Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been keeping busy traveling to the far corners of Europe before... well, before I have to return to the States (but we're not going to think about that for another three weeks). Two weekends ago I packed up and took a bus to Budapest, the city formerly known as the cities of Buda, Óbuda and Pest, with Holly (obviously) and Louise.

Me with my Hungarian Forints. 10,000 Hungarian Forints.

Our tour guide liked to point out that Budapest is one of the most extreme cities. It has the most international river, the hardest language (this I agree with), the MOST beautiful queen ever to have existed, the biggest parliament building and, apparently, the craziest tour guide.

Our crazy tour guide in front of the most famous statue. It's of a little girl dressed as a boy. I know. The parliament building (which is actually the second largest parliament building in Europe, contrary to what our tour guide had said.

Our tour guide also felt the need to list every single Hungarian invention, so I feel it is my responsibility to pass along this insightful and impressive list. Here goes: Vitamin C, telephone (well actually the telephone system ... whatever that means), computer software, the ball point pen, and, last, but not least ... Rubik's cube! That's right, Mr. Rubik was Hungarian. But a small piece of advice, don't buy a fake Rubik's cube in Budapest; it falls apart on the bus ride back to Prague. I speak from experience, unfortunately.

My favorite part of Budapest, however, was the day we spent at the baths. Budapest has a system of natural springs running underneath and through it, so naturally they've funneled into large pools where people can spend summer afternoons! They keep one pool at about 37 degrees C or 110 degrees F. We sat and played cards and occasionally went for a dip in one of the pools. Such a great day!

After walking around Budapest under the beating sun for a while we ran through a sprinkler in front of the parliament building to cool off.