DocDivaTraveller: May 2022

Even when you are a shoe string budget, there can't be anything that won't make a hole in your pocket while travelling. Especially when you are in Europe. Most of the places of interest have an entrance fee (which are substantial if you are an Indian). Even peeing requires 1.5 euro; which is almost 150 INR! Having been to Europe 4 times, we have come to know certain things. Museums are important, but not that essential to our itinerary because a, we are not historians, b: we don't have that much time to ponder upon every statue/ fact! So we have devised this simple plan; we do visit museums and take a picture from the outside, or till the premises would allow without a ticket, but don't go inside. We don't seem to miss much (unless it's as important as the Louvre; which you must) and save an expensive amount of time and money! So here's a list of 10 things that you can do in Budapest for free, that does not involve a penny as you are not going inside!

1. Cross the Chain Bridge on foot

The entire Chain Bridge or the Szechenyi Bridge is a marvellous piece of architecture. The river Danube flowing below and the cool breeze hitting your face as you walk, it's priceless. We had crossed the bridge both during the day as well as at night and they were completely different experiences.

2. Walk along the Danube river

If you have time and money, you can take the Danube river cruise. Since we are discussing a free guide here, it's best to walk. You will stumble across a sign that reads BUDAPEST (that's on the Pest side of the city). You can watch beautiful ferry boats passing by, sunrise or sunset or simply enjoy the views.

3. Shoes along the Danube

Also you will come across shoes on the Danube river bank. Those shoes have been erected as a memorial with sculptor Gyula Pauer, to honour the Jews who had been massacred during the Second World war. Those soldiers had been asked to take of their shoes (so that the shoes could be resold) and were shot along the edge of the river so that their bodies would fall directly in to the water.

4. The Parliament Building of Hungary

This magnificent massive structure is iconic of the city of Budapest. It is situated on the Pest side of the city and is absolutely spectacular. Completed in 1902, it's the largest building of Hungary. It's built in a Gothic style, highly influenced by the Vienna City Hall.

5. The Museum Hungarian agriculture

You really don't need to enter this museum as it's so beautiful from the exteriors. It's the biggest museum of agriculture in Europe, and is situated in the Vajdahunyad Castle. As a result, the building is regal and fascinating, with English ivy growing all over.

6. Hero's Square or Hosok Tere

This is a memorial of the Hungarian national leaders heroes and the 7 chieftains of the Magyars. It's a very important architectural and historical landmark, which you can't miss. (Just like the India Gate of Delhi) Plus, the entire attraction is free!

7. The Buda Castle

The entry to the Buda castle is quite a chunk of money; but you aren't missing anything if you don't go inside. Because my friends, it's situated on the top of the Castle hill and offers spectacular views of the entire city! The hike itself is priceless and when you reach the top, it's jaw dropping! Also, you can watch the Funicular going up and down, which is cute too.

8. The Fisherman's Bastion

This fortress is an iconic landmark of the city and is one place that I regret not going inside. It's magnificent from the outside and really huge. It would take at least half a day to fully explore the place. We watched the sunset from there and has been etched in our memories.

9. House of terror:

Again we did not go inside The Terror Haza but it was pretty impressive from the exteriors. It is a memorial of the victims of the Fascist and Communists regime, who were detained, tortured or killed in the building.

10. St Stephen's Basilica

This is a Catholic Basilica which is mesmerising from the inside. There are a lot of cheap eateries outside and the church serves as an astonishing view while you eat!

So guys this was a crisp guide of the things that you could do for free. I love reading free guides and hence focus on creating my own. If you have only 24 hours in Budapest, this guide will make you feel that you have fully covered this fascinating city!

Are you fond of free activities? Or do you enter every museum? Let me know!

5/25/2022 9 comments

The capital of Virginia is one of America’s oldest cities – but that doesn’t mean it’s behind the times when it comes to nightlife.

Richmond is a vibrant community whose aesthetic borders on hipster. It’s also got a low cost of living, strong job market, and is an area with activities suitable for any taste.

If you are someone who appreciates a good nightlife scene, you’ll want to consider checking out Richmond houses for rent. You can sit down for a cocktail and a chat with a friend, or head to a raucous live show and jam to the music.

Live Music with Your Libations

There are plenty of live music venues on deck in Richmond, no matter your favored genre.

The National is a historic theater with wooden floors, brick walls, and seven full bars. The venue brings in acts of all kinds, from podcasts and punk acts to blues artists and big bands.

The Camel offers a wide menu to pair along with entertainment by local and regional acts.

If you like a place with niche horror decor on the wall, Wonderland will be your jam. This informal hangout caters to fans of punk and metal music.

The Tobacco Company is a restaurant that also hosts bands on the weekends.

