BUDAPEST and Expression Dance Society - New people, new places and lots of cheap wine

So I brainstormed a whole load of ideas for this post and how I wanted to write it. A travel post of what I did and where I went? A post about the fact it was my first uni social holiday with Expression Dance (yaasss - the first of many shoutouts, enjoy), or a post about how I put myself outside my comfort zone and need to now start saying yes to more things?

Seeing as it also happens to be International Women's Day today, an unplanned but perfect coincidence, this can be a perfect example of girls supporting and just looking after each other! So, I'm going to attempt to do a sort of crohns-and-travel-as-a-student-with-some-amazing-girls-in-a-really-beautiful-city post with some added pics and stories about deadly prosecco (or was it sparkling wine? Never quite sure). Enjoy!

Day 1:

Half an hour of dragging a suitcase through four different student accommodations at 8am in the morning - apologies to all residents of Taly - was completely worth it, possibly purely for the fact we got our TOUR T-SHIRTS before we got on the coach. Yes, it's extra and yes, it is completely necessary: we were a girl group on tour it would be like having a hen party with no inappropriately shaped...erm...items allowed. Quick nap, into the airport, realise you haven't weighed your suitcase and pray for the best. Some frantic swapping, a couple of pairs of shoes flying around and...we realised the ladies sorting our luggage literally couldn't care less. Clearly, I wasted my time creating an odd google search history of "HOW HEAVY IS A 10KG SUITCASE", "WHAT WEIGHS 10KG". (The answer google gave me ladies and gents, in case you were wondering, is a list of animals that weigh this amount. Fave examples are a badger or a small jungle cat. PERFECT.)

Next thing I remember is being woken up at the end of the flight, by, might I add, the CRINGIEST Ryanair fan fair announcement you have ever heard in your life. Think a cross between one of those irritating, over the top text notifications and the national anthem recorded with a microwave. It gave me a laugh anyway.

WE'RE IN BUDAPEST!

We stocked up on food (alcohol, cheese and bread - essentials only ladies in that order) and made it to the apartments with only one near death experience, I'm talking to you Liv...in fact, I'm going to start a list of things I learnt on this trip so 1) TRAMS ARE GOD DAMN DANGEROUS. Take from that what you will.

Day 2:

First night in the apartments done and a few interesting discoveries made, including the room with two showers and a window to the corridor. No, you didn't read it wrong. Two showers, one sink, one window. Maybe the Hungarian are just a lot more liberated than the English, guess we'll never know. I would like to add the window was covered and could be shut from the inside - before we all jump to stereotypical views of girls running around in pyjamas, drinking prosecco, having pillow fights and showering together... (unless that takes your fancy)

Moving swiftly on, we went to see the Fisherman's Bastion, which I incorrectly assumed was some sort of dock or tourist attraction on the river. It's far more beautiful than it sounds. Think Hogwarts in the snow but in white stone. If anything I think it was more ten times more aesthetic in winter with the misty views of the river and melting snow on all the turrets. Budapest is definitely one of those cities you can visit anytime of year and if you're going I would 100% recommend you go and see this as well as the Matthias Church. If you're as obsessed with pretty buildings as I am, you will love this.

Site seeing got a bit tiring at this point - 2) THERE ARE LOTS OF STAIRS AND HILLS IN BUDA - it's actually a proper work out, gets those glutes going girls! So, a few of us crashed back at the apartment where, purely the only reason I'm including this, we discovered Holly has a talent for deciphering Hungarian sitcoms. English channels aren't really a thing but wow do you realise sitcoms are predictable...we were basically tucked up in bed watching hollyoaks, snacks included via the weird flavours of pom bears they sell out there. Would also like to take the time to mention the food (of course). I don't know if food just always tastes better when you're on holiday, certainly true with alcohol, but oh my god I swear, our hummus and bread has NOTHING on the Hungarian versions. I present 3) HUNGARIAN HUMMUS IS THE SH*T.

Left my hummus behind to venture out to a contemporary dance class in Buda - exciting - and an hour or so later, after running up and down the stairs of the building and following some 7 year olds going to their ballet class, we finally found the studio, or rather, someone who wasn't me had the courage to walk in and pray they weren't walking in on a class of young pro ballerinas.

