Home to Budapest – now please now

“…everyone needs a somewhere, a place he can go. There comes a time, you see, inevitably there comes a time you have to have a somewhere you can go!”

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

We land in Budapest, and it feels like coming home.

We have been discussing the possibility of including Budapest on this trip and the logistics seemed impossible.

Yet here we are. The Taoists call it wu wei – aligning oneself with the natural flow, not fighting against the current – 無為 – without force, without striving for something.

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

Lao Tzu

We arrive at our regular stay in the heart of Budapest. A nice surprise with an upgrade.

The upgrade seems strangely like a downgrade. Gone is the king size bed and opulent bathroom. Replaced with a full sized kitchen, which we didn’t ask for, and a double bed, which we don’t want.

Shell won’t have it. Outraged, she sends me down to rectify the catastrophe.

Walking toward the front desk, I get the feeling they know why I am here. The staff exchange glances and are already tapping furiously at the keyboard. A brief discussion, and we are where we need to be. On the top floor, with views from the balcony over the city.

We shower and head for dinner. Parched and hungry. I need a drink and some food.

We have reservations at a nearby Italian place. The weather is stunning, and we request an outside table. The staff share a glance and tell us it is too cold. I glance at Shell, she shrugs and says ‘no problem, goodbye’.

We end up at a very cool Japanese restaurant, HACHI. Outside, of course.

We order a couple of Kirins, and Shell gets to work on the menu.

We share, wontons, mussels, pork Katsu and a delicious egg noodle dish with a spicy goulash sauce.