Four Months in Budapest: Jo napolt, Budapest!

How is it that I already need Red Wings rehab? Let me just say that after getting up at 1:30am, and staying up until 5am, to desperately stream a hockey game has given me a newfound respect for die-hard soccer fans in the US. I'll give you the image of me last night: I'm home and in bed, a little bit inebriated from where I was before, and I'm getting up from a quick power nap in my Zetterberg tshirt with my computer in my lap and WingsLive chattering away on redwings.nhl.com. The video is streaming perfectly, Karen Newman is singing my national anthem....the game is underway... Filppula's line grabs a goal! Madonna (I think it's a good nickname) grabs a goal! Within 30 seconds of one another! 2-0.... That's when it happens. The stream stops! The site figured out I'm not watching from the US and closed on me! Soooo I swear a little and resign to listening on fsd radio until my fabulous friend in Australia finds me another site to stream from.....just in time to see Datsyuk complete his Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a fight with Perry. I couldn't even believe my eyes. Datsyukian dekes...and decks! Truly astounding. Not to mention Jimmy's shut-out. Best game I've seen in a while!

I'm crazy

Honestly, this is probably the first time I've felt really homesick, though I'm sure it will fade. NHL kickoff weekend, Michigan-Michigan State game, my brother got to go home from college, my uncle is visiting.... and I'm here, streaming games at weird times of the night. Also, I've been talking about sailing recently, and I got that feeling in my stomach...you know the feeling that makes you go on a boat..... Gah, what am I doing here? hahahah! At least I have pretty weather! And to make everyone jealous, I still have trips to Madrid and Athens coming up this month :-P

........Go Green!

But enough of my crazy obsession with the Red Wings and whatnot. I'm having another enjoyable week in Budapest. No travel plans for this weekend, which is good because I need some time at home. I've been sleeping a ton lately, besides last night, and I realized that I must be exhausted from the last month where I was either sick, in class, or travelling somewhere. I'm planning a bunch of walks to reacquaint myself with the city. I haven't had time to hit up my usual places in weeks!

New York Hotel in Blaha Lusza, it's actually only American in name..

Gellert Hill

Liberty and Elizabeth Bridges with Buda Castle in the background

Let's see. Last night, there was a Palinka Festival at the Buda Castle. Palinka is a fruit brandy, and it's pretty signature to Hungary, it's one of the main things you're supposed to try when you come here. I hadn't tried it yet because I heard it was awful. And yes, it's really strong. I liked some kinds though. I tried a raspberry palinka, a sour cherry with honey, a plum with honey, and an apple with pear. Plum with honey was by far the best, and apple with pear.... I can't even think about it. Don't try that.