When I first blogged about my upcoming trip to Budapest, a lovely reader named Tom commented and told me to be sure to check out the "ruin pubs." They're exactly what you think they are -- abandoned buildings converted into pubs and artistic spaces. Gritty enough for ya? And the nightlife in Budapest does not quit.

So the thing about Budapest is that it just kinda takes you by surprise. Everyone raves about Vienna and Prague and all those neighboring cities (and rightly so), but Budapest is kinda lonely. Its streets aren't cluttered with hordes of tourists jockeying for the best camera space or picking their noses in public. So, why was I so surprised by Budapest? Something to do with its beautiful streets and fascinating history, I guess.