Day One

The backpack on my shoulder, even after several rotations back forth, proved quite irritating after two solid hours of wandering the city. My eyes, happy from consuming the architectural super structures built mostly, I believed, in the late 19th century, also complained from a lack of sleep and various particles in the air. The blisters on my feet screamed, and betrayed me with each step. Yes, I was ready to get more serious about finding a hotel and less serious about sightseeing, at least for the moment. I checked the map and located a hotel, one that I had previously seen on the internet as well, but ignored (perhaps studpidly) in favor of the room with the fat naked fruit guy. After another twenty minutes of walking, I found the place on Kiraly utca - number 41. For those who have never ventured to Eastern Europe, or Europe in general, may not be used to block after block of connected stuctures with large wooden gates, usually double doored, that typically lead into entry ways and courtyards. So, finding addresses and places is not always as straightforward as it might seem. The door to Connection Guesthouse Budapest is nothing remarkable and I passed it on my initial attempt. With a quick back-track move, I located the gray doorway and rang the bell. The attendant buzzed me in and told me to head to the first floor. Confused over which was actually the first floor (don't laugh until you try it), I had to climb back down a flight to find a guy opening the door for me. Immediately, I knew this would be the place - a locked and secure front door, a clean and cozy environment, and an amazingly friendly front desk clerk. He let me know that he had made a mistake when he buzzed me in - they did not have a room for me, but he quickly began searching for another place for me. After a few minutes, he located a place and sent me on my way to them, but now without first letting me know that it was only for one night. Shit, I quietly paniced a little, thinking I'd have to repeat the day's search all over again tomorrow. As if he read my mind, he informed me that if I could not find a place Saturday night (as it was the much publicized and popular Sticky and Sweet Madonna Concert in Budapest that night and many, many hotels had sold out), I could crash in their lobby loft for free. Delighted with that news, I headed off to the other one-night stand hotel so that I could drop my bag and begin my sightseeing in earnest. As I was rapidly becoming an expert in foot travel through my newly beloved city, I found the second hotel quickly. A failed haggle attempt later, I paid the lady what she wanted and procured the keys. After fumbling with the locks, I entered into a pretty horrible "hotel apartment" as they billed it - 5 stars (not sure about what universe the 5 stars resided). I tossed the bag on the bed, changed my shoes and ventured out the door. I had a city to explore and with the hotel fiasco now resolved, I instantly found new energy, and with only four hours of sleep, I considered myself lucky. Now, where to go first?