Last night I ventured out, to meet a new friend. He is an ex-pat and was enthusiastic about sharing with me, some of his favorite experiences in this foreign land. . We were to meet at 6:00, where bus # 11 meets the yellow train. I confidently set out with plenty of time to arrive on schedule. After waiting ½ hour, and no Andrew, I assumed something must have come up. (I have been encouraged to get an inexpensive cell phone while here, for situations such as this. Oh well, not there yet). So rather than heading home so early in the evening, I decided to get on the train and do some site seeing, riding it to the end of the tracks. It was not until after returning home, some hours later, that I received an email from Andrew. He too waited, for an hour, elsewhere. I have yet to figure out where my confidence had led me astray, but clearly not to my anticipated connection. Regrettably, his hour long wait seems to have squelched his desire to get together, while my ½ hour one and subsequent train ride into the city only flamed my curiosity to learn more about this place, from someone who speaks my language. Time will tell if Andrew will reconsider the possibility. In the meantime I will try a pass of empathy and see what happens.Onto the train ride, rush hour in the city of Budapest Hungary, capital of Eastern Europe. As we travel down the main street, I am awe stuck by the beauty of the office buildings and store fronts. (Simultaneously deeply grieved with the vast amount of graffiti which defaces them. Who and why would someone do this to such works of art? I wonder about the youth in the USA. What needs are these street artists around the world hoping to meet, in their expression of apparent protest? What are they trying to say and who are they saying it to? Is the message universal or local, or both? Perhaps some web searching/studies will shed some light on this curiosity of mine.) Back to the beauty of the elaborate and ornate work that is present on the front of so many very large buildings which line the streets. On and on they go, and this is just one street. I am sure I will be sharing many photos of them, in days to come. At one point we pass by a building that is being refurbished. All but the facade has been torn down, leaving a 2 foot deep face of a building. For some reason, the image stayed with me, as I wondered about my inclination to draw conclusions based upon superficial images, first impressions. Often leading to a whole set of assumptions, which may have nothing to do with the reality. What ever that is! And speaking of “pretty faces”, there are so many on these streets. Beautiful, young, tall, slender legged women in very high heels. How do they do it?? So casually, as if they were born with them on. And with such an air of confidence and sophistication. Not long into this crowd and it becomes clear to me where my self-image is needing some empathy. I am playing the comparison game, one I am all too familiar with. Traveling seems to require a certain degree of self confidence and when in new unfamiliar places, those areas in which I am most vulnerable, seem to rise to the surface for attention. So, my femininity it is. Not a huge surprise. With no desire to deny this, I will do some self-connection and hopefully soon celebrate how precious all of these beauties are, as we move with such ease and confidence and comfort in our own shoes !
As I become aware of being hungry; I get off the train and find a street side café for a bite to eat. I select a Hungarian pizza. It was not until after I ordered and the table was set, with a plate and a packet of ketchup, that I remembered reading that Hungarians use ketchup for their tomato sauce. Oh well. It will be a new experience. Fortunately, not a bad one, however I did not add additional topping, thank you. Hungarian currency is quite different here. Actually I find it a little intimidating. Where is my prosperity consciousness, when I need it? Just looking at pricing seems to stimulate fear. When I see prices in the 1,000’s, my conditioned mind goes into overwhelm. It is after taking a deep breath and doing the math, that I am able to relax and make some choices. So, rather than paying $2,000 for dinner and leaving a $400 tip,
I pay $12 dollars and leave a $2 tip. Now that I can live with, even imagining there may even be enough for an ice cream later on.
Today it rained, quite a bit. It has done so, since I arrived here. I am thoroughly enjoying it. Eva’s place is on the third floor and looks out over the city. All of the glass doors and windows open and allow the fresh moist air, to fill the rooms. I am still getting use to being in a new space and using unfamiliar appliances. To date, my biggest challenge being the washing machine. I have a new found appreciation for the “little pictures” on the dials, as I have not a clue as to what it says, but interpreting the images I can do. There is no dryer, but rather a clothes rack. How very convenient and actually quite efficient. I am clueless as to why I have not used one at home. This alternative way of drying clothes make a whole lot of sense, actually more sense that a drying machine. It must have to do with the fluffy feel !!
I am still getting use to the time change, and with all the time I need it is of little concern. It almost feels like surfing two time zones, my body using sleeping and waking states to find its balance. Well, it is now 2:30 AM, and I think I will stop. Surely, more later.
(the pictures are ones of my place
of waiting..)
