i [HEART] Budapest

Budapest has just landed a spot on my favorites list.  One of my professors talks about the "soul" of the city; how it feels when you walk around, what aesthetic visuals, smells and people tell about the city and how these things make up its “soul”. I think Budapest and I might be kindred spirits as I fell in love with this place. If I hadn’t studied in Prague I would have wanted to study here! The people are very nice and multiple times helped us get along. There is A LOT of culture and many things to see. The city at night however is incredible and throws punches to Amsterdam.

But let me start at the beginning:
We first stopped at Pannonhalma to see the Benedictine Pannonhalma Archabbey which is the oldest abbey in Hungary founded in 996! It is the second largest territorial abbey in the world and is a UNESCO world heritage site. There are several interesting aspects about the abbey including the incredible dining hall which features beautiful painted walls which scenes remind the abbots to eat healthy and minimally. The other part about the abbey I liked was the magnificent door which has images of earthly items; snakes, birds, trees along with the incredible window which is actually a sculpted peacocks’ feathers. The door is to symbolize leaving earth and entering a spiritual realm. We were given a tour by the cutest abbot you ever did see! He was intelligent and warm and never pressed religion or the bible teachings. He gave us an insight into his life and why he lived it. This was probably the best tour I’ve ever had of a religious site. Truly inspiring to look through a window into this (what seems to most of us) obscure way of life.

From the abbey we drove to Budapest and after settling into the hostel walked around the incredible city at night. The soul of Budapest can be seen when strolling the river or crossing different bridges. Feeling the cool wind of the Danube River or walking to the Buda Castle Quarter fills the heart with warmth. We started by drinking and eating (what else would we start with) and I drank my first red wine and enjoyed it. Maybe you remember that after my wine tour of Moravia I decided I couldn’t drink red wine so young. Perhaps I have grown older after my solo trip to Santorini and now have the belly for it! We then walked around the city and immersed ourselves in the beauty that is Budapest.

What would a trip to Budapest be without a trip to the incredible hot spring baths? Budpest is home to 80 geothermal springs and is the world’s largest thermal water cave system. So we got in our bathing suits and spent the morning splashing and giggling in the hot water. We then took tours of Heroes’ Square, the Parliament building and the synagogue. We broke from the group to do some Easter market shopping and to go to The Great Market Hall. We met up for dinner and I was surprised by the charming night life. Like in San Sebastian, Spain there is a main street dedicated to night life. Other than a 10:00pm restriction on buying alcohol (which was a complete shock to a girl growing up in a 24-hour casino driven town) the nightlife had a lot to offer. This is defiantly a city I will go back to in my life! Anyone want to join me?

One of the painting's at the monastery 

The peacock window

Holocaust Memorial at the Danube River

Friends and I at dinner

Paris Department Store Coffee Shop

Market

Budapest Nightlife

Bratislava, Slovakia

Mom always says if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all, unfortunately this is how I felt about Bratislava. There was just not enough time here and the city lacked the architecture and city soul of its neighbors. We did however go to a great restaurant called 1. Slovak pub where I drank the first dark beer I’ve ever liked (I am usually a light beer person) and had some great food. Maybe I’ll come back here one day so I can give a better review- sorry for the lame post on this one guys-there’s just not much to tell. : [ 

At the Devin Castle Ruins outside Bratislava

Vienna, Austria: A Runner's Paradise

If there is any city in the world where I would run I would run in Vienna. Alongside millions of others-Vienna seems to be the running capital of the world! We started by visiting the Schönbrunn Palace gardens and getting my first taste of Austria-a country I’d never been before! The palace was incredible and reminded me of a small version of Versailles in France. The grounds and gardens went on forever! We then took a city tour and walked through historical Vienna. We found an Easter market and shopped around and then happened upon a cool bike event. Damaged by a strong rain we made it an early night and got pizza on the way back home-truly uneventful. :[ The next day we met to tour the Belvedere Palace garden’s and then went to a gallery in the Museum Quarters. I suppose I could give Vienna another chance but this city is just not my cup of tea. It's hard to write about a city I really felt no connection with! :[

This reminds me of my dad!

Cesky Krumlov: A charming town with a lot to see

This Week's Travels: Cesky Krumlov

It has gotten a little hard to write because I have been so busy. It seems as though a month has past since my trip to Santorini although it was only two weeks ago. Time goes by so fast, I am lost at the helm of this adventure boat uncontrollably riding the waves of time and it seems I've lost my anchor. I am so happy to have experienced everything that I have in this beautiful semester but I have a sad air around me that forces the knowledge that soon it will end. Perhaps, it is this rainy Prague weather that gets me down but this week I've had to acknowledge that this paradise doesn't last-that its temporary and soon will come to a close. I am trying to be positive though and focusing on the time I have left, I still have so much to look forward to!

This past week I traveled to Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, Budapest, Hungary and Bratislava, Slovakia. I want to post on each one separately so Cesky Krumlov will be the first. 

