The Christmas Party

The night of this Saturday was a merry special one. Because it would be the last time all the Erasmus students here in Budapest from Natalia, Adriana and Paula's uni were going to be together, so it became set that this date would be a dinner party! Everyone cooked something (majorly from their mother country) to share a last gathering time with lots of world culture in between.

From cakes, to cookies, soup... even some deserts...! this was a dinner that had nothing but full table. Everyone was merry and so did our stomachs. Many and broad were the conversations and, for me, who was sort of like an outsider, this gave me an opportunity to meet some new more people and share some histories!

Many, many hours later, sleepiness already was ashore - some from the Polish night, others just from exhaustion and fatigue. Almost everyone had already left, but some still remained. As we were about to leave for a failed attempt to go to a bar, I looked back and saw them, chit chatting with each other, wondering how longer would these crazy people leave to allow them some well deserved rest. Still, just before we all left, I managed to grab this instant of the Three Marias, with an eye resting, the other half-asleep, but very merry indeed.

And for now, we stay here.

Portuguese Pest's day; Polish Buda's evening

This day, for a change, was not particularly hungarian. To say more, it was a very portuguese day! Not for the things we did, but for the company, that was only portuguese. Me and Natalia met Maria (a Natalia's friend from Lisbon) to have lunch, at a simple, cheap yet delicious chinese restaurant, where we had Ramen. However, my struggle to heat with the sticks was too much and I only managed to eat half of what was served. Don't worry though, for the rest came home to be eaten later.

After lunch, light was already fading, and Maria suggested a Tea house called Sirius - the country -, stating to be very cosy, friendly and very nice to spend some time together and hang around. And following her lead, we marched.

After a quick journey on the metro, we left. Facing the fresh breeze and cold air, we walked and in no time we arrived. Hidden enough not to be accidentally found, if not only but the frosted glass that adorned the door entrance. Going down a flight of stairs and another door, we would go inside of what seemed like a tea house playground! Let me explain why. The house had three separate rooms. One with regular tables and chairs, like a café, and the other two with low tables, likewise the Oriental style, pillows to seat on and this area was non-shows only, which I found very homy. With small rooms and second levels for people to "hide" in and be, if that's the case, be in a very intimate, isolated room, just for themselves. And it was in this tea house playground that we sat down, had a hot drink and chat for hours and hours, untile we lost notion of time...

When the night was getting serious, we head home, made some dinner and went with Adriana, whose brother and three friends had just arrived on the same day, to one of her friend's house, to have a Polish night. What is a Polish night, you might ask? According to Polish tradition, Vodka is a common drink, like water is to some countries (just kidding). So, its nothing but natural that we, being in a Polish house, with more than many Poland natives, drank water until we all became very merry!

And for now, we stay here ^^

Buda's in trouble

After a good night of proper rest, and not having done any plans for what I would see in Budapest yet, I took a quick snack. At the same time Adriana came and asked me what I intended to do for the day, to which she suggested, after telling her about not having made plans yet, to go with her to her and Natalia's university to have a look over the side of Buda for a change and on the way back, head to the Castle - one of her best places in the city.

Having agreed to do it straight away, we left the Jozef Körút to head to the north west side of Buda. After taking the tram and a connecting busz to the uni, I there waited, while Adriana was waiting for her signatures. Meanwhile, I came outside, to see the abouts of this area of Buda, some of the work there exhibited by the students. What surprised me was that her university work collaboratively with Mercedes Benz, which I find amazing for all interested in industrial design! A few people were making keeping a fire alive under ruffly zero degree temperatures to make , far away, but their happiness and simpleness could be felt at an immense distance.

When Adriana came and we head back, I looked to an old, abandoned like house filled with wholes on the walls. Interested in what they could be, I questioned her, to which she responded as it being an house, still standing from the second world war whose wholes were actually marks of loose shots... it made shiver and feel a little uncomfortable; but we were just heading to the bus stop to get back. But this was just the beginning...

