Venturing to Vienna

Road trip!
Today we awoke early to make the meager two-hour drive into Vienna, Austria. I could not believe how much money seemed to go into each building. Although Vienna was much more crowded than Budapest, everything seemed pristine and orderly. Truth be told, I prefer the more modest downtown Budapest.

Trivia: Vienna is spelled "Wien" in German. Ever wonder where the wiener came from? For the few hours we had in Austria, I felt like we personally walked each block. We toured the Stephansdom church, witnessed the Habsburg family's numerous castles and enjoyed the many beauties each alley offered. The highway back to Budapest, yes, the Autobahn, had many incredible sights. The gas station we stopped at sat in front of a field of sunflowers that stretched for miles. Everything in Hungary seems to have hidden beauty.

As it is almost midnight here, I forget about the seven hour time difference back home.

Good night all,
Joe

Inside Pest

The afternoon started off with a cold front from up north and a walk in downtown Pest. The massive pedestrian streets looked much like a traditional European style sidewalk, with cobblestones and cafes at every corner.

After a refreshing walk, we toured the gothic Parliament building. Agnus, our ancient and stern tour guide, gave us historical lesson about the different eras of Hungary. We saw the changing of the guard, the Crown Jewel (or as Mr. Tessler calls it, the Hungarian Hat), and the House of Lords (pictured above). To be polite, Agnus was politically charged and very adamant about people listening to her lecture.
After the Parliament, we went to St. Stephen's Basilica (pictured above). Inside the cathedral was his right hand in a box, but Joe and I didn't see it. For such a quaint country, it has a rough history.

Tomorrow, we're off to Austria for a day! :)

Love,
Sophia

Harmadik Nap (Third Day)

After traveling through Buda for two days, we dodged rush hour traffic across the Danube for a tour of downtown Pest. It began with a walk around the historic Heroes' Square and a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts (both pictured above). The museum architecture reminded me of the Pantheon and it featured works by prominent artists such as El Greco and Velázquez.
Afterwards, we walked along the narrow sidewalks. We went around numerous cafes , but not one Starbucks. We saw the Jewish ghettos from the 1940s and toured a gorgeous synagogue, filled with breath-taking images from that time period.

Here is another panoramic view from the flat's balcony. It gives you a sense of the steep hills throughout the neighborhood. Off in the distance, you can see the Buda castle and the citadel upon the tallest hill.

And tomorrow the whole thing starts over again!
Good night (although you are eating dinner soon).

Joe

Across Buda

Day Two tested our energy again. We took a train ride around Buda, which is filled with villas, green hills, and tall trees. The train was practically managed by children, minus the engineer.

Right after that, we drove to the Citadel: a fortress with a motif about war and freedom. The drive wasn't very long, but the balcony view at the Teszler's flat makes everything seem so far apart. We walked uphill to the monuments, the small shops that sold Rubik's cubes and Hungarian lace, and the sights of both Buda, Pest, and the Danube. A lot of the architecture reminded me of my sister and Robert.

This is the beautiful view from the balcony. Every window of the flat has a breath-taking view. We've had a little rain here, but the weather is nice and cool. The city stretches for miles and miles.

This trip has been nothing short of incredible.
Love,
Sophia

First Day Mania

We have made it to Budapest! Well, I should probably say Buda because the capital is split into two cities along the Danube: Buda and Pest. You would not believe the beauty there is to see. I hope a few pictures do justice to everyone who asked, “Why Hungary?”
My cousins' flat is absolutely perfect. These Teszlers are so loving and hospitable. Their balcony overlooks the historic Buda Castle and the many winding roads in and out of downtown. I'm already stuffed with delicious local food and pampered with espresso from a real European bistro.
Despite our undeniable jet-lag, we took an evening drive through the most narrow roads, packed with parallel parked cars (nothing but sub-compact sedans) and weaving around pedestrians and oncoming traffic as if it were a video game. We stopped for a lovely stroll atop the castle's barrier walls and the surrounding area, all while enjoying a light rain shower.

So much has happened in a single day. Will I even make it through the two weeks? :D
Take care,
Joe

Long Island Layover

Instead of spending our eight-hour layover in JFK, we took a trip through Queens with Mr. Tessler's childhood friend, Mr. Jerry. Mr. Jerry just had this rare, positive aura and in a city that's notorious for its hustle and bustle, it was refreshing. I wouldn't have wanted to spend that layover any other way.

The flight to Hungary was much better than the one to New York. Less turbulence, friendly people, and plenty of time to anticipate the landing.

Hope everyone is doing well. :)

We love you,
Sophia

The Budapest Blogger

In 24 hours we will NOT be in Hungary, but enjoying our eight hour layover in JFK international. It will be a long day.. and night of traveling... and waiting.

This little white netbook will be our modern-day journal. I will carry it everywhere with me, ready to blog anything interesting Sophia or I see.

I hope you all enjoy reading about our trip.

Thank you,
Joe