Market Day!

Last Saturday I made a short stop at the famous Budapest Market.  For hundreds of years people have come here to buy their vegetables, meat, and spices.  Because we're in the middle of a heat wave, its especially fun to see how the locals are keeping cool. One rather rotund man had pulled his shirt up across his chest to reveal his shorts hiked up almost as high - revealing only a sliver of ivory midriff.

Another difficult sight was that of a gypsy woman begging at the entrance. Her back was so bent with scoliosis that she looks like she's leaning over. I wonder how someone can survive in so much pain and difficulty.  Even though I had my super zoom lens on my camera - she still caught me taking her picture yikes!

A Break in the Heat

Budapest has been stuck in a blistering heat wave for weeks.  Yesterday it topped 104 degrees and  most of the buildings don't have air conditioning.  The humidity is low, so its not quite as heavy as Greenville heat, but all I've wanted to do is go swimming.  Last night the wind blew in a cool front and now we're basking in 80 degree weather and I'm reaching for my sweater (not really).  But for the first time I felt like getting out and seeing the sights.

Today was the day to begin my search for hungarian fabrics.  I'm going to use them as my "canvas" for my residency paintings.  Happily I found at least three good resources and purchased one really great woven fabric.  I also really enjoyed walking around the city.  Its been eight years since I was here last and as most of you know - I have absolutely no sense of direction.  Usually I'm so stressed trying to figure out which street I'm on and what direction I'm traveling and miss amazing sights all around.  Enter the iPhone - now I'm a moving blue dot on the screen and I know exactly where I am!  Technology has certainly changed my outlook and I am truly, truly grateful.  Now I can look up and see the beauty in the magnificent city.  Check out these lampposts!

A New Perch...

After meeting a few new friends at Danube International Church this morning, I enjoyed a nice air conditioned lunch and air conditioned car ride to my new temporary apartment in Budapest.

As I'm sure most of you know, Budapest was once two cities, Buda and Pest, separated by the magnificent Danube.  Buda, generally speaking, is very hilly and more residential.  Pest is the business, political, and more touristy side and its also pretty flat.  My new perch is in the Buda hills and I absolutely love it.  I have an excellent view of the city, and have perfect privacy to read, write, draw, and rest before the residency officially begins a week from Monday.

Dalma, the woman who rented me amazing her apartment, is in the fashion industry and this place is packed full of fashion, costume, and textile books.  I could have never orchestrated this through bookings.com, so again I'm reminded that my plans are certainly being "fine tuned."  Believe me, I'm not one to cheese things up about God - but there is no other explanation but His lovingkindness...

I'm writing to you at this moment from Dalma's Kitchen.  Isn't it lovely!

And...

And here's the chair where I'll spend many an hour...

I'll post more photos of Budapest proper tomorrow.

Travel Tip of the Day:
When staying at a hostel, remember to take the roll of toilet paper left in your room down the hall with you to the bathroom when nature calls!

William Lak Hostel

After a 10 hour long, one train change, un-air conditioned ride through the Polish and Slovenia countryside I arrived at Keleti Train Station in Budapest.  Along the way I picked up a few friends, Franz (from Berlin) and Edina (from Budapest). Edina was kind enough to point me in the right direction to find my bed at William Lak Hostel.  Even at night - Budapest is beautiful.  The architecture alone is out of this world. The Hostel looked okay on the outside, but when I went into the inner courtyard I wasn't sure I had made a good choice.  It was very dark, but I finally found the light to the stairway and up to the third floor.  William was waiting and quite congenial.

Needless to say, I slept like a baby!  Pillows, sheets, and mattresses are wonderful things.

After checking out this morning, I went out into the courtyard and took this picture.  Once again, I can see the hand of Providence letting me arrive in the dark.

A Lion's Share

So this is a picture of me right now...at 3:28 am

This will be me in only 10 hours...

Nighty Night Adventure

Krakow is amazing!  Here's how I started the day...could it get any better? Being the efficient traveler,  I skipped to the train station early this morning to buy my night train ticket to Budapest.  When I got to the counter, I asked the lady if she spoke English and she said, "A little." I told her I wanted to take the night train around 10:20.  She handed me a pen and I wrote down 10:20 pm.  Without question, she printed my ticket and handed me my ticket.  She even told me which platform my train would be leaving from and I confidently went out in search of a latte.

After a perfect day of sightseeing, people watching, gelato, and coffee - I made my way to Krakow-Glowny train station with plenty of time to spare.  I smugly walked past the long line of folks getting tickets for the evening trains.  When I arrived to my platform - there was no train, so I asked a nearby lady if this was where the Budapest Night Train would be departing.  She pointed to the next platform over.  In no rush at all, I made my way to the revised train platform.  When I handed my ticket to the conductor - he sternly looked at me and swished his finger in my face. Puzzled, I found another gentleman to help.  He showed me the train schedule and helped me figured out that I had missed the 10:20 MORNING train. In Europe, they go by our military time, thus the correct time would have been 22:20. Panic stricken, I rushed back to the ticket counter only to find the long line that I ridiculed earlier.

After standing in line for 45 minutes - I missed the night train.  When I finally got to the window, I explained my situation and found that my ticket was non-refundable and a new one must be purchased for the morning (10:20) train.  (The earliest departing train to Budapest.)

Now I sit in McDonald's and wait for dawn!  Tune in tomorrow to see if Kyle makes it to Budapest!

My Bags are Packed...I'm Really Ready to Go!

Actually, they've been packed for a few months.  Plans for this trip have been in the works since December 2012 - hard to believe the day has finally arrived.  My sweet sister, Kristi, drove me to Charlotte this morning and now I sit waiting to board my flight to JFK. Then its on to Warsaw, Poland...

"Hold on, Warsaw - I thought Kyle was going to Budapest."

Yes, yes I am - eventually.  From Warsaw I'll board a train to Krakow and spend a day sightseeing and shopping.  Interestingly, the city of Krakow had very little damage during World War II as well as its Russian occupation afterwards. Much of its architecture dates back to the middle ages. It was also on The Silk Road, a trade route of goods from China and India to Europe. The city has a daily mega-flea market and I hope to find fabric yummies to use during my residency.  Also, I'm on the look out for amazing fabrics that might be coming to a retailer near you (in Greenville, SC). 

From Krakow I'll board a night train to Budapest. Very fun!

Our flight to JFK has been delayed two hours because of heavy air traffic - hopefully I'll still be able to catch the plane to Warsaw!

A Doughy Goodbye!

Thank you Katherine, Bobby, Sarah, Michelle and Jeremy - what a fun of pizza party!  I'm honored by your arty tribute...and will certainly miss our early morning meals, libations, musical education, and theological discussions. You're all welcome to visit me in Budapessssshhhhht!