Budapest, Hungary

Today, I am going to talk about the final country I traveled to on my trip to Poland and the Czech Republic, which coincidentally was the first one I visited on that trip and the last one to be posted about. Today, we are going to talk about my trip to Budapest, Hungary’s capital. Budapest was an exciting trip full of rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture, and I got to experience it all with my grandparents too!

One of the most memorable experiences of not only that trip but my life was the boat ride I took on the Danube River. It was one of our first days of vacation, and it was unforgettable. The Danube River was majestic, its power splitting the city into 2 parts, Buda, and Pest. As I lay back in my seat, next to the people I love most, I was fascinated by the might of the city around me. As the voice of the tour guide came on, the dichotomy between the Soviet era’s past and the modern future became clearer to me. My ears were told of the horrors of Soviet control while my eyes saw the beautiful city in front of me. The indomitable human spirit was ever-present that day, the ability to fight through oppression and horror was amazing to witness in person. One thing that stuck with me from that boat ride was how my parents spoke about it. Growing up, they never thought they would be able to explore countries like Hungary due to the Iron Curtain that had fallen over Eastern Europe and how expensive travel was. Yet now, here they were, with their parents and their children, exploring the world! What was even more interesting was my Nana’s (my grandfather’s) perspective on it all. As a high-ranking officer in the Indian military, he is one of the few people who traveled to Soviet Russia. His insights into the history of the Cold War were especially interesting. His knowledge of history and unique experiences are limitless, and he is so special to me.

The Hungarian Parliament was something to marvel at. The rich history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the age of Soviet Control, and the modern rebuilding and urbanization were all woven together to form a masterpiece of a building. As my dad read our Rick Steves guidebook, I stood in awe of everything around me. It wasn’t just the main attractions that were stunning, such as the Hungarian Holy Crown, The Chamber of Peers, The Dome Hall, or The Grand Staircase, everything was. Everything seemed to invoke a sense of power, prestige, and awe. At every corner was something magnificent, whether it be stained glass ceilings, beautiful paintings, grand chandeliers, or vaulted ceilings, everything seemed to be straight from a movie. It felt like every single corner was flushed with magic, a reminder of the great history Hungary has and the power of it all, right before my eyes, with the people I love most.

Part of what made this trip so special to me was the fact that it was the first trip I had taken with my grandparents in a long time. I got to spend a lot of quality time with them on this trip, something that I value, especially after the pandemic. During our trip, my grandparents often got tired and returned to the hotel room for an afternoon siesta. During these times, while my Nana (my grandfather) would sleep, my Nani (my grandmother), my sister, and I would watch the ICC Cricket World Cup. I I loved watching it with my Nani and being able to connect with her on sports is one of my favorite things. It brought me back to when I traveled to India during the Olympics, and we would get up at 2 AM together to watch the swimming events in the Olympics. Being able to connect on sports with my nani is one of my favorite things, and I am sure that I got my fanatical fandom from her. I learned so much about cricket during this time and simply got to live in the moment with her, so while the end result may have not gone India’s way (England won sadly), I will always cherish the memories of watching it with her and my sister, debating on the best path forward for the team. Frequently on my blog posts, I talk about the places I go to, but oftentimes, the people make a trip memorable, and my grandparents certainly did.

The one downside about traveling is the lack of home food. No matter how good the food of a place is, nothing beats home food. Every time I return home, I always make sure to eat a good plate of simple rice and dal, enjoying the comfort. Luckily, this issue was non-existent in Hungary. My mom, through a blogger friend she has, found a highly rated Indian restaurant overlooking the Danube. The food was spectacular and the view was stunning. It really captivated me and the food, the place, and the people made me feel grateful to just exist and be in the moment. Life can be so wonderful and sometimes it’s the small moments that stick with us. That trip to Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic was full of those small, beautiful moments and many educational opportunities. Hopefully, I get a chance to revisit them soon with the people I love! I hope we can all learn to slow down, and enjoy the small moments in life, because you never know when certain moments will become the memories you cherish.