Traveling + Buda Hills Trip

Well, I finally made it to Budapest after a very hectic 14 hours of traveling! Shout out to my parents for upgrading me to first class because it made the flight from Charlotte to London much more enjoyable! Minnie and I got to fly in luxury and get the royal treatment 🤩 The journey to get from one gate to the other in London Heathrow was quite miserable if I say so myself. Catching so many different trams/buses and then still having to run through the airport is not my idea of an ideal time. But, nevertheless, I made it on my flight to Budapest and lucked out with having the whole row to myself so Minnie got to have her own seat! The flight attendants were quite entertained by it.

After I got to leave the Budapest airport and got dropped off at my apartment, it really started to hit me that I was here after months and months of anticipation. My apartment is pretty nice but I won't elaborate too much since I'm going to do a little tour later on! Shortly after I got to my apartment, I had to go on my first adventure solo in the city, and it was quite the ordeal. Not having data to get directions of where to go in a place where you don't even speak the language is a struggle to say the least. I had to get my COVID test and was confident that I could just follow the directions I screenshot to get me to the right place... but I couldn't be more wrong. I didn't know where the street signs were so I had no indication of where I was, so I would ask some people for directions and one lady was very helpful but I was still lost as ever. I then decided it would be a better idea to take a taxi to the testing center since the driver has to know where to take me. Hailing a taxi was more difficult than I thought and after 15 minutes of just walking up and down the street putting my hand out, I was able to find a taxi that would actually take me and I made it just a tiny bit late to my testing appointment, but I'm going to count that as a win since I was about ready to just give up on the whole endeavor. My flatmate Bianca and I got dinner later on and it was nice to get some real food in me after 24 hours of just running around.

The next day was immensely fun though, so it made up for all the traveling struggles! My program organized a day trip to Buda Hills for us, and it was a great introduction to Hungary as a country! I got my first taste of Budapest public transportation and it is much better than both the streetcar in New Orleans and lightrail in Charlotte haha. We visited the children's railway station at the base of the hills - and I mean it's children who are actually running the station and doing the jobs of adults. Definitely couldn't be me so kudos to all of them! Here's a link to learn more about it.

Children's Railway

One of the people I spent time with on this excursion was Mason, and he very much wanted to be included in this blog of mine. So, you will be seeing more videos of him because he is quite enthusiastic about it and loves telling everyone else in the program that I'm doing a blog, so I guess he'll be one of the most featured on my page. He is insisting on doing a team vlog thing, but I don't know about that so for now it'll be Budapest feat. Mason!

We got to taste authentic streusel and it was divine! We also went in Buda Castle to get panoramic views of the city and it was STUNNING!! The crazy amount of steps and taking quite the tumble down the stairs in the castle on my way down was worth it for the views at the top! It started hailing so we got extra time in the castle and I was not complaining! We then got to take the chairlift down and I have to say that might've been my favorite part of the whole excursion because it was super scenic and breathtaking, and really hit me in the face with you are in Budapest and not just thinking about going. I would love to go back and ride it at night to see the lights in the distance. I ended the night with dinner with Bianca, Mason, and his roommate Brandon and it was the fuel I needed after the long day. I ate a whole chili pepper and felt like I was dying so that is something I don't recommend but otherwise, everything was great!

Well, this is the start to the next 4 months!! And I can't believe it! The fun and adventure is just getting started :) until my next post,

xoxo, Mackenzie