Budapest, Hungary.  I don't anything about this place but I have googled good things about it...plus, its cheap to go there.  Though I have been dreaming of a beach holiday, I cannot seem to find anyone to go with me on a holiday so coming with a tour group seemed to be a better idea if I'll have to travel alone.  Sigh, if I can only find someone who loves to travel as much as myself.

So I booked the tour.  Its quite a good deal since it already includes the plane return ticket and hotel accommodation.  I'll have all the free time I like to go around too, unlike at the Contiki Europe tour I went with last May.  An all-inclusive trip for Ł219.  Not bad eh?  I'm still pretty scared about roaming around with no one (Kasumi, I will be brave and strong like you!!!) but pretty hopeful that I might make friends there who I can go with.  Well, actually, now that I thin about it, it might be a good idea that I'm on my own coz I don't have to wait around for anyone else!

Here's what Frommers recommend to see:

1. Inner City and Central Pest

Budapest, a city whose wide boulevards were designed a little over a century ago, is a city that can be walked, so start off in the center city, wander the grand boulevards, and admire the architecture.

Or take a more leisurely stroll around the area and visit a few museums and highlights of the area. You might duck into the Hungarian National Museum, the Budapest Holocaust Memorial Center, or the Inner City Parish Church. As you tour the area, you'll begin to understand the incredible changes that the city has seen in recent years. Many buildings have been completely restored and renovated. Old decrepit spaces have become complexes, and many more projects are being developed.

Head over to Váci utca, which is the main shopping and walking street of Budapest. This booming shopping area developed in Hungary over the past decade and a half since the systemic changes of 1989. You might try the Vali Folklór folk craft shop, the VAM Design Gallery, and various clothing and bookstores (avoid the touristy cafes here).

Walk from Déak tér to the Danube Promenade. Then make your way toward the Kossuth tér metro for:

2. Parliament

You can't miss Budapest's grand, ecclectic Parliament building, which hugs the Danube. Designed by Imre Steindl and completed in 1902, the building mixes neo-Gothic style with a neo-Renaissance dome. It has been from the outset one of Budapest's symbols, though until 1989 a democratically elected government had convened here exactly once (just after World War II, before the Communist takeover). Since 2000, in addition to its government functions, it has also been home to the fabled Hungarian crown jewels. Unfortunately, you can enter only on guided tours (the half-hour tour is worthwhile for the chance to go inside).

3. Parlament Kávéház

Per Hungarian tradition, sit down in a coffeehouse to read the newspaper, relax, ponder the past, and dream of the future! Situated adjacent to Hungary's parliament buildings, the Parlament Kávéház is decorated with an impressive rounded painting of the parliament buildings, and even a ceiling mural. V. Vértanúk tere 1. tel. 1/269-4352

Walk south about a 1/4 of a mile toward the historic Chain Bridge, which you will see in the distance:

4. Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge crosses the Danube and empties out into Roosevelt Square. The bridge holds the distinction of being the first permanent crossing to link Buda and Pest. It was initiated at the behest of 19th-century Hungarian reformer Count István Széchenyi after bad weather in 1820 had forced him to wait 8 days before being able to get to his father's funeral. Designed by William Tierney Clark, an Englishman, the bridge was one of the largest suspension bridges of its time when it opened in 1849. According to legend the omission of sculpted tongues on the lions which guard the bridge at either end caused the sculptor to drown himself in the river out of shame. (Note: You might duck into the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace while you're here to view its breathtaking interiors).

Walk across the Chain Bridge, and take the funicular up to the:

5. Castle District

Castle Hill, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, consists of two parts: the Royal Palace itself and the so-called Castle District, a mostly reconstructed medieval city.

Otherwise, this is a great area for walking and wandering. You might stop into a few highlights, including the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, and the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art.

6. Rivalda Café & Restaurant

After a long day walking and sightseeing, you might want to have a meal at the Rivalda Café & Restaurant. This restaurant, the brainchild of the Canadian-Hungarian Agnes Weininger, retains the charm of the world of theater that Hungarians love so much. Here, a sole saxophonist plays his lonely tunes, dwarfed by the château yellow backdrop at the far end of the restaurant. Theater lights and riggings adorn the ceilings; the walls are painted with the backdrops of plays and are lined with caricatures of famous Hungarian actors.

Hmmm, a pretty full schedule ahead.  Maybe I'll meet a man while I'm there to make it a memorable trip. teehee..no, not people from the tour group..if anderson tours is anything like Contiki, I definitely think not. :D