Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Be Proud of Me
Finally wrote and completed my trip to Budapest! It's below this with two videos- be sure to check it out! Also, stay tuned for more coming quickly!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
People People
Hello everyonne from Brussels, Belgium!!
I am currently on my spring break. First time in my whole life (i think) that Ive been able to travel/go some where for SB (due to softball in high school and nothing last year) and I am doing a Northern loop in Europe? Well worth the wait.
Last few days were in Paris, France. Can I say wee wee? Eiffel Tower, Lourve Museum, Versailles, Notre Dame to say the least.
I am writing daily on my ipod and I will upload it when I get back this sunday with pictures and videos so please stay tuned! Thank you for being so entertained:)
I will also post the rough draft of my budapest trip so im not too behind on my blog:/
love from Europe
I am currently on my spring break. First time in my whole life (i think) that Ive been able to travel/go some where for SB (due to softball in high school and nothing last year) and I am doing a Northern loop in Europe? Well worth the wait.
Last few days were in Paris, France. Can I say wee wee? Eiffel Tower, Lourve Museum, Versailles, Notre Dame to say the least.
I am writing daily on my ipod and I will upload it when I get back this sunday with pictures and videos so please stay tuned! Thank you for being so entertained:)
I will also post the rough draft of my budapest trip so im not too behind on my blog:/
love from Europe
Monday, March 5, 2012
Standard Monday
Why am I so good at hitting the snooze button? Last night, I made an itinerary and was hoping to stick to it, but all fails when I decided to sleep in until noon. Shame on me...I know.
Anyways, I got my 25minute jog..hoping to pave a new path soon but I am a little nervous to jog out in the open, busy streets of Via Trastevere.
Onion, cheese, omelet breakfast ready when I came back...expected nothing less. Walked to school because it was still nice out...worked up a sweat walking up all those hills...probably could have done without that mushroom white pizza I stopped to buy on the way with Libby.
Surprises of the evening:
1. Care package from the parents containing, HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER, almound butter with chocolate, my sperry loafers, europe plug converters, cookies, workout cds, a nice little note, Italy books...ei yi yi GRAZIE MAMI!
2. Receiving a text message during class while eating my almond and peanut butter, "Hey, I signed you and Libby up for the cooking class tonight- I forgot to tell you, see you there!"
Our roommate was a sweetheart and signed us up before it filled up so tonight we enjoyed making Bavette al pesto, patate e fagiolini. I learned how to make pesto from scratch without a blender...a lot harder than I thought. Cooked potatoes until they were soft, added green beans and noodles- and wa-la!
Anyways, I got my 25minute jog..hoping to pave a new path soon but I am a little nervous to jog out in the open, busy streets of Via Trastevere.
Onion, cheese, omelet breakfast ready when I came back...expected nothing less. Walked to school because it was still nice out...worked up a sweat walking up all those hills...probably could have done without that mushroom white pizza I stopped to buy on the way with Libby.
Surprises of the evening:
1. Care package from the parents containing, HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER, almound butter with chocolate, my sperry loafers, europe plug converters, cookies, workout cds, a nice little note, Italy books...ei yi yi GRAZIE MAMI!
2. Receiving a text message during class while eating my almond and peanut butter, "Hey, I signed you and Libby up for the cooking class tonight- I forgot to tell you, see you there!"
Our roommate was a sweetheart and signed us up before it filled up so tonight we enjoyed making Bavette al pesto, patate e fagiolini. I learned how to make pesto from scratch without a blender...a lot harder than I thought. Cooked potatoes until they were soft, added green beans and noodles- and wa-la!
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| Mashing it all up |
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| Mashing garlic |
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| Preparing the basil |
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| Pesto Ingrediants |
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| Final Product! |
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| Roomies |
Friday, March 2, 2012
It Used to be Pestbuda..but then They Realized How Stupid that Sounded
Flight to Budapest, Hungary
Never have been to a hostel. Didnt know what to expect. I've heard good things, and bad things, and prepared myself by watching Hostel the movie a few nights beforehand.
After arriving to Budapest with 4 others (three guys and Libby), I went to the ATM and took out some huffs.. 200,000HUF which is around $90.00. After that, we took our taxi around the city, and arrived at our first hostel...which happened to be a sex shop? Wait a second... yep- that was it. We pressed the buzzer, went up an elevator, and walked into our hostel that was above a sex shop. Throughout the next few days we noticed the reoccurring themes of sex shops, kebab stands, and bridal stores. Putting one and two together we learned that Budapest has a high rate of marriages, abortions, and divorces.
Settling into our room late, we went out to a bar recommended by our hostel coordinator. We walked in to this bar that used to be an old dentistry, and it was dead but we had a great time, enjoyed a beer and people-watched.
The next morning we had to switch hostels, and on our way we went into Kiado Kocsma that has the best gulyás (goulash soup) and the worst customer service. Looking at the menu (they gave us the English version-how kind), we saw MEAT, something you can't get in Rome for this cheap- or anyway for a matter of fact. I ordered Kacsamell savanyú gyümölcsök és póréhagymával burgonyapürével aka duck served with mashed potatoes and pears, along with pear cider. It was the best meal I have had since I have been away from home by far.
Spending around $7 for this meal, we arrived to Hostel Retox- A very edgy, artsy place with funky drawings all over the walls. The guys working it were pierced, and tatted up, ready to show us a good time. They gave a a run down on how Buda and Pest work, along with a map that they circled and highlighted the must sees.
We soon began our adventures for the day, walking through the busy streets, passed the shopping square, and across the bridge to Buda where we hiked a little to find a church that looked like a castle, and a castle that looked like a palace. We took a surplus amount of pictures at the Fishermen's Bastion, which has 7 towers to pretend you're a princess around. Fisherman's Bastion is around the Matthias Church that is in the heart of Buda's castle district (which you had to pay to go inside and we were currently out of money).
