Going out till 4am with four people I barely knew, meeting two people who sold their car to a drug dealer in Paraguay in order to buy an air ticket to Europe, almost getting arrested by Vladimir Putin’s security and getting to drive a complete stranger’s twenty-plus year old car, not to mention meeting someone who had a “kohlapuri” sandal with him at a greek restaurant… I guess you could say that it was an exciting two days in Budapest.
I did not have any hotel reservations. However, as the train made its way into the station, a young man representing a hostel came on the train and sold me a bed in a hostel for around $10 a night. I was under no obligations, all I had to do was take the free shuttle provided by them to the hostel, check it out, and I did not have to pay anything upfront. I decided to take a chance, as the setup seemed legit, and made it to the hostel without getting abducted on the way.
The Mellow Mood Hostel well exceeded my expectations. The location was fabulous, right by the river, and next to the Kempinski and Le Meridian Hotels. It was an old office building converted to a hostel so had large rooms with high ceilings, very clean, and all amenities. We were eight to a room, and each had their own locker. Additionally, they conveniently had the laundry room right next to the bar, which was where I found myself, and about ten other fellow-travelers while waiting for my clothes to dry. Over the course of the next four to five beers, I got to know two australian former construction workers who were traveling around the world and had some of the craziest experiences. These guys bought a car in Canada and made their way down to South America, picking up hitch-hikers in Mexico who along the way helped themselves to their iPods and clothes and money leaving them stranded. They then sold their car in Paraguay to someone they claim was a drug-dealer, and then after working in Denmark and France, finally made their way to Budapest where they were merrily getting drunk in the company of complete strangers such as myself.
And then there was a Bosnian girl from Croatia who had actually visited Darjeeling in India purely because she saw it on a teabag, or the American kid who showed up in the middle of the night after visiting villages in the Ukraine, or a charming girl from Denmark who was in Budapest interviewing people for a radio show, and coincidentally was on the same flight as me on the way out of Budapest.
Budapest is really a beautiful city. You can see both its glorious past and the influences of various cultures have had over the years. You also see a new, emerging country that is genuinely excited about joining the EU, and is embracing the modern world with enthusiasm. I was surprised to learn, from a guy I met at a greek restaurant, that India’s TCS has about 800 software engineers in Budapest, about 100-200 of whom are from India! Its still very reasonably priced, and even the new fancy shopping malls have quality merchandise at significantly lower prices than the West.
I was also very pleasantly surprised by how friendly and helpful people were. Almost everywhere I went I managed to engage in conversation with complete strangers, and in the rare moments that I got lost or needed help (finding an internet cafe, for example), even if someone couldn’t communicate in English, they would try their best or ask around until they found someone who spoke English.
My most unexpected experience happened, well, quite unexpectedly. I was walking toward Buda Castle on the hill, and even made my way in until a kind Russian or Hungarian security guard with a not-so-kind automatic rifle politely asked me to turn around. He did not speak any English and I did not know any Hungarian, so I was quite perplexed until a German tourist couple standing outside the castle told me that Vladimir Putin was expected there any minute and no one was allowed to go where I had inadvertantly gone in order to take pictures of the breath-taking views that the castle’s elevation offers!
Anyway, so I turn around and head toward a quieter part of town and see these two old east-european cars that look a lot like the old Indian “Fiats”, and I start photographing them, just as the owner of one comes out. Through halting English and gestures, he asks me if I’d like to take the car for a spin. Now, this is an old car, filled with lunch-boxes as the man delivers food to old folks, so there is room only for one, the driver. Yet this guy trusts me enough to walk along the street while I slowly edge the car out of its parking spot and take it along the road for a spin! It might have been only 200 meters, but it was an amazing feeling. Later I was told that in Hungary cars are expensive, and people have a special attachment to their cars, and for this guy to let a complete stranger ride his was a really big gesture!
Other than that, I spent a lot of time walking around various neighborhoods, exploring areas, tourist attractions (the terror museum and Andrassy Boulevard), and of course cafes. I went to see some of the famous Baths, but unfortunately I got to the Hotel Gellerd too late and the baths were closed.
Check out some of the pictures here as words don’t to justice to this really beautiful and culturally rich city. I really want to come back here again sometime.
