You can't argue with idiots (Budapest part 4)

Not wanting to go straight to sleep, when I got back to Budapest, I stopped in for what would turn out to be a not so quiet beer. Well the first one was quiet, jotting down notes with passing conversation, then with the satisfaction of one glass I ordered another. I was in the mist of a conversation with someone near by, when a man came out of the bathroom walking towards where we were sitting. This man had evidently annoyed the person I was talking to before, and was well intoxicated. My counterpart tried brushed him off and minutes later left. Without the chance to return to my notes the annoying fellow, decided he needed someone else to piss off.


"Where you from?"
"Australia."
"I hate Australians!"
"And that how you open a conversation?"
"I got fucked over by an Australian girl!"
Then proceeded to tell me how, Australia is fucked. And how this girl convinced him to come out to Australia and screwed him over. While I proceeded to tell him, I couldn’t care less.
"Australians are all fucked, there only interested money like the Jews"


Take it from here that I already had one stop loose, and with every other starting to come off very quickly.


"Sounds like you picked a dud. Fuck, you want to tell me how shit Australia is, you got screwed over, your problem, do you want me to get started on the Jews?"
"The Holocaust didn't even happen, you don't know the truth, it's a conspiracy"
"Yeah, the Polish built Auschwitz as a tourist trap to make money?"
Obviously what I meant by this was "I swear you're retarded, go to a fucking library". I should have been less surprised hearing.
"It's all a big scam, you can't comprehend it"
"Well explain it, come on, tell me how it's all a big plan"
"It's out there on Youtube" then no other logical argument.


.."I swear you're retarded, go to a fucking liberty".."Go to Auschwitz or any other camp, have a look at the photos the millions of possessions, the matted shaved hair for felt making of hundreds of thousands of people" I did the maths out loud for good measure.


This has been thoroughly abbreviated, a lot more was said. In truth I used a logical approach first without raising my voice as I was treating it as a logical debate in the hope I could get him to reconsiders his points. It was an unrealised hope, so I crushed him. I could and did counter his arguments easy, what really pissed me off, is he wasn't smart enough to realise I was pissing on him.



Then I left.

A little lull (Egar)

I was on the edge of town staring up at a sign that read, Szépasszonyvölgy or the much more easily read English translation 'Valley of the beautiful woman' (that way). This was wine country, red wine country, or at least the city that provide residence for wine country. The wine Bikaver also known as 'Bulls Blood' it's self is what Egar is famed for, sure they have a castle, been invaded a few times, but where hasn't? It turns out the 'Valley of the beautiful woman' was the precise place I wanted to be the next day, but I would of followed that street on a whim anyhow if it wasn't. City centre was a better place to bet on until I had a base for the night.


Upon with drawing money and a check of my balance I was where I had expected to be, and about two weeks forward of where I wanted. No matter, I found a hotel that came within the region of my budget. Cheesey (along with bread and lettuce) could have described more than my dinner that night. Well the name of my temporary dwelling was the Hotel Romantica, and lived up to all the tack that could be suggested. Half bottle of wine, clipped rose on the dresser, red, there was a lot of red. I felt like I should be sleeping with someone here on point of principal, not to happen this time though.


I slept in, feeling drained nearly two months on the road and burning the candle at both ends was taking it's toll. Valley of the beautiful woman, well theirs a name that inspires life. It was already the afternoon and feeling like the morning had been waisted, I was going to take pleasant break from trying to see everything. Perhaps it was a waist of the day to only want food and wine, but I felt like I needed to take the opportunity to have a day doing nothing. Of the food I got more than I had anticipated, walking down into the valley with a solitary restaurant at the bottom.


A small feast, described what I actually ordered, that could have amply satisfied two, was my solitary challenge. And the wine was the delicious and famed 'Bulls Blood'. The waiter insisted on me having dessert, after graciously refusing twice, he brought it out on the house. I guess as a thank you for helping him with his English, I find it amazing the kindness you get from strangers. Though in a restaurant, this was quite perplexing. Perhaps it was because I was the only one dining at the time, even though the sun had barely set and it was still very early in the evening, maybe it was an encouragement to tip (which I did well). All I can say, it it was a great meal, I didn't feel short changed for what I prayed for it.



I may have felt like I could have done more that day, but one of appreciated quietness. I had a deadline to keep so I was not about to keep the habit; or so I thought...

More than an ample dinner

An apology on lateness.

Firstly, Thank you to everyone’s kind words on my writing. It has been something I've truly enjoyed doing and continuing to do. Due to a combination, of circumstances, procrastination, stress, all of which I do not pass the buck on; as well as hard work and the progression of other dreams, I took a break from writing.


