I got to figure out a new way to start each post that doesn't involve "we woke up in the morning". But unfortunately (or fortunately I suppose) that's how we started each morning. We had toast and nutella and some cornflakes (and added sugar because unlike Tony's frosted flakes, these were not greeeeeat). We made conversation with two girls at the breakfast table, Corey and Melody. They were from LA and Corey is studying in Athens. They both go to USC so they were quick to make Rose Bowl jokes as soon as we told them we were from the land of the Fighting Illini. We told them about the free tour we were going on and they asked if they could join. The more the merrier I say. We assembled the wolfpack, now at 9 members, and headed out. It was hilarious turning around and seeing all of them following me as I lead to the metro station. It turns out the Diana and Stevie had mutual friends of Melody & Corey, what a small world. The 9 member wolfpack didn't last long, by the time we'd rode a few stops on the metro, Stacy was feeling a little gross, so she decided she should probably sit this one out again. Another bummer.
We met the tour guides at the lion statue and within minutes we were introduced to the man who made Budapest memorable: Gabor. Now any tour guide named Gabor is destined to make things a little more interesting. But this particular Gabor was dressed in tight tight black flare pants with a flamboyent scarf and a Thai/Spanish looking top that would be revealed when he unzipped his jacket. It also helped that he started out asking us what we knew about Budapest or Hungary..um nothing. Except Goulash, which he told us was like Australians and Fosters, no authentic Hungarian actually eats Goulash. But perhaps my favorite part about Gabor was how he also referred to us as "travelers". "Travelers line up against the wall", "Travelers listen up", "God Damn Travelers Hurry Up". He would also end sentences leaving us hanging by saying "Details Later". I knew it promised to be a great tour when he explained the history of Hungary with a map of Europe using a water bottle as Hungary and moving all around it. He also explained to us that Hungarian drivers were "Bastards" and that you have to look them in the eye to make sure they don't run you over. We walked to the river on a particular windy Budapest day.
We found our first statue, of a princess (or a prince) which is the first statue erected in non-communist Hungary. While a communist nation until 1990, Hungary's communism was a little lax, meaning young Gabor still got the pleasures of Coca-Cola and MTV. We rubbed the knees of the little princess for good luck...as Gabor says "I'll rub anything I'm told to". Communist remains were still visible in the ugly communist buildings that contrasted against traditional intricate European architecture.
We walked through the streets of Budapest to a little park. Gabor informed us that the Hungarians are all about living life and L O V E (Ross's Love quote anyone?!). Proof of this is the padlock tree in the center of this park. People in love lock a lock on the tree fence with their initials of their loved ones on it and take the key and throw it in the river. How perfect is that. Gabor told us he is going to open a Lock and Key shop at the edge of the park. (Ingenius since it was difficult to find a lock...we wanted to make a Wolfpack Lock as a symbol of our successful trip).
Gabor continued to tell us about Hungarians and their accomplishments. Hungarians make up the largest percentage of Nobel Prize winners. Hungarian innovation has brought the world the Rubix Cube and Ball Point Pens. (Rivals the sugar cube and the microwave invented in the Czech Republic). Talking to Hungarians about their Nobel prize successes is a sure way to their heart. As is talking about their first King St. Stephens. The next stop on our tour was named after him, St. Stephens Basilica. It's actually just a church but the pope called it a Basilica so who argues with him.
Now all of this was covered in the Pest side of Budapest, pronounced Pesh. The city is actually divided into two parts, Buda and Pest, hence the name. We crossed the Chain Bridge to Buda. It looked like a Lions Gate Bridge. It was super windy so I had to make sure I didn't lose Miss Jennifer's hat in the river.
When we got to the other side, we saw a tram that took us up to the top of the hill. Gabor informed us that was a tourist trap and a waste of money. Gabor was really concerned about us not getting ripped off. Instead he showed us how he keeps his physic in tip top shape. We climbed up about 1,000 steps to the top of the hill. But like I said, always worth the view. We got some photos and Gabor yelled at us for being slow.