Raising The Bar

There are a variety of bars in the Richmond area, whether it’s a jeans or t-shirt kind of night or one where you want to pull out a little black dress.

Poe’s Pub is an Edgar Allan Poe-inspired Irish eatery that offers food, drink, and entertainment. It’s also close to the Edgar Allen Poe Museum, so you can make a day of imbibing in all things having to do with the macabre writer.

Heavy metal band Gwar has interests that lie outside of their insane live shows, and that includes opening a restaurant with Travis Croxton, Richmond’s Restaurateur of the Year 2014. The bar is a well-known late-night watering hole that caters to clientele of all kind, not just the heavy rocking variety.

Dance It Out

If your aim is to shake your booty all night long, check out one of the many clubs in Richmond.

Godfrey’s (which also has a famous drag brunch) has been around since 1997 and has mostly LGBTQ+ clientele, though all are welcome.

The Tobacco Company club may host bands, but it also houses a higher energy dancing space on its lower level.

Experience the Arts

If a quieter night seeing a theatre show or walking about a gallery is more your speed, Richmond still has a lot to offer.

Check out Coalition Theater for the best of the comedy shows in the area, or the Virginia Repertory Theatre to catch an energizing musical.

The Hippodrome Theater in historic Jackson Ward features many artistic acts and also a Speakeasy Bar and Grill.

You might want to kick off your night at Painting with a Twist, where you can sip a cool beverage or two while receiving step-by-step instructions to create a beautiful picture of your own.

5/11/2022 11 comments

For majority of the people in this world, owning a home is a dream come true. Be it any strata of the society, almost everyone wants to buy or build their dream home. The rich aims for the bigger and swankier while the low to middle class aims to have a nice roof above their head; which they can call their home. No matter what the economic capability is, buying a home is a tedious task and requires a lot of money, in which financing is involved. That can be quite tricky and these days, the young and savvy generation are doing their math and opting for renting, instead of buying. Because some of them are digital nomads, who can't decide which city to settle in; while some are too smart to calculate that renting would be cheaper than paying the hefty EMIs. No matter what, buying your home is a matter of pride.

The first step in buying your dream home is taking the plunge. Because no matter what strata of financial background we belong to, the property we dream of acquiring is usually more than our reach. Therefore it's usually a long process trying to figure out whether you are in the position to buy or should you continue to rent, and if you are planning to buy, how much do you need to start saving in order to pay the down payment.

During this process, you may need to be open minded about your budget. Often it happens that you have something is mind but you end up liking something more expensive. For example, you are in the market to buy a two bedroom apartment, but when you start looking, you fall in love with a three bedroom flat and all your budgeting goes for a toss. In such cases, something that helps estimating affordability, saves the day.

Owning a property is always like a safety net. No matter what the money moguls say about calculating whether paying rent is more profitable in certain scenarios (when investing the down payment gives you more return). Because a home is not like a dress, you just can't buy it from the mall the moment you want to; and this pandemic has really made us realise what Home Sweet Home actually means.

So when does one usually start looking to buy a property?

*The commonest reason is when you decide on settling down, whether alone or with someone. Usually when you live in a place long enough to fall in love with it, you start looking for reasons to settle down there. And if there is a partner you would like to start your life with, or you are planning to start a family, you always need a safe place for shelter.

* When you outgrow your current home. As family grows, so does the requirement for a bigger space. From a unit of three (couple plus pet) to having your first child, or going from two to three kids, the need for bigger space gradually increases. Earlier a three bedroom apartment may suffice , but now you may need a townhouse. This is also a major reason why families move from the city to the countryside. Moving to the country means more space and lesser cost of living; ideal for a growing family.

This pandemic has definitely taught us the importance of a working space at home. So no matter how big (or small) your family is, a personal space is so important for growth. A dedicated home office means more productivity and less stress. Infact, people have started looking for bigger spaces since working from home became such a norm during this pandemic.

* A vacation home: Well, this one is really a dream of mine. To own a property at a beachside where I could unwind with my family during holidays. This is excellent from an investment point of view too, as the property is put up for rent for the rest of the year. Of course, like any other asset, there are maintenance charges, but eventually it pays in the long run.

*Solely for investment. When you have saved quite a bit of your earnings, you have spent in the stock market, you are not looking for a home upgrade but want to multiply your savings, buying a property is an excellent option. Even when you have to finance the rest of the amount after down payment, the property pays for itself in the form of monthly rent.

I along with my husband bought our first home 5 years back. Although it's a spacious three bedroom apartment in the heart of the National Capital Region, with every source of transport and facility nearby, we have outgrown our current home. However we refuse to move because we Indians are obsessed with living in the city centre in spite of lesser space and double cost of living!

What's your take on property investment? How many homes do you own? Or do you prefer renting? Share your valuable feedback in the comments!

5/04/2022 10 comments