Belated Birthday Party

"I never want to see another cake"

For the majority of last weekend, and the beginning of this week, I was frantically baking with one event in mind. I felt my sanity wearing away. Dinner was frequently cake off-cuts. Tuesday evening came and it was all so worth it.

I have the best friends ever, you know.

The day before the get together saw Leonoor and I running around town grabbing last minute buffet food and, more importantly, perhaps, bubbly wine. We then came back and started setting up the room ready for the evening itself. I've got to admit that, considering we started with a completely empty room, it looked pretty cosy by the time we'd finished with it. Dania and Leonoor's trek through the rain to collect balloons the day before had paid off.

I think it's pretty safe to say that Sonja was rather happy when she arrived. I'm not quite sure what she was expecting but I hope we lived up to expectations!

After food, it was Leonoor and Dania's turn to surprise both of us, coming into the room with streamers and coordinating tiara's for Sonja and me. Sonja somehow managed to get rid of hers part way through the evening, something I didn't quite manage! As usual when streamers and my lot are concerned, chaos reigned for a period of time ;-)

We then did the great 'gift exchange' which was really special, got to be said. Sonja is going to make me dinner and wrote me the most touching letter imaginable. Laura made a cushion which both fits into the colour scheme of my room and has my initial on it. Leonoor and Dania combined to buy the most stunning quill. While gifts aren't something that I would consider important, the fact that each of my friends gave me something so very personal was something that I found thoroughly touching. Oh, except for Thijs, he forgot! (Love you Thijs!!!)

After that, it was cake cutting time. As it was both our party, and the cake looked a bit like a wedding cake (oops!), we used the opportunity to take some 'romantic' wedding cake shots... you'd have done the same!

It was, without doubt a delightful evening for all the above reasons but, more importantly, because of the company. Various friends popped in and out through the evening adding their own special touch to the happenings. Sonja and I having a casual sing and then Sonja singing us all the most stunning lullabies. It was relaxed, good fun, perfect. Pretty sure this is where I would use that untranslatable Dutch word... if I could pronounce the thing!!! 

Budapest: Saturday

Relaxing, Lurking, and Crying.

In a way, Saturday was the best day for me. No matter how nice it is to share somewhere you love with people it was nice to relax on Saturday and get off the complete tourist track, just relaxing a little bit with no real aim.

Saturday saw the group split into two halves once more with Leonoor, Dania and I hitting the city alone while the other three went to the Széchenyi Baths. First item on the to-do list was to have a drink in my usual cafe. Lemonade was as good as ever - seriously the best in Budapest in my not so humble opinion! Not so sure that the same people are managing the place now though which is a shame because they were always good fun. Could just be that they weren't there the day we went though, of course.

Lemonade for breakfast is now a thing that I fully endorse.

After that, we decided to venture into the unknown to get the CD of the Hungarian version of Miss Saigon. One promising looking CD shop was closed - I've got used to shops being open every day in Amsterdam - but we did have to leave the touristy parts in order to get there so that was actually really nice and successful in some senses. We also were blessed with some sun once again so we sat out on the bench in the street by the closed shop and relaxed for a bit. Really, that was the focus of most of Saturday... we loosely aimed for something (most of our plans were unsuccessful) and then used the time to just enjoy watching the world move around us.

This day also saw what was probably one of our poshest meals of the trip, and that is saying something! We went to this glorious restaurant for lunch and had really rather stunning salads and cakes which both looked and tasted sublime!

Hungarian Apple Pie 1 - Dutch Apple Pie 0

The afternoon was spent looking for a tacky touristy picture frame so that I could put a nice picture in it to remember the trip. Seriously, we saw so many awful picture frames in the preceding days but no matter how many tourist shops we went into we simply could not find one! Ah well, I guess the photo will just have to go in to an elegant frame which is simply not the same. At least I know which photo I am going to choose:

A lady saw us swapping round trying to take photos and she stopped with her
toddler, put down all her shopping and took serveral photos of the three of us.
Kind people are still around in the world.

The evening saw the group come together for our final meal of the trip which was accompanied by a fair amount of wine, champagne and cocktails from those who drink; they celebrated the end of the holiday while I mourned its end.

After that, a rather bouncy Leonoor and Dania, energised by the meal, and its accompanying beverages, joined me to meet up with Gitta once more. She and her boyfriend very kindly took us to one of the ruin pubs in Budapest which was a new experience for me (got to love new experiences). Didn't take any photos, sadly, so nothing to share but I can safely say that the place was like nothing I've ever seen. As the name may suggest, the pub was situated in the run down shell of one of the courtyard-houses but one that had been decorated with some of the most surreal things from a room full of television screens to some statue of a dragon-ish type thing that one could potentially sit on.

