Budapest.The.first.weeks.

Well it's week 4 already! Mostly settled in and got the metro and tram lines down to a science. But, I still find it wierd seeing racoons being walked on leashes and 50cent beers at the corner store. Yeah, apparently it's cool to have a racoon as a pet- and if you can't have one of those then you better get a dog with dreadlocks.

We've got our appartment pretty much sorted out- all but the internet. I guess it's a new thing in Hungary, and even more of a hastle since we're living in the oldest neighbourhood-district 5 (the heart of downtown). We can only get the net through telephone and that could take another month. In the meantime we're just stealing a faint wireless signal. The flats here are all really nice- tend to all have 12-14ft. ceilings, hardwood floors, BIG and be in old buildings with courtyards. nice 3 bedrooms easily for under 1000.

So far haven't done much travelling- but I have met a hundred people from all over europe and a couple from australia- even a cool japanese guy who thinks it's halarious to find a guy like me with a japanese last name. I get to practice my french, spanish and italian and that's always fun. Now that I've got some important hungarian down- like bor,sor, agesegedre, palinka,unicum- i've been able to learn how to say cheers in about 15 languages and savoured many different brew- yes i'm becoming 'cultured'.

School. oh right. I knew I came all this way for something. Got ahungarian film course that starts today, should be cool. A big studio project that's actually about a major problem in the city and a couple others that are pretty dry. Going alright though- mostly the big exams at the end determine the mark.

You've probably heard about the riots and burning cars and stuff. It's really not as exciting as I was hoping. There was pretty much just the one big crazy night, and then after a week of a few smaller ones and tear gas being thrown around it's all been peaceful.

Food here is good and cheap- especially since we live next to the market- a bunch of veggies, chicken, fresh produce cheese and bread for under 10 bucks. There's some strange dishes and bad wine if you eat out. Miklos and I found out just the other day that the 'rooster stew' we had ordered a couple weeks ago- was well... lets just say i guess that's what makes it rooster stew and not chicken stew. never again.

Last weekend we went to Balaton- the big hungarian lake- turns out it's a ghost town when it's not summer- kinda dissapointing. But this wekend we're off to Croatia- for even cheaper beer, and sandy beaches on the Adriatic sea- can't wait to see my second European country! and hopefully the week after it will be Brataslava/prague, then maybe some vienna or istanbul- i just wanna go everywhere!

So yeah there it is. For Pics- check out the link. I've got a ton.

till next time.

Alan.