(26) We pulled into Zagreb at 7am. I was thinking about training to Switzerland and spending a day or two there, but the way the train schedule worked I would only get six hours in Zurich before I left to Barcelona. Twenty minutes before the train left to Budapest I decided to get on it! I booked my hostel with 3% battery left on my phone and was off. Zagreb was just okay after seeing the rest of Croatia.
I got on this packed train and had to go to the closed in compartment that had two benches facing each other, seating six. There was a tiny bit of room between two people. I was lucky enough to be by this older, oversized Hungarian woman dressed in a red velour/velvet jogging suit wearing a purple bucket hat. She had her bag on the seat beside her taking up half the seat with her butt directly in the middle of the two seats with her legs splayed. She didn't even try to move over. Her stupid little dog tries barreling into my backpack because it smells food and she doesn't say anything. She throws her purse and dog leash on my lap and then decides her dog needs a bed on the seat beside her bag so scoots her booty over, knocking me even more into the guy beside me. Can you tell I was a little rattled?! When I was about to lose it, the train randomly stopped and everyone jumped off. I had no idea what was going on so I followed the crowd. Everyone had to get on buses for half and hour to go to another station. Weird! I was very relieved though! I met a couple from Victoria, (Todd and Chelsey) on the bus and we shared a compartment on the next train. I was able to stretch out and sleep on the bench in there. Normally I'm a light sleeper, but when Todd tried to shake me awake twice for the ticket guy, I didn't wake up! I must have been exhausted.
We arrived in Budapest. Todd and Chelsey didn't have a hostel booked so they accompanied me to mine after we had this amazingly cheap, delicious supper and a couple of lemonades. The people are so nice! We were bumming Internet outside McDonald's and a lady came up and asked if we needed directions. We got on the metro and all these people ask if we need help and a local got off and walked us to our hostel! Again, one of the first things I noticed were the beautiful, stylish, tiny women. Goodmo Budapest (Pest) is an awesome hostel! The new location had only been open for a week and a roof terrace, Internet throughout (not restricted to a room) and free breaky all for €13! A group from our hostel was going to a pub so we joined! Coolest pub ever. There were silent old black and white films playing and it was kind of a garden with open places in the roof. Then we went dancing at a reggae bar - which also had a roof terrace!
(27). I was pleasantly surprised by Budapest. The buildings are amazing, it's cheap, has great shopping and the people are friendly. What more could a traveller ask for? Chelsey and I were really excited to hit the streets for some out-of the way shopping. We went to some really cute boutiques. Most of them were bohemian themed. I bought an amazing leather hat, a rare find. Can't wait to bust it out in the fall!
We asked a local where we could find Hungarian Fish Soup. 1000 huf = about $5 (I have never felt more rich withdrawing money!). He told us a bowl would be around 1300. We went to Alfoldi Kisvendeglo and ordered. We got royally screwed on the price at 3000 huf apiece and they were pretending not to understand us or couldn't. Tourist price? Ugh. I was so peeved.


Todd, Chelsey and I went to the Thermal Baths (Budapest is famous for them), which cost around $15. Very cool. Each room had pools with minerals in them and were different temperatures. There were various saunas as well - from steam to infrared. My visit to Hungary was definitely short-lived! I have decided that I will return on the next leg of my journey!