Budapest

Vas has internet in his flat, which is very nice. Vas is working full time on his chess engine, Rybka (Rybka website). We talked a bit about Rybka and he showed me where he is running tests on some Rybka improvements.

So far, Budapest has been great. Haven't done any sightseeing, but I have walked around the center of town. I walked along the river, the Duna, last night and took pictures. I will go see Budai castle later today.

Budapest is less modern looking than Prague. The housing and buildings look less up to date. However, it seems that there are many more cars. This may be because the roads are better or the public transportation worse. The trams are very old looking as if they're from the '40s or something.

I exchanged money today and it was different than exchanging in Prague. In Prague, I asked every exchange office what exact amount I would get for the US currency I wanted to exchange. I never got the advertised rate because of commissions and whatnot. In Prague, the advertised rate is not really what you will get but more an upper bound (you won't get better than the advertised rate). However, in Budapest, every place I asked, I got exactly what they advertise and most of the exchange offices have the same rate. I noticed in both Prague and Budapest that you get a slightly better rate at the small exchange offices rather than at a major bank.

Right now I am figuring out how to use Vas's washing machine. I have promised to explain its usage to Vas if I manage to get clean clothes out of the process. I am also very happy Vas has a regular American keyboard and not some insane Czech setup... z y ( ) ' ? : are all much easier to type now.