Sadly, with a stupidly early departure on the Sunday looming we didn't get to stay for very long and we wandered back the apartment. As I settled down for my very short night's rest I could hear Scottish folk songs drifting up from the bar below the window and it struck me that I was leaving one of the places I love dearly while listening to music from home... and going back to the Netherlands. That was a difficult moment for me - hello homesickness!

A Bit of Sunday

Oops.
At silly o'clock in the morning, the others all woke up and I got up out of bed. Because I'm a complete and utter pillock I had managed to get sunstroke again. Luckily, it was rather mild - more so than I've had previously - and I managed to catch the flight with the others. I rather imagine I worried them though and they must be commended for really looking out for me, especially Nora who had to put up with me both ill and crying. Poor girl.

I tell you what was interesting though, walking through the streets at 3 A.M.-4 A.M., something that I can't say I often do in my own countries and, clearly, have never done in Budapest. It was busy, busier than I would have expected, and with surprisingly sober people. Yes, there were a few people who'd clearly had a few too many but the majority were quite with it. Normal coffee shops were open, public transport was running. It was a little surreal!

Several hours later... okay, about nine hours later, we were back in Amsterdam, collapsing in our respective beds.

As for me, well, I will be back to Budapest pretty soon. Nora seems to have fallen for the place too and we discussed returning this summer but our respective flight home plans clash so we cannot do that. However, I have talked with my university and there is the potential of me studying in Hungary for a couple of months next year, perhaps. It will involve a lot of paperwork and discussions with the board of examiners but my tutor seemed pretty hopeful and willing to champion my cause. If that doesn't work out, I'll be back anyway... not leaving it this long ever again!

Not for facebook

More on Budapest:

Wednesday
Thursday
Theatre (to come)
Friday (to come)

Budapest: Thursday

Touring, Eating, and Going to the Theatre

On Thursday I suggested that we took one of the hop-on hop-off buses around the city as they make it rather more accessible, aren't bad value, and have a night line which the others could use while I was out on Friday (although they didn't!). Everyone seemed to agree with the idea in principle so we bought tickets and off we went, deciding to do the near side of the river on that day as people wanted to do a bit of shopping in the afternoon and the main 'known' shopping street is on the Pest side of the city anyway. Whoops, that was a long sentence.

Some people were less enthused about the bus ride!

First stop was Hősök tere or Hero's Square which is pretty impressive, to say the least. It's pretty much a blending of Hungarian history and figures of significance. The central column features the Archangel Gabriel holding the crown of Hungary and the double cross. Surrounding this is a colonnade featuring Kings of Hungary and freezes showing a key scene from their life... and this is topped by statues of key ideas.

Because no-one would notice that giant statue unless you pointed it out!

We then ventured into the park a little which is something I've not really done before. To be honest, with the heat of my last trips, it's lucky I've seen anything in the city! Anyway, we made a bit of a bee line for Vajdahunyad Castle which is a sweet replica castle complex created for an exhibition at some point - I know my history, right? Despite the castle itself being really pretty there is a little medieval style church which simply captured my imagination. I mean, I love religious architecture and medieval art history and regardless of my personal interests, replica or not, it was stunning.

See, it's not just me... it is stunning!

After our little exploration it was back on the bus for a drive around a bit more of the city towards Váci utca to grab a couple of things from the shops there, and eat some more really good food. There was rather a pattern emerging here!

It was also the day we wrote loving postcards to our families telling them about the trip and snarky postcards to our friends telling them off for not coming with us. If you're reading this, Aimee, you can't run away for ever - you're going to have to come with me one time!

Posting the Aimee's card. It was a momentous occasion
which warranted photographic documentation.

With theatre tickets booked for that night we had to head back to the apartment quite early to get ready - with shared bathrooms, shock horror! Actually, considering four of us were trying to get ready with shared bathrooms and male presence limiting us to said shared bathrooms for the majority of tasks... we were pretty darn efficient and when the time came to leave, I was lucky enough to be accompanied by three stunners!

Anywho, I am, at the request of the darlin' Laura write a full review of the theatre trip, including the trip, so I won't go into it now but will link when it's done. Suffice to say, we had a wonderful evening.

Not for facebook

More on Budapest:

Wednesday
Theatre (to come)
Friday (to come)
Saturday and Sunday

Budapest: Introduction and Wednesday

Lounging on my bed, waiting for the others to wake up fully on the first morning of our holiday I started to note down all that happened the day before ready for these blog posts. I'd never be able to remember all that had happened upon my return. Fighting with my phone keyboard I wrote away... and then accidentally pressed the delete button losing all my hard work. I decided to give up.

So, the following series of posts promise to be a lengthy but incomplete description of what was an exquisite four days in the wonderful city of Budapest. And, if any of my companions are reading this and feel I've missed something out.. drop me a line and edits shall be made ;-)

Does anyone else get the feeling I was really excited?

