Hungary
Budapest
September 2011 • It's a tired cliché, but Budapest really does seem like a goulash—a mix of European architecture, Balkan demeanor, Soviet baggage, Central Asian heritage, and American consumerism. Contrary to usual luck, arrived while a festival was underway rather than after the tents had been folded. Nemzeti Vagta, or National Gallop, is an annual horse racing event that has the ambience of a state fair strung along a broad, historic urban boulevard—a buffet line of Hungarian culture well suited to someone who has only three days on the ground.
![Parliament](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/parliament_p.jpg)
![Andrassy Avenue](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/andrassy_p.jpg)
![Matthias Church](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/st_michael_p.jpg)
![Nemzeti Vagta](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/bass_2_p.jpg)
![Great Market Hall](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/deli_2_p.jpg)
![Heroes' Square](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/heroes_p.jpg)
![Nemzeti Vagta](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/race_p.jpg)
![Liberty Bridge](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/liberty_train_3_p.jpg)
![Bandstand, Nemzeti Vagta](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/rock_p.jpg)
![St. Stephen's Basilica](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/door_p.jpg)
![Chain Bridge](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/chain_p.jpg)
![Fisherman's Bastion](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/assets/images/travel/budapest-2011/bastion_p.jpg)
![](https://www.johnmikulenka.com/media/overlay-pattern-big.png)