Prague and Budapest

We spent this past weekend exploring the breathtaking cities of Prague and Budapest. We left Vilnius early Thursday morning and flew to Prague, ready for adventure! Our flights were really nice and they had free hot chocolate at our layover in Frankfurt! It was pretty fantastic! 

Waiting for a bus to take us from the airport in Prague to the city. Little did we know it would be the longest and hottest bus ride of our lives. 

When we got to Prague we found a bus to take us to the main city and it was pretty miserable. Long, hot, and stanky! I was glad to get off of it. Compared to Vilnius, Prague was really hot and so I believe I can speak for all of us when I say that we were happy when we found the hostel and were able to change into some more fitting clothing and cool off.
The rest of that day and the next we spent exploring Prague. It was absolutely amazing and I fell in love. We found a lovely chocolate shop and went back.... three times... We explored all the popular tourist spots and found some that were a little less known. I left my mark on the John Lennon Wall! We ate ice-cream and pastries from shops along the street. It was all around fantastic!

At Prague's medieval Astronomical Clock

Gorgeous lookout of Prague from the National Museum

Group picture in front of the Church of our Lady before Tyn

We came to this street market where these witches were hanging everywhere. Their eyes would light up and they'd cackled if you clapped your hands. My grandma has one just like them that she hangs up at Halloween!

Overlooking the Charles Bridge and the view on the other side

Crossing Charles Bridge

     

I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related, so naturally I fell in love with the John Lennon Wall!

Love these ladies! 

I left my mark on the wall. 

We hiked up to the "Eiffel Tower" in Prague and the view was well worth it!

On Saturday we boarded a bus headed towards Budapest. It was a nice little break for our feet and I can say that I not only finished the second Harry Potter, but I read more than half of the third one (yes... I know, I'm a little behind when it comes to reading them). The bus dropped us off in a random spot in Budapest, but after getting a bit lost (or a lot lost) we finally found our hostel! It was the best hostel we've stayed in to date. It was a fun apartment with a loft bed and big windows. I was pretty convinced that I was moving in.

Look at my new apartment! But seriously... can I move in?

We settled in and then we were off! I fell in love, instantly. Lindsay told us it was her favorite city and I now understand why. Budapest is an incredible place! I don't even know how to describe it other than it just feels like a real city bursting with all the elements of a fairy tale. I'm smitten.... sorry Tallinn, it's taken the place of number one in my heart.  

Thai food? Delicious! This was only the start of delicious meals we had in Budapest. I LOVED eating in Budapest!

Looking at the Parliament Building in Budapest. Dangling our feet over the water... so fun :)

Looking out at Buda from Pest during the sunset. Breathtaking... the picture does not do it justice. The lit up building on the left is the Buda Castle. 

Our second day in Budapest we rented bikes and explored the town. It's the best way to do it, I'm telling you!

The Royal Palace, seriously I LOVED everything in Budapest!

We a bought a booklet of tickets to ride all of the various transportation within the city of Budapest. After stamping our tickets (good for sixty minutes) on the metro we hopped on a tram to ride over to the Gellert Hill. Well when three "transportation inspectors" hopped on the tram and asked to see our tickets we quickly found by their reactions that we had missed reading some small print.... After attempts of playing dumb, flirting, crying, and doing all that we could to get out of it they took us to an ATM (we had told them we didn't have any money). After making them wait a good twenty minutes outside the ATM, we ended up forking up 4000 Hungarian forints (originally 8000) each. It felt like a scam because they didn't give us a ticket. We tried to at least get a picture with them as proof, but the closest we got was below. We later read that you shouldn't be bullied to ATM because they'll most likely pocket the money... oops! At least it was a good story right?! Oh and 4000 forints is only like 17 USD.

The closest proof we could get that we were fined for ticket violation....

A second hike on our trip up to the Gellert Hill, looking over Budapest to watch the sunset. Absolutely incredible!

I discovered the Panoramic feature on my camera! All the more reason to love it! Click on the picture!

Sunset looking out over Budapest

Parliament Building at night, with everything lit up

I was sad we had to hike back down... 

Our last day in Budapest we went to one of the "must see" thermal baths.... This one was noted for it's authenticity, dating back to the second half of the sixteenth century. Let's just say that's its age was more than apparent.... At least I can say I've had the experience right? Yuck!

I was really sad to leave Budapest... so many memories and such a gorgeous city, I want to live there! But rest assured, I plan on going back and often!