Submitted by Haley Cherrix on the 2017 winter session program in Austria and Hungary sponsored by the College of Education and Human Development…
Our first week in Budapest was not quite what I was expecting. Starting our trip in Vienna really set the bar high for beautiful cities. I realized quickly that although Budapest isn’t pretty everywhere in the city, it does have some hidden treasures that are exceptionally beautiful.
One of those beautiful sites is on Castle Hill which has the most amazing view of the entire city including the Danube River. Our group had the chance to see the river frozen over which hasn’t happened for 25 years!
One thing that I don’t think anyone in our group was expecting was just how cold it would be in Budapest our first couple of days here. Our tour guide for the first day in the city explained how even she wasn’t used to that cold of weather. Luckily, the days are getting slightly warmer and the snow is starting to disappear.
Despite the cold weather, we were able to participate in a true Hungarian tradition of thermal baths. This was definitely a highlight of the week because it was the first outdoor activity we participated in where we weren’t freezing.
I can’t wait to see what else Budapest has to show us!