By now, I am back in the Netherlands. My last week in Budapest, by some horrifically called 'The Countdown' has gone by so fast. Especially, since my cousin Roel visited me for my last four days. That was so great! Also, after being back for two weeks I will post a list of pro's and cons of both The Netherlands/Tilburg and Hungary/Budapest.. some sort of reflection! However, first let me tell you about my last week in dazzling Budapest!
Saturday, 21th of January - Liszt Ferenc Ter, Budapest
The flat is clean, the laundry is done.. I am ready for Roel to arrive! I am so excited. The last two days I spent saying goodbye to some people, cleaning the flat and packing my suitcase. Now, it is time for me to start saying goodbye myself to this wonderful city and to close my exchange period in the best way possible!
Sunday, 22nd of January 2012 - Liszt Ferenc Ter, Budapest
Wow, that was impressive last night! After Roel's arrival, the great lunch at Hummus Bar and the usual sightseeing, we visited the Parliament. Beautiful as always. Then, when we went out of this magnificent building, we saw about three hundred people standing in small groups at the sqaure in front of it. We asked an old man, next to the memorial for the revolution of 1956, what was going on. His reply: "We are not taking it anymore. They are screwing us over and we don't like it anymore. We have been screwed over for too many years in history already!" I assumed this was another big protest against the central-right government of Viktor Orban, who currently is capable of changing everything in the constitution he wants, as a result of getting two third of the votes. However, when we walked down the route the protesters were taking to Parliament Square (all the way from Heroes Square, down Andrassy Út and Bajczy Zsilinsky Út), it dawned on us that this was not a protest ágainst but pró government. We asked some people and our suspicions were true. I was shocked. Yes, maybe the nationalistic view of Viktor Orban appeals to a lot of people in Hungary, but his government also wants to control the banks, limit press freedom and diminish gay rights.. How can anyone agree with that? Problem is, that there is no real alternative political party, since the other large party is even worse. There are some influential people with good ideas, but they do not wish to get involved actively in politics.. The situation is kind of hopeless, if you ask me. This morning, we read on international news sites that there had been about 100.000 people protesting. Something that we surely can confirm. The amount of people, most old and from the rural areas, was enormous...
Monday, 23rd of January 2012 - Liszt Ferenc Ter, Budapest
Yesterday, Roel and I had the most relaxing day I have had in ages. It started with a walk through Varosliget, City Park, and a great lunch with tomato-olive bread, szalami and pesto. Oh, and the typical Hungarian candy with chocolate and cottage cheese that Roel hated.. haha. After that, we entered Széchényi Fürdo, my favorite bath house, not to leave it until almost six hours later. Saunas, warm baths, cold baths, sleeping on a bench.. perfect! Relaxing is a specialty of us both =D At night, we went to Sushi Kyoto for the last time (Yes! Unlimited perfect sushi!) and I showed Szimpla to Roel, where we talked until three in the morning.
Today, we visited the Castle district, ate goulash and participated in the Communist Walking Tour. It was my second time, but again very interesting. It is such an important part of Hungary's history and the guide told a lot also about the current situation. Also, we went to Sugar to eat cake and icecream. I loved it again, but Roel could not handle all the sweet.. Now we are about to leave for For Sale, to eat peanuts, throw them on the ground, drink beers and eat an enormous portion of Hungarian food and not finish it. Afterwards, we will go to Morrison's Opera for my last party night (and the first Hostel Party for the new batch of Erasmus students).
Today, we visited the Castle district, ate goulash and participated in the Communist Walking Tour. It was my second time, but again very interesting. It is such an important part of Hungary's history and the guide told a lot also about the current situation. Also, we went to Sugar to eat cake and icecream. I loved it again, but Roel could not handle all the sweet.. Now we are about to leave for For Sale, to eat peanuts, throw them on the ground, drink beers and eat an enormous portion of Hungarian food and not finish it. Afterwards, we will go to Morrison's Opera for my last party night (and the first Hostel Party for the new batch of Erasmus students).
Wednesday, 25th of January 2012 - Schutsboomstraat, Schaijk
I am home. Wow, this is so weird. It really does not feel like my exchange is over. It is good to be back in the Netherlands, but I am not sure if I like the fact that I am not going to go back to Budapest. Well, at least for now.. me and Emma already booked tickets to see each other and our remaining friends there in April!!
After a great night of dancing and having fun in Morrison's, we got up yesterday morning to arrange the last things at Corvinus University. Also, we went to the Market Hall to find some souvenirs (including Roel's magic box...) and to eat Lángos. Everytime I eat it I say: last time, never again, it is soooo unhealthy.. but I never manage to avoid it with visitors! Then, we visited the House of Terror, which Roel found to be, and is indeed, very impressive. The stories told there are so horrific.. If you are in Budapest, you cannot leave without visiting this very good museum. Budapest is wonderful, it is exciting and so beautiful, but the country, the city and its people have gone through so much in the last century.. At night, we went to the Opera to give my last night on exchange a really special feel. We did not understand a thing of the story, but it was so great. Really modern and visually extremely impressive!! After meeting up in Chrome with some people of the language course, it was time to say goodbye.
This morning we cleaned the flat and left to the airport. Bye flat. Bye exchange. By lovely friends. You mean so much to me. By Budapest. I will be back.
After a great night of dancing and having fun in Morrison's, we got up yesterday morning to arrange the last things at Corvinus University. Also, we went to the Market Hall to find some souvenirs (including Roel's magic box...) and to eat Lángos. Everytime I eat it I say: last time, never again, it is soooo unhealthy.. but I never manage to avoid it with visitors! Then, we visited the House of Terror, which Roel found to be, and is indeed, very impressive. The stories told there are so horrific.. If you are in Budapest, you cannot leave without visiting this very good museum. Budapest is wonderful, it is exciting and so beautiful, but the country, the city and its people have gone through so much in the last century.. At night, we went to the Opera to give my last night on exchange a really special feel. We did not understand a thing of the story, but it was so great. Really modern and visually extremely impressive!! After meeting up in Chrome with some people of the language course, it was time to say goodbye.
This morning we cleaned the flat and left to the airport. Bye flat. Bye exchange. By lovely friends. You mean so much to me. By Budapest. I will be back.
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