I'm going to Budapest on Wednesday. Barba will blog a bit and I'll try to from Hungary, where I'll be for about ten days.
But... anyone know anything about Hungary, Budapest in particular? I'll be there for a conference in Szeged and there's not a lot of time for being a tourist. But I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions on places to go in and around Budapest and Szeged, apart from the standard tourist sights. Anyone know also of a decent, cheap place to stay in Budapest? How about record stores? A good dive bar?
8 comments:
It would appear that Pestiside is the source for all things both Buda and Pest. If you haven't already discovered it, I think you'll find what you're looking for.....
Back in the commie era, the opera was a must. Maybe that goes without saying. And maybe now that it's no cheaper than Paris, it's less musty.
That site is great, Roxtar. Thanks. I heard the opera is good. I actually like opera but never go to hear it live because it's so uptighty cultural.
Hope you get some recomendations for baths. I've heard that the hammams in Budapest are a must. Better than the ones at the Mosque in Paris.
I'd heard about the baths. Thanks. Maybe I'll give that a go.
Oh baths! If they're like Russian banyas, which are like Finnish and Estonian saunas (I won't go into the differences here; the similarities are more important if you haven't done it), try them!
Absolutely wonderful! And be sure to jump in the cold water afterward. Or a shower anyway.
CKR
Don't you bathe first, Cheryl? In Japanese baths, one always bathes first before entering the public water.
OK, I'll give it a go.
Banyas and saunas don't have water. I think city banyas may have pools, but the country ones I've been in were more like saunas.
They are hot, hot rooms (at least 80 C. Yes, C! There may be water available to throw on the hot rocks to make steam, but I prefer dry sauna. You sit until your body heats up and is sweating freely, and then you sit some more. The first time, you may feel claustrophobic. Breathing gets kind of funny.
You can pour water over yourself to control the heating. If you use steam, you will find water condensing on you, because you're the coolest thing in the room.
Then, when you're ready, you jump in the cold pool or pour cold water over your head. You can also roll in the snow, but I think that's more Finnish-Estonian than Hungarian and now's the wrong time of year even up north.
Great stuff. I think the radical changes in temperature stimulate endorphins. You can repeat the process. It takes a little practice to learn what's the best time to quench.
Have a great time!
CKR
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