My Hungarian Experience... Highs: The Danube River at night; the Synagogue; views from Buda Castle; Eger; Andrassy Street; our meal at Mokka. Lows: Proving my non-savvy Orbitz capabilities by choosing a hotel that catered 95% to mass tour-bus groups (absolutely painful!); an extremely dry and stale pastry at a highly recommended patisserie. Best Moment: My day in Eger. Smells: The different wines. Sounds: The downpour of rain. Sights: The Synagogue (about $3); the Market Hall; Danube River; Chain Bridge; the town of Eger; the Valley of Beautiful Women in Eger (where the wineries are); Szentendre (a town just outside of Budapest); the baths at Szechenyi Furdo (about $8). Tastes: Gazpacho; strawberry soup with cottage cheese dumplings (delicious!!!); carpaccio bruschetta; pancakes filled with peaches and cottage cheese with vanilla sauce; paprika chicken with gnocchi; sour cherry soup with yogurt; Gere Cabernet Sauvignon (from Hungary) that was one of the best I have ever tasted. Purchases: Bekivar ('Bull's Blood') wine; a beautiful perfume bottle. Street Food: Baked goods. Fun Food Finds: Peanut-flavored Cheetos (more 'weird' than 'fun'); paprika-flavored potato chips. Western Companies Out Here: McDonald's; Burger King; Pizza Hut. Other General Info... Visa needed? No. Type of currency? Hungarian forints. About 210 make up $1 US. Transportation: Though the train is probably one of the most common and easiest ways to get here, we flew into Budapest from Split (Croatia) on Sky Europe. Budapest Airport: Free wireless internet. Things Hungary Is Known For: Goulash; wine; porcelain; thermal spas; paprika. Religion: Roman Catholic (the majority) yet there are several forms of Christianity. Costs: About $400 |