Day 3 - Thursday, July 19, 2007

We woke up, got ready, ate breakfast, then left for City Park. We went to Szechenyi Baths for the whole day! The Szechenyi Baths are the largest medicinal baths in Europe. The water is supplied by two thermal springs. These Turkish baths are a tradition that Budapest has had since the 16th century. We paid for admission, changed in a booth, and walked through a series of indoor thermal pools. Then we walked outside, which seemed like walking into a different world, where there were large baths (more like pools) with lots of people. There was 3 large pools: one warm, one swimming pool, and one cooler fun pool. We stayed for about 8 hours and it was great! Plus-- I got a great sunburn to prove it! I also got to sit in a sauna and then rush into a really cold pool. That was a thrilling experience.

After leaving the bath, we walked to a fairytale style castle called Vajdahunyad Castle. It had a beautiful old church and there was a Swedish birthday party going on too. Then we walked to a large square where the Millennium Monument was. Really cool! Then were had some drinks at a nice restaurant that was on the water of a pond. After that, it was getting dark, so we went back into the center to the hostel neighborhood and ate a Siberian Gyro with some great ice cream.