It's pronounced "boo-da-pesht"

I never imagined I would travel to Hungary. It was never even on my radar, so when Stephen had an opportunity to visit Budapest for work I have to admit - I was a bit skeptical. I knew nothing about it, other than a quick Google search to tell me that Ghoulash is a local staple, and that their currency is Hungarian Forint or HUF. I didn't even realize they used a Hungarian currency. I assumed they used Euros, to which I was pumped because we had some leftover Euros from our 2013 trip to Italy. Quick calculation: $5 USD is equivalent to 1,693.80 HUF, aka you'll always need a currency converter and/or calculator nearby. After several delayed flights and a 5+ hour layover in Istanbul, we finally arrived in Budapest....and I was immediately blown away by it's beauty. The city is so lively, so clean, so upbeat, and so awestrikingly stunning (not sure that's even a word).

Budapest was founded in 1873 from a merger of 3 neighboring cities: Óbuda (old Buda), Buda (the hilly, quiet, more slow-paced side), and Pest (the flat, fast-paced, livelier side). Although separated by the Danube River, Buda and Pest are linked by the famous Chain Bridge, which was constructed in 1849.

Here are some fun facts about Budapest:

1. Budapest is the thermal bath capital of the world (yes please!)

2. There are no buildings taller than 96 meters - this is due to the year Hungary was founded (896)

3. The name Budapest comes from the merger of the 3 cities - formally called Pest-Buda, it was changed to appease the public

4. Hungarian is one of the more difficult languages to learn. The longest word contains 44 letters and yea...see for yourself: Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért

5. The creator of the Rubik's Cube, Ernő Rubik, was born in Budapest

6. Budapest has the oldest subway in all of mainland Europe (operating since 1896)

7. Budapest is home to the third largest parliament building in the world

Aside from the nearly 360º extraordinary views and the city's rich history, Budapest really does offer a little bit of everything for everyone - especially if you are a self-proclaimed "foodie" like myself. Streets are lined with endless, quaint little cafés and eateries, and if you're a big shopper then you'll love 'Fashion Street'. Another popular attraction are the river cruises. Whether you're wanting a day cruise up and down the Danube, or you're traveling via Viking River Cruise, Budapest is a hot spot for travelers of all ages.

I'm looking forward to exploring and sharing more of the city's history and culture, as well as indulging in some of the local cuisines and visiting the oh-so-popular thermal baths!

Jó éjszakát (good night) from Budapesht!