Back from Budapest, Hungary for more

Budapest was the best! We kept busy and had a wonderful time exploring the city.

The iconic Hungarian Parliament Building was even more impressive inside than out. The Royal Palace offered the Hungarian National Gallery with captivating works of art. State Opera House was more dazzling than the opera performed. The Basilica of St. Istivan, Matthias Church, Great Synagogue were worthy of worship. Fisherman’s Bastion offered some of the best cityscape views. And the Szechenyi, Rudas, and Gillert  thermal baths soothed the body after (or before) long days of exploration.

Having an apartment centrally located—in a centrally located country—offered us the opportunity to travel abroad while we were abroad. Within Hungary, we visited wine caves and castles in Tokaj and Eger,  enjoyed the lakeside views of Balatonlelle, and historic buildings of Pecs.

Beyond the Hungarian boarders, we plan to roamed the sidestreets of Bratislava, Slovakia; took in the Philharmonic in Vienna, Austria; touched the Adriatic Sea in Rejeka, Croatia;  Funiculared between the upper and lower centers in Zagreb, Croatia;  and boated to the island at Lake Bled, Slovenia; and enjoyed the best cream cake desserts in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

So many experiences to soak in at each location. But our favorite, perhaps since we were there the longest and got to know it best, was Budapest.

You can expect picture slideshows and armchair travel stories to come in the near future. For now, my mind is still hovering between home and Budapest.

www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g274887-Budapest_Central_Hungary-Vacations.html

PAYcations are better than Vacations

As you may have heard, I’m getting ready to go on an epic vacation for the rest of the month. (I’m not worried about the reveal since someone is living in our house at all times!)

So it seems a fitting time to share my recent feature story published in Writers Weekly—the highest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world.

The article is all about the joys of travel writing. One thing I enjoy almost as much as writing fiction is writing creative nonfiction about my travels.

“Explore the world, then explore it again in your writing. Find the personal stories in your travel experiences. Your readers will thank you—and read you—for it.”

You can bet I’ll be gathering some experiences to write about as I spend most of the month in Budapest, Hungary (just a few minutes’ walk from the iconic Hungarian Parliament Building) with side trips to Eger, Tokaj, Pecs, and Sopron in Hungary, Zagreb and Rijeka in Croatia, Lake Bled and Ljubljana in Slovenia, Vienna in Austria, and Bratislava in Slovakia.

Read my story about travel writing, and how to turn it from work into fun, at the following link.

http://writersweekly.com/this_weeks_article/009114_04152015.html

Getting Hungary for International Travel

My hunger for an international trip is ravenous. With our travel to China and Scotland a year behind us, we're ready to hop on a plane for somewhere new.

In a few weeks, we’re headed for Budapest.

We’ll be staying in central Budapest, and we look forward to really getting to explore the city. The iconic Hungarian Parliament Building, formal Royal Palace, State Opera House, twin-towered, Chain Bridge, Basilica of St. Stephen, Great Synagogue, Buda Castle, Fisherman’s bastion, and thermal baths—not to mention the foods and spirits.

Having an apartment centrally located—and a rental car—allows us the freedom to travel abroad while we’re abroad. Within Hungary, we plan to visit Eger, Tokaj, Balatonlelle, and Pecs. Beyond the Hungarian boarders, we plan to visit Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Austria; Rejeka and Zagreb, Croatia;  and Ljubljana, Slovenia.

But even with all of those nearby destinations, the heart of the trip will be getting to know Budapest.

If you were in Budapest for a few weeks, what would be at the top of your list?