BUDAPEST

I could easily be convinced to throw this whole bicycle trip idea out of the window and spend the rest of my hiatus in Budapest.

As usual I am enjoying the contemporary happenings more than revisiting the past. Highlights are the baths and sauna's (impossible to resist Szechenyl Bath's entry with angels riding goldfish cowboy-style), the Naked Man exhibit at Ludwig Museum, and stores highlighting local designers (bought prints at Printa where Claudia patiently helped me decide, and I love design shop Rhododendron run by supernice lady Judit.)

Then there are the wine bars (Doblo is my fave) and the coffee shops such as Dynamo: baker and biker Bea rents high quality bikes, makes great coffee and bakes delicious treats (see her and her accomplice in photo below).

And then, then there is the very best: just like Berlin has floating bar barges, and Belgrade has clubbing ships, Budapest has ruin bars ('kerts'). Dilapidated buildings, courtyards, parking lots--all turned into huge social drinking and meeting places with wacky decors. In the middle of downtown. Yes!

The city is flooded with foreign visitors and some likely decide to stay. But I will try to pull myself away from this huge, hopping, stylish city in the morning. Wish me luck!

PS. Hungarians write dates the 'wrong way around' too. I thought only Americans did so. 9 May is 05.09. And they also always write last name first: Smets Heidi.