July 5, 2012
It’s been a killer here that this city isn’t “Yelped.” I rely on it so much in New York and it’s weird to feel “lost” in where I need to go. Especially in a city I’ve never been to before, scrounging through the many blogs, personal websites, and travel sites is cumbersome, but I get some stuff out of it. I’m able to find one of the nicest restaurants in the city, which conveniently is around the corner from my school and has a lunch menu.
I have 3 hours for a lunch break and get their two course and a beer. Their Krombacher wheat beer is exactly what I want on a hot summer day. Their pea and octopus is a fine dish. The peas and pea sauce could do something more, but the octopus is so soft and well cooked. I could eat pounds of this stuff.
The next is a crackled skin pig ear. I’ve never had it this way before with the roasting process and really gives the ear another dimension with its soft cartilage inside. Unfortunately, there’s a bit too much Maldon salt along with the thick velouté sauce. Otherwise, hearty and delicious dish.
Two course and an import beer at a really nice restaurant in New York? $25 without tax and tip? Here, barely $16. Tax is included and tip is only 10% here. Budapest!
After another round of class, I get back to campus and take a long, long nap. I’m feeling bored, groggy from maybe sleeping a bit too much, or just I don’t know, but I want to get out. I post on the class’ Facebook group if anyone wants to go out tonight, a Thursday, and no one replies. However, I get outside to the “bar” that’s downstairs with a large smoking area in the bag and find Ellen, Miriam, Christina, and Rita. I have a few beers with them. It’s great hanging out to help my shit mood.

July 6, 2012
After class, I walk off with Ellen and Miriam to grab lunch on a hot day. It’s another sweaty and gross hot day in Budapest. We find a touristy spot. After a chicken schnitzel and a beer, we eventually split up. I go to Vodaphone to buy a SIM card for $11 in order to keep in contact with people. The stupid EU still has service charges, despite trying to be an economic single market. Texts to other Europeans, basically everyone here, cost $.43. Each! Then again, I won’t be using the phone too much and will probably be fine for the trip. Turns out calling people will probably be better.
I made plans with Miriam about going out and all that stuff later because it’s our first Friday. Party party! I told her I plan to make dinner and she’s invited. I go to the supermarket, which is relatively American. I get a shit ton of stuff, including a bottle of wine, and it turns out to be only $35. This is way more than just one meal. Restaurants are cheaper, the supermarkets are even cheaper, so go figure.
I get back and figure out the kitchens. Each floor has a big kitchen with microwave and many fridges and dishes. Only the 10th floor has stoves though. I unpack the food and go to take a quick nap. Miriam FB messaged me if I wanted to go with to the mall because she had something to return, but I was buying groceries. I let her know when dinner’ll be. After a useful nap, I quickly do some laundry because freaking the heat has ran through my clothes in 6 days. Miriam calls me to grab a beer, so we sit outside for a bit. There’s an FB post about people meeting at 8:30, but that’s too early.
I split from Miriam for a second and get the deets from everyone in the lobby. It’s a huge group of them and they plan on pregaming in the dorm, so that works out. They plan on waiting for Christina, who is our local tour guide as she has lived here for a year, despite being American. I get all the logistics figured out and people known that I’m THE person on top of things. Someone needs to take charge and make sure that plans go smoothly.
I run back to Miriam and let her know about the plans. She goes to get ready as I run to make dinner. Pasta with olive oil, oregano, chicken, squash, and peppers with some mozzarella. She go downstairs to join the group outside as they drink. After we finish, I head up to get ready as people continue to pregame. I get ready, I run down, have a beer, and a few shots of Becherovka, courtesy of Petra, the Czech in our group. Stuff is delicious.
Our gang of about 10 heads out to the metro. It’s rainey, but not bad. We go to this ruin pub and has a really hot room with Foozeball or “kicker.” After losing, I run outside because it’s way too hot. During this, I’m drinking Jameson and Bombay on the rocks like a boss. It’s a shame not to when it costs $4 for a double and they don’t tip here. What a joke.
