My Celta training course is over and I finally get to leave Budapest after five weeks. This is my third time in Budapest and I've noticed quite a few changes over my three visitsI first did an overnight trip in 2004, just after Hungary joined the EU in 2003 (nicknamed the big bang when most of the Eastern bloc joined). I loved the city so came back for 2 1/2 days in 2007. For a long time I'd wanted to come back and do some exploring of other towns but working in ...

The four week Celta Teacher Training Course has certainly been an experience, and not necessarily in the way I had expected. There have been lots of things brewing and stewing in my mind over the length of the course so I've tried to organize my thoughts and experiences as best I canExpectationsThis is the premiere teacher training designation most employers want. I know I was an untrained teacher going in and was hoping this would be a gap to bridge between peop...

For my last weekend in Budapest one of the last things I planned on doing was to visit one of the Turkish baths which are common on the Buda side. I hadn't been to the baths on my last two visits to the city. My apartment is actually next to Kiraly baths so I planned on going there Sunday after biking all day Saturday.I've also been deep cleaning my apartment in stages each weekend since I don't think anyone ever has or ever will with elderly landlords and monthl...

While having lunch I was looking at my map trying to figure where else to go biking this afternoon. Nearby is the Jewish Synagogue which is either the largest in Europe or in Central/Eastern Europe.I had tried going in 2007 but unfortunately it was closed that day. Checking their website they are also closed Saturdays for regular service and I wont have a chance to come back again but its worth seeing from the outside.The architecture is interesting and a mix of ...

The Buda side of the Danube has a long bike path running the entire length. I've walked it a few times but today I got to bike it with some diversions.The path is busy with tourists, couples, and families out biking.After passing by the Palace and Chain Bridge I passed by Rudas baths further down. There is an original Turkish dome and a many extensions that have been added to make the building much longerPassing by the green steel Gellert Bridge I wanted to goto ...