My apologies to those following the blog, for the delays, and the missing of the second half of my
travels so far. There are a lot of stories I am still looking forward to sharing with you and I hope they continue to entertain, inspire, make you think or feel something.


I will still be a slow process to complete, but writing and editing has commenced once more. And I thank you again for your patience.


Till then, watch this space, and all the best,


Duncan






You may or my not be aware this blog, I have been re-editing, replacing a lot of material and adding new in a separate document to eventually become a book, and I hope to share more on that later.


Peace

Some nights are to remember (Budapest part 3)

The Groove hostel was once again home to me, and as I said before, it's not a party hostel. How ever you make friends, and these friends, might have another friend who is staying at a hostel call the Retox, no points for guessing that this one is a party house. Not being the biggest fan of organised pub crawls because 15 euro is a lot to pay for some watered down shots, I usually take the chance to explore myself, but being free this time I thought why not? We stood by the door outside or the hostel listening into the MC try to organise everyone over the microphone. It sounded as much of a challenge as a room full of twelve year old kids. "There's a noise curfew here, so I need everyone to shut the fuck up!" Worked eventually.


A name like Retox, it was always promising mess, and it delivered, but I'm getting a head of myself. At the bar was an open open mic and the worst joke telling MC down the front of a long room, but I'll give him this he had good taste with the first girl he called to the stage. She was pretty and strummed guitar, and when she sang, she blow my mind. The air was full and cause with Australian accents, until that first sung line pierced the room and turned it to silence. I regret that I never wrote down her name, because she took the whole room not just me with her voice.


The proceeding sets was of a less than amazing quality, or of an amazingly untalented quality. Bad jokes, off tone voices, lyrics dropped by the handful, but it wasn’t to last forever. One of the hostel staff along for the crawl was a professional rapper (Cyclops), and owned that stage with a freestyle that lasted a good 7 or 8 minutes. "Owed to Tittie". Now there was a lot to say about titties, everyone loves titties. But this owed was not for the love of fun sacks, but the love of another hostel worker that went by the name, that had left for Australia the day before. I never him, from being in another hostel, but I do knew he will be missed.


Later on in the night something else happened. Some people were up on stage, and thanks to the wonders of smart phones, had the lyrics there to guide them. The song was 'The scientest' by Coldplay. From the moment I heard the instrumental, a freestyle started writing it's self in my head. Walking out of the crowd at the second chorus, I asked for the mic and dropped the sixteen bars of speaking my mind.




Coldplay


Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need you
Tell you I'll set you apart
Tell me your secrets and ask me your questions
Oh let's go back to the start
Running in circles, coming in tails
Heads on a science apart


I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart
Tell me you love me, come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles, chasing our tails
Coming back as we are


Nobody said it was easy
Oh it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I'm going back to the start




My Verse (Love you, or leave you alone PT1)


We met a month ago. Thank you
for a few moments of you time to hear out my mind.
We started as friends, and damn she looked fine
Then after a few days, for a night she was mine.
A couple of days later I wrote, that song confessions of a player
How my thoughts changed weeks later.
We kept in contact talking on the face space
Came to visit a few days at her place
After a week, what can I say things changed
Emotions got involved, as they do in there strange way
Every day, we talked even just to say hello
I'm missing you, and where'd the time go
Am I wrong to be getting into this? I don't know?
Home is where the heart is and a and I left a part with her
So I'm picking up the phone
I've got to love you, or leave you alone.




I remember I had some long conversations later that night, though I cant remember what about. I do remember too much Polinka, free drinks, and more drinks after that, and free again. Then the 'oh shit' moment, where my legs stopped obeying what my head was telling them and just doing there own thing instead, the moment I realised I should have stopped five drinks ago. I knew I was going to black out, very, very shortly. I said some quick good byes, and stumbled my way out to the street.


I woke up the next day in my bed with a hangover that could kill a small bear, and know idea of what happened yesterday after about after midnight. I looked down beside me to see my boots still laced up beside my bed. My boots lace up around my ankles, they can't actually take them off laced up, but I managed it some how like a shit Houdini trick that I can only do when I'm slaughtered.


I made a coffee and took it outside for a cigarette. A moment later I was joined by a friend, she gave me red bull, she was a nice girl.
"Morning" I defrosted.
"Afternoon" came returned with a smile.

About two hours later I remembered I got a taxi, that was a good move especially in the part of town I was in. Somehow didn't wake anyone, or make a fool of myself coming in. Some nights are to remember, some things are not to repeat.

A different night, but a good night. Lovely people.

