Stargate 45238.9

Budapest, Hungary

Airport taxi €35 Audi wagon
Welcome drink: homemade palinka

After arriving Monday evening and paying too much for the taxi (despite being advised in the airport and my own friend), I arrived at Ashbeel's place (the ride was sketch since it was past 11 and the taxi has no traditional markings).

I was once again welcomed with a local drink and beer; this being something called Palinka (a shot of 40%, but this one was homemade). We cheered, this time I looked into his eyes so as not to incur more years of bad _e_ (already at 21 years). We walked the waterfront where he lives and it reminded me very much of old Montreal. Beautiful bridges reflect the old architecture and the Marriott hotel.

Tuesday
Settled in, booked some more flights and hostels, ate at burger king (quite tasty), people watched (wonderful beauties and an old American man having ice cream in front of me).
Walked around the tourist shopping area, very beautiful modern clean look.
RELAXED in the afternoon and then went to eat traditional Hungarian dinner: gülash, duck, beef. Afterwards went to meet Ash's friends in a small middle of nowhere local dive. Traditional Hungarian dancing, local of course felt eastern European but welcoming. Met some of Ash's friends: Javier (bag with a soul), Christian (loud and funny, came to MTL before) and Daniel (let's just say, puff puff); the Spaniards. Also met Helen (Maltese-shared fun facts about Malta. Many Filipinos there)!

#spanish shame, Maltese shame, they look young, Palinka! My name sounds more Es-Spanish than there's!

Wednesday
Slept like a baby, Ash snores could wake the dead.

Started with lunch at a Syrian place; chicken shish taouk taste like home. Smelled some good shisha but they forgot ours.

First destination: hill top of pest side(?) of Budapest. Statues, man trying to pull the old follow-the-ball game. Beautiful postcard views from a top. Stopped for lemon fanta and peach nestle. Ash was right, fanta was good. IN HUNGARY, ONLY DONKEY SMOKES!

Second destination: old castle. Office of president of Republik of Hungary. Changing of the guard. Found the street snack, gas masks and soviet union style hat.

Third destination: old church with Hungarian decor. Many Asian tourists. Should have bought the traditional cross.

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Spent the afternoon in the thermal baths: warm to hot pools. Saw girl in glasses and hippie headband, and propane the same LOUD Americans that were a top the castle. #trying too hard. Ah, DAS IS GOOD, Jà? Relaxed!

Train back to downtown: oldest subway next to Paris. Sounds like a retarded soviet union style carnival crazy circus act wi da cloon.. €¥~?!% "IN HUNGARY, ONLY DONKEY SMOKES!"

Spent the evening with old and new friends to watch Spain vs. Portugal ("Ash, Spain is in red señor! Culó") and Hungarian burger. Met Laura and Kara (Ash's gf. Optical physicist, totally understood and admired my Pentax with SIGMA lens, multi surface coating)! Amazing!

Sat near some english speakers and dudes with shades and champagne thinking they were hot s*** having champagne from Belgium. Another beauty next to us (Persian?), English here for a concert asking where she can get the mushrooms. Kata said probably could get but Mafia may not be so kind to it.
One of the belgiums took a pic of his buddy sleeping, DURING A EUROCUP MATCH! #broke out the Filipino cigs. DONDÉ ESTA EL CULÓ! Kata to Ash: moron! Belgium: "PORTUGAL!!" and when kick was missed, banged on his table. More spilling of drinks and glasses. Ash got up too fast and spilled the champagne on Kata. She didn't want it anyways. "Christian! Soo many sunflower seeds from Spain!"
Ash: "lady, where is your poo****? My son is very sick! NO SEEDS"! By the end, shoot out, Spain beats Portugal! Belgium dude broke his table haha!

We then celebrated at szimpla! Wow! Communism?? WTF?? Many different people. Beers and Filipino cigarillos. #Transvistria, MOLDOVA. They still want to stay Soviet Union. AK-47 and shoot you out of missile! A chill young street. Waitress, CARROTS? Please yes!

Today
Delicious Italian restaurant, parpardelle pasta with pollo. Airport. Lufthansa is very nice airline.

Kósi Ashbeel for everything! Only donkey smokes in Hungary!

Budapest has a mix of old communist times with new modern Europe feel. At first, it felt quite strange and opposite to Germany, I thought there would be gypsies and people wanting my money. And this being eastern europe it first looked and felt backwards. But slowly I became accustom to how things are. Palinka shots and you'll be fine!

Taxi: city centre to airport
~ 4,350 HUF

Departing Budapest to Malta via Frankfurt. Germany once again! Deutcheland!!!

AC Airbus A321 & Airbus A319