Maybe it is because I am a hometown girl growing up and living in my little corner of the world in Reno, NV but I have always loved small towns. Cesky Krumlov reminded me of Brugge, Belgium, one of my favorite places in the world. Cesky Krumlov is located in the southern bohemian region of the Czech Republic and features the incredible Cesky Krumlov Castle. I have seen many castles but this one is among (if not tops) my favorites list. It centered above the city and features some incredible art (like most castles). What I liked about it was that is wasn't over the top like Versailles but it has an incredible uniqueness to it. These are the things that lead me to that conclusion;  1. walking up to the castle there used to be a moat that surround the castle walls, at some point in the history of the town they decided to do away with the moat and bring in live bears that were the Habsburgs' (you remember this family from history books right?) symbol. They were to symbolize the power of the Habsburg Family who resided in the castle for a while. Since then the bears have been continually brought in and bred. Everybody loves bears and this castle has three! 2. There are many old tales and ghost stories (you know how I love a good ghost story) connected to the castle as well. My favorite one was about the The White Lady von Rosenberg; 

Perchta von Rosenberg, known as the White Lady, lived in the Český Krumlov castle in the 15th century. Her father, Ulrich II. von Rosenberg married her off against her will and without love to the Moravian lord Johann von Lichtenstein who was cruel to Perchta all her life. When Johann was dying he had Perchta called in and asked her for forgiveness. She refused, and her husband cursed her. Since then, the soul of the White Lady von Rosenberg has had to roam the Rosenberg castles and tends to appear before significant events. White gloves on her hand bear good tidings, whereas black gloves are a sign of impending disaster. 

I liked this because I had always heard references to the "White Lady" but never knew where it came from. Now I know-and so do you!

3. The other part of this castle that was surprising was the Masquerade Hall where the painter Josef Lederer painted an incredible illusion around the walls that features life-like characters full with costumes and expressions. It is said that a servant noticed a string of pearls slipping from a lady's neck during a party. The servant wanted to keep the pearls, but the two painted Guards emerged from the wall and prevented him from carrying out his petty crime. The frightened servant returned the jewels and remained a good man till the end of his days. The hall is truly beautiful and serves as a humorous break from the renaissance period interiors around castles in Europe. The Hall is completely original and other than a cleaning has never been touched. The Hall is still used today for concerts and other cultural events. 

It is a beautiful charming town with clean air, I am thinking about making another day trip here when my sister comes to visit me, I can't get enough!

Town Square

This little town has a great art scene

Friends and I at the brewery we went to for dinner-delicious!

I Left my Heart in Santorini

"On Santorini there are more donkeys than inhabitants, more churches than houses, more wine than water."

After some negative group dynamics that are bound to occur with 10 days of travel with a group of determined girls I decided to leave my friends in Athens and venture to an island that I had only dreamed about, Santorini. I have never really traveled on my own. Coming to Prague I was met with new friends and a schedule all planned and on the weekends I travel with friends so although this semester was by myself I really haven't been alone in my adventures. Going to Santorini turned out to be my best decision I think I have ever made-travel related. I knew I wanted to go to the islands but was worried that the off season would cancel many of my plans. I intended to go to Santorini for two days and then ferry to Mykonos. Although I am sure Mykonos is beautiful, I fell in love with Santorini and canceled my plans to leave the island. I stayed five days and four nights in paradise.

I stayed in Karterados which is a small area on the island. The first day I made my way through Fira (the main town) and down the winding path to the old pier where I took a tour of the volcano and hot springs. You don't have to go far to find beauty in Santorini, it was outside my window and in walking. The volcano was cool to see and the hot springs were a fun break but I'd be content in Santorini if I never left the main Island of Thira. I found a great restaurant where I met the local owners and drank wine with the family. Everyone is so nice in Santorini; it is a small-town culture that orients around family business and tradition, needless to say, they made me feel at home.

The next day I rented an ATV and a broken flower pot and two dead batteries later I was off exploring the Lighthouse and the Red Beach as well as Perissa and the windmills. On my way back to from the store I saw a group of tourists that looked utterly lost and confused, "Hey! I know them". I realized that some of my Prague mates had made their way to Santorini! I pulled up next to them on my ATV smiling, what a small island after all. I took them to dinner and we talked about the weeks' activities. Plus more wine.

The next day I explored the other side of the island, Oia and the dock where Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants was filmed (in my defense, I didn't know that until after I saw the dock)! I stopped at the side of a cliff following signs for some beach down below. I parked the quad and made my way down to my own little corner of the world. I beached (a verb: meaning you sit on your butt all day and read on the beach) until the sun went down. I returned, trying not to smile too wide so the bugs don't get in my mouth while I drive! I met my friends again for dinner and some bar hopping where we met up with some locals and a group of touring Americans. What a glorious night!

In the morning I was very sad because I knew it was my last day there. I felt like people search for happiness all their lives and at the age of 20 I had found it, on a Greek Island during off season all by myself! I drove to the beach and skipped some rocks and then headed to the best view in the world, the Caldera. I said goodbye to the island but promised I'd be back. I truly feel that this may have been my best trip I have ever done and it was alone and on my own initiative. I am very proud of myself for doing something I used to be afraid to do. I have accomplished so much and feel like I am really becoming the person I've always wanted to be! I have left a piece of my heart in Santorini.

Boats docked by the volcano

My ATV and I :]

The incredible Red Beach

the Lighthouse

My little beach

View from Caldera