For our one week Spring holiday, we decided to explore the the region north and east of Budapest in Hungary. We began with a couple of days in Budapest (couldn't help ourselves) and, as we arrived on a Sunday, we made sure to visit the bohemian Szimpla Kert market. We also made sure to work in the Szechenyi Baths, Margaret Island, and a second thermal experience at the Szent Lukacs Baths. From Budapest, we followed the Danube north, beginning in Szentendre (St.Andrew), a small village known for its color and vibrancy. This was once a Serbian village, a refuge for those living this far north. Further north, we stopped by Visegrad before crossing the Danube by ferry and stopping over in Vac. From there, we directed ourselves eastward. On the way to beautiful, historic Eger, we spent a few hours in the ethnic village of Holloko, a nearly unchanged, traditional Hungarian village. Beautiful Eger was our base for a few days where, beyond the beautiful old town, the highlight was the nearby Egerszalok thermal baths, set under cascading travertine springs. Just beyond Eger, Bukki National Park has some of Hungary's most dramatic scenery. We began in the canyon at Lillafured first, then did some hiking in the high hills. On our way back to Belgrade, we passed through Hortobabyi National Park, Hungary's high plateau known for its horses and "cowboy" culture, and stopped in Debrecen for a pleasant afternoon in its old town, a visit to the fabulous Modem Center for Modern and Contemporary Arts and, again, focused on the nearby thermal baths at Hajduszoboszlo. All in all, this was a great introduction to the lesser visited eastern side of Hungary.
