BudaPesto

I feel like we keep harping on about couchsurfing, but it has connected us with people we would have never found otherwise. Our original 3 days in Budapest turned to 5 at the suggestion of our hosts, the Szabady family. We arrived after catching a Flixbus from our quick overnight in Kosice, Slovakia, and we made our way by metro and bus to our hosts home. It was nice as it was located in a northern neighborhood called Ujpest, and away from the hustle bustle of the city. Zsolt, Reka, Dori, Zsofia, and their new puppy, Pesto greeted us when we arrived.

Without much protest, we were seated at the table and given a bowl of delicious lecsó followed by a shot of Palinka (plum brandy), followed up with the Czech pilsner Staropramen – the half liter can seems to be standard, no arguments here. We worked on getting to know the family. Zsolt owns his own GIS consulting firm, Reka is an english teacher, Dori is in high school, Zsofia in middle school, and Pesto is a cute daschund puppy that pees on the floor when excited, which is all the time.

The next two days we did the touristy things, and we were told by Rika once we were tired of that they would show us the local stuff! Budapest’s “old town” is the largest of any we have visited thus far, and it is impressive. Before the world wars, this had been the co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian empire and the architecture shows. Much better seen in person than blabbing on about. We took Zsolt on his suggestion to see the parliament building, and we took the tour on the second day.

In my hunt for local dishes, we found a “large” snitzel. I was asked the Hungarian equivalent, “would you like to supersize your order?”. Is that a question? Of course. I accept.

Young, naive, full of hopes and dreams

Accomplished, uncomfortable, full of snitzel

Zsolt mentioned there was a flipper museum we might enjoy. We had no idea what a flipper “museum” was but come to find flipper = pinball, so yeah we were in. Jaime, Zsolt, Zsofie, and I went for a few hours, set some high scores, and in general Jaime had to give shove me to say it was time to go.

Saturday was our day for Hungarian immersion. We asked Zsolt if he would show us how to cook a Hungarian dish , and we would buy the ingredients. We made goulash from his family’s recipe – and man was it good! I say “we”, poor Zsolt had to do a lot more work than we meant. He took us to their daily market, and I, like a kid in a candy shop, was able to ask all the food questions that had built up through Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. When I asked about blood sausage, he explained that it goes well with two other types of sausages. For the American think Andouille style, rice, meat, andspices. Of course we bought all three!

Daily market in their neighborhood

Jaime asked me to look at her the way I look at these.

After we prepped the food, we went to the school that Reka teaches at for Family Day. They have each class cook goulash and a few lucky judges get to go around at judge them. They cook goulash in a traditional setting, which looks like a a large pot held up by a tripod suspended over hot coals. We were able to get a bowl of delicious food from the teachers fire pit. They also had a traditional dance performed by a small troupe from the local area, as well as the middle school kids group.

On our last full day, we got up and went on a run with Reka. Afterwards, she took us to one of her favorite places. The whole time we were staying she had told us about the children’s railroad, which she, Zsolt, her children and other relatives have all been a part. I guess you could say it was a good piece of communist history, and now it is only found in 3 countries with Budapest’s being the largest. Main concept: teach kids basic responsibilities that increase in difficulty and leadership from the age of 10 to 15. After that, they can become team leaders to childrens railroad. Besides the conductor of the train and 1 station master, everything is operated on the railway by the kids. You can tell the kids really enjoy the responsibilities, and there shift is only once every 15 days, but for the whole day. Schools have no problems letting the kids off for this enterprise.

Last but not least, Reka and Szolt invited us to a free concert in an outlying town to Budapest. Boban Marcovic Orkestra played the final headliner of a three day festival, and we were able to try Hubgarian festi foods not limited to mango soft serve ice cream and cinnamon chimneys.

Alas, we weren’t looking forward to leaving our new friends, but it is only until we will see them again in the future. Budapest has been one our favorite stops on the trip, and the Szabady family really made it memorable for us. Much thanks you guys!