UMOG!

I think everyone has one of those friends who come into your life on rare occasions, but leave such an affect it is as if five years of friendship is crushed like tasty garlic into one fine risotto. So that is what Umi Baden-Powell is to me. I may see her only a few times a year, but she is such a whirlwind of humour, fun and enthusiasm that she will linger for weeks. And she does happen to like garlic a great deal.

So she arrived late Wednesday night, heaving a huge back-pack and a wad of Euros (no use of course). As soon as we were on the bus we exchanged months of conversation; her travels in Dominique, my experience of Hungary, her desire for a motorcycle and passion for 16inch film reel, how to say thank you in Magyar. Getting off near my flat and walking up the steps of Ferenciek ter, she was completely awe-struck by the beauty of the architecture, and I was again taken back to how it felt when I first set eyes on the amazing streets, so much more impressive than anything I was used to in the UK. The next morning we got up early to take the tourist trip – I was yet to do it this time around. Umi insisted we walk the streets, which resulted in painfully numb fingers but a few new sights which were yet to come into my impression. We climbed Gellert Hill to reach the Citadella and walked even further for a stroll by the Palace and the Old Town. We ended the day nestled in the Ruszworm café much a much needed choc-overdose. That night I had planned an epic bar-crawl, but a few wines later and we managed Csendes and then Szimpla.

The next day we got up early and I finally managed to see Ecseri Flohmarket. It was quite impressive in the consistency of strange antiques, and well worth the trek when we found a second-hand store selling clothes at ridiculously bargainous prices. Umi managed to spend thirteen pounds on a bag of great vintage clobber, I spent about two pounds on some much needed knit-wear. We went to the food market on the way back and stocked up on cheap vegetables for the weekend.



Saturday was a two and a half hour train ride to cross the border. Bratislava, Slovakia, beckoned with sunshine and new experience. This was somewhat dwindled when we got a coffee in McDs, did about a two-hour trek, saw everything, and got the train back at four. That night the infamous Coyote Residence was hosting another stella party, and Umi was yet again impressed by the effort Budapest makes to ensure you constantly awed out of your socks.

Sunday was a cure for any hangover imaginable. Széchenyi Baths. It is difficult to describe the beauty of the place, apart from maybe to relate it to my subsequent desire to blow my life-savings on going every single week. We spent all afternoon there until sunset, exfoliating with real mud from Dominique and taking pictures till hearts’ content. A coffee at Hero’s Square café and we headed to the Italians for traditional aubergine tomato and mozzarella bake. Overall, an incredible weekend.