A Day in the Danube Bend and Pest

 Today, I took a little trip to Szentendre on the Danube Bend. Szentendre is a lovely place! (And thank goodness for my Fodor's book for helping me figure out how to get from the train station to the town centre!) I wandered endlessly the many winding and uneven cobblestone streets exploring this little town along the Danube. So many cute little shops and galleries. Lots of tradition Hungarian things as well. (And I had some yummy cinnamon kürtös kalács! Mmm!)

I bought my gift for my mom there, and the little old lady shopkeeper spoke only Hungarian, so it was just like my time in Kecskemét trying all ways of communication. :) Some more wandering and met an adorable shopkeeper at a traditional Hungarian blue and white shop. (Not sure how to explain it in Hungarian or English...it's sort of a pattern of cloth that clothing, in the home, etc.) She called my broken attempts at Hungarian "charming" and told me the story of a good luck charm. An old man who owned another Hungarian shop chatted with me about Kecskemét, Hungarian cuisine, and pálinka. I also met a street artist who was painting in the main square.

I returned to Budapest mid-afternoon and found a shop called "Samantha." Yes, it really exists! My completely un-Hungarian name is the name of a clothing shop in Pest. Ironically, I would probably wear a lot of the clothes in there if they weren't so expensive. haha!

I then took the M3 to Déak Ferenc tér, where the little pashmina stand still stood. Different woman, same stand. So I just had to get another one for my pretty sparkly pashmina collection! hehe! I spent over three hours roaming around Pest, glancing in little shops and just soaking in Pest. Vörösmarty tér is quite different and rather bare without the Christmas markets there...  My Hungarian is starting to revive itself, and I know Budapest a lot better than I thought.

It was very hot out today, and I walked myself ragged today. I enjoyed every moment, though! I love Hungary!! (And pretty sure I'd move here, too, in a heartbeat!) It is just like we'd do one a day trip to the city. Visited lots of the places we used to spend our weekends roaming around when I was studying over here. :)

I had been drinking a lot of water all day to keep from passing out, but I still felt dehydrated and faint from the sun, so I found a resting place next to Kálman for awhile. (I didn't know it was him till I'd been stitting there at least 15 minutes! They have bronzed Kodály and Kálman on benches...I wonder if Bartók, Liszt, and Erkel are somewhere like that, too! haha!) Some Hungarian walked by and made a comment about me sitting there. I have no idea what he said...whatever it was, he gave a good-hearted chuckle about it. I somehow even became a photo op for some tourists. Odd but whatever.

I chilled with Kálman for almost a half hour. Then, I wandered a bit more down Andrássy ut and found myself a table at a café/restaurant on Liszt Ferenc tér. A glass of fehérbor and a bowl of gulyasleves (goulash...It was long-awaited and did not disappoint!)

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I love pedestrian-only streets, plazas, etc. :) Plus, you don't have to fear for your life crossing through traffic in those areas! haha! ;)


Kecskemét with Heather tomorrow! :)

P.S. It drives me nuts that my hair is disgusting in every picture because it is just so darn hot that I can't wear it down. *sigh*