It was getting chilly outside but we knew we had to make it to the Castle aka Palace. Walking to it, we went to a few markets, bought some souvenirs, and an orange donut freshly made by an old couple.
Later that night we got ready and went on a pub crawl with hostel, meeting the others up. Went to four or five different bars/pubs.
1st Open, blue, lounge areas, ordered pear cider. Socialized awkwardly with other kids staying in hostels.
2. Busy and crowded, nothing to remember there
3 Took tequila goldens. You put cinnamon on your hand, drink the shot of tequila, then eat the orange. There were mirrors in bathroom so when you wash your hands you saw the guys on the other side washing their hands as well. This bar was two floors with several different rooms, including a disco dancing room which we danced the night away...until we went to the next pub.
4 Huge area for dancing, about 5 or 6 different rooms with different music in each.
5 Went to an extra bar but left to go back to the hostel.
Next morning we woke up sweating from the sunlight gleaming into the room. Trying to open the window, I was modified to notice the double window. This was the last day before leaving to go back to Rome. After paying for our stay, we packed up...and decided to get an ear piercing from Johny (the owner of the hostel). I almost fainted. After, we went to an open air market.
Random fun:
Budapest has by far the best and cheapest gyros. As a group we probably ate 20 in the three day span. they were between 200-600HUF which is about $1-$3.
The people working at the hostels had nicknames that we had to call them by (I think it was a protection kind of thing)
Ryanair- Always entertaining to fly with...People do not only clap when we took off and landed but CHEERED.
I packed WAY TOO MUCH and too many nice clothes- Budapest is all about looking like a hipster; floppy hat, cool shirts...no Roman boots, pumps, and blazers here.
Airport scare on the way home, literally RAN to the gate: Due to my water bottle having a gulp of water left WHICH was OUTSIDE my backpack, I had to take E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G out to get examined. Talk about embarrassing and scary.
Never have been to a hostel. Didnt know what to expect. I've heard good things, and bad things, and prepared myself by watching Hostel the movie a few nights beforehand.
 |
| Old woman selling flowers |
The next morning we had to switch hostels, and on our way we went into Kiado Kocsma that has the best gulyás (goulash soup) and the worst customer service. Looking at the menu (they gave us the English version-how kind), we saw MEAT, something you can't get in Rome for this cheap- or anyway for a matter of fact. I ordered Kacsamell savanyú gyümölcsök és póréhagymával burgonyapürével aka duck served with mashed potatoes and pears, along with pear cider. It was the best meal I have had since I have been away from home by far.
Spending around $7 for this meal, we arrived to Hostel Retox- A very edgy, artsy place with funky drawings all over the walls. The guys working it were pierced, and tatted up, ready to show us a good time. They gave a a run down on how Buda and Pest work, along with a map that they circled and highlighted the must sees.
 |
| "Titties, me, Lib, Chris, and Tyler |
1st Open, blue, lounge areas, ordered pear cider. Socialized awkwardly with other kids staying in hostels.
2. Busy and crowded, nothing to remember there
3 Took tequila goldens. You put cinnamon on your hand, drink the shot of tequila, then eat the orange. There were mirrors in bathroom so when you wash your hands you saw the guys on the other side washing their hands as well. This bar was two floors with several different rooms, including a disco dancing room which we danced the night away...until we went to the next pub.
4 Huge area for dancing, about 5 or 6 different rooms with different music in each.
5 Went to an extra bar but left to go back to the hostel.
Next morning we woke up sweating from the sunlight gleaming into the room. Trying to open the window, I was modified to notice the double window. This was the last day before leaving to go back to Rome. After paying for our stay, we packed up...and decided to get an ear piercing from Johny (the owner of the hostel). I almost fainted. After, we went to an open air market.
 |
| Sample platter at the Market |
Bath Houses
We went to the biggest bathhouse in Budapest called Szèchenyi Bath. It has 23 natural baths randing from freezing temp. of 20° Celcius all the way up to steamy...hot. The outside baths ranged from temperatures as well. There were whirlpools, different levels to walk on, heavy water spicets to get a head or back massage. People were relaxing at the water bar and old men were battling their hearts out at the chess blocks in the steamy water. The bathhouse held 7 saunas ranging from 55°-95°C. We also spoiled ourselves with a 30 minute massage.
We went to the biggest bathhouse in Budapest called Szèchenyi Bath. It has 23 natural baths randing from freezing temp. of 20° Celcius all the way up to steamy...hot. The outside baths ranged from temperatures as well. There were whirlpools, different levels to walk on, heavy water spicets to get a head or back massage. People were relaxing at the water bar and old men were battling their hearts out at the chess blocks in the steamy water. The bathhouse held 7 saunas ranging from 55°-95°C. We also spoiled ourselves with a 30 minute massage.
Random fun:
Budapest has by far the best and cheapest gyros. As a group we probably ate 20 in the three day span. they were between 200-600HUF which is about $1-$3.
The people working at the hostels had nicknames that we had to call them by (I think it was a protection kind of thing)
Ryanair- Always entertaining to fly with...People do not only clap when we took off and landed but CHEERED.
I packed WAY TOO MUCH and too many nice clothes- Budapest is all about looking like a hipster; floppy hat, cool shirts...no Roman boots, pumps, and blazers here.
Airport scare on the way home, literally RAN to the gate: Due to my water bottle having a gulp of water left WHICH was OUTSIDE my backpack, I had to take E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G out to get examined. Talk about embarrassing and scary.
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