Today we had our first full day here, starting with our first math lecture at McDaniel International College! We were introduced to the facilities and jumped right in by learning about the division algorithm. We had a chance to do some small group work and get to know our classmates for the term.
After class, our whole group went to Nagyi Palacsintázója where we enjoyed savory and sweet pancakes! It was a homey restaurant decorated with mirrors lining the walls and a spiral staircase leading to an upstairs atrium. The pancakes were made fast and had some interesting flavors such as tiramisu, spinach, apple, cheese, and chicken stew! Most of us tried one savory pancake and one sweet pancake and found that both were delicious.
After lunch, we split up to find our way back to the hotel, stopping to sightsee a bit along the way and take pictures, something we hadn't yet had a chance to do. We were able to get a view of Parliament, which we would later tour, and the Chain Bridge, along with other buildings.
After some down time at the hotel, we took the trolley to Parliament where we got a tour of the inside. We got to see some items from the Coronation of the Hungarian Monarch, including the Holy Crown of Hungary, the king's sceptre and sword, and other pieces of the Hungarian Regalia. We also got a view of the Golden Staircase with a ceiling made out of pure gold. In addition, we got a quick look at the Parliament Senate Chamber which is no longer in use. Rather, they currently use one on the other side of the building that is an exact replica. After the tour, some of us stopped by the gift shop to buy souvenirs.
We had a happy surprise waiting for us at the hotel when we found that the delayed luggage had finally arrived!! After some down time at the hotel, our group went separate ways to explore some different food options for dinner in Budapest. A group of us tried to go to a Hungarian Bistro, but found out as we arrived that they were unfortunately fully booked for the night. Hungry and desperate, we ended up going to Momotaro, a Chinese restaurant nearby, before heading back to our hotel to work on our first homework assignment!
-- Olivia Prescott, Victoria Knutson, and Emily Olson
Next time you go to Nagyi Palacsintázója make sure you spoon a bit of eros pista (it's hot--Hungary's version of Sriracha) on your savory pancakes. That stuff changed my life! So much so that it's the one thing I've asked Prof. Berliner to bring home to me.
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