"I hope this is the correct route, it seems a little odd."
Jenni sent me down to the car, parked in the street, outside our building in Budapest. The landlord had advertised free parking in the building. It was a drawcard as we don’t normally have a car when we visit major cities (infrequently), for obvious reasons. This time we have a car as we are returning from Austria and Croatia, spending a week in Hungary and then off to Slovakia. When we met our young landlord, he told me after I made the inquiry, that he’s from Azerbaijan. Turns out the free parking in the building is on the main road outside the building provided one of the good citizens of Budapest gives up his hard-earned parking space for us. In the alternative, along the side road across the way, there’s also parking available but one has to pay by the hour to the taxing authority of the city. Early each morning, our hero has to sprint from the bedroom half-dressed, ensure he has coins and buy a ticket from the robotic parking vendor. So, it’s free and in the building if you come from places other than Johannesburg or California, I suppose.
I went to move the car because I found a better (safer) opportunity had opened up away from the curb. Jen asked me to collect a box of cereal from our mobile pantry, which I did. On my return, I noticed as is common throughout the world these days, the number of people walking on the sidewalks (pavements) and crossing roads (pavements), while using their handheld devices, also known as mobile phones. I’m beginning to feel left out as it’s not something I do or like to do other than when I’m lost—I suppose then I need to do it quite often. Anyway, I really felt embarrassed, being the only person in Budapest not using a mobile device. It struck me—not the device—I had the answer. I picked up the box of cereal and read the back of the carton with great concentration as I digested the nutritional value, not the cereal. I felt good, being part of the scene. I think I've arrived.
Early the next morning, we had to get change for street parking, quite an ordeal, both the change and parking. When we eventually found a bank and worked out the system of queuing, the teller told me the bank does not provide change. Oh! Instead, he mentioned, we should try the coffee shop. Nice. I have not worked up the courage yet but one of these days I would love to walk into a bank in Hungary and order a cup of coffee.
Meeting and talking with people from all over the world is mostly, an uplifting experience, even when languages prove to be an obstacle. Nevertheless, it works. Today, on the way back from somewhere, somewhere in Budapest, an elderly man stopped to help us with directions, unasked. (We had been studying a map). Fortunately, we knew where we were and our destination—maybe, a first. His kindness was appreciated greatly. We had a 15 minutes discussion of Soviet dominated Eastern Europe post the War versus post-Soviet Union collapse. It was, of course, interesting but mostly, although we will never see the gentleman again, another opportunity of humans sharing experiences and frankly,...being human.
"Oops, where to from here if not up?"
Began high, dropped to ground level then climbed to this position before going down into the valley and up again. One of the most tiring hikes out of a number of very tiring ones. What pleasure! A view of the Danube as it makes a turn.
Now we are off to the valley, down a treacherous slope and up to the other side in an over 3,000 feet elevation gain day.
Let's go higher. Outside Budapest, one of the highest parts of the region, one can't go too high in the country.
Focusing on a desirable residence on the Danube.
Meantime, back at the ranch we have a long way to get back to the car (Jen crosses "Danube minor").
In 90 degrees weather, it was good to feel some coolness at the "Ram Szakadek".
A horseshoe on the Danube.
Something a little different.
A view of the sky from our apartment.
Liberty Statue of Budapest at the Citadel.
The statue at night from behind.
Buda Castle.
Part of one of the bridges crossing the Danube that caught the eye.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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