The place is connected to Christina’s favorite ruinpub. It’s basically an open roof courtyard. Two bars connected, pretty sweet deal.
I find some people from the another program, Farah and Agy. It’s a shame that we’re here at the same time, live in the same dorm, have also a small group of a few dozen students, but don’t really intermingle. After some pleasantries, I get Christina to move us onto another place because I’m a move and shaker, but I also just want to see more places.
A couple people decide to leave and then we ship off to another place. It’s pretty darn cool and reminds me of what it’s like to be in an Eastern European club again. I didn’t bring my iPhone as it’s only a camera and I have my shitty “high school” keyboard phone with me as it’s the one that holds a SIM card. European iPhones can rock SIM cards… Stupid America.
We skip the club and go immediately to the top floor. I wish I could take a picture of the incredible view of the city at night. We then go downstairs and start getting our dubstep on. Finally dancing in Eastern Europe, I’ve waited for this day for almost 5 years dammit!
The place is loud as fuck as our ears are ringing as we walk down the many flights. This must be a complete mess for drunk people trying to get up 5-6 flights of stairs. We then head off to Doboz. Check out the pictures and situation here:
http://welovebudapest.com/en/clubs-nightlife/doboz
It’s the most modern and cool looking of the places. Timothy and I, the only guys, though we’re with 5-6 girls, have to pay a cover. It’s only $4 and you get two coupons that directly deduct from your drinks, so it’s not really a “cover.”
Miriam and I share a beer and then we’re off to dancing. I got to hear the Prague classic song, David Guetta – “Love is Gone.” Sooooo fun. However, I quickly notice the place is a cockfest. Timothy left early with Petra and it’s just Christina, Italian Christina, Rita, Miriam, and I. Not too much creeping, but there’s that poorly dressed fat guy with glasses in a salmon polo. He’s harmless and tries to get into dancing with Rita and whatnot. There’s that fun game where the girls have to dance with themselves and fend off the wolves.
There’s this really strangely dressed guy that’s dancing really funny. He talks to Christina and then he walks over to me and is very forward about buying me a drink. I take it as a kind offer because he’s trying to “into the group” of girls. I later find out from Christina that he was asking about my ethnicity and all these other questions. The gay parade is tomorrow, so Christina is under a strong impression that he was gay and trying to hit on me. Flattered, but my first “nightlife” story of Budapest, really?!
It’s eventually almost 5:00 and we grab a latenight gyro and then take the night bus. We get back by 5:30 and the sun is going up. We split up and call it a night.

July 7, 2012
I wake up hacking. Maybe I’m slightly sick, but smoking a pack probably was not a good idea either. My sleep is pretty shitty and at 1:00, I get a call from Miriam. We planned on going sight seeing today. I tell her that I’m fracking tired and want to back out. She gives me an hour and a half. I rest, but don’t really sleep. I’m all hungover and tired and miserable, but I get my ass out. We go to see the Basilica. There’s a wedding in there and we go to the top to see the view.
Miriam turns on some “Schmosby” about turning 28 the coming week and being single, not married, complaing, etc. etc.. Seeing the wedding triggered it. We share about relationships, life, dating history, etc. It all makes a bit her sense when she explains that she broke up with a boyfriend of 10 years almost a year ago, but is still friends with him and regrets breaking up with him. Dude, that is not a good situation.
We then head over to see the gay pride parade run through the middle of the city. It’s a pretty large parade of thousands. The cops are in full ass gear with armor and riot gear and all that. There are only about 100 anti-gay Facists or whatnot. No violence occurs.
We then walk over to the bridge, but then quickly turn around as it’s too late to go all the way up to the palace. We find a random restaurant off the touristy road called Spajz. Extremely cheap as the meal is about $5-6 with beer, starter, main dish. Nice liver mouse and a really easy home cooked beef stew that they called “goulash.” Different from the Czech kind I’ve had.
