A Tale of Two Cities, Budapest (2016)

Budapest, two different worlds stitched together by the Danube. On one side, Buda stood tall and calm with its hills, castle, and quiet charm. On the other, Pest buzzed with energy, trams clanging, people laughing in cafés, lights reflecting on the water. The moment I arrived, I knew this city wasn’t just beautiful; it had a rhythm that pulled you in.

It was a budget day trip from Prague, taken just before flying back to Indonesia after finishing my master’s degree. My mom and I boarded an overnight FlixBus, a long ride through Central Europe in the winter cold. We packed sandwiches, warm clothes, and excitement. By morning, as the bus crossed into Hungary, the first light revealed the Danube like a silver ribbon, and the skyline of Budapest slowly unfolded. It was cold when we stepped off, but the air felt fresh and alive.

We started by wandering along the riverbank, letting the city reveal itself slowly. The Hungarian Parliament Building stood like a Gothic masterpiece, glowing under the afternoon sun. I had seen photos before, but in real life it looked almost unreal, like something carved out of a dream. Across the water, Buda Castle watched from its hill, as if keeping an eye on everything.

We crossed the Chain Bridge on foot, feeling the breeze against our faces and stopping every few steps to take photos. It’s one of those bridges where you feel like you’re walking through history, surrounded by views that demand your attention from every angle. My mom walked a little slower, looking around with quiet wonder, it made me smile to see her enjoying the city as much as I was.

In Pest, the vibe changed completely. Streets were alive with cafés, ruin bars tucked into old buildings, vintage shops, and unexpected corners that made us pause every few meters. We tried traditional Hungarian goulash, warm and hearty, the perfect antidote to the cold. Sitting at a café, watching trams glide by, felt like being absorbed into the city’s daily rhythm, even just for a day, it felt like we belonged there.

This trip wasn’t planned to be grand or luxurious. This trip squeezed between the end of one chapter of my life and the beginning of another. But that’s what made it unforgettable. It was a gift to myself and to my mom, a shared moment of beauty before returning home.

Budapest was poetic in its contrasts: historic yet lively, elegant but full of surprises. It felt like walking through a story, one that we got to be part of, even if just for a day.