the law firm of Buda and Pest

Traveling is a lot like getting a tattoo. You have an idea, you spend the money and suddenly you want to do it again. It keeps happening until you are looking a the spaces between your knuckles going, "I could totally fit the state of Florida there..."

And that's not even the worst of it. Honestly, the more pleased you are about traveling the more likely you are to meet someone remarkably more well traveled than yourself. There you'll be, having a friendly backpackers contest over the  different color combinations of other countries' flags, or deluging well planted insights into what really turned the tides of the Arab Spring, when you'll accidentally say something so unwittingly common the other travelers won't even bother laughing. They'll just take the conversation where you can't go. As though it were some place you've neer been. And if they were tattooed, they'd suddenly look like this guy:

Oh, you've still got blank spaces on your passport, how quaint.

Even if you as clever as me and know to keep your mouth shut, or call in for air suport when you're quite literally outclassed, you still can't help but glance down at your arms and think, "Here *should* be dragons."
But when this happens, and even when it doesn't, we are--at least, presented with a chance to understand humility, at best--the chance to comprehend our own limitations, or at worst,  the opportunity to come to grips with the fact that we are seriously overlooking the space behind our ear as a rocking new lo-cal to get tatted up!

It's totally tribal. No but really, it means something.

Budapest was amazing. For me, it had everything a vacation needs: Cheap, delicious food, excellent exchange rate, perfectly sunny weather, and good places to get wet. 

The streets are wide boulevards which rarely reek of piss. (Unlike mon ami, Paris, on both counts.) One can speak only English and never feel misunderstood. There are very few homeless people and a great bicycle culture.
The food is thick and creamy. They eat lots of soup and sausage. Big hunks of white bread at every meal and they can pound donuts like champs. 

Compared to Paris, Budapest is sprawling. People stop at cross walks, because they probably couldn't hoof it in time. No one  came up to me and hit on me in a rude way. Ok, well, one guy did--but I was starting to miss it ;) Street art is alive and kickin your face in, round Budapest way.

So you're sitting there thinking, "ok, Erin, artery clogging gastronomy and writing on the walls, I'm so impressed--Budpest is in in central Europe, that's basically Eastern Europe with a boring in front of it. What kind of what could there even be?"

Well, it just so happens that Budapest sits on top of natural thermal springs that the Turks turned into public baths. 

 The best part about them is how sexy they seem to make us both look.

And, no thermo, but they're pretty sexy themselves:

Watch that water glistening, flaunting its curves.

Visting them on the two days that we did were pretty much the most decadent thing I've ever done. But then again, I feel decadent when I drink a mimosa...or take a bath with scented candles lit.

Oooo, vanilla!

Can you believe I actually got a massage? I did not expect to be naked. Honestly? They always have towels across their bums in the vids. (Ok, not THOSE vids) But some Grandma giving my tummy a tickle was almost too much!  I kept squirming away like a slick fish....I still don't know if I was supposed to tip.

Wait, let me get my tourist cap on.

The time I spent alone with Sebastien on this trip was a paragon of placidity and languidly luxurious in every shade of sunshine and chocolate. Laying on his chest in warm bath water, outside, under the sun,

 Sipping an icy drink or hiking up Gellért Hill and gazing out over the surround areas of Buda.

Long walks on both sides of the river danube. Having drinks AND dessert. Talking about whatever felt good.
Reading together alone in the grass. Knowing our best friend feels the same way as we do. 

Sebastien is the best tour guide ever devised. He actually tried to speak Hungarian and marched me off to all the places he kept finding on the maps. If I had gone alone, my greatest and daily ambition would likely have amounted to finding a nice place to read and later on, a good spot to get loaded. Oh and ice cream, but that would have hardly taken substantial planning.  (Yeah, I'm kind of exciting.)

If you go to Budapest durring the summer, the indoor-out-door baths and wave pools are easy amusement and all the museums make for good sport as well. The food will fill your belly and the drinks are cheep. But nothing compares to kerts.
These are garden parties that get set up in abandoned spaces and turned into the kind of establishments I would like to run. The furniture, the lighting. PERFECTION. If you end up in Budapest, find a local on couch surfing and get them to take you to one. It will be like no bar experience you've ever had. There aren't even lines for the bathroom!

Obviously, I've taken a million more photos and you can check out a slide show of them here:

I guess the part where the tattoo/travel image falls apart is, after a trip like the week we spent in Budapest, I find I'm all tatted out. But hey, there's no such thing as a perfect metaphor ;) Hmm, on second thought, maybe I can squeeze a few stars in between my toes...

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Shark Week and Summer Salads

Shark Week, as everyone knows, is an American tradition whose currents run deep. Truly, you're not worth your weight in salt if you've never appreciated the sheer ferocity that is the Great White shark... and by extension the anual homage  to their Majesty.With just two days of  dorsal fin finery left in tow, I wanted to give you access to an important document that's sure to get you three sheets to the wind.
Now, drinking game aside, lets admit that sharks are cool. But in more ways then one, liking them, studying them, and reciting facts about them is a lot like being into dinosaurs. Oyes, much like your old friend soccer, sharks and dinosaurs are for kids.
But this shark week actually came to my home town and mentions it by name. Not only that, my cousin's husband is the harbor master in the opening shot of this vid. So check it out and try to get excited. This episode already aired but you have a solid two days of quality Discovery channel/drinking still on your boogie board. Don't let it go to waste.

Things have been closer to the prototype of summer here in Paris comma finally. Getting some sun, picnics in the park, drinks on the canal and fresh grilled everything. Geez, it's like spring all over again!! (But now with deeper tans) Plus I have this amazing cast-iron grill pan (that I found on the curb) and I have been doing up fruits, veggies, and the occasional meats. I love to eat fresh in the summer. White wine and cold beers all the time with that good, good bread. I make an effort to visit the markets every day, I serve a few cold salads at every meal, and my repertoire has increased since moving to France.
Here are a few salads I would suggest as their variations are practically endless while still having an ingredients list of less than 6. (Which makes me less than three them) <3 

Beets and Corn off the Cob salad:

Carrot Salad:

Cucumber Salad:

Endive Salad: 

Tomato Salad:

If these sound simple it's because they are. Just twenty mins prep time (including refrigeration) and you've got something cool and filling that looks pretty on a plate. 

If you want to be nice (or mean) to me, make a dish with okra or jalapenos--two great ingredients I can't find in France. Send me a picture and I'll love/hate you forever. 

So what are your plans here at summer's edge? Sebastien and I secured our rooms and our tickets to Budapest so all the worry is out the window with that. He's just started reviewing the chips I got for him in Tunisia and if you want to have a look at those check them out here.  I've got my hands on quite the word smith, it must be said.

Also, if anyone has been to Budapest let me know what's good to check out. I plan to meet people on couch surfing but if you've got some insider information, let me know. My major goal before going is learning how to say "thank you." A phrase worth knowing, the world over. 

Ten points will be awarded to your house if you ever played that game. I feel pretty foolish knowing it could be beat in 5 mins and I played it for months without winning ever. Man, shooting jellyfish with ship born bombs makes me miss my brother like you don't even know. 

Take care, the internet and may the sharks, nor society, never mistake your children for a meal. 

You have read this article Budapest / drinking game / Jaws / NES / salads / shark week / summer / Twin Shadow with the title Budapest. You can bookmark this page URL https://trendcelebrity2014.blogspot.com/2011/08/shark-week-and-summer-salads.html. Thanks!