el.is.in.wonderland

Hungaria and Austria…

Okay, so there was a not-so-long-but-long-enough holiday in May due to Vessak Day and collective leave. I thought, rather than spending my long holiday with my usual activities (read: enjoying my rented apartment, with food, Netflix, and a comfy sofa), why not take a random flight to somewhere nearby?

So I did…

[PS: I always wanted to go to Hungary because long time ago when I was very little, I had this postage stamp collections of a city Budapest. At that time, the word ‘Budapest’ sounds really good to my ear. Not sure why though…]

I asked for permission two months earlier and bought a ticket closer to the departure date (do not follow this logic). My plan was to go to Budapest, Hungary, on May 24, take a train to Vienna, Austria, and return to Athens on May 27. The flight ticket to Budapest was already bought earlier, so I got a pretty good deal. The train ticket was also done (including seat booking). BUT, I waited for the price to drop for the flight from Vienna to Athens, and boy, was I naive to think it would! Please don’t ask how much it cost. I bought it two days before my departure to Budapest, so…

Alright. The time was almost here, and I forgot that my backpack (which I cheaply bought on an Indonesian e-commerce site) was a bit smaller than a regular backpack. Thus, I tried to pack as much as possible.

#1 Rule: Just focus on one pair of comfortable shoes. Do not act like you need ‘pretty’ and gigantic shoes for a four-day backpacking trip.

👉 Why did I mention the above? Because I thought I could wear my heavy tall boots and put my thin sneakers inside the backpack. The boots were very stylish and cool, but the sneakers were (eventually) more comfortable. I sacrificed style for comfort (and space in my backpack!).

#2 Rule: Not in a million lunar years will ticket prices be lower close to the departure date. (Unless a miracle happens)

👉 This is not a wet market where prices drop close to closing time. I paid 2.5 times the initial price I thought would be lower ‘in a few days’. Days turned into weeks, and so on and so forth.

#3 Rule: If you historically always wear simple shirts and are not a party girl nor have any plans to go to a party, leave that pretty flowery outer thin jacket at home.

👉 It’s not that you are not allowed to wear it, but be realistic about your plans. In my case: I had no plan before traveling (like, usually have no plan 80% of the time). So, that outer jacket that you thought would be useful (somehow, in some occasion)? Just, just don’t. Stick to that sporty plain Uniqlo T-shirt with a striking color instead. And you only have three nights anyway!

(PS: I love, love, and really love Uniqlo. I think 95% of my clothes are from that brand).

#4 Rule: Have your phone’s internet data ready and get to know the local ways of commuting.

👉 I’m talking about transportation cards/apps. In Budapest, they have the BKK/BudapestGO app (Budapesti Közlekedési Központ), their main transportation app which is always updated. It’s easy to top up using a credit card and it has an English language version as well. You can easily figure out how to get from point A to point B! (I used it from the airport too). In Austria, I used Ivie, a city guide that also includes maps, guides, and a transportation feature.

Both Hungary and Austria have good transportation systems. In Hungary, I used the bus (which has QR code identification for payment on the door), tram, and metro. In Austria, it’s pretty much the same, but you don’t have to tap anything for payment. Just be ready in case someone asks for proof of a ticket. The routes in both countries are plentiful and timely accurate, so you don’t have to worry.

[Below: Image 1-3 are sceneries of streets in Budapest. Actually I wanted to show the transportation part but the buildings are awesome… Also they have dedicated line for bicycles user. Image 4 was inside the tram in Vienna. Took it because it has someone brought crescent moon-shaped balloon 🌙 — too adorable!)

#5 Rule: Bring an Umbrella.

There’s a saying in Indonesian, “Sedia payung sebelum hujan,” which means “Have an umbrella ready before it rains.” It literally means what it says. Always check the local weather forecast, and even if it doesn’t mention rain, just bring one. Just in case. In Austria, on the first day, it suddenly had a downpour with heavy rain and wind, and I had to change my plans immediately.

