After nearly a 2-hour delay we lifted off from JFK filled to the gills with passengers. On and off turbulence through through the nite but arrived to glorious sunshine. Met interesting passengers--a pathologist with mayo clinic Florida who emigrated from Hungary. Alsyo a woman from Denver who's doing a ten- day bike tor in several areas of Hungary.
Guess what kind of shoes all the older Hungarian women are wearing? White athletic shoes--who knew?
Peter was all smiles waiting for me at the airport. It was only about 8 miles to the apt but the streets are narrow, crowded with little cars and bordered by old buildings wedged shoulder to shoulder. Budapest seems to be one big urban renewal project. Lots of neglect & blight. Then you come upon a thick row of trees growing along the curb--clusters on opposite sides of the street in the midst of outdoor cafe tables. The crowns of the trees don't meet to form a leafy canopy over the street but they make you think they do. And they transform that area from blighted to charming.
The apt is great, but the entrance to the courtyard & buildings is in need of repair. And locks everywhere--it's literally a gated community.
Going to the bank is an experience.you take a number that's determined by the type of business you need to conduct--same with t-mobile. Then you wait a long time.
Budapest really is a walkable city so I'm putting off getting a transportation.
Tomorrow is walking to the Danube and doing walking tour of my neighborhood including the opera.
Ate a late lunch at a Hungarian style fast food place in the center city and bought groceries this evening near the apt. I sampled the Hungarian kolbasz when I got home--very paprikas! And good.
Can't believe I'm still awake. Time to call it a day.
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