Day 2: Saturday, 11/27
We woke up with the intent on having a spa day - Hungarian style, that is. Our destination was the Széchenyi medicinal baths. We got a hot chocolate at a local cafe (with the most overbearing and pushy waitress I have ever encountered), and then started our walk to the baths. We passed Hero's Square, and the Museum of Fine Arts and Art Gallery that flank its two sides. We also passed the Vajdahunyad Castle.
Hero's Square
The Széchenyi Bath is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs, their temperature is 74°C/165°F and 77°C/171°F, respectively. It was built in 1913 in Neo-baroque style to the design of Győző Czigler. We opted out of going into the actual baths (it was a cold day outside) and decided to get massages instead - when in Budapest... We had an hour to go until our reservation so we walked around the city park for a bit.
Széchenyi Baths - outside
Széchenyi Baths - inside
My first massage was great! Very relaxing amidst all the walking we were doing. Next up? Lunch. We went to Paprika, on the recommendations of some of our NYU in Prague friends who had went there earlier in the semester. They had traditional Hungarian food and I can safely say I like it a lot better than the Czech goulashes! We split an appetizer of cold goose liver in its own fat with onions, tomatoes, toasted bread, and peppers. My entree was turkey breast stuffed with french plums and smoked cheese served with rice, croquettes and walnut sauce. We finished off the meal by splitting a dessert of pancakes: 1 jam, 1 cottage cheese, and 1 cocoa powder (Paprika).
We were fairly stuffed after our meal so we relaxed for a while at the Alexandra bookstore. We read our books in the upstairs cafe area while listening to the live piano music. Yes, this is a bookstore. It was designed by Zsigmond Sziklai and built as the first modern department store in Budapest in the 20th century, opening in 1911. The interior is decorated with frescoes by the German Hungarian painter Károly Lotz.
We stopped back at the hostel to wind down and headed back out again when we realized our stomachs had digested our massive lunch. We went to Tavernas for a light meal of meatball soup and olympos pie. No rain tonight!
We were fairly stuffed after our meal so we relaxed for a while at the Alexandra bookstore. We read our books in the upstairs cafe area while listening to the live piano music. Yes, this is a bookstore. It was designed by Zsigmond Sziklai and built as the first modern department store in Budapest in the 20th century, opening in 1911. The interior is decorated with frescoes by the German Hungarian painter Károly Lotz.
We stopped back at the hostel to wind down and headed back out again when we realized our stomachs had digested our massive lunch. We went to Tavernas for a light meal of meatball soup and olympos pie. No rain tonight!
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