I didn't have a car to drive in college, and with an infrequent public transportation system, I got used to walking. The repetitive motion of walking through my usual paths gave me time to clear my head and calm down in the middle of an agenda-filled day without worrying I'd miss my destination.
Walking also helped me see my campus differently. I noticed when my favorite trees started changing color. I paid attention to the sunrise reflected in a puddle. Not only was the repetitiveness of walking calming, it made me a more observant photographer, sensitizing me to unique compositions that I would've easily overlooked had I zoomed by in a car.
Our main mode of transportation during this trip to Central Europe was a bus, and you can imagine that driving between major cities every few days limits the opportunities to slow down, get a taste of the city's personality, and wander beyond a pocket guide of places to see. Thanks to a few extra days tacked onto our trip and the life-giving company of our dear friends (who are locals), we got to circle back to a few places, walk around, and soak in a bit more of Budapest's flavor.
 |
| Hungarian Parliament Building |
 |
| Inside St. Stephen's Basilica |
 |
| Central Market Hall |
 |
| Ukranian food at Ukrán Udvar Étterem |
 |
| Heroes' Square |
 |
| Liberty Bridge - like Prague, Budapest is full of bridges over the Danube. |
 |
| Views from the Tram 2, a great way to cover more ground and taste local life. |
 |
Vaci Utca, Budapest's main shopping street.
Like Finland, Budapest is home to great artists and boutique shops - you just have to find them! |
 |
| Central Market Hall at sunset |
And a few from my phone's perspective:
 |
| Dad manages to find his desired Chinese food no matter where he is |
No comments:
Post a Comment