We Love Budapest: Where are you originally from?
Lara: Saint Louis, Missouri, United States.
WLB: What comes to your mind first, when you think of Budapest?
Lara: Beautiful places, beautiful faces.
WLB: What are your favorite places?
Lara: Szimpla, Fogasház, Zöld Macska, Híd Bistro, Marxim Pizza, Margaret Island, Buda Hill, 7th district, City Park, Margaret Bridge and Gellért Hill.
WLB: Does Budapest inspire you, if yes, how?
Lara: Coming to Budapest is one of the best decisions I've made. It's creatively inspired me even in it's coldest of months. Moving to a foreign place and not knowing the language was a revolution in my evolution. It's challenged me and revitalized my passion for creating, capturing and being a reflection of creation. The architecture makes me feel like I'm living a waking dream. This is the oldest city I've lived in and I've decided I will only date older countries from now on because I'm inspired by their past lives.
The nightlife rocks. You meet cool people from every other country without having to leave the city. Trust, I've lived the best of times in Budapest, as well as enduring some of the worse but it has all been worth it. It has adrenalized passion in my writing, stand up comedy and life.
WLB: How long have you been here for?
Lara: I have been rocking Budapest for 5 months.
WLB: Why do you live here?
Lara: I came to Hungary to backpack my family tree. My grandparents and father are from Hungary and they moved during the Russian invasion. I've always wanted to check out my people's homeland.
I've been working at a kindergarten in Óbuda teaching English to facilitate living here and traveling around Hungary.
WLB: Why have you chosen Budapest?Lara: I chose to live in Budapest because I had a choice between a teaching position in Balaton or here and when I said the word, Budapest I liked the way it rolled off my lips. Like the name of a new lover.
WLB: What are the most positive things about the city?Lara: Budapest rocks! The history of the perseverance of this country is inspiring. It's given me goose bumps to watch the Danube River and imagine time passing through Budapest with the same consistency and fervor. I am so stoked to see the spring make all the people and greenery bloom and come alive. The positive parts of Budapest are the good feelings it's given me and continues to give. Here, I feel like good times are inevitable.
WLB: What do you miss the most from home?
Lara: I totally miss my family, my friends, ridiculously large coffees and unlimited refills on Coca-Cola at restaurants.
WLB: What should improve in Budapest?Lara: More people need to smile and I think that unlimited refills on Coca-Cola in restaurants would do the trick.
WLB: Are you planning to stay here forever? If not where to go?
Lara: I pledge to stay and rock out in Budapest until another country whispers my name.
