Budapest / Hungary
Day 1
Get a 7am flight they said, it will be a great idea they said. Combined with lugging around 70kg, using trains and buses I can tell you now it definitely is not a good idea. Anyway, we arrived into Budapest, caught a bus into town from the airport, then waited in a McDonald’s for an hour or so until we could check into our Airbnb. It was worth the wait, this was the most spacious homely AirBnb ever. The owners of the apartment had just sold it so we were the last people to stay!
After we dropped our bags we shot down to the supermarket and got our supplies for the next few days, and lucky we went down as it was just about to close, it was 2pm on new years eve!
Being New Year’s Eve we chilled out for the afternoon before going out for dinner (which was amazing, they had a live duo of music!) then headed up to Gellért hill and watched the fireworks. Which ended up being really average because there are no official new years fireworks. But nevertheless, it was now 2018.
Day 2
A slow start to the day was welcomed. I had planned a whole list of places to visit, however almost everything was closed, because New Year’s Day. At times I felt like we were in The Walking Dead, minus the walkers. But still we wandered and I took hundreds of photos. If you've made it this far through the post and are liking it you'll soon see the 'shoes' on the bank of the river. It is a memorial to the 20,000 Jews that were shot into the river by the Arrow Cross Party during WWII. Super sad.
Day 3
We attempted exploring Budapest again. Being on a two week trip and having a decent amount of time in the city meant we didn’t feel the need to be up super early so we left the house after lunch and went into the city centre and checked out some shops before heading across to Buda and seeing fisherman’s bastion. Despite the odd name, it’s one of the coolest fortifications we’ve been too. It was beautifully lit and gave a great view of Pest.
One shot I really wanted was the parliament at night from across the river, lit up in all its glory. It’s the largest parliament building in the world, it’s 268m long and 123m wide. Who knows what they do with all that room?!
After the money shot we headed back over to the old Jewish quarter in Pest and bar hopped to some ruin bars. Ruin bars are a big part of Budapest nightlife, starting around 10 years ago in abandoned buildings that were left to decay after WWII. Each one is so different, even if you’re not one for ‘nights on the town’, they’re certainly worth a visit. You might even find one you like!
Day 4
We couldn’t visit Budapest and not check out the thermal baths. We went to Széchenyi thermal baths quite early in the morning to beat the crowds and luckily it was only a 15 minute walk from us! No photos from there but it was so good to soak up the hot waters.
After a rest back at the Airbnb, and a repack of our luggage we made a quick dash across town to a bakery Monita had scoped out. The pastries were good! And we briefly talked a guy from England who had been living there for 5 years, interesting guy!
That brought the end to our time in Budapest as our next leg of the journey was yet again a super early start.
I love creating images that speak to me.
I grew up in a small town that nobody really knows about, Levin. Spent a good ten years in Hamilton making some of the best friends anyone could have. And now I’m living, working and playing in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. Also a small country that people have trouble locating – I’m looking at you America!
Life is about stories, and that’s what I love to capture and document. My shooting style is unobtrusive. You may be a natural in front of the camera, or have no idea what to do but before we even start I’ll make sure you’re comfortable and relaxed.
Things I love: Travelling to wherever I can, my partner Monita, homemade burgers, wood fired pizzas, the smell of rain on a hot summers day, mountains, the snow, sunsets and sunrises, star gazing, natural light, the aesthetic of wood, crashing waves and day dreaming.