<div><dl> <dt><a href="http://conversationsandquestions.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4900.jpg"><img title="CAE on Castle Hill " src="http://conversationsandquestions.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4900.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="313" /></a></dt> <dd>Me on Castle Hill </dd> </dl></div>
Budapest was lovely. As usual. I've been to Budapest three  times--once in December a year ago and twice in July.  July 2009 and  2010. The first visit the city was cold. Damn cold. But beautiful. Last  summer it was hot and crawling with tourists. This summer it was just  right. Hot but not too hot and the tourists felt far and few between.<!--more-->
<div><dl> <dt><a href="http://conversationsandquestions.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4890.jpg"><img title="View from Castle Hill " src="http://conversationsandquestions.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4890.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="313" /></a></dt> <dd>View from Castle Hill: Parliment </dd> </dl></div>
I am not really sure how to put the city into words. It gets lumped into Eastern Europe. Heck, it is <em>in</em> Eastern Europe but it doesn't feel like (or look like) the Eastern  Europe that I know.  I guess that maybe it would be better to group  cities like Budapest and Prague in Central Europe along with cities like  Vienna and Berlin.  Or maybe I shouldn't worry about distinctions like  this.
<div><dl> <dt><a href="http://conversationsandquestions.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4918.jpg"><img title="Szimpla " src="http://conversationsandquestions.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4918.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="313" /></a></dt> <dd>Two cheers for Szimpla </dd> </dl></div>
What is clear to me is that for better or worse the city's buildings  owe a lot to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Those guy knew "wow." The  Hapsburgs had a great eye, a strong sense of proportion and liked things  big--big buildings, wide streets and a huge river--okay they aren't  responsible for the river but it helps.

So on my most recent trip to Budapest, I didn't feel pressed to be a  tourist. I've already done that. Instead, I had a great time catching up  with some of my Hungarian-Fulbright friends, climbing Castle Hill (by  bus), walking the bridges at night, doing some shopping, hanging out at  Szimpla and drinking Hungarian wine and palinka.
<div><dl> <dt><a href="http://conversationsandquestions.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4950.jpg"><img title="Budapest Bridge at Night" src="http://conversationsandquestions.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4950.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="313" /></a></dt> <dd>Budapest Bridge at Night</dd> </dl></div>