A fan of Micheal Jackson (Vienna)

At the end of the main street was the Renascence Hotel, beautiful building by night, but astonishingly boring by day. I went inside to enquire as to the price, feeling in the mood for a hotel. My thoughts had been something of get some work done, have a good nights sleep, be up at some reasonably respectable time the next day. I was by no means set on it.
“How much!?”
'150 euro for a room and breakfast'
I suspected the cost was going to be well out of my range, but I inquired into a room without breakfast for the sake of seeing what they ask.
'99 euros sir'.
I felt like John Travolta asking if there's bourbon in the $5 shake. All I can say for 51 euro, I hope it is delivered to you by a skimpy dressed maid, baring a silver platter, or at least campaign. So I went to see what the fuss was about and had a look at the dinner menu. I would say well priced for what it was, but boring, almost all the dishes on the regular menu failed to inspire me, but the featured one I must say did. A showcase of goose, with a nominal amount of courses, I was really exited when the entree was only 10 euro. Unfortunately the restaurant had been booked out that night so I never got to try it.


I found a pub with wifi to get my bearings, the bar tender was incredibly helpful, and seemed incredibly 'friendly'. So I met the locals and compared beers and played darts, long time since I've played but I could get into it as an alternative to pool. And talked the night away while some cool old grooves played in the background (yeah, I did just say that). People came and went, originally there was four of us, the regulars came in for there rounds, taxi drivers (for coffee), and a policeman. Until the end where, the bar was closing and it was just the two of us. With the bar packed up and ready to leave, we through on some music to dance to. Dance we did and wow she was really, very good.


She beat my to ask if I could walk the other to the train station, at the station. Despite, being in a new city the want to explore, and a beautiful girl standing in front of me, it was the second place I wanted to be. For all long time that evening I was wondering should I kiss her, there was something good going there. Every part of myself, or at least the three usual suspects in a power struggle were sending me messages, and not agreeing between themselves. Heart with Szilvi, head knowing that would end, and well... No points for guessing he last one. I said, that “I'd let her know next time I'm coming through.”


I at least saw a little of the city, but hardly enough to say I've truly experienced it, more than a tease. Vienna seemed to have a mix of many things, and it's a curious mix when it comes to town planning, never before and I doubt ever again will I see a religious building next to a strip club. (funny enough, this would be proved wrong a few weeks later). But there it was a impressive cathedral, with a very low budget looking strip club right beside.

I was taking the tram back to the train station when I saw it. An opportunity to ring out my shoes and another pair of socks. Looking like something out to the X-games was the skate park. When Jack and I were young, we'ld be wanting to stop into any park we past, now older with my own time management, haven't changed much. I spent the rest of the afternoon there with my rolling vice, until it was time to get my train back to Budapest.

For Saturday nights and Sunday Mornings.

Cold Feet (Sopron)

It was a misty night setting in as I arrived in Sopron, cool without breeze. A relief after the bustling streets of the capital, and major cities. As I looked for my hotel I could see ruins by the sides of the cobbled streets of the architecture of the once expansive Roman empire. After a routine check in and bag drop at the best Western, the sudden realisation came in that I was famished. Extending to my perception of a sleepy town, the small restaurant that would satisfy my hunger that night was to be occupied by only one other group than myself, though it was early in the week and getting later in the night. However the occupants were jovial, and between them trying to create the ambiance and volume of every other table left vacant. Going from there mood, I'm sure they would of been quite happy to have me join in there singing, but my lack comprehension of Hungarian settled me as audience rather than participant. When the time came for me to wonder, the mist had set in so far as not to be able to see the end of the street. Not far away a pale blue glow shimmered as a beacon in the sky thus becoming the target of exploration, that loomed as the fire tower as I approached; underneath, the entrance to the town square.

Hardly passing anyone as I walked through the streets, I was becoming reflective of the last few weeks, mainly of when I left Poland. I had talked much of my mind with a few people, but I was alone with my thoughts properly for the first time in a while. And of course with the love of irony, on the mistiest night I would see on the trip, my head started to clear. Some nights in Budapest, Szilvi and I would talk to the early hours of the morning, four or five hours at a time, with the practicality of some sleep bringing the close to most conversations. I was wandering around the misty streets, but I had now come to terms with something I knew, with a bit more clarity, and my heart and mind come to rest on a common ground.


One thing every low budget traveller will comment on, though usually dropped in recount, is walking, a lot of walking. My whole point for mentioning this, being no different, my choice in footwear is around my sport: skateboarding, thus the rapid destruction of shoes. I had woken the the sound of rain, and the rest of the day it would keep me company with a thoroughly inadequate umbrella turning inside out with any moderate speed gust of wind. And the shoes worn through at the heels at this piont. The sights of the town, last night covered in the mystique of the mist was now under a heavy wet gloom of grey. By the time I had made the five minute walk into town, my socks were water logged through the split in my heals. And for the first time in my life I would find sanctuary under the roof of the church.