So, contemporary dance in Hungary? Abstract is the word. One of few words we had when we realised we walked into an improv class half way through and were told to choreograph the edgiest material since GCSE Dance 'pedestrian actions'. Fairplay to every one in that class and their dance instructor was so welcoming but I think our differences came to show when we presented our work. *sheepish glances all round* The only way I can describe it is Hofesh Shecter only more intense staring and less jumping - for anyone who doesn't know who this is which is everyone that wasn't in my A level Dance class, it's something like this.

Day 3:

Back to being a tourist with some ice skating! The outside rink in Buda is so lovely and also the view is amazing! I'll let you in on a secret though: I'm terrified of ice-skating. I did it once at a party when I was 9 and did not have the balance for metal blades on ice I am telling you. So the prospect of metal blades on a frozen lake full of ten year olds that resemble Elsa from frozen made me feel like I was on a one way track to pulling a Gemma Collins...However, shoutout to Adrianna for dragging me around for a few laps and the rest of the Expression girls for putting up with my whining and we now have no.4) I'M ACTUALLY NOT SCARED OF ICE-SKATING, provided I can pull a girly move and hold onto someone, thanks.

Unfortunately though, the pictures of me on ice were not enough to fool everyone that I was a newfound pro...I actually had a guy on tinder message me about said picture below to inform me he could tell I wasn't comfortable on the ice because of my "stance". Charming. Happily take your comment back to the Alpes with your skiing and skating holiday thankyougoodbyeUNMATCH.

If you're still with me, you've made it to the best part. The RUIN BARS *insert pun about getting ruined*. Oh, before that though I must elaborate on the deadly prosecco come wine come it-cost-2-pounds-why-does-it-matter. I think we got through at least five bottles of this and every time it was a game of "how far do you reckon it'll go this time?". There were so many bubbles in this drink that the first time Saffie opened a bottle I swear someone got shot. It was like firing some kind of alcoholic rifle down the corridor - no exaggeration the cork in my bottle travelled 6 metres without having to touch it.

Flying corks everywhere...

Onto the bars and they are incredible. You can't go to Budapest without visiting one of these. There's so many rooms, colour everywhere, graffiti everywhere, bathtubs, bicycles, cars you can sit in, you name it, it's there. Also, fun fact for if you're out drinking in Buda, 5) A SINGLE IS A DOUBLE IN HUNGARY. Win, win if you ask me.

Skip to the post night out food and I have one final judgement to complete Day 3 - 6) HUNGARIAN MCDONALDS IS 10X BETTER THAN UK.

I cannot describe to you how much better and no, it wasn't the alcohol determining this. Just thought you all needed to know that.

Day 4:

How does a whole day in an outdoor spa sound for a hangover cure? That's what we got (and wow it was needed) with the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. You can get a day pass and the whole complex is yours including 2 outdoor heated baths, one warm and complete with a current pool in the middle and the other hot...as in the perfect bath temperature hot. Yes, you get a bit pruney but yes it's so totally worth it. I was one happy prune.

This was also quite out of my comfort zone as this was the first time wearing a bikini in public since being diagnosed with Crohn's and since my body has changed because of it, so it was quite daunting. These girls though. I can honestly say I have never met such incredibly lovely people, you all carry each other and I have never felt more at ease with a group of people I've known for that amount of time. We love girls who lift up other girls. #internationalwomensday

That pretty much concludes our trip so I just want to take this moment - seeing as you've made it this far down the page with me hehe - to make a massive shoutout to everyone in Expression Dance and say a big thank you for organising the trip but also for just being such lovely, gorgeous people. I never thought I would get this much out of a university social and you all mean the world to me.

If there's one thing I've learnt from this at all its that, finally 7) SAY YES TO MORE. Anyone who's at uni already or is going next year, say yes! To joining socials, to meeting new people, doing new things and placing yourself outside your comfort zone. It's so worth it and you'll meet some amazing people, guaranteed.

So, that's enough of me rambling - if you'd like to know anything more about Budapest or you're travelling there this year message me!

Thanks so much for reading, big love to Expression - Absolutely gutted we're losing some of our girls this summer, you'll be missed so much!

Happy International Women's Day to all the wonderful women in my life.

XXX

#blog #travel #budapest #uni #studentblog #society #studenttravel #grouptravel #holiday #winter #citybreak