We then head back and Miriam is not down to go out. I would like to go out, but no one seemed to be down for it. I succum to it because we can have a beer at the backyard bar, chill out, have an easy night, catch up on sleep, and then have a good day of sight seeing again the next day.
Miriam and I sit there and Italian Christina joins. Ellen and Mario join. Mario is her husband that is visiting for the day. They’re high school sweethearts from the age of 14, but then separated or whatnot, but finally got back together. She’s now 38 and she moved to Vienna last year to be with him as he works there. Ellen has been also around a lot and her and Miriam have become good friends. Ellen is actually super dope. She’s really cool and funny to hang out with despite the fact that I don’t think I’ve had a “young” conversation with anyone over the age of 35. So as a reminder, stay young in spirit and heart if you want to be awesome when you get older.
We meet this girl Taya, who has this preppy hipster “too smart for you” soft way of speaking. She’s doing comparative education studies and she seems alright at first. This is her first day in Budapest and she walked over to say Hi and is trying to meet people. I think that’s a not bad thing to do. Miriam and I go upstairs to get the bottle of wine I bought for dinner that we never had. We try pushing the cork through, but then we get a knife, go through the cork, twist, pull, viola! Opened a bottle of wine. Miriam does complain about Taya though.
It turns out that she’s right. Ellen and Mario left and I later find out that Taya just talked their heads off until they decided to leave. I’ve never had such a conversation with someone. Austrian and Miriam are chatting in German and I’m literally getting lectured by Taya.She starts trying to educate me about things and even does the move where you pull out your fingers and try to preface your argument with the points that you’re going to make. Her questions are stupidly complicated and filled with comments that I actually have to ask, “What was your question again exactly?,” because there never really was a question at any point, just yapping. I try to steer the conversation away from how heavy it is, but she is stuck.
“Maybe I’m crazy, but I want to kiss you right now.”
I haven’t dated enough and not experienced enough of life recently, but this girl is just awesome. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t fallen over my feet like an idiot and she’s surely not that “woman,” but life occurs and emotions arise. It’s the context that I haven’t dated in forever and gotten myself out there.
The awkwardness of her just chatting in German with the Austrian guy was weird times, but more in the sense that I actually cared. I noticed they were touching legs at the end of the night and that definitely sold it for me, especially when they quickly left at one point.
I let them walk up to their dorm or whatver and stayed myself to not be a cockblock and sat there for a few minutes having a cigerette. It’s almost all a drunk emotion, but I cared. People are people, but jealously is stupid, yet a strong feeling. I avoid it 99% of my life as a brick wall to avoid these things because they’re absolutely “useless.” In the end, aren’t we all humans with weaknesses. Busy minds and heavy hearts fall hardest.

July 8, 2012
Miriam and I had set to meet up at 12:00 so we could go sight seeing. It’s another day of being hungover and tired. I get a text that she’s going to be a few minutes late as I wait in the lobby, the Austrian is off to home and I say Goodbye to him.
Miriam comes down and begins profusely apologizing for being rude and chatting in another language yesterday as I was stuck with Taya. I played it off really cool, but really, the German wasn’t really what bothered me. It’s her native tongue so I’m sure it’s nice to get a break from a week of English.
It’s another scorching sweaty day as we go to the Palace on the Buda side, Budapest is split into two sides by the Danube. We grab some really cheap Hungarian crepes at this place and then take the old elevator or “funicular” to the top of the palace. On top, it’s surprising that it’s basically a small, cute town up there, along with the palace, which is now a museum. I get some souvenir shopping done and then check out this great view of the outskirts of Buda. The city is really spread out and huge.
Ellen ends up meeting us as Mario just left. We walk around for a while and I awkardly walk ahead and pretend not to know what’s going on as the two girls gossip on about what I could imagine would be the events of the last evening.
