Hungarian? Yes, lets eat

Hungary is the central-est of all central European countries. It has borders with lots of other central European countries and so it is the base for lots of international companies with interests in the region. This means that Hungary thinks it is a little bit more important than those other central European countries,
mostly. This also comes from being the second part in the Austro-Hungarian empire, although I always wondered why Austria needed Hungary and it turns out that it was just a name, something to put on the letterhead and business cards to keep the Hungarians happy, at least this is what the Austrians told me.
Having been part of a superpower (just like Italy was a part of the Nazi Germany superpower), they now suffer from dillusions of mediocrity. In the post communist eastern Europe, where almost every country is super cheap, Hungary has decided that it is important enough to be a little bit more expensive. I guess this is the reason that we have put off staying here until now. Our first stop was in place called Pecs, which is pronounced paish and has nothing to do with Arnie's chest.
It has the now familiar old town square, with the now familiar old town buildings. This part of the world is becoming a bit here a church, there a church, everywhere a church church. It does look nice at night, as almost all the buildings have lights. Its kind of how you would imagine a European town to look like, if you have never been to Europe and have only seen them in movies. Walking the streets at night does have a somewhat romantic feel about it.
Interestingly, the same as Vilnius, Pecs has the tradition of placing a padlock on a fence in the city when you get married. Romantic indeed (I call it a lock Pecs...). As much as I dislike 'check box' tourism, this was one to say you spent a few days there and move on. So move on we did to one of the big 3, Hungary. (Prague and Krakow are the others, I know you were asking).
I have been to Budapest before, for a new year celebration in 2005. Then I thought the national sport was firecracker throwing, but this time not a cracker was seen. Budapest deserves being a part of the big 3, it has a wonderful collection of palacial buildings,
hotels that look like royal residences, museums buildings that belong in museums and of course it has the Blue Danube coursing through its centre. Budapest is actually two cities, Buda and Pest, one on each side of the river and in something akin to a corporate merger, they combined to form one city. the city is strewn with statues and monuments, artistic sculptures and it has some famous hot spring baths. The baths are best in the cold I think.
Nice hot water combined with freezing air temperatures is invigorating. When you get really cold and then jump back into the warm water, you get all tingly. The other good thing about Budapest is the food. It is a crossroad of eastern and western influence and goulash galore.
Goulash you can get all over eastern Europe, but it was hard to find in Hungary, except in Budapest. Last time I was here, I found a great little pub that served the best cheap food. I still had the business card so we found it again for our last meal in Hungary. Sometimes, when you revisit a restaurant, the food just doesnt live up to your own memories. This was not one of those times.
The food was as good, if not better than before. A great way to end our Hungarian experience.