The Return of the Belgians

Today was the day that our pattern for hangout spots became apparent. We return to the Keleti Train Station, where we each enjoyed another falafel. The same woman served us, and we have grown rather attached to our “Falafel Lady.” The other big train station achievement was getting cell phones. Finally, we are once again connected! Bought from a little shop at the train station, they are ooooold phones (especially mine). It’s one of the classic Nokia varieties, and the sides are worn, but it was not badly priced. Besides, I love things with a little character and a good story behind them, and my little Hungarian phone definitely fits the bill. When I got it, it was entirely in Hungarian and our service provider is Hungarian. Bless Chloe’s Hungarian-speaking heart, she found the language option and I can finally understand my phone. As fascinating as my phone is for its sheer age, hers is even better - it used to belong to someone who absolutely loved anime. Who doesn’t love a Hungarian phone stuffed with Japanese pop culture?

Later, we were checking to see if any of the stores outside the train station were open when who should we run into but our Belgian Buddies! We decided to go back to the train station for a cup of coffee. We chatted about our trip up to that point and our plans for later. Then David and Willy showed up. No, this was not another incredible stroke of fate, we called them on our new (old) cell phones. We would have all had coffee together, but the shop closed signaling that it was time to move on.

We bid farewell to the Belgians and left with the French to explore a little more of Budapest. We walked down to where Parliament is. A beautiful building, especially lit up at night. We then ate a lovely dinner by the water. Chloe had a high class version of Hungary’s specialty: fried cheese. It was fried camembert with cooked apple slices and I will say that it was delicious. Not wanting to get the same thing, I got pasta with spicy tomato sauce (so did David). Willy got the other thing I almost ordered: pasta with dill sauce and salmon. Chloe and I shared a glass of Hungarian wine. Everything was absolutely delicious.

Our hostel was on the way to their campground so we continued our walk through our little neighborhood. We stopped back at our little cafe, Gabi, for another round of Hungary’s finest. We then bid farewell and headed our separate ways, but we will meet again.