We decide to go back and grab a quick beer in the early evening before getting some reading done for class the next day. I shower, read, and it’s suddenly already an hour and I’m downstairs. We plan to get dinner and without many options, we decide to order a pizza, which is a huge ordeal. Finding the menu online, after being told which place to order from the front test, was hard. Then, we called with Ellen’s Austrian phone and they wanted a Hungarian phone number to call back. After repeating a billion numbers, she finally gets my Hungarian number.
The food comes and it’s a crazy amount of food. Christina and Rita had each ordered their own personal pies. Ellen, Miriam, and I split this bolognase pizza that’s 18 inches long. I have a picture up and shit is that boy huge. I barely finish two slices without the crust as I quickly give up, despite being famished. The girls are even better eaters than me as they each finish two full slices.
American Christina is there hanging out with us and she tells us about her horrible ordeal about the ticket checkers. The subway system works with “zones” and she had bought an incorrect or insufficient ticket and got caught by the ticket checkers as she was walking everyone from the dorm to the boat trip. Half of the class went to this boat trip thrown by CEU to this island on the Danube. 90 degree weather on a boat, no thanks, I don’t even have enough time for sightseeing.
The guy asks for her passport, which she doesn’t have and then roughly $40 in fines. She says she doesn’t have it and tells him off like a true New Yorker (well she went to NYU and is actually a Chicagoen?). She eventually pays up, snatches the change from him as he wants to slowly right her a ticket that she doesn’t want, and storms off. She was also supposed to go on the trip, but she couldn’t take all the shit anymore, so she ran off. It really sucks that happened to her.
By the end of the night, my mood still hasn’t gotten much better so the saga continues.

July 9, 2012
Sleep is a strong cure for me as being tired actually messes with my mood and makes me cranky. For some reason, I sense some awkwardness when saying Hi to Miriam, but maybe I’m just creating that in my head because I’ve been such a dramatic bitch all weekend.
After class, I get a strong nap in and I’m feeling even better. Our professor, an active judge at the EU Civil Tribunal, made plans for the class to meet up near the Basilica for a few beers. He’s actually quite down to Earth, we swap stories and they’re not all dominated about “shop.” He ends up paying for 3 rounds for about the 10 of us. The place is super touristy so they’re not cheap for Hungarian standards, maybe $5+ pints. It’s really nice of him to pay for all of us.

July 10, 2012
After class, people are in a chill ass mood and grab lunch at this great hummus place near us. Unfortunately, I think beer every evening is catching up to me and I feel a bit sick. I simply grab a soup as I jealously stare at the delicious hummus and falafel that they’re chomping on.
People then plan on going to this voluntary lecture, which I obviously skip. Miriam on Saturday mentioned that she’ll need a cake for her birthday coming in two days, which coincidentaly is the last day of classes. I quickly get her to shut up and not worry about that. I should freaking be a party planner or something of that sort because I really enjoy this stuff a bit too much.
I walk around the “SoHo” area of Budapest. It’s loaded with gift shops, expensive stores, restaurants, and just loads of tourists. Gerbaud is this famous bakery in the city, but a cake there is unfortunately about $45. I end up going to this bakery near CEU and I order a cake to pick up in two days. They don’t speak English well, but they explain to me the pricing and I confirm with them in two days I’ll be back for a cake.
After that, I take the metro back and where the bus connects to go back to the dorm, there’s a big mall. I step in there in search of a birthday cake, always gotta get a card for the birthday girl, no matter what. I search hi and low and finally find this little shop that sells beautiful antiqued things or kitschy small gifts. I just grab a card and head back for a serious nap.
After I wake, I lock down to get some reading done. Maybe I overslept, but I was really intense for the two hours and felt shitty about it. The drive to finish the reading got me there. Ela was being super annoying planning our Amsterdam trip. Instead of chatting on Skype and figuring it out in one deal, she keeps texting me over and over and over. It keeps interuptting my reading. After I’m done, I run outside to Bambus for a beer and a cigarette.
I text Miriam to see if she wants to come down and join, but she doesn’t get back to me. I guess it’s the shitty sleep schedule that has gotten to me and the intensity of me wanting to finish the reading, but I end the night pretty annoyed for no reason really.

