So my flight arrived at around 12:50PM into Budapest. It was super sunny outside, and as I walked off the plane onto that ramp, you could feel the heat outside. I collected my bag and went through immigration for a quick stamp.

I then walked into the terminal and procured the Budapest Card which gave you unlimited use of public transportation and entrance to 17 museums for free. Can’t beat that I thought!

So I went outside to catch the 100E that would take me right to my hostel. Turns out that it is the onebus you cannot use that Budapest card. So I went on the 200 and then transferred to a train and got off. In total about 50 minutes to get from the airport to the hostel. Walked off the metro and it was just blue skies and sunshine.

What I liked about Bubble Budapestis that it blended right in with the surrounding buildings. As it is located right next to a national museum, the surrounding buildings look nice.

I rang two bells and was inside, checked in, and in my room. Because of the time difference and readjusting I didn’t do a shared room, I had a private room with a shared bathroom.

One of the things that surprised me was how hot and humid it was. I thought it would be a bit cooler, nah! It was really warm, and given my room was on the second floor with no AC, it was extra toasty!

So I got in and did a nice Y&M to get relaxed after being squished on that flight! Felt so good. And then…to the streets!

Walked out and it was just beautiful (and warm) out! Was hungry and wasn’t going to have dinner for a bit so I walked up to the corner, and conveniently, there was an eatery called Veg City.

I walked in, and saw fresh/raw vegetables. FINALLY, SALADS!!I got a green tea, spinach and arugula salad with some carrots and a side of falafel. Also there was this rice wrapped in a leaf that was also quite tasty.

I gobbled everything up and began on my way. Found another little spot, had some coffee. I asked for something refreshing, and they made this coffee with tonic and lemon. It was refreshing indeed!

Thankfully, much of this portion of the trip was curated by Alina and her father. I had let her know that I’d be in BP a while back, and she had let her father know. As it turned out I would miss him because he was going to be visiting Alina, her husband Wilson, and their children in Austin when I was coming to town.

He did, however, put together this AMAZINGemail with links and all types of things to do. He knew me too, he had food, drink, and places to relax listed! He had mentioned a place calledDeVinowhere I would be able to sample various Hungarian wines.

So, after Veg City I made my way over, about a 10 minute walk – this hostel was ideally located! Took some snaps of stores I saw on the way.

I arrived, and this place was tucked away in a little alley with vibrant colors. There were several water holes located all in this area, and as people walked by, many had drinks in hand.

So I had asked for a flight of wines so I could sample different drinks before heading to dinner. I think there was a little lost in translation type stuff happening. In either case he brought me a white wine that was refreshingly crisp and delicious.

I had it pretty quickly, and then made my way over to dinner.

Alina’s father had recommended a restaurant called Borkonyha. In his email he noted how Alina and Wilson had visited and had a fantastic time. So I made a reservation and we mad eour way over.

Y’all already know. Tasting menu? Let’s do. But let’s not do allllll of the tastings, let’s do the minimal amount of tastings.

So, this meal was delicious, as you can imagine. The smaller aperativos, the were fantastic, and the melding and explosion of flavors was incredible. The soup was so good too! Then came the venison, the pre-dessert, and then the dessert! So delicious, and the sun was setting, the sky was so blue past 9:00PM. Reminded me of being in Seville and having dinner with mom and dad and my good friend Luke outside in the streets at 10:30PM with this deep blue sky. I’ll just put all these photos here for you.

Got wrapped up with dinner and then made my way to a cocktail bar, called WarmUp. Nice little spot tucked away. Sat down, and they had a good selection of whiskeys, so I ordered an old fashioned.

They put a little bit of a chocolate twist on it, and it tasted delicious! It was almost a bitter chocolate so the drink itself was not overtly sweet. Began chatting with my neighbors from Belgium and talking about politics and all the things. Really nice folks.

Got finished up and made my way back to the hotel feeling so contented. As I walked through the streets there were no horns honking, it was quiet. India was wonderful, and all of the experiences that I had until that moment made me realize how much I missed Europe. Cobble stone streets, architecture, just that general vibe/energy. Fantastic evening! Got back to the spot, went to sleep, and got ready for day two!