Meanwhile, even farther East...

Did someone say long weekend?!

Yes, Mazel to us all.

In Germany, October 31st is a national holiday because trick-or-treating rules. Nope, that's a lie, but happy Halloween, y'all! In actuality, it's Reformation Day aka the day Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, making us all look bad, tbh, considering I will probably only have one thesis at the end of this program. Anyway, my limited memory of AP Euro aside, I actually didn't spend the weekend in Germany.

I spent it in Hungary!

Traveling in Europe is pretty easy, particularly when heading to a major metropolitan area. So getting to Budapest only involved two trains, a plane, a bus, a metro, and VOILA- I was deep in the Old Jewish Quarter checking out local street art, tracking down cool cafes, and getting to know an intrepid group of young travelers downing a bottle of wine each at 3 pm on a Friday. Because YOGTBO, amirite.

Actually, I hope I go to Budapest a bunch of times because I loved it. A friend from school and I made trax all over the Buda hills, the Pest (that's Pest with a 'shhh', meine freunde) old city, and up and down the Danube river which divides the two.

Our hostel, or the mad tea party?

And let me tell you- the architecture! the ruin bars! the CAKES! The language is intimidating, but no worries- when you are throwing back shots of pálinka, just toast with an easy Hungarian 'cheers': egészségedre.

Riiiight.

The architecture!

The geothermic pools of humans!

But really, the city is steeped in fascinating history and the bath houses are sehr gut and relaxing, despite the extensive international crowd with whom you are sharing the waters, and did I mention the cakes??

Yum.

Probably a Magyar (Hungarian) Nazgûl (Ringwraith)

And finally, if you were disappointed at the lack of Halloween festivities, don't you worry. With this guy ↑ around, our creepiness level was right on up there.