From here on, everything took a different path. Adriana went hope and gave me directions to go to Buda Castle. Take the 16 and it will take you there, she said; and so I did, or I thought to have done. Instead, I got on another bus that went all the way up to the very end of the hill. It almost felt like I was entering the mountains, covered in snow, with a very rusty tram line running along. At that same time, the sun came out and shone Peste with the most intense, warm colours. Me, astonished, didn't even thought about the way I was taking. My only thought was how wonderful this view is and where could I manage a spot were I could make a photograph of this beauty. So, with an adrenaline pump in my body, I waited and waited, while the bus was turning to the left and right again, to find an open space that would give me just the tip to press stop and leave to make it real. However, the hill is very forestry and the houses were built around them, in a very humane way, thus making it impossible to have a clear view over what I was seeing but still, I did manage to get pumped enough to look around on the other hills for possible ways to get this picture which hopefully will happen before I leave Budapest.

Anyhow, went the up-going bus became levelled, that was when I decided to leave. Not because I had just found the spot but because I had went to far from the castle, which I saw on the map to be very close to the river. And I was not at all close to the river, I was lost!

After exiting the bus, I took the first road to the left and started heading down a row of icy, snowed stairs and, with the help of an dodgy handrail, for a few time I didn't felt on them. Still, my head was thinking about the light that I had just witnessed and so, despite the slippery stairs, I kept looking for a trace of openness, without any positive outcome. Nonetheless, being lost in a place that was outside the map I had been given made me feel quite alive and free. Breathing the fresh, wintery cold air was making my hand turn red and my nose was making me look like Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer. Yet, I carried along, and down, and left until I found what seemed to be the main road which the bus I came up in took. Crossing the tram line and the road, I waited for the bus to come. When it finally arrived, it looked alike the one I had took to come this way. I was wrong again. Thinking I would go to Széil Kálman ter, I ended more to the south, near Déli Rail Station.

Again, a new place, no way to find my way on the map. No references and still shy about asking people for directions, because of my mental blocage, I walked around it, in hopes to find some signs that would put me on the direction - not the right one anymore - of the river, from which I would be able to find my north again. And it did indeed happen! A sign, with a smal icon of a castle, was pointing to the right side of the rail station. Encouraged again, I walked towards a tunnel, only to find a broomstick that reminded me in it's very own way of 'Soliloquy of the Broom', a photograph taken in 1843 by William Fox Talbot. Not hesitating a bit, I grabbed my camera and got ready to make my photograph. Kneeled down, I was just about to presse the button when I felt a kick on my back. Surprised, I quickly took the photograph, stood up and turned back, to see what had just happened, while thinking 'Who the fuck, and why, just kicked me?!' only to see a mid age, grizzly man breathing alcohol and shouting words in hungarian that I will not ever now which meaning had. Still, the kick had made it's statement and knowing that trying to speak would not solve anything, I said some words in my very own portuguese and carried on my way. 

Quite an intense beginning of a journey, I would say. The kick itself didn't bothered me more than the look on the mans face. It felt that the anger he had had not been put to me, personally but for the condition of the man. I'm not with this saying at all what a gap exists between us (which doesn't) but in my naïve way, why would someone do such a thing to a kneeled person...

Scared and afraid to take the camera out... angry for what had just happend, I went up an assembly of stairs, towards the Castle and only at the end of them, after around 10 minutes, I was able to get enough strength to take it out again. Seing what were some castle walls, I went round in hopes to find an entrance to its inside. Finding some more stairs, I went ever upper, only to face myself with a large, clean balcony, from which I took a panorama of the scenery where this losness had taken place; where all my insecurity lied. But also where all my humanness was and the motif of my photography lied.

Turning back, for now, that side, I went to the 'touristy' part of Budapest. The fancy, historical and beautiful part of it. Very silent and still absorbing all the information that I had just gotten, walked around Mathias Church, closed already at that time but still, plenty were the tourists walking around. And me, being there and having such disturbing experience just now, felt the act of traveling and all the smily faces of the ones around very hypocrite, just like me being there was.

All that show off, all those poses of the people, the need to record and justify to others that they existed in that place; all the richness mask of what a city really is... it is not  only the fanciness and beautifulness of their past... everyone can loose their material richness in a blink of an eye. However, the people still remain and the people make the city soul. They are what define it, not their buildings, materialist expressions of an utopian disguise. 

