like everywhere else, budapest was a place that i knew little about but was intrigued by nonetheless. it sounds a little mysterious- the kind of place where you stumble upon unexpected gems, meet people that should be characters in your favorite novel, and leave with fascinating stories to tell at the classy dinner parties you plan in your head but never have. or maybe i'm the only one that does that?

but alas, unless i just wasn't looking hard enough, budapest had few gasp-inducing sights and sounds, and even less to fill three whole days with. but! there's always something good, so here it is:

our hostel was the perfect setting for a relaxing stay. it was the sort of place someone on the urban outfitters creative team probably stayed one time and then jacked the whole aesthetic and called it cutting-edge. our host, andrea, kept a constant indie playlist going with accompanying silent films screened on the walls, while chelsea and i spent the majority of our time plotting the best way to make him be our new & fab best friend. 

on our second day, we had a lazy morning & a late lunch of traditional curd cheese pasta with sour cream and bacon, at the suggestion of andrea...let's go with funky for that one. then it was off to gellert and their thermal baths, where we waded around forever and then got much-needed massages.

 a. mazing.

all in all, break was the perfect answer to seven weeks of embarrassing sketchbook critiques, verbally liberal business professors, and being the art history class idiot. the best, however, was landing in rome and practically sprinting through the train station and metro with chels, propelled by the desire to just be home. it wasn't until i had been gone for so long that i realized how comfortable i feel here, and how difficult it will be to leave. thank god i'll have 'ritos and 'ritas at mad mex with my best friends waiting for me when i get back...

melans, em, and amy, start planning!