Budapestic

For this last cultural proof I finally got around to seeing the Hungarian National Museum. It was a great time to see the museum because it really tied together a lot of the history lessons I have picked up while in the city. I was able to finally put a timeline together for the old kings, Turkish invasion, and different ruling families in the region. The museum literally begins with neanderthals in the Carpathian basin, which would later evolve into Hungary! Most European ancestry can be traced back to here, in the fertile valley between two rivers. Since then, though, the land has changed hands tens if not hundred of times. Finally, the nomadic Hungarian tribes conquered the region, and with the Danube as their base, they pillaged Europe, all the way to Denmark! Modern Day Budapest: The tribes are represented in the seven pillars of fisherman's bastion. The first King of Hungary was King Saint Steven the first, or "Istvan" in Hungarian. In the museum I finally

I've marked a few spots on the maps below! (Note this map shouldn't be used for actual navigation around Budapest, its a little bit of an approximation). 1) Bikas Park: This park is a little outside of the city center, and is full of local Hungarians enjoying the nice weather or ex ersizing. On Sundays there is a farmers market where I plan to go to find some "real" Paprika.  2) West End Shopping Mall: I've walked in here a few times to pick up some necessities, like shorts and a cell phone plan. It feels like I am in the US when I'm in here though. I recognize about half of the stores.  3) The Tram 4/6: This excellent tram is my main mode of transportation, and it runs all night!  4) My University (BME): The university is beautifully positioned on the river. Just yesterday we attended a regatta (rowing race) that included all of the universities in Budapest.  5) The Citadella: Its about a ten minute hike from the edge of my campus, and the views