Let the past be past, but never forget it. It is the past that shape you, but no materiality should define you, but your actions. And thus, I made this photograph, thinking of what Socrates said once: "How many are the things I can do without!".

These words were not being shouted to them, but also for be, for I was being as much of a sinner as the ones around me. However, such thought are in my mind and I shall not leave them aside, for I shall make amends for the actions I am making, hopefully soon.

And if my actions can't make amends yet, let my attempts of photographs and words try to reach someone. For if I can touch even if a single person, I'd find myself a happy living man.

And for now, we stay here.

Incoming! Budapest

Late in the evening I went to the northern airport of London, despite it not being London anymore, to wait to my flight. I don't know for sure the reason that made me leave so many hours before my flight, but I'm glad it was done this way. Spending some hours in the airport have this feeling of break and pause. We can sit down and appreciate, dwell in our thought and stand still while the rest of the port of the air keeps its very own pace.

On time to do all with ease, I went inside towards the departing gate, only to be stopped by the control check, for reasons that I still don't understand. Anyway, I had to see my bag being completely undressed, while I was chatting with the man that was inspecting my bag about analogue photography and it's past hobbyist games with photography. Unfortunately, he said nostalgically , because of his two daughters, time didn't allowed him to keep up with the passion. A quick check on the bag for unseen chemicals and I carried on, to go to the plain that would take me to Hungary!

Not having sleept nothing but on the coach to the airport, I could say that the flight seemed to have taken but a second. As soon as we took of, the landscape became white, in contrast to London's cool, dry weather. After a first turn to the right, I fell fast asleep, only to wake up in hungarian borders!

Another country, another language. A thousand more possibilities. This is how I was feeling, when embraced with the chillness Budapest. Following Natalia's guidance, I took the 200 heading to the centre but, before arriving there, I swapped to the metro, that took me straight to here we were to meet.

The buildings, the bus and metro have a grungy, old look that made my eyes shine. They have a loot of character, the same way their people do. Not much is to be said about them yet, for I didn't see much so far. What I can say is that, after a couple of hours catching up with Natalia about her doings, I feel ready to start getting to know the city, their people and what lies in between.

For now, as usual, we stay here.

Carambal, the day after

Still, on the same day of Carambal, at around lunch time I was woken up by the rest of the house; a quick wash, some clean clothes on and we went out, to have a branch coffee to help us wake up; also to have a few more memories to keep safe of the people and adventures we had had there.

But after such lovely time we had, time was hushing us home again. But it wasn't my time now yet, as I had another half-a-day in the french metropolis. Funny is to see how the land shifts as we move souther in the continent; how the language changes, the way of being in the environment, the way people dress and their day-to-day doing. And I thus wonder, if there is such a change in such a little gap, between London and Paris, I wonder how grand will these changes be when I leave the European borders to embrace the remaining lands over the mountain? 

A quick about, before dinner, at Cour Saint-Émilion, suggestion of Alizée, to see not only but also this market, a former building that was after converted into this kind of street market, with plenty of restaurants and galleries, worth to pay a visit to. A thing that I tried to see again but realised the reason why we didn't go the first time I visited Paris, was Le Gare Montparnasse.

The first time I came here, I witnessed one of the best sunsets over Paris I've ever seen but had no chance to record it. So, when faced again with that giant building and the possibilities to be made on that terrace, I just didn't took the change this day because of the certainty that this day wasn't the ideal day to do it an also the acquired fact that I would be there again, soon enough to try again this attempt of a magical photograph still to be accomplished... it shall be done, that is certain. When or under which conditions, that I'm yet to know.

Monday morning, and the room that was once lively and very folky, was now empty to none but two people; me and Alizée. A drink a tea and grab a biscuit, pick up your backpack; don't forget half of the stuff behind. But please, do not get late to the coach!

I do not yet understand why I push myself so much to get to thing right on the limbo. Is it that felling the rush and questioning the possibility of the already arranged; what can come due to that was not accomplished, when the reason why we went there had been already satisfied to the marrow, not making the last step puts us in that very questionable situation of "damn, what next?"

This felling of the uncertain is.... very.... very good a-having!

And for now, we stay here.