The last leg of Crazy Week

So if you've been following this blog, you may have noticed my unusual habit of leaving it un-updated for a while and then writing a festival of posts all at once. I know it's kind of goofy, but I don't have a computer with me most of the time, and I also don't get that many chunks of time when I feel like writing, so then I save up all my adventures and I want to share them all, but I am too wordy to put them all in one post because it would be the longest thing in history and looking at it would make you want to die. So this is just how I do it. Hope you don't mind.

The third of the three cities I went to see last week was Budapest. I once again traveled in the early morning, so I could have almost two days there but only need to pay for lodging for one night. This time I stayed in a hostel, only my second night in one on my trip so far. This hostel was REALLY cool. At first I thought it was sketchy, but it was just really non-traditional. It was basically just an apartment, where one of the rooms had about 8 beds. There was also a living room, a bathroom and a kitchen that all felt like a family residence. They provided some fruit and cake as snack/breakfast, and we could use the fridge and the stove as we liked. There were also supplies for tea and coffee at the ready. I'm afraid of gas stoves, so I never had any tea, but I liked that it was there.

There was also this little room in the entry where the people running it hung out. They had a tv going, and a couch one of them slept on, and a computer that played music and could do other stuff. I asked if I could use the internet, and he just moved over and offered me that computer. It was pretty goofy, and I didn't stay on long because I wasn't sure if he wanted it back or whatever. But cool, and free. There also wasn't any secure place to leave luggage, you just kind of left it in their room or your room and hoped for the best. It was a crazy place. Also, the apartment right next door seemed to be the home of an elderly couple. I kept glimpsing them through the window on my way in and hoping they would invite me in for tea and adopt me, but they never did.

Budapest was really cool. It felt really different from the other places I've been so far in Europe. The first day I explored and toured around on my own, and the second day I did a bit of that, and a bit of a free guided tour my hostel advertised. I'm really glad I did that. I got to hear a bit from a Budapest native the history of the place and the insider view, and where merchants were ripping tourists off, etc. Some amusing tidbits I got from guide Gabor:

Hungarian is a crazy language. To illustrate: the way Yoda talks in Star Wars was developed by translating the script into Hungarian, and then back into English. (I feel like I should check my sources on that one, but if true, awesome.)

He also told a few jokes about Hungary being a "post-communist country". It's no longer communist, but it's not exactly a regular functioning, economically successful democracy either.

-Hungary has two seasons: winter and construction.
(Because the latter is slow and inefficient and they pay workers to mostly sit around and do nothing).
-Tax dodging: the Hungarian national sport.
(Funny, but sad, as it creates a vicious cycle. He said 80% of the population REPORTS their earnings at minimum wage--obviously most of them actually make more than that.)

I also managed to show up on the anniversary of a big demonstration that happened in 1956, and only two days after their National Day, so there were flags everywhere and even a couple of demonstrations going on while I was there, though I didn't really know what they were saying. A lot of the buildings looked really gorgeous from far away and weren't that impressive close up, but they had a really old synagogue and church (both restored since WWII and communism) that were exceptions and were quite spectacular.

I tried goulash, though I found out the next day that it's pretty touristy and most Hungarians don't actually eat it that much. Oh well. I'm glad I tried it anyway. I also tried some Hungarian wine, which isn't that famous out of the country, but it is actually really well regarded and delicious if you know who to ask. It was a really pleasant little whirlwind tour.

And so, Monday the 26th I left Budapest after a little more than 24 hours. I got on a train to Zagreb, Croatia at 2 pm. I passed the ride reading and writing (mainly related to The Bell Jar). I got to Croatia in my raggedy former Soviet Union feeling train at around 8 pm. I had a moment of panic that no one would speak English, and I wouldn't be able to navigate my way to the bus station, but actually the info lady did, and the walk was pretty short and straightforward. Also, on the way, I found the coolest souvenir of all time. There was a Croatian license plate, just propped up on a wall next to the road, like someone had lost it and someone else thought they might find it if they left it like that.

I don't know if I did someone a great disservice by taking it, but I really doubt it, and I think it will be the coolest thing ever to put up on my wall when I get home. It was just sitting there BEGGING me to take it. But then when I was crossing the border I was really afraid that customs people would get mad and be like "WHY do you have this? Are you a spy?" and then I would get beaten and deported. So I am trying to figure out a way to ship it home, so I don't have to nervously lug this random, dirty, somewhat suspicious object around for the next month and a half, including BACK through Croatia.

Next up...Bosnia!!! (I can't resist. I think I've found a new favorite place. It's basically the coolest place I've ever been. But that's all I'll say now.)