You already know that hitting the bath is a must-do activity in Budapest. But which to choose?

On our recent trip, we decided to go with the Gellert baths, since a Hungarian friend had told us they were the most beautiful. Had it been summer, though, we might have chosen the Szechenyi baths; they’re bigger, and a large portion of them is outdoors. And another time, we’d also go for the newly refurbished Rudas baths, which we were told on our last day we should hit up.

Anyway, back to the Gellert. The baths are indeed beautiful—a gorgeous main art deco pool, and lavish thermal sections off either side of it. The main pool is just a swimming pool, and is co-ed; people mainly swim seriously or do aqua aerobics and stuff in here. At the foot of it is a small, separate thermal section. This is also co-ed.]]> juliab 2012-02-01T15:41:38-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2012/1/30/131015/469

A night at the opera is normally one of the most expensive, OTT things you can do. Not so much in Budapest, though. A tour of the incredible opera house costs 2900 HUF ($13) per person, but show tickets start at just 300HUF—that’s right, $1.33. We know which we’d prefer.

On our recent trip, the cheapest opera ticket we could buy on the day was 4400HUF ($19.50) for a seat in a box. Luckily, we decided to shell out. Luckily because even though we’re not opera buffs, it was one of the most incredible productions we’ve ever seen (Mephistopheles, since you ask). ]]> juliab 2012-01-30T16:10:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2012/1/25/135234/793

There's nothing quite like the mixture of the old and new in Budapest. Art Nouveau and Communist architecture. Medieval cobbled streets, and fast-moving dual carriageway thoroughfares. Cutting-edge modern opera staged in a beautiful 19th century theater.

And a sex shop in a gloriously frothy old building. ]]> juliab 2012-01-25T16:00:03-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2012/1/23/125227/979

Budapest in winter: somewhere we've always wanted to go, but somewhere we've never quite dared—the snow! The biting cold! Could the beauty of winter really be worth getting frostbite for?

This year, we bit the bullet and booked. The good news: we didn't get frostbite. The bad: there was no snow! We found ourselves in a January so mild it was unheard of.

On the plus side, we got to cut our Budapest teeth without freezing, with barely any other tourists, and with that stunning stark winter sun lighting up our photos. Like this one from the Fisherman's Bastion next to the Matthias church in hilly Buda, looking down at the Hungarian parliament.

Now there's a sight that beats Capitol Hill.

[Photo: juliab]]]> juliab 2012-01-24T12:05:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/9/19/23758/9090

So last week, Japanese news reported that Apple CEO Steve Jobs wasn't allowed to take ninja stars onboard his private plane, but this week, the news is that Angelina Jolie's daughter Shiloh was allowed to bring her wooden sword toy onboard a commercial flight.

Angelina, with her daughters Shiloh and Zahara, were in Budapest, Hungary scouting locations for Jolie's next movie, reports The Daily Mail. When it came time to fly from Budapest back to Los Angeles (that's one heck of a long flight for two young children), Angelina bought the girls toys. Shiloh got the wooden sword and brought it onboard with her. The only people making a fuss about it are the tabloids.]]> JetSetCD 2010-09-20T08:58:15-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/29/44845/7471

Poor Wizz Air. What started out as a sweet little marketing idea to celebrate the Eastern European low-cost carrier's fifth anniversary turned nasty this week, and we feel bad for them.

The airline set up a press conference and speaking event in Budapest, and the final act of the day was going to be the release of 1,000 balloons, each with a 10,000 forint ($50) coupon attached which the lucky finder could redeem on a Wizz Air flight.]]> amandak 2009-06-29T08:47:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/20/124616/697

So it's too late to join the Gumball 3000, but you still have time to participate in the Caucasian Challenge, a come-as-you-are rally splashed across Eastern Europe from Budapest to Yerevan, Armenia.

"Remember world history in school? We bet they missed some stuff," proclaim the organizers, who are also responsible for an LGBT-themed race called the Rainbow Rampage (isn't that from MarioKart?) and an Indian rickshaw tourney. This year's 4,700-mile competition includes the thrilling potential of tooling along the outskirts of Georgia's still-simmering conflicts--and that's after you've made it through hot spots in Kosovo and Turkey.

It appears that they are still taking reservations--what, there weren't 100 teams willing to figure out a way to get across the Bosporus? Haven't any of you seen "The Great Race"?

Related Stories:
· Caucasian Challenge [Official Site]
· Dictatorship Travel: Bam Margera in the DPRK [Jaunted]
· Gumball 3000 Makes A Pit Stop In Pyongyang [Jaunted]
· Off Limits Travel: Fighting Breaks Out Between Russia and Georgia Over South Ossetia [Jaunted]

[Photo: Caucasianchallenge.com]]]> egw 2008-08-20T14:00:13-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/