Shout out to Keri Frost who took all of these pictures!
The whole group went on our first excursion, outside of Vienna, together and it was amazing!
I ended up being the one that got the hostel situation all set up. I was going to have us all stay in the Ginkgo hostel right in the middle of Budapest, however, when I went to book the rooms they did not have enough rooms for us to all stay in! So, I quickly found another hostel, not 5 minutes down the street and got another room for the remaining 5 people in the Colors Hostel. All together making it 13 euros for everyone to stay for two nights. Then I got the confirmation emails. . . and the Colors hostel said that we were going to be there the 19-21 and only one person was going to be there the first night. . . . AHHHHHH! So I quickly sent them and email telling them what the reservation should be, granted this was two nights before we were getting on the train! Luckily, I received an email the next night and it was all sorted out. Phew!
Erika and I woke up at 5:30 because it was going to take us an hour to get to the train station and the train left at 7:45 in the morning. . . can anyone say gross! We all agreed to meet at 7:15 to make sure that everyone would make it there on time. We had reserved seats (an extra euro) but we did not need to, the train was pretty much empty both there and back home. None the less the 3 hour train ride went off without a hitch but the train did make some stops along the way and everyone was praying that those were not our stops because those things were so sketchy it was not even funny. When we did arrive it was still pretty weird but we were all together and were sure that we could find our way. We asked for directions from the information desk and started on our way, walking "toward" our destination that was only suppose to be a thirty minute walk . . . . . . . . 30minutes later we asked for directions. . . . . . . . . . . . asked for more directions at a bank where they even printed out a nice little map and turn by turn directions for us to follow . . . . . . . . . . .
The whole group went on our first excursion, outside of Vienna, together and it was amazing!
I ended up being the one that got the hostel situation all set up. I was going to have us all stay in the Ginkgo hostel right in the middle of Budapest, however, when I went to book the rooms they did not have enough rooms for us to all stay in! So, I quickly found another hostel, not 5 minutes down the street and got another room for the remaining 5 people in the Colors Hostel. All together making it 13 euros for everyone to stay for two nights. Then I got the confirmation emails. . . and the Colors hostel said that we were going to be there the 19-21 and only one person was going to be there the first night. . . . AHHHHHH! So I quickly sent them and email telling them what the reservation should be, granted this was two nights before we were getting on the train! Luckily, I received an email the next night and it was all sorted out. Phew!
Erika and I woke up at 5:30 because it was going to take us an hour to get to the train station and the train left at 7:45 in the morning. . . can anyone say gross! We all agreed to meet at 7:15 to make sure that everyone would make it there on time. We had reserved seats (an extra euro) but we did not need to, the train was pretty much empty both there and back home. None the less the 3 hour train ride went off without a hitch but the train did make some stops along the way and everyone was praying that those were not our stops because those things were so sketchy it was not even funny. When we did arrive it was still pretty weird but we were all together and were sure that we could find our way. We asked for directions from the information desk and started on our way, walking "toward" our destination that was only suppose to be a thirty minute walk . . . . . . . . 30minutes later we asked for directions. . . . . . . . . . . . asked for more directions at a bank where they even printed out a nice little map and turn by turn directions for us to follow . . . . . . . . . . .
(another half an hour later) one last attempt to find out where we had gone wrong and we find out, from a very nice, young lady, that we are, in fact . . oh how did she put it. . . oooooooh yes. . . . . . . . we were "Not on the map".
Nope not kidding. . . . .
After walking all of our luggage in the wrong direction for an hour, we caught the nearest metro and road that to the stop clearly marked on the map and worked our way (after taking some more wrong turns) to the Ginkgo Hostel first, as it was the closest, and then the 5 of us that were staying in Colors (Erika, Jamie, Kerri, Anna, and I) walked on down there. By this time it was late so we all hung out in our rooms for about an hour. Our group met our roommate which we were told by the receptionist was a German doctor. But what walked in the room was NOT a German man old enough to be a doctor. He informed us that he is actually an Iranian who speaks Arabic, Hebrew, German, and English and is now in his first year of undergraduate studies to become a doctor. But we did not get to know him very much until Saturday night as we left after that short hour break to meet up with the rest of the group to go eat.
Nope not kidding. . . . .
After walking all of our luggage in the wrong direction for an hour, we caught the nearest metro and road that to the stop clearly marked on the map and worked our way (after taking some more wrong turns) to the Ginkgo Hostel first, as it was the closest, and then the 5 of us that were staying in Colors (Erika, Jamie, Kerri, Anna, and I) walked on down there. By this time it was late so we all hung out in our rooms for about an hour. Our group met our roommate which we were told by the receptionist was a German doctor. But what walked in the room was NOT a German man old enough to be a doctor. He informed us that he is actually an Iranian who speaks Arabic, Hebrew, German, and English and is now in his first year of undergraduate studies to become a doctor. But we did not get to know him very much until Saturday night as we left after that short hour break to meet up with the rest of the group to go eat.
