Late Afternoons

It was a bright day outside and although the post office was closed, Seren and I found ourselves a little adventure. Originally Seren was headed to pick up a package her mother sent her, but we quickly found out that not only is May first a holiday in Hungary, but so is the rest of the weekend. Seren was immensely excited about the care package, and sadly will have to wait until Monday to rummage through the American goodies she misses so terribly. I think her mother actually sent pickles, interestingly enough. Although they do pickle very many things in Hungary, pickled pickles are not one of the most edible. Though I suppose you can’t pickle a pickle because it is already pickled. Should I say pickle a cucumber? Is that better? Anyway, after coming away from the post office thoroughly disappointed we decided to venture down a cute tree-lined avenue. Cafes are always open, even if the rest of the city is not, so we passed by bustling restaurants, fluttering menus, chatting couples, and brightly colored umbrellas. I had a strange urge to attempt shimmying up a column, and made a royal fool out of myself. There was a young local who passed by and couldn’t contain his amused chuckling. I smiled back, almost apologetically as I wrapped myself around the column like a monkey. Sometimes I just must give in to my strange urges, especially when they are harmless and only slightly embarrassing. Seren and I wound our way back stopping for lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Yes that’s right! One actually exists here! Though, I didn’t dare order a burrito. Most of the food seemed sketchy, but the quesadillas were delightful and I was in heaven to have guacamole again.

I’m sitting so that I face the windows of the apartment. The sun is about to go down and streams into the whole room with its last efforts of the day. I feel completely peaceful at this moment: the sound of birds drift on the occasional breeze as well as quiet murmurs from people walking the streets bellow, and the smoke from the incense on the windowsill is languidly curling out the open door and over the balcony.