A moral boost was in order, so at the first bakery I turned in for a treat. I have always had a strong love for bakery goods, but in Hungary I think I had started to gain wait for the love of them. Rolled and fired doughnuts, scrolls of chocolate and pastry or orange and poppy seed. Greeted at the counter the lady to served me said to me "guten Tag" To which I started responding "Nem Ertem Mag..."? (I don't understand Hung..) "Sorry I can't speak German". I gave this some thought as I ate. Sopron is as far west as you can be in Hungery without leaving the country. Twenty minutes later, I found that a train to Vienna takes four hours and leaves in two. I took that time to once more see the town, before taking the train and changing to fresh foot insulation of two pairs of socks.

Sopron Fire Tower

Sleepy town

Punching claustrophobia in the balls (Budapest part 2)

The day was still grey and drizzly, but I head to Margaret island, just near to my hostel, strolled through the park decorated with different art insulations, and saturated violets. I was out looking for a light show fountain that Sziliv had recently told me about, but unfortunately it was not in operation. The island was a pretty place but, somewhat looses its charm when I comes with brushing my wet fringe from my eyes every thirty seconds. Setting out my plans I went to find the Lucas baths. I stopped in to a pub for a coffee and directions, and in that inevitable way what was going to be five minutes turned into a half our conversation about Budapest. By the time I had left, may map was full with new scaled additions of 'Go here →' and 'avoid here at night → Brooklyn'.

I found the baths shorty and let the warm water relax me, the themes thermal bath in coloured light, and bubbling with jets on different patters and swirling with the artificial whirl pool. Then in the sauna to sweet, then bathing in the cold water and back to the bath until all tension had been left from my body. Three hour later I left severely pruned and satisfied.


I when back into the bar for a drink and continue the conversation at the bar and with a local. Though I struggling to keep up; the pleasures of the baths only left me with one downside, my left ear had become jammed with water that refused to clear its self for a couple of hours. I was given a good tip when I was there to head down to find the event Random Trip, a improve music event at the A38 club on the Danube (On a boat). I also learned a dangerous word that night before I left 'Szeretlek' (I love you in Magyar) Two weeks and the first thing I think of each morning is Szilvi, I am starting to believe it is true.


The A38 was unreal I only had a few drinks as there were pretty expensive, but the band was excellent two of the best freestyles I've ever heard (sincerely) a singer and four peace band, just killing it. One song in particular stuck to me 'I got to love you, or eave you alone' perhaps it was what was on my mind. Thought they killed every other moment of the show too. I got back to my hostel, a little drunk but not to bad.


The headed down the road for caving. Then, when I arrived at the meeting point I bumped into someone completely unexpected, Kevin Blaine that I met at Alex's in Milan. It was great to catch up with a familiar face, swap a few stories of where we had been since then and, and share another activity. It was a large gathering, and when we arrived at the caves we split into two groups. The one Kevin and I were in was, nearly all Australians, with the only one American girl separating it from being total. Behind an ominous iron door was a tunnel, I had to stay crotched in to avoid hitting my head on the iron supports that held up the roof.


At the end of the passageway we started to make a steady decent into the caves below. Crawling on our bellies we clambered under tight passes, descending further and further by ladders until we came to an open chamber. Every one was young and fit, feeling we were moving fairly quickly, until the instructor came flying through a gap little wider than a man chess to join us as soon as if he had used a door. “that was the easy bit, we can choice the easy or hard way from here”. Being Australian and manly which did we choose? The going got progressively harder as we went on, we had descended to a depth of about 100 meters at this point when the path opened out to another chamber, the roof was lined with fossils of shells and marine animals. Instructed to turn our head lamps of the guide shone a torch at an unambiguous piece of rock, but on the wall behind stood out the profiled silhouette of a face. The same chamber also brought out an elephant in the room, a great big stone elephant coming out of the wall. As we started to rise back up through the honeycombs, we were given the option to take the easy way or the really hard way buck to the surface. The Australians had lost there gusto at this point for difficult options, I was secretly hoping for the that someone would speak up for the hard option, and it came to the shame of the Aussies form the American girl. The hard option was aptly named the sandwich, a fifteen meter long sideways shuffle along the tightest gap you could possibly fit a human through that tips you out on your head afterwards. We made it out alive bruised and in need of a well earned beer, and as Kevin so brilliantly put it with the feeling that we just punched claustrophobia in the balls.


When I got back to the hostel Szilvi and I started talking on facebook, so time went on and we flirted, and talked about our days. It was about 10 when we started talking and didn't stop until about 3 am. I was starting to really miss her at this Point...

What fun that day was.

Kevin