Started our 19 days Europe trip with Eastern Europe and our first stop - Budapest
We started our Europe trip in Lille as I have to deposit my large baggage with Jiayi at her hostel. I wouldn't have survived the arduous journey to Jiayi's hostel handling 2 luggages without Weiqi's help :')
Lille is so cold! Even though I tried to bring some knits and jacket, we still froze through the night sleeping on the floor. The very next day, we woke up at like 4am? To catch the cab at 4.30am to our shuttle bus busstop to take a bus to Brussels airport. Lille is in France but it's extremely near to Belgium! I was pleasantly surprised that the cab driver reached on the dot, given that it was such an odd timing. In Lille, it's almost impossible to flag a cab yourself. Even if you tried to call a cab, you have to speak in French to get one. Jiayi managed to book this with the help of the reception the day before.
After some struggle with Wizzair, we finally touched down Budapest!
Their really old and vandalised train. Europe isn't as nice as you thought. Just in general, most places are covered with graffitis and vandalism, whatever you'll like to call it. But Budapest, being in Eastern Europe, is older and less developed than other parts of Europe.
Reached our airbnb! Helga was a really good host and I am soooo impressed with our stay. The little studio apartment is clean, we can have our own space and good wifi! Will definitely choose airbnb over student hostel anytime.
We were famished after settling down and walked to a nearby cafe -Bocadillo Cafe to have lunch. Their service sucks and the food aren't fantastic. BUT I finally tried the good-cream-is-to-pasta-ratio pasta. Haha. In general, good customer service is almost non-existent in Europe except for those luxury brand boutiques.
Some grilled chicken that Weiqi ordered.
Time to have touristy shots after reaching the metro station near the Fisherman's Bastion. In the background is the Hungarian Parliament. It's apparently really beautiful at night too.
My eyes are small in almost all the pictures because of the bright sun and I don't have shades :(
Long walk up to Fisherman's Bastion.
Fisherman's Bastion is a must-visit in Budapest to get a paranormic view of the entire Budapest. The camera didn't have a wide angle so that's how far I could go. In reality, the view is breathtaking! Just wish that it wasn't so cloudy though. But I am glad to have been there before it's fully Fall.
Matthias Church! We paid a small fee to tour the interior. Churches are just so beautiful in Europe.
Initially I didn't dare to let any strangers hold my camera but slowly... we just target fellow tourists like us, elderly, couples, families,... haha. That's the only way we can have a group shot.
One huge problem we always faced when we are trying to get a paranormic view of any city is the untrimmed trees. It's really weird how the government don't keep their landscape in such a way that you don't block the tourists' view. In Singapore, especially at those famous tourists attractions, you can always get a nice shot of it.
Asian shot.
Ruszwurm Cukraszda. A famous cafe located near the Fisherman's Bastion and I'll say... it's a must-visit if you are around the area! The price was pretty reasonable. Food in Budapest is really cheap and good.
We tried the strawberry yoghurt cake and it's soooo good. It's really made up of a thick slab of yoghurt :P It was also our first time to see the waitress going around with a wallet with many compartments when a customer wants to foot the bill, instead of using the cashier.
Charles Bridge!
Outside Buda Castle
I was so fascinated by the caucasian construction workers! They work with minimal safety gears and... you don't see such a scene in Asia.
We were really tried after walking so much and decided to take this tram looking thing down the hill.
Charles Bridge!
It started drizzling when we are walking across the bridge. It was quite cold in Eastern Europe even though it's still at the end of summer.
Humongous St Stephen's Cathedral. There was a service going on when we went in to take a look.
A little night market
Came across PwC in Budapest while finding dinner...
Dinner at Blue Rose. Awesome Hungarian food and beer. I love the beer! It's more on a dry side and don't make you feel like burping after that. Hungarian food reminds me so much of home. I don't know why but it is like a little Asian to me and I really love it. Feeling hungry just thinking about the food now *drools*
Gonna head down to the supermarket later again before coming back to cook and get ready for school! :O
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