Budapest

Budapest was the last stop on this year's Eurotrip. While I was tired and almost ready to just go home after our last stop in Croatia, I am ever so glad we saved the best for last. I loved Budapest, which felt quite a bit different from the other countries where we stopped on this trip. The Turkish influence, a vestige of a dark period of Ottoman Turkish occupation, ultimately introduced paprika and reanimated the tradition of thermal bath houses.

We went on a walking tour through Hungary and it was amazing! Above, street sculptures give the city charm.

Broke away from our walking tour of Budapest to grab much needed, and very artful, dessert.

On the western side of the Danube, you will get a beautiful view of the sprawling east side of Budapest. The east side is much more populated. I ended up going out to a party at a villa on the west side, and could not find a single Uber to catch back to the east side.

Finally, if you are in Budapest, make sure to visit the "ruin bars". These are bars built in the ruins of abandoned buildings or lots, left decaying after World War II. While this may sound pretty grim, I assure you that once you step in, it feels like a time machine and a beautiful blend between the old and the new. It's eclectic. The furniture feels old but antique. It has personality. And it feels underground.