Budapest, I Heart You!

I loved Budapest.  I loved Budapest hard and unexpectedly.  If I am honest, I was slightly dreading the trip because we watched an episode of Anthony Bourdain where he ate goulash and some unrecognizable pig parts in sausage.  The idea of that type of heavy food for days on end worried me.  Thankfully I was wrong.

I loved everything about the city - the architecture, the food, and the vibe.  In a strange way, it reminded me of Buenos Aires (my favorite city in the world) - in the feeling of a sense of nostalgia and longing for another time of elegance, wealth, and power.  For Budapest, this was the turn of the 20th century - when Budapest was a seat of world power and had a tremendous amount of wealth.  You see this in the crumbling castles and in what they managed to preserve / re-construct from this area.  It must have been a grand time to be alive in Budapest in those days.  Today, the palpable nostalgia made me love the city even more.  In any case, here are some of my favorite snaps:

The Hungarian Parliament building is bigger than anywhere else in Europe.  It's just as beautiful outside as it is inside.

We perfected our selfie stick skills on this trip.  How can you not love this beautiful city?

Beautiful colors and details at every turn.

The dome of Buda Castle built on a hill high above the city

The best views of the city were at night...and especially from our dinner cruise.  Truly breathtaking and romanic.

Afternoon Tea at New York Palace was such an amazing treat.  It's what I imagine high-tea on the Titanic to be like...complete with the string quartet.

This view will remain etched in my mind forever.  Children ice skating in the shadow of Vajdahunyad  Castle.  These are the moments Christmas Cards are made of.  A crumbling castle, snow suited kids, and a blue sky.  There are few things I have found more magical or picturesque in my life: