ParisMy time in Paris was mostly spent sight seeing and eating. Paris, more than any city I have visited, was lousy with beautiful and iconic architecture and monuments. I visited the Eiffel Tower, walked through the Parisian catacombs, admired the architecture of the Notre Dam cathedral, and stared at fine art in the Louvre Museum. Seeing the Mona Lisa was cool, but a bit underwhelming. It’s rather small in the flesh, especially compared to the larger than life Biblical depictions filling the walls adjacent to the panting. The food in Paris was very good, if not a little light for my American tastes. I was determined to try the escargot and it wasn’t gross like some people expect. The snails had a consistency and texture of overcooked shrimp but they were very well seasoned and tasted great. I also fancied some French onion soup, croissants, and other typical staples. The service staff in the French restaurants were amiable and patient when my roommate and I tried to butcher our way through their language, unlike most of the other Parisians we encountered. I had not experienced that kind of pretentiousness and malcontent this side of a modern art gallery. CopenhagenAlthough I booked the trip on a whim, Copenhagen was a fine time. I feel like there wasn’t as much to do as other places I have visited but we prevailed anyways. The coolest land mark was the Rosenborg Castle, a well preserved remanent of the Feudal era. The grandiose decor and the level of detail in each piece were truly awe inspiring. We also checked out the colorful neighborhood of Nyhavn on the waters. Nyhavn also had many lovely Christmas markets. I thoroughly enjoyed the Danish cuisine. Their meals were hearty and delicious. The Danes also know their way around a pastry very well. I would visit Copenhagen again, but with warmer weather and a bit more time to explore. BudapestBudapest was probably my favorite city European city other than London. It was kind of like Paris, but the people were way nicer and the architecture and views were arguably better. Because the Hungarians were under Communist control for about 40 years, there are still brutalist structures in existence. This gives the city an Eastern European flavor. Budapest is also a very affordable city to visit. A pint cost the equivalent to 2 USD.
There are plenty of sights to see in the city. A river divides the Buda and Pest parts of the city and taking a boat tour offers picturesque views. In the more central part of the city, the impressive St. Stephen’s Basilica can be found. While we were there, a large pop-op Christmas market was sharing the square with the church. At some point in Hungary’s history, the country was occupied by the Turks. As a result, Turkish bath culture was introduced to the region. A few of the original baths from that time period still remain, and being able to swim in one of the most beautiful pools is well worth the $12 admission. Budapest is an underrated city and should be on everyone’s European travel list.
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Author: Chris StarkI'm a senior industrial design student interning abroad for my second to last semester! Archives
December 2017
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