First weekend of the year exploring Europe and I have a new country to add to the list of the ones I've visited: the destination is Budapest, Hungary. After spending years gathering dust on my list of places to see, I finally got the chance to visit the capital on the Danube. Unfortunately, my expectations—perhaps too high—were not met. Whether it was the bad weather, the difficulties caused by the Independence Day celebrations, or the inevitable "tourist tax" that makes the city quite expensive, I left Budapest with a bitter taste in my mouth.
The thermal baths of Budapest
The part that surprised and satisfied me the most was the visit to the Gellért Baths, one of the most renowned among the many thermal baths that Budapest is famous for. Located inside a hotel on the banks of the Danube, in the part of the city called Buda, they are definitely one of the experiences worth trying. The unmistakable Art Nouveau style is present in every detail of the building, from the floors of the changing rooms to the columns surrounding the main pool. A feast for the eyes that also becomes an opportunity to relax, moving from the 38°C of the hottest pool to the 27°C of the coldest one.
Architecture as the way of becoming famous and glorious
The architectural styles seen while walking through the streets of Budapest tell the story of how the Hungarian capital, drawing inspiration from other European capitals globally recognized as unique expressions of artistic beauty (Vienna and Paris above all), was built and rebuilt after both World Wars with a clear intent to showcase itself to the world. At the heart of it all stands St. Stephen’s Basilica, built on the hill where the population sought refuge from the 1838 flood that destroyed the lower part of the city. An anecdote shared by the guide on the walking tour I joined is that Hungarians now refer to it as "the cathedral of the right hand and the left foot." Inside, it houses the perfectly mummified right hand of St. Stephen, from whom it takes its name, and it is also the burial site of Ferenc Puskás, arguably the most famous Hungarian footballer of all time, whose left foot is revered almost as a holy relic.
A weekend of ups and downs, certainly falling short of the expectations set by a city whose charm and character are gradually fading, swept away and eroded by the waves of tourists that flood it, fueling an inevitable globalization. A real shame, not having seen Budapest earlier, but only the shadow of the city it once was.
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