Budapest is the Hungarian capital. Situated on the Danube, the city is composed of the two banks; Buda and Pest.

The 1920, post ww1 trianon treaty imposed severe, punitive reparations in the form of 3/4 territorial loss. Hungary is now a fraction of its former AustroHungarian imperial size. For example, part of the Croatian coastline is a Hungarian place. Transylvania and Slovakia are also Hungarian places. In all of these places one still finds the architecture and native Hungarians, speaking Hungarian. 90 years later this is still a fresh wound.

Hungarian is a linguistic island, unique among other European languages. The language hasn't changed significantly since Magyar tribes migrated out of Asia roughly a thousand years ago. There are very few Latin, Anglo Saxon or Slavic derivations or origins. Hungarian belongs to the Ugric language family and is aglutanative. For example, possession is governed by suffixes.

Strategically located in the Carpathian Basin, Budapest has survived numerous protracted invasions by the likes of Mongol horseman, Ottoman Turks and ideological Russians. This territory forms Western Europe's first eastern line of defense & Budapest already had a population when the Romans arrived and began building baths. Budapest endured savage urban warfare in 1945 and again in the 1956 uprising against the communism.

Or perhaps it's the 100s of steaming, geothermal baths, spicy kitchens, palinka, as well as lovely & heroic people that make it an irresistable destination. Invaders were often discombobulated and assimilated. Budapest retains a spontaneous and distinctive character in the global offer.