Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, and today was my last full day in Budapest. I had an amazing day soaking in hot thermal baths, shopping at the market, and learning how to cook Hungarian food. Let me tell you all about it!
Soaking at Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Budapest is famous for its thermal baths, and this morning, I got to visit the biggest one—Széchenyi Thermal Bath. The hot water comes from natural springs deep underground, and it’s full of minerals that people say are good for your health.
The bath has both indoor and outdoor pools. Outside, I floated in warm water while steam rose into the chilly air. It felt like sitting in a giant hot tub, but with a view of beautiful yellow buildings that look like a palace! Did you know that Széchenyi has been around since 1913? It was built in a fancy Neo-Baroque style, and it’s one of Budapest’s most popular spots.
A Tour of the Central Market Hall
In the afternoon, I joined a cooking class that started with a tour of the Budapest Central Market Hall. This place is HUGE, with colorful tiles on the roof and tons of stalls inside. I saw:
- Paprika: A spice that Hungarians use in lots of recipes.
- Sausages: Some were spicy, some were smoky, and all of them looked delicious!
- Pickled foods: Like cucumbers, cabbage, and even garlic. Hungarians love their pickles!
Our guide told us about Mangalica pigs, a special breed raised in Hungary, and how traditional foods like sausages and pickles were important before refrigerators existed.
Cooking Hungarian Food
After the market, we walked to a workshop kitchen where I learned how to cook Chicken Paprikash with Nokedli (spaetzle). Here’s what we did:
- Chopped onions, peppers, and tomatoes.
- Cooked the onions and made a roux with paprika for the sauce.
- Simmered the chicken in the sauce until it was tender.
- Mixed dough to make nokedli, then pressed it into boiling water to cook.
When everything was ready, we sat down to eat—and it was SO tasty! We even tried Hungarian sausage, cheese, and wine before dinner.
Packing Up
After the class, we went to a grocery store to pick up some last-minute treats. Then it was time to take one final ride on the #72 bus back to the hotel to pack our bags. Tomorrow, we head home!
What I Learned Today
- What is Chicken Paprikash?
It’s a Hungarian dish made with chicken, onions, peppers, and paprika in a creamy sauce. It’s often served with nokedli, little dumplings like spaetzle. - What are Thermal Baths?
Thermal baths are pools filled with hot water from natural springs. Budapest has lots of them because the city sits on geothermal springs! - What is the Central Market Hall?
It’s a huge indoor market in Budapest where you can buy spices, sausages, and handmade crafts.
I had so much fun on my last full day in Budapest. Tomorrow, I’ll be heading home, but I’ll never forget the amazing things I learned here.
This blog post was created collaboratively with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, to help organize and document our travels.
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