I’m back! Crazy to think I was in Europe yesterday, and today I’m in Toronto waiting to attend a concert from my all-time favourite musician (Fiona Apple). The world is WILD.

And if you hadn’t noticed, my blog looks a little different. Like, a lot little different.

I have so much European content right now, it’s practically exploding from my brain. And not enough time to write.

So the thing about Budapest is that it just kinda takes you by surprise. Everyone raves about Vienna and Prague and all those neighboring cities (and rightly so), but Budapest is kinda lonely. Its streets aren’t cluttered with hordes of tourists jockeying for the best camera space or picking their noses in public. It’s not the most English-friendly spot in Europe, and its people can come off as a tad rude. They’re extreme no-bullshit people, and if they can’t help you, then they’re not gonna go out of their way to do so. Seems to be the Budapest way.

Why was I so surprised by Budapest?

Its history is amazeballs

Buda and Pest were actually two different cities separated by the Danube. In 1872, Pest, Buda, and Obuda (“Old” Buda) were united into one city to officially become the capital of Hungary.

And like most other European countries, it had its share of political turmoil. As our lovely Contiki guide said, “The city was liberated by the Russians after World War II, and then they forgot to leave.” The result was the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, where a student demonstration against the government and Soviet policies caused a nationwide revolt.

(Ahem, Montreal. I’m looking at you.)

Unfortunately, thousands of Hungarians were killed in the revolution, mostly around Heroes’ Square. This happened less than 60 years ago. It took more than 30 years to get rid of that dictatorship. No wonder Hungarians are so gruff and determined — they’re still getting used to this new world.

SORRY. I totally geeked out on history this whole trip. My notebook looks like a war zone of shorthand and side comments.

The city is prettier than that chick you keep eyeing at the gym

And gritty. You get the best views from across the river in Pest, looking back at the Parliament in all its glory. Do a river cruise at night — the Parliament and its surrounding buildings all glow like a Christmas tree.

There’s a whole lot of art nouveau stuff going on too. When you’re walking through the Old Town, keep your gaze shifted upward for some sweet roof patterns that will cause seizures if you look too hard.

Its nightlife is on steroids

Ever been to a “ruin pub”? I’ll talk more about those later, because they warrant their own blog post, but ruin pubs are basically abandoned buildings turned into creative art spaces/pubs where you get unreasonably liquored and hang out with ridiculous people.

Plus the bars just never close. Ever.

Hungarians love to party, and beer is CHEAP. Get to it!

This trip was hosted by Contiki, but all opinions are my own. Unless I’m winking at you and then you’ll know I’m lying about everything.