Wednesday

Arriving, Walking and Checking in to the Flat

The cheapest flights to Budapest, from the Netherlands, leave from Eindhoven which is a fair way away. The cheapest flights when you leave it until the last minute to book are the early morning ones. We had an early, early start ahead of us and, as people may know, extreme lack of sleep makes me quite ill so I was a bit of a mess that morning. Anyway at four a.m. Dania came round to mine to add the final touches to our shared suitcase and we toddled down to meet Nora, Laura, and Thomas. The taxi turned up... we texted everyone to hurry up. Eventually, Nora turned up as it turned out she had set her alarm wrong and only woken when the taxi had called her! A taxi ride and a bus ride later and the five of us were at Eindhoven, where we met up with Stefan, and we were on our way.

It's amazing just how much joy a pink plane can induce!

The whole flight process was pretty simple with no border control - something I've never known - and the cases arriving quickly. The transfer from the airport was filled with the others attempting to learn 'useful' words and phrases in Hungarian such as "jó napot", "köszönöm" and the obviously useful "kék" (which is not useful in basic conversation at all but caused much delight due to its similarity to the English word "cake"). 

We were soon in Budapest, with me feeling really rather overjoyed, and the others feeling really rather hungry. After the compulsory "hungary in Hungary" joke, Nora decided to stick to similes such as "famished" and "peckish". It was the first of many high quality meals from that trip. We had a rather magnificent time as far as food is concerned.

While the others relaxed and finished their drinks, Dania and I went to check into the flat with the cases. I've stayed in flats owned by this company before so knew that they were reliable - and their contact goes above and beyond if you need something which matters when you're a young group traveling alone - but I'd never stayed in this particular flat. It was in a good location on the same street as the Operettszínház stage door and a few bars which meant it was a little noisy at night but in a highly convenient location.

What's the first thing you do when you arrive in a new country?

The afternoon saw us wander over to the other side of the river with plans to take some night photos. To be honest, that was always overly optimistic after the early start we'd had. However, we did manage to ride the funicular up into the Castle District and see that area in the less busy evening time.

It wasn't a wasted trip, however, with various little moments which are sure to be some of the more lasting memories of the trip. Selfies on the bridge over and random people copying Nora's nervous of heights sounds as the walk past, Stefan and Dania running after a bride and groom in order to get a selfie with them, finding pieces of street furniture with faces painted on them... you know, the kind of things that could never be replicated another time.

For those of you who haven't worked it out by now: Dania is the selfie Queen!

At the end of the first day, people seemed pretty happy with the city and we were having a great time. Success!

Not for facebook

More on Budapest:

Thursday
Theatre (to come)
Friday (to come)
Saturday and Sunday

Booking a trip and terrifying yourself because you realise this means you're somewhat Grown Up.

If I've been quite silent recently - which I have, I know - then, once again, it's not for lack of stuff going on but rather that there is so much stuff going on that I simply do not have time to sit down and write about it. It's poor because, not only am I neglecting talking to friends directly, but I am also cutting off my little 'here's what I'm up to' space! Oops!

See, even now I should be revising for my logic exam. I mean, I feel quietly confident but I am also aware that I need a high A on this test in order to get comfortably get an A over all and I need that because I want to go straight to PhD but yeah... lets not get ahead of ourselves. The point being, I'm ignoring that right now because I feel the need to write about the events of last night. I mean, I actually wrote a facebook status about last night so we know this is serious!

Last night, in a bit of a tumble of "Oh no! Prices are going up!", and after about a month of juggling on my part, we finally booked our ascension holiday trip. And we're going to Budapest. Yep. I'm going back. So, so, so over the moon. 

I mean, the flights are painful. They're from Eindhoven and we need to be there at six a.m. For those of you who don't know the geography of the Netherlands and are interested, Eindhoven is down there in the Not-Amsterdam. For those of you who are really interested, find a map and look near the Belgian border. It's going to be an early as sin start. Flight back departs at six a.m. so I'm just ignoring that one.

I'm also currently in the process of booking our apartment for the stay. The ones in the building I normally stay in are all booked but we've been offered an alternative owned by the same people, right next to the Operettszínház which amuses me slightly. I gave Leonoor's name and phone number (because we all know how often I answer my phone) so am having to write to them under her name now which amuses me even more (*). I have become a Nora! We will also be joined by Dania, Laura, Thomas and, last but not least, Stefan, so I'm guessing you'll see them mentioned a fair bit over the next few weeks as we continue to work stuff out.

So yeah, things are slowly falling into place... well, violently tumbling into place with no warning more like! Just got to wait until everything is booked and then I can start getting really excited. Actually, with my next few weeks booked up as they are, I am going to start getting exceptionally excited for the rest of the semester the minute this darn exam is over and done with!

(*) She does know, and gave me permission, and I am running all emails past her before I send them with her name, just to clarify that I've not stolen one of my best friend's identity!

This post is not for facebook as I've already written a status about it and there is such a thing as overkill in this world. Also it's rambling and not elegant and yeah, many, many reasons.