Not every place you visit deserves a mention in writing. Some places do so because they stay with you even after you leave them. Budapest is one such magically colourful city, and one of my most favourite cities. There are a lot of things that come to my mind when I think of Budapest- the food, the Danube, city lights, sunsets, tiled roofs, and also, metro stations.
The city has a well-connected metro system. The metro stations are so deep underground that you feel like the escalators will not stop anytime soon. Being the second oldest metro system in the world and the only one to have been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site, exploring the city is incomplete if one does not make several hops into the trains. That said, it is only one of the things that will give you a feel of the city.
I always tend to think of cities as steaming hotpots. Going by that metaphor, Budapest is a delicious one. And to enjoy the hot pot, one has to taste all the ingredients in it. So we set out to explore the city in different ways. Strolling along the banks of the Danube was one of my favourite things to do. Also, we saw the city by hopping into tram no.2 which offered views of the city along the banks of the Danube. We also went on a Danube night cruise. The bejewelled city and the chain bridge were a feast to the eyes. The city basked in the shine of night lights.
Separated by the mighty Danube and connected by beautiful bridges including the magnificent Chain Bridge, Buda and Pest are two different worlds of one city. The hilly Buda offers magnificent views of Pest like Asgard over Midgard. And it is true what they say “Visit Buda, stay in Pest”. The tiled roofs with glossy Zsolnay ceramics and colourful domes are one of the things that lend the city its unique charm. The sunset enjoyed from the Fisherman’s Bastion, with busking musicians playing melodies and close-dancing couples in the background, will stay with me forever.
Budapest is also about flavours that will mesmerise your palate. I have never had it in me to appreciate bland food and Budapest was a splendid treat to my taste buds. Back home in Kerala, we make a paste by crushing shallots, chillies, salt crystals, and tamarind together, and mix it well in coconut oil. Even the thought of it while writing this makes my mouth water. The chilly-shallot paste goes well with everything; be it rice, dosas or idlis. The next best thing I have tasted after that is the Hungarian paprika paste. Of course I am bound to be partial to my home food, and hence the Hungarians might disagree.
Cradled by the Danube, Budapest is a place where you can eat plenty of fresh fish delicacies- carp and catfish are popular choices. Talking of food, this is a city which overwhelmed me on the comestibles front. Langos, Hungarian crépes, fisherman’s soup, different kinds of traditional Hungarian pastas, chicken paprikash, stuffed capsicum and brinjals, cabbage rolls, and chestnut purée were some of the dishes I tried. But my all time favourites are the cold berry soup and nokedli (a Hungarian pasta variety) with goulash. Folks who love some flavour can never go hungry in Hungary. And while I focussed entirely on finding bliss in culinary delights, my partner enjoyed the relaxing Hungarian bath house experience.
This is a city where the east and west mix and melt together. That is reflected not just in the architecture and food, but everywhere. It is not just the food lovers, the souvenir lovers are in for a treat too.
What the central market hall had in store for me blew my mind away. The multitude of stalls in the hall offered a cornucopia of things that could enrich one’s kitchen cupboards to living room showcases. Bathhouses, party hubs, quiet time, sunsets, culinary delights, whatever it is that you are looking for, Budapest will never disappoint. The city has something special for everyone.