The other group had gotten a tip on where to eat and a short little walk that we could take down to the Daub River and the local market. So, with everyone now recuperated we took a little stroll and ended up at the restaurant. The food was good, even though Andy's fish did come head, scales and all . . . We all headed back to our hostels after that to rest and then we were all going to go to a pub and the Ginkgo group would continue on from there to a club. . . or so that was the plan. What actually happened was the Ginkgo group was really drunk by the time we got there. We talked for a little bit and then walked around to try and find a pub to sit down and talk in for a bit, but as alcohol would have it they needed to party right then. So, after Kerri and I played momma hen for a bit and made sure that 2 of the 6 were sober enough to get them to the club & back, the Colors group headed back to sleep.
The next day Colors went on 2 free walking tours, one around Pest and one around Buda while the Ginkgo's walked down the main stretch of museums and visited the famous spas. We all met up at around 5 to get everyone situated for the drink cruise and then headed down to the meeting point.
The next day Colors went on 2 free walking tours, one around Pest and one around Buda while the Ginkgo's walked down the main stretch of museums and visited the famous spas. We all met up at around 5 to get everyone situated for the drink cruise and then headed down to the meeting point.
The cruise was on the Danube river and we each received two drinks during the trip, as part of the cost, and road down the river for the next hour and a half listening to a live string trio playing various songs. Originally, I was quite frustrated, as was the rest of the group, because the level we were on was over run with one, large, obnoxious group and there were not enough chairs for everyone! But that was soon fixed and the obnoxious Italians actually made the trip. The boat ride was so nice, the music, and views were so romantic that all I could think of was Adam. It did not help that I ended up at the table with the married couple and Kerri, the only other girl on this trip in a serious relationship. I wish that I could have simply enjoyed the experience, but it was hard knowing that I was in such a beautiful place, in such a romantic |
setting, and Adam was not there to enjoy it with me. We had made plans to talk on Sunday at 10pm, my time and that helped a little. With that in mind, I let a little tear fall and then joined the Italians in a song just before pulling into port. After that we all headed back to our rooms with the plan of meeting up again to try and actually go to a pub to talk.
Colors spent the down time talking with AL, our Non-German, Non-Doctor roommate, and decided that everyone should meet him and head to a Hungarian Bar that was right in between our two places. Anna and I headed to the Ginkgo to let them know where we were and then the Colors group hung out with Al at the pub waiting for them to get ready. Al, Anna, Erika, Kerri, and I got our selves and drink and started playing "never-have-I-ever" while we waited for them. But when they arrived, over half of them were drunk and they eventually ended up having to be taken home.
Colors spent the down time talking with AL, our Non-German, Non-Doctor roommate, and decided that everyone should meet him and head to a Hungarian Bar that was right in between our two places. Anna and I headed to the Ginkgo to let them know where we were and then the Colors group hung out with Al at the pub waiting for them to get ready. Al, Anna, Erika, Kerri, and I got our selves and drink and started playing "never-have-I-ever" while we waited for them. But when they arrived, over half of them were drunk and they eventually ended up having to be taken home.
So, we left and took care of them for a bit and then headed back to sleep before we had to be out by 11 am Sunday morning. At noon we met up with the group at the near by coffee house, Coffee and More, and after our coffee we headed to the Labyrinth for quite the bonding experience as we tried to find our way through the underground.
Then the Colors group headed down for their time at the spas before the train left at 7:10. The spas, by the way, are AMAZING!!!!!! If one ever goes to Budapest you have to, HAVE TO, go to one of the many natural baths there. Be prepared for men in tiny speedo's and people more open while changing, but the baths are something that people cannot miss when in Budapest. Be sure to bring a towel and bathing suit as both will cost you a fortune to buy or rent!!!!! |
On the train ride back we all played "marry, do, kill" a game where you name three people or characters and you have to pick which one you wold marry/do/or kill. (Weird but it kept our attention for the whole 3 hours). It was not until w were on our way back that I remembered that Adam and I were suppose to skype at 10 my time. If you are keeping track of the time (leaves at 7 and is a 3 hour ride) you will notice that I would not make it in time. Luckily, Erika and I basically sprinted home and I got to talk to him for a decent amount of time! It was an amazing weekend and I am so glad that the whole group got to go. We have now gotten lost, been on a cruise, been to a Hungarian Pub, and found our way through a labyrinth together. Our bonds are now so much stronger and I will never forget our time together.
Bis Später
P.S. ~ Picture of the scarf I bought from Budapest will be put up later!
Bis Später
P.S. ~ Picture of the scarf I bought from Budapest will be put up later!