Just another manic Tuesday. The first day of the Hungarian week, which we now know is "kedd," started off with our last day of Hungarian lessons. Erica, our teacher, cleared the air about some assumptions we had made. We thought it was custom to pay on one bill at a restaurant, but actually separate checks are available upon request at the start of the meal. Furthermore, we had all heard that it was impolite to order tap water when eating out, so we have all have been up the wazoo in forints for bottled water. We learned today that restaurants need to make a profit, and the way they can do that is by charging high drink prices. So, tap water is frowned upon but still available--we just have to be brave and order it! Also, we all have been into a CBA (like Walgreens) at one point or another on this trip and noticed that the cashiers are rude and don't smile. In reality, though, it literally is NOT in their job description to smile, so they aren't being rude--they are just doing their job.
Today was our first day without homework. YES! We used this extra time to explore the city, hitting the ATM's along the way, before heading out to the shopping districts. Dinner followed at Dzsungel Etterem (Jungle Cafe), a restaurant recommended by fellow students.
Lately, we have become more comfortable with our surroundings. We now attempt to order dishes in Hungarian, hop on a tram to explore different districts within the city, and walk with a sense of direction to our destinations with more confidence. This familiarity also gives us more options for evening activities. The walks along the bridges, especially at night (safely, in a big group with our body guards)are absolutely amazing and cannot be justified by pictures (so, we will refrain from putting any pictures up for you to see...sorry). There are many options for jazz clubs, cafes, and of course, desserts and pastries. The city really is lit up at night, and we are excited to dive deeper into the city of Budapest and the Hungarian culture.
Jó estét! (Goodnight)
Julia and Hannah
So good to hear about your experiences in Budapest! Glad to hear you travel in a large group with body guards. Are you just trying to calm our worries?!? And yes! We would like to see more pictures! Travel safe. T & R
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mrs. Caffee. I was curious about the body guards as well. No one has mentioned them before. Is this standard? Be brave and order water! I like the idea of visiting a jazz club. Would also love to see a lot more pics posted. Sounds as though week 2 is feeling a lot more comfortable for everyone!
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