Budapest - Color Me Impressed

Without really trying, I managed to take in a lot of culture today. My first day in Budapest has blown me away.

I started out the day by crossing west over the Duna (Danube) to Buda. Budapest is split by the river into the 'Buda' and 'Pest' parts of the city. I started out by walking through the Vienna Gate in old town and heading towards Mátyás Templom. After checking out the Church and the Halászbástya, I had lunch at a cafe - sangria and a BIG SALAD. Ah, heavenly oasis of salad in meat-crazed desert of Eastern Europe...

Then I headed to Magyar Nemzeti Galéria (Hungarian National Gallery). As I am checking out the art, I walk into the cupola. Lo and behold, a classical music performance is being held inside the gallery. Being a bit bummed this morning to learn that the Hungarian Opera was on summer break, I was quite happy to stumble across the Hungarian choir performing compositions by Liszt, Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, Dvorák, and Bartók among others. They were singing in many different languages - Deutsch, Latin, Magyar, English, Slovakian. I sat next to a Hungarian woman and struck up a conversation. She didn't speak much English, and I spoke no Magyar, but we managed to communicate. After the concert, she introduced me to her daughter (one of the singers in the choir) and we chatted for a few minutes. Her daughter spoke English, and she told me that the choir was traveling to Bonn for their next performance. Magyars have been the friendliest Europeans I have encountered so far on my trip. Highest hit rate in terms of complete strangers helping you out and being kind.

After the museum, I went down to Széchenyi Lánchíd (Chain Bridge - the major pedestrian bridge that links Buda and Pest). While snacking on a delicious cinnamon kürtőskalács, I listened to a jazz band that was playing in the square. After that I wandered into Pest a bit further, and followed the lively music I heard to watch performances being held as part of the Duna Karnevál. Magyar Folk, Romani and Transylvanian Gypsies, and even Folklorico dancers from Mexico (the last act, and the one that the crowd went wild over).

I managed to use up all of the battery power in 2 camera batteries today, the first time that has happened. What a great first impression Budapest has made on me...