July 11, 2012
I wake up feeling better. People go to this voluntary talk in the afternoon after class and I skip that. I end up going to what I’ve been wanting to go to this whole time, Great Hall Market. It’s this really beautiful, beautiful building that is a food and souvenir shop. On the first floor, they have everything from charcuterie to fresh groceries that the locals shop at. The second floor is filled with tourists buying things. I get a few cool looking magets and also an apron for Luna. I get back sweaty and gross for an immediate shower.
I then for the first time here finally hit the gym. I walk in, look around, and immediately there’s a Mr. Clean looking guy that walks up to me and introduces himself. I’m assuming he wants a spot. He asks where I’m from and does this horrible impression of a New York accent, which I obviously don’t have. He then asks for my weight. I can’t convert it into kilograms off the top of my head and I run to the scale. He wanted 48 kilos, I’m 58. Notice that I still have no clue what is occurring.
He then goes to the tricep dip and wants my help. Usually, you would strap a belt with weight and do those if you wanted more weight. I’m confused what he wants still. I’m thinking that he wants me to jump on his back or something as extra weight. He then goes on him knees and wants me to sit on his shoulders. Yes, like a 5 year old kid. I immediately get apprehensive.
“Hey, I can spot you or help you with something else, but that’s not safe.” I’d be 10 feet in the air sitting on a guy’s shoulders as he’s holding himself up with his hands. There’s no way that’s good gym or safety etiquette anywhere. Instead, I end up standing behind him and pushing his shoulders down with my hands. My face is basically in his ass and I have to turn away as he keeps yelling, “Harder! Harder! Harder!” It’s a hella weird experience.
After that, I post on Facebook if anyone wants to go out because it’s our second to last night. Only Martina, the Slovakian with a British accent that everyone gossips about because people love gossip and she’s become the target, responds. She’s actually not that bad, but she does seem a bit pretentiously smart at times so people hate, hate that. She lives in a hostel downtown though so I’m not going all the way in for that, so nothing happens.
However, I go outside at night and see American Christina and Miriam hanging out. It’s Mirima’s birthday at 12:00AM so we hang out there for a while. I telll the gym story and Christina literally dies. It really is a hilarious story, but she really gets a kick out of it.

July 12, 2012
At the end of our class, they throw a little party with homemade lemonade and whatever juice non-alcoholic cocktails. They really are good about their fresh drinks here for some reason. They even give everyone an attendence diploma. It’s really quite a deal that I got for the tuition. They’ve thrown multiple events, every class at a break where they had the service bring fresh coffee and bottled water, and this last event thing. CEU really knows how to treat students top notch.
After class, people are sitting around for coffee and chilling because it’s the last day of classes. I split up from them to pick up the cake. I walk into the shop and remember the foreboding earlier, yeah, they didn’t order the cake for me. They start asking me questions as if I was a new person. “You’re picking it up when?”
Motherfucker, what other Asian guy came here two days ago to have a serious cake conversation with your Hungarian ass. They have this small cake, but it’s written on with whatnot and they don’t know how to write on the cake and can only offer me this ugly plastic thing that says “Happy Birthday” in Hungarian.
So now I’m on a cake trek. I walk all over the place and restaurants need ordering too. I finally go the place that I’ve been wanting to check out for a while. It feels like a really cool place that they would have in New York. Clean, white, somewhat like out of Willy Wonka, and even New York themed menus and whatnot. I go scoop up some random candy because that’s sort of obligatory.
They thankfully also have these gorgeous cakes. I get one and it was only $25, much cheaper than my other options and the one that I thought I had ordered. They gave me “28” in candles, a really sturdy huge box, and drew on “Happy Birthday Miriam” in rainbow. The place was a godsend. Definitely should be more on the radar for people going to Budapest.
http://welovebudapest.com/en/cafes-bars/sugar-shop-petofi-utca
I get home, party planner me posts on Facebook about when we’re meeting tonight for birthday festivities. I napped, make some quick dinner, get dressed, and head down. It turns out to be 10 of us. This would be a good time to recap the group that we’ve ended up bonding.
