The great outdoors, indeed

Against my better self, I decided to add to this blog instead of accomplishing anything that has to do with actual responsibilities. I thought about topics related to my exchange that have really given me insight into new things, and shining winner on that list is finding hiking. And in the full depth, hiking alone. Initially I went with the music, but second time I went without... and regained much more in calm and relaxation. The silence of no talk, no people loads my batteries better than anything I've ever run across before.

Just when the first spring flowers had sprung from the earth.

On the latest hike, I decided to walk myself to a two separate lookouts. I found the rise quite deep, 300 meters in total - but I stopped often enough to just sit down and munch on good food. I had to also take a selfie with this right angle formation of nature.

I waited until the cogwheel train showed up and waved at the driver before passing over to the forest.

The other one, Káan Károlyi lookout. Vertical panorama, thing was tall.

Imre kíláto. Better to stay on the ground, wind swept my sunglasses away at the top.

Hills I have trampled over so far (accompanied or by myself) are Mátyáshegy (missed the lookout), Hármashatárhegy, Hárshegy (two lookouts), Jánoshegy and the common area of Budakeszierdö. There's so many routes to cover! I will miss this greenery once I go back home.

Song of the day: Bad Sun - The Bravery

Gaahhh

Yes, it seems I wasn't able to keep writing as often as I wished - mostly for the reason that so many things have taken place so far.

My favourites: the spring came around with full force and brought weather allowing for t-shirts, I saw the blooming flowers both in the hills and in the city, I found that hiking is an awesome thing to do, we broke out of the Matrix with a little group of buddies and many have come to visit me here. If I believed in any higher power I would use the expression "feel blessed". As of now, I'm counting myself lucky.

Successful room escape: check.

This has been more than a month now; we took time to first figure out how to access the venue and wandered in empty staircases for minutes - almost as if the game already started from the street level. They say that the concept is Hungarian - so even if I still haven't had any Hungarian foods, I'm scoring at least on some check lists.

Chilling at Mascka.

On one occasion, we conquered Hármashatárhegy despite the grey skies and rest of the time my visitor pointed out all the nice vegan/vegetarian dining joints - one of them surprisingly on my district - and I fell instantly in love with Macska. Who would not want to climb a wooden ladder upstairs where one could comfortably set themselves around low tables and take the shoes off?

My new favourite: cherry sider.

I also found out that cherry sider is actually pretty nice; it tastes more like a lemonade and less like an alcoholic beverage. I've only been considerably intoxicated once during my stay here and it led me to believe that the local pálinka should be left for professionals; it was not comparable to any clear spirits I have had before.

Part of Szimpla Kert.

One of my friends brought me Seiska and chocolate, which I warmly held in high honor; the fresh breath of bullshit will never be so sorely missed again. We had time to circle around few finer establishments (Szimpla and Vittula) and eat out together. All roads eventually lead to Dang Muoi! I even took my relatives there, when they popped by last weekend. I may or may not sort more photographic evidence to present occasions in this blog post, for now this will do to get me to the habit again.