We headed through the little town and governmental building until we found an oddly shaped statue. It is the last remaining communist statue. Use your imagination to determine why the Hungarians thought this one was just too funny to tear down. And perhaps about how off the way the communists were to create a statue like this and not realize what people would perceive it to be.
Now there was another member of the tour who made it memorable. This little Asian girl and her duck. The duck was the subject of her photos. People are strange, and perhaps don't realize how strange people may perceive their actions as. Now It's not like I haven't taken my share of Flat Stanley photos (or flat Brie in Turkey) but that was among friends not strangers.
The backdrop of the statue were beautiful hills with houses. We stopped to enjoy the sun and the views and continued on. We passed another Tribbi, a car made of plastic and Gabor told us how he loved his and how him and his friends would race them. High speed 50 mph, made in light blue, pink, brown, and white. A chick magnet for sure.
And then another great statue. It is definitely a traditional thing to rub statues. All over Europe I've rubbed knees, a man falling into a river. At home, we rub Lincoln's nose. And in Budapest, they rub a Horse's junk. Now you can imagine what kind of "skills" you acquire from rubbing this part of the horse. But climbing up on a statue and grabbing on is just another thing to laugh at someday, so I climbed myself up there.
As we continued, we approached Matthias Church. The roof of this church reminded me of Moscow, or a fancy Easter egg. It was beautiful. We continued onto to the Fisherman Bastion. It looked almost fake. Like a fairytale.
That was the end of the tour, Gabor gave us suggestions about the best places to go and the best bath house. We bid our farewell and went in the search of food. We were hungry and cold, not a good combination. We found a little classy restaurant called Appetit. We settled in and I loaded up on chicken and potatoes. Refreshed, we headed back down the big hill and towards Pest. We linked arms down the hill but it was steep so we all began a little jog. We sounded like galloping horses. We continued linked until we had to "mob out". We sang songs as we walked down. A musical group for sure. We crossed back to Pest and headed to meet up with Stacy who had rested up and was ready to roll. The girls shopped in H&M and I sat in the sun on the Lion Statue.
We headed back to St. Stephen's Basilica. We found out from Gabor that the following day was a National Holiday, and we found a celebration in the square in front of St. Stephen's. There was music and some speeches (not sure what about). We went inside the chapel and enjoy another beautiful place of worship. We saw the famous arm of St. Stephen's. Yep his arm is in a box in the church. Best part of it is that you have to pay 200 forints (about 1 dollar) to have the box light up so you can see it better. I waited until some other tourist paid and creeped on the weird weird memorial to the king. Europeans like to keep dead arms. After getting our fill, we headed to the steps of the church. We sat there for a bit just soaking in the day and the live music. I think someone said they were playing Ode to Joy in Hungarian. I bought a black & white muffin from the California Coffee Company and sat on the steps with the girls, just soaking up the sun and thinking how good life was.
St. Stephen's arm is in there
We headed back to the Hostel, stopping so the girls could get some gelato. I was too full from my muffin but this was about the coolest looking ice cream ever. I'm pretty sure this is what people will be eating at my wedding.
We went back to the Hostel to rest up. Diana had to head back to Vienna said we said goodbye to her as well. We had dinner plans at 7 with Melody and Corey. We met them in the lobby of the hostel and headed down the block to Menza. It was our last family dinner of the trip and we chatted about everything with new friends and old. The waitress thought we were ridiculous. She thought Stevie and Jen were a couple. She was utterly confused when Stacy asked for her pasta with sauce on the side (plain pasta would be better for her questionable stomach) and when Jen asked if they had skim milk for her coffee, she replied "No, everything in Hungarian is fat, fat, fat". We saw a guy in an Illinois shirt so Stevie and Claire went up and asked him if he was a fellow Illini, nope but his parents were.
We went back to the hostel. I took a much needed hot shower. Claire broke out her acting skills and did a monologue for us all. We were more than impressed. We did journal time & pits & peaks, well everyone but Laura who had fallen asleep journaling. Pure exhaustion.
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