We arrived late at night, and the city looked much the same as any other. Then the taxi rounded a corner, and through the rain drops on the windows, I fell in love with Budapest for the first time. The Chain Bridge sparkled, alight with so many bulbs that it looked like a necklace spanning the Danube. Both sides of the river were beautiful that night, the pink and yellow hues of a bustling nightlife splashed against the dark river water, and made the clouds above darkly glow. The rain broke while we were inside our room unpacking, and being starved anyway, we bundled up. I usually hate going out on the first night we travel (because Im anti-social), but this time he didnt even have to bribe me.
Humans are among some of the only species that understand the concept of pointing. Dogs and dolphins get it, too. I point, you look where Ive pointed. Even extremely young children (and puppies) grasp that life is a thing to be shared, and experienced together. The definition of 'share' is to divide, to dole out, and I think thats exactly what we try to do in life. We say, I am happy, please look over here and have some of my happiness. And instead of depleting with use, it multiplies. So we hold hands, eat lemon sorbet, and attempt to make these magic junctures linger.
Easter in Budapest was excellent, even if we did accidentally eat a horse-meat sausage and enjoy it completely (the tarragon chocolate truffles later made up for that mishap). I still have two miniature white chocolate Easter bunnies in my cupboard, because I couldnt bear to eat their tiny cute heads. And I didnt even tell you about riding in a funicular, or about all the beautiful colors of the Easter market stalls full of hot steaming foods, and brightly painted hollow eggs, and piles upon piles of real-fur hats, coats, and scarves. And paprika, lots of paprika! It was just one of those great countries where the variety of souvenirs is endlessly abundant, and inexpensive enough to get a little of each! Its just another reason among many why we love Eastern Europe more than anyplace else, and will miss the heck out of it.
