apartment building nearby train station. Hostel host is from Miami, and has been living in Europe for 4 years, the last 2 in Serbia. We venture out for crepes and money. I withdraw 5000 dinar (~$70) for the weekend expenses, and a little extra for souvenirs. We are guided by Jeff (he's been to Belgrade at the beginning of the semester) to a fast food place offering pizza and crepes. Best idea ever. I have a nutella and "plazma" crepe (plazma is kind of like the stuff inside Whoppers candy crumbled up...). Return to the hostel, watch some Discovery channel, then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Serbian. Fall asleep until 11:00 AM.
11:00 For the day we explore the fortress and the war museum. Kalemegdan, the old fortress, stands at the meeting of the Duna and Sava rivers. Belgrade was once entirely enclosed by it's walls. It was conquered by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, and eventually returned to Serbian rule. Lots of awesome ruins. One currator of the war mueseum fought against the KLA in the early 90's.
15:15 It starts raining, we escape to a delicious Italian restaurant for dinner and dryness.
18:30 Returning to explore the streets. First glimpse of bombed buildings from 1999. Just put on Dave Brubeck.
20:30 St. Sava Cathedral. Impressive. Huge. Still in construction.
22:00 Return to Hostel. Chess Time. Lost the 1st game (lost the queen early, I'm rusty), well see how the second game goes...
23:00 Stalemate
28-2-2009
2:00 Going to sleep. Wandered around a bit, most of the crew went to a club on the 9th floor of some office building.
14:10 Waiting on people for forever. I just want to go explore more! Listening to Dert Floyd on iPod.
14:45 US Embassy, lots of police guards.
14:58 People made to delete photos of the Embassy by Police...(still have mine, don't look like a tourist, duh).
15:20 Made it to Tito's memorial. The green grass and birch tress are covered in white snow and bark.
17:00 Eat some more crepes at our favorite place. Explore Skadarska, the old Bohemian street of Belgrade.
20:00 Head back to the Hostel to pack up stuff. We pick up pizza to take on the train.
21:30 Make sure to choose a compartment with a working window. Share the compartment with Jesper, Jake and Brett. Talk about the sights we saw in Belgrade, and plans for future weekend trips...
1-3-2009
6:30 Arrive in Budapest. Go home and sleep for a big part of the day. Finish up some homework later in the day and fall asleep again (preventing a cold I feel trying to come on)
2-3-2009
9:50 Somehow my alarm didn't go off, so I rush off to get to lab on time. Hungarian Language class in the afternoon, and now finally at home!
It was a great weekend, and crazy to see other parts of the world, the bizarre differences that 7 hours of travel can make. The difference of being inside and outside the EU. The difference of a city with recent violent history. I really enjoyed traveling with the group, staying at the hostel, and exploring a new place. Looking forward to more good (and safe) trips.
Photos!!! and Flickr Photos!!!
26-2-2009
22:30 Keleti Palyudvar, Budapest. Listening to The Clash "London Calling" album from iPod. I saw a dude in front of the train station with an eye patch and, I swear, a fake plastic hand.
23:01 Train jerks forward, Elliott barely made it, Esperenza had to hold the door open while he ran to board.
22:30 Put The Clash back on, Clampdown is playing while our tickets are checked. Martin, a student from Germany who is studying in Istanbul joins our compartment (he heard the train is a little sketchy when traveling alone). Discussing currencies:
Martin: "Have a Turkish Coin"
Me: "Thanks, I can give you some forrints in exchange..."
Martin: "I'm not rich, but I'm not that poor!"
27-2-2009
06:30 Early Morning. Arrive, depart train, find hostel on 6th floor of an old apartment building nearby train station. Hostel host is from Miami, and has been living in Europe for 4 years, the last 2 in Serbia. We venture out for crepes and money. I withdraw 5000 dinar (~$70) for the weekend expenses, and a little extra for souvenirs. We are guided by Jeff (he's been to Belgrade at the beginning of the semester) to a fast food place offering pizza and crepes. Best idea ever. I have a nutella and "plazma" crepe (plazma is kind of like the stuff inside Whoppers candy crumbled up...). Return to the hostel, watch some Discovery channel, then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Serbian. Fall asleep until 11:00 AM.
11:00 For the day we explore the fortress and the war museum. Kalemegdan, the old fortress, stands at the meeting of the Duna and Sava rivers. Belgrade was once entirely enclosed by it's walls. It was conquered by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, and eventually returned to Serbian rule. Lots of awesome ruins. One currator of the war mueseum fought against the KLA in the early 90's.
15:15 It starts raining, we escape to a delicious Italian restaurant for dinner and dryness.
18:30 Returning to explore the streets. First glimpse of bombed buildings from 1999. Just put on Dave Brubeck.
20:30 St. Sava Cathedral. Impressive. Huge. Still in construction.
22:00 Return to Hostel. Chess Time. Lost the 1st game (lost the queen early, I'm rusty), well see how the second game goes...
23:00 Stalemate
28-2-2009
2:00 Going to sleep. Wandered around a bit, most of the crew went to a club on the 9th floor of some office building.
14:10 Waiting on people for forever. I just want to go explore more! Listening to Dert Floyd on iPod.
14:45 US Embassy, lots of police guards.
14:58 People made to delete photos of the Embassy by Police...(still have mine, don't look like a tourist, duh).
15:20 Made it to Tito's memorial. The green grass and birch tress are covered in white snow and bark.
17:00 Eat some more crepes at our favorite place. Explore Skadarska, the old Bohemian street of Belgrade.
20:00 Head back to the Hostel to pack up stuff. We pick up pizza to take on the train.
21:30 Make sure to choose a compartment with a working window. Share the compartment with Jesper, Jake and Brett. Talk about the sights we saw in Belgrade, and plans for future weekend trips...
1-3-2009
6:30 Arrive in Budapest. Go home and sleep for a big part of the day. Finish up some homework later in the day and fall asleep again (preventing a cold I feel trying to come on)
2-3-2009
9:50 Somehow my alarm didn't go off, so I rush off to get to lab on time. Hungarian Language class in the afternoon, and now finally at home!
It was a great weekend, and crazy to see other parts of the world, the bizarre differences that 7 hours of travel can make. The difference of being inside and outside the EU. The difference of a city with recent violent history. I really enjoyed traveling with the group, staying at the hostel, and exploring a new place. Looking forward to more good (and safe) trips.
Photos!!! and Flickr Photos!!!
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