Timothy, a tall thin Belgian guy. A TA at his Master’s program and looks a bit like a long lost Jonas brother. Kid is probably a lady killer.
Merieke, a nice Estonian.
Erik, a Slovakian that poorly dresses himself for some reason. Miriam and I actually find his Facebook picture where he has super long Fabio like hair and his shirt off. Freaking Slovakian Fabio, but now he has that ugly medium long hair with a part in the middle and really ugly sneakers.
Italitan Christina. A nice girl that can talk your head off with her decent/good English with a strong accent.
Rita, small little girl from Malta. The stories of Malta make it seem like a great party destination.
Petra, a very pretty blonde Czech girl. She’s maybe uncomfortable with English and has a really mousy, quite voice. Girl could be a heartbreaker with more revealing outfits and a sass to her attitude. Sexuality is not only a look, but a personality.
Ellen, the former Vermontian prosecutor that moved to Vienna for her husband and the “chaperone” as she’s the oldest easily, but during that night, I tried to in the nicest way tell her how awesome she was at the age of 38. I definitely look up to her young attitude and humor.
American Christina, NYU alumn pal, who’s been here for a year for a Master program at CEU. She is huge in our nights as she is the “local,” knowing how to get everywhere, little tips, and all the places to hang out. She’s got that New York attitude to tell her face off, but also funny as fuck. We’re set on hanging out in NYC when I get back as she’s moving in with her boyfriend immediately after our summer program.
And Miriam, tall, chill Bavarian.
We’re outside in the back of the dorm, outside of the Bambus Bar. Basically the dorm has this bar where they served bottle beer and a few options of wine. It’s become our thing to constantly “Bambus.”
I tell the gym story again for the people that hadn’t heard it. Funny thing, Erik went to the gym and the same thing happened to him. At least the part where he had to use his hands to push down Mr. Clean’s shoulders. It’s crazy that we have almost the same story. We’re so loud that one of us jokes that we’re might as well be the “special” group at CEU. We have a big gang and we’re cackling our heads off and people around probably think George Soros is so nice to let in special ed kids come to the school.
People are chilling out with some beer, wine, and the local special, Unicum (a more herby tasting Jager). I end up having to go to the store around the corner to get cigarettes. Hey, it’s a bad habit that I’ve been smoking more, but Christina, Ellen, Miriam, and I are the smoking gang. It’s a group social thing for us, but more importantly, they’re basically $3.50 a pack, so when in Europe…
I also take this opportunity to run upstairs and grab the cake. Booom, what a surprise. It goes off really well and we can’t even finish the cake. It’s rich and really darn chocolatety. People really enjoy it, especially Miriam. I appreciate the appreciation, but again, I think I’m made to be a planner of things or something. I really like the task of planning things or just doing special things for people. We all deserve at least one day a year to feel special and if I can facilitate that, I’m proud to be involved. Hell, we wouldn’t have this great last day of classes party possibly if it also weren’t a birthday too. It was such a fine bonding experience for the group.
We eventually move out to Margaret Island. It’s this small island on the Danube. We take a pretty quick tram there. As it’s in the middle of the river, there is a great view of the Palace and Parliament light up at night. We take a few seconds taking pictures. We then get to Chachacha, which feels like an outdoor island bar, but with a dancefloor that is pumping Euro-dance music. Every song is very Euro, 90s, intense, and sounds all the same.
On the walk there, it’s a weird feeling like walking through Prospect Park at night or something. It’s basically a big island park, but with a few bars/clubs here and there. After some intense dancing, we move onto the next place. At some point, I start making somewhat of a move on Petra, dancing with her, and whatnot. Do the spin move fellas, it’s a fun way to innocently make moves and dance with the girl at the same time.
