First stop...

Buda across the Danube
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So Budapest is where this trip is starting and a bit of a rocky start at that. When I got to the e luggage carousel my bag was no where to be found. While this was definitely not a good thing, most of my immediate essentials were on my carry on luggage, so I filled out the paper work and hoped for the best.

My home for the next four nights was the Maria hostel. Fairly nice for $15/night. I met one of my roommates, Bianca, and then took a nap. I woke up at 8:00 and went out with Bianca, two French guys, a Canadian, and another Australian. The only notable thing I picked up on for the night was that the French (at least according to these guys) take their toasting very seriously-for example, no smiling and direct intense eye contact was needed. Besides the luggage it was a pretty good first day.

Look kids, Parliament, Big Ben--Parliament in Budapest
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I spent the next two days checking out Pest (Buda and Pest are actually two different cities divided by the Danube). The architecture is fabulous and the statues and parks are fun to check out too. Went out for a drink with Bianca and two other Australians and an English guy. I found out from one of the Australians that fried tarantulas may be eaten in Nepal and that in Vietnam snakes are cut open, their hearts ripped out and people swallow them while they are still beating. I think I'll have to pass on both cultural experiences.

The House of Terror
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Got my bag back the next day, I could finally brush off the mossz residue that was beginning to form on my teeth. Then more wandering around Pest, hung out with two Turkish guys who were my roommates for the night, very generous and kind guys. It was really a pleasure to meet them.

Next day wandered a little around Margaret Island and saw the ruins and a small,old church there, then went over to Buda and saw the citadel and the victory statue and had a night view of the city and bridge all lit up. It made for a great picture.

Cell in the House of Terror
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On my way back I took Baross instead of Barossa and had a long misguided walk. With an interesting encounter along the way, but if you want to hear about that you'll have to ask me when I get back. Regardless, that along with the masses of Europeans pouring in for the Sziget Festival (think Summerfest on an island where everyone camps out) made me decide it was time to leave Budapest for a few days. But I'll be back, I have to, there's still two tours I want to do and also be in a Turkish bath.

Another look at the cells
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So I'm in Pécs now, it's my second day, life here moves at a better speed for me. For one thing whendrivers see pedestrians crossing the street they don't speed up and drive towards them, that happens in Budapest, I don't really understand why.

I have gone to a few museums, one art featuring Victor Vasarely, he has some cool stuff, my favorite was with a ferrit, an eyeball, some grapes, a sprocket, and a butterfly, that's a lot going on in one picture! The other was a porceline museum. Also visited a Cathedral, a mosque and a synagogue, all very old and very impressively decorated. I was a little disappointed that the catacombs were closed at the Cathedral, but at the end of my walking tour I got an excellent glass of wine, so that made me feel better. Pécs is also home to the Mecsek Hills so I hiked around there today. Tomorrow the plan is to go to Villany for a wine tasting tour. Should be a good time. Hopefully pictures will be included soon.