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Some things that wowed 😱😱 me, personally:

Public toilets and drinking water refill station

In Vienna (basically anywhere in Austria) you will find a lot of public toilets (with a small fee of €0.5, make sense for its cleanliness and maintenance) and drinking water refill stations everywhere, mostly in main areas like parks even metro stations. Their water is very fresh, tastes very good, and drinkable as it originates in Lower Austrian-Styrian Alps. The water quality of rivers, lakes and streams in Austria is the second best in Europe. This is shown by the current bathing water report of the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Architectural Landscape

Oh my goodness. I love, love, love, love the architectural landscape in Budapest and Vienna. Really. Baroque, Neoclassical, Eclectic, Art Nouveau plays a big role in Budapest and Vienna’s architectural style.

[Snippets: a bit of art style terminology!]

• The term Baroque, derived from the Portuguese ‘barocco’ meaning ‘irregular pearl or stone’, refers to a cultural and art movement that characterized Europe from the early seventeenth to mid-eighteenth century. Baroque emphasizes dramatic, exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted, detail. – Source: Artland Magazine

• Neoclassical architecture is defined as the “revival of classical architecture during the 18th and early 19th centuries.” The aesthetic is a distinct architectural style that references elements of classical antiquity—mostly ancient Greek and Roman architecture—that flourished throughout Western countries – Source: Architectural Digest

• Art Nouveau was a very short-lived movement that was popular in the United States and Europe between the years 1890 and 1914. The style is highly inspired by the forms found in nature such as the organic flowing shapes of flowers, vines, and leaves. – Source: Art in Context

• Eclecticism denotes an artistic attitude that mixes elements from various periods and artistic styles into a single work. In art, this compositional syncretism was noticeable in the 16th century. In architecture, this stylistic mixture was predominant in the 19th and early 20th centuries. – Source: Arch Daily

Some architecture landscape in Vienna:

And here in Budapest. Too bad it was cloudy when I was there (a tiny bit of rain too!):

Thai Massage and Vietnamese Food 🤣🤣

Okay, so here’s the thing. Anywhere I go, I always have body aches and an Asian stomach, so I need and have to have Asian food and a body massage. The two things that I always google everywhere are “massage near me” and “Asian food near me.”

On the first day, I had a stomach issue that forced me to eat a warm broth, and thankfully, there was a Vietnamese restaurant nearby called Mây – Vietnami étterem. The beef pho was excellent, and the Vietnamese coffee was different from any other Vietnamese coffee I’ve had anywhere (outside of Vietnam itself). The combination of the bitterness of the special coffee and condensed milk was just… 🤤🤤. I went there twice.

Also on the first day, I went to a Thai massage place right across from the Vietnamese restaurant called Avalon Thai Massage and had a 60-minute Thai massage. Oh my God, at the end, the lady sort of pulled my body here and there and folded it like origami. It was painfully good (if you know what I mean).

I am not proud am okay with the fact that I didn’t eat local cuisine. I have no regret!

Classic hotel apartment

Finding a place to stay in Vienna that fit my budget was hard. I tend to avoid hostels mainly because (1) I don’t have the energy to share my sleep space with people, and (2) I snore. So, I stumbled upon the cheapest among the expensive places to stay in a strategic location in the Neubau area (pretty central, close to the main area) called Hotel Apartment Rothensteiner. It did not disappoint at all! I actually didn’t remember what I booked (silly me), but I ended up with a studio apartment with cute old interior, a firm single bed (important for my poor back), and mini kitchen (to cook instant noodle!). The interior reminded me of my grandparents’ old house and my mom’s old study desk. Too adorable. And the wow factor: the bathtub was spotless clean.

What a short but sweet trip! Both places have their own historical charm. If you’re looking for a more vibrant, eclectic atmosphere with a bustling nightlife (not that I experienced it myself), Budapest is your place! If you’re seeking an elegant, refined ambiance with cultural sophistication, Vienna is where you should be. Both cities are accessible within about a two-hour train ride, making it easy to visit both. Personally, I really like Vienna and look forward to visiting Austria again, exploring other places like Salzburg or Innsbruck!

Until next trip! ✈️✈️