The next place: http://welovebudapest.com/en/cafes-bars/holdudvar
This place is super sick. It’s nicely decorated outside with red lanterns and tables. It used to be a casino, so it still has a huge neon “Casino” sign. The inside is a huge dancing area with really high ceilings and the walls have large old fashioned paintings. We dance our butts off and decide around 4:00 to get going. I spend a large amount of the time hanging out with Petra, dancing with her, etc. We then go to Blaha to grab a quick gyro before the night bus.
The night bus suddenly comes and we run on. We spent 20-30 minutes on it and begin getting off until Christina realizes that Ellen and Rita are missing. I feel bad because I was doing headcounts all night and I assumed they were on the bus. Christina calls them and her and Miriam go off to figure it out about how they can get back.
I sit outside for a last cigarette and texting Luna on Whatsapp until suddenly, Rita and Ellen appear. They went on the first bus and got mixed up on the rush. It’s crazy that they were on the bus together, just the two of them, for some long before they realized what was up. They got a cheap cab and were able to quickly get back. It’s a huge relief for all of us.

July 13, 2012
I wake up without enough sleep and get into studying mode, despite being hungover and tired as fuck. It’s a Friday and we have today off for our final tomorrow. It’s open book, 2 questions in 4 hours, so it doesn’t seem bad at all. I gather my class notes into a doc, print them, and fuck it. I give up. I’m not an idiot, I can look at my notes when I write. Also, they tell us that no one actually fails the test. If it’s pass/fail, how can I mess up. I understand the themes of the professors and one would have to be braindead or illiterate in order not pass.
After a nap from 8-10:00, I’m feeling a lot better, but would rather hang and relax than study. I sit outside with a beer and a cigarette to just chill out before getting to bed and waking up for the test and Miriam comes out. She couldn’t sleep so we decide to hang, beer and cigarettes, the Bambus way.
Last night, a drunken Miriam and I had a one and one and she asked if I knew what had happened with the Austrian. I told her that I’m not braindead and could only assume. I tried to pry her for more, but that’s all she gave me after I confirmed that I knew what was up. Ellen even said, “See! Of course she knew,” so that’s why Miriam has been tip toeing around me a bit I guess.
We end up having the conversation fully tonight and she shares that they met the week before. Apparently they were touching legs and feet for hours, but I only noticed it in the end. Obviously the night details weren’t there, but we know what happened. They had coffee in the morning and Miriam dramatically says that she couldn’t look at him. I joke about it because it sounds like she’s writing a romance novel.
He then gave her a kiss in public when they said Goodbye and wrote a deep, awkward Facebook message when he got back. I was surprised because that’s extremely forward and creepy to most girls, but Miriam fell for the trap. She’s curious to see where it goes with this guy, but I just tell her not to keep thinking about it. She’s bothered that he’s not quick enough at messaging back on FB, but she should be looking for guys, instead of focusing on some random fling in Budapest.
Her age, as in reaching 30 in two years, and being young with love, because of a breakup from a 10 year relationship is what I chalk up to her disillusionment with dating or dealing with men.
In the end, it’s a lovely conversation and Miriam is a fun gal to chat with, share, and laugh with. Thinking back to it now, that childish dramatic Darwin a week ago was such a joke. I blame it on tiredness and getting drunk with that. Well, I’m glad that is all gone and this can all end on a friendly high note.

July 14, 2012
Unfortunately, I haven’t hung out with Lizzie yet, the girl I met in a hostel in Paris and then showed around in NYC when she came in the fall. I was studying yesterday and tonight is the last night to go out with almost all the people. She also is going to this “sparty” thing where it’s basically a huge pool party, which I’m really not down for. Public water, drinking, too many people, lack of clothing for me, etc.
I’m running late to the final and there’s this breathtaking petite woman sitting at the bus stop. She’s a little version of Kate Beckinsale with the skin complexion of Sheryl Crow. She asks for my help as it turns out she’s a new student. She’s from Mexico and it’s her first time going into the city. I teach her the route, how to get a week pass, and how to get to campus. She’s just sight seeing for the day. Her name is Maria and she’s young looking, but actually 27 and works at an human rights NGO. I give her my name so she can Facebook me in case she wants to hang for the next few days that I’m here.
The test goes really well and easy. They gave us too much time as I sat there for a good hour and a half doing nothing. I was blown away by people who said they didn’t have enough time. There was a 1000 word limit to each question. That equates to less than 8 double spaced pages, both questions combined. I couldn’t imagine what people doing instead of writing.
After that, we go to this sick place called Most for lunch and a beer
http://welovebudapest.com/en/restaurants-bistros/most
We grab a quick glass of wine afterwards and I’m exhausted. Some of us split and we go back. I take a serious nap and set the time when everyone will meet down at Bambus for almost everyone’s last night. I run late and we just wait until almost 11:00. I call Miriam because her, Christina, and Ellen haven’t shown up. They’re leaving, how they could not say Bye.
Turns out that they went to dinner and they’ve been drinking and out all day. I’m impressed. However, they don’t want to move out. The rest are pretty lame about it. Constantina, another person who has been here for a year, is down though. Rita is too because she leaves on Tuesday. I have to say my sad, sad Goodbyes to everyone, which really sucks.
I’ve had a situation like these where I met such cool people in a short people of time, gotten to know them, and then suddenly have to say Goodbye. I try not to think hard about it because it really gets me sad and nostalgic.
After deciding to go out, backing in and out, we finally make our move. Rita, Constantina, and I. We take the night bus at 12:00AM, which is a smart idea as it’s faster than leaving earlier when the metro is running as the night bus goes straight downtown.
She shows us this place, which is pretty chill and I get a ridiculously cheap double of Johnny on the rocks.
http://welovebudapest.com/en/clubs-nightlife/gozsdu-mano-klub
It’s raining, but we then move out to this really weird place.
welovebudapest.com/en/clubs-nightlife/mika-tivadar-mulato
It has a strange downstairs area where they are playing jazz from the 30s and people are dancing to it. It’s a really electic choice of music and I would never expect it in some hidden random place in Budapest.
Next, we go back to one of the most frequented places in Budapest, the most popular ruinpub.
http://welovebudapest.com/en/clubs-nightlife/szimpla-kert
It really reminds me of Prague with its weird decorations all the random rooms and nooks and crannies. They play weird music too like “La Bamba,” “Not Unusual” by Tom Jones, and Smash Mouth’s “I’m A Believer.” It’s 3:30 and Constantina wants to go. I agree, but she feels bad that she’s being a party pooper. I plan to do sightseeing my last day, so it’s good that she did that. We split. Call it an “early” night getting back by 4:00.

July 15, 2012
I get up to some food and laundry. I finally get my butt out to door by 2-3:00 and see Parliament. I also see this movie getting shot as there is a really old looking car and people dressed in 30s clothing. I go to a random nice restaurant.
http://www.budapesttimes.hu/2009/03/16/szabadsag-cafe-and-restaurant-return-to-elegance-flair/
One of the best plates of food I’ve had in Budapest, paprika chicken thigh with yogurt sauce and gnocchi, and a water was only about $10. What a joke.
I then go to Ocktagon to get a look. Nothing much is there, but a bunch of shitty tourist bars. The Blaha area or where I was yesterday really has a great feel to it that I would rather like to know better.
I get back and nap again. I run to McDonald’s because that’s convenient for dinner. I get this McWrap, which sounds like a great Greek wrap, but the sauce is pretty McDonald’s gross and too strong of fake bleu cheese. The meat is just their burger meat.
I meet up with Rita and Christina. We say our Goodbyes, though Christina I’ll be seeing two weeks back in NYC.
It’s really been a lovely trip. I really wish there was more time to see the sights because it’s such a nice city. The nightlife didn’t seem to wild, but I did like what I got to see at least. Christina was definitely an all-star for showing us the spots.