It's alocohol free, is that okey? - Budapest in 2 hours

The plane ride went smooth as always. I tried to sleep but couldn’t, so I just closed my eyes while listening to music. It was colder than I expected in Budapest, so I didn’t change, but picked up a ticket for the airport’s shared-shuttletaxi service (which is great and easy to use) and fetched a free map of the city, marking of some places before picking up my suitcase. The taxi driver didn’t speak English and it was a bit confusing at first, but I used the few Hungarian words I knew and got in the car which took me and another fellow safely to Keleti railway station where I picked up a train ticket to Pécs before leaving my luggage. Not changing.

I took my camera and money and went by underground to the city centre. First thing showing up: Starbucks. Then I found St. Stephens Basilica, which was really impressive. I had promised my mom to eat so I soon went down the street to Hard Rock Café where I went inside (to hot outside – yay to sweater and jeans. No.) and ordered some French fries and a groupie grind. This was the defining moment for my Budapest experience. I ordered the GG and the waiter said: “It’s alcohol free, is that okey?” I should have yolo’ed and said no, but I didn’t. I then enjoyed my smoothie, went shopping at the New Yorker and went down to the riverside to see Danube and the castles. I had so little time, but Budapest seemed wonderful with all the green areas and buildings and stuff.

-Mari Clémentine

Lost in London

“There’s nothing to do in London alone!” Bullshit. I had half a day and aching feet, damn be the idea of only wearing high heels for a weekend. I still had presents to buy and luckily the tourists had gone home and the Londoners were at work or school. I had Primark, HMV, WH Smith, and the cute store at the corner to myself. At least for like… one hour of the day. Then, when eventually walking into Starbucks it was overcrowded. Still a place to sit down and write though. I would forever be the travelling author – haha.

      I ended my stay in London by the Round Pond in Kensington gardens feeding the ducks, swans, doves and screaming, crazy seagulls. In the end walking down good ol’ Kensington High Street, looking for the tube station we had used all summer.

    Only problem of the day – I got lost 3 times riding the tube. YAY! In the end I finally got back to my hotel to repack my suitcase. And while the receptionist watched me sit and more or less jump on it to make it close, I said goodbye to Pimlico and then made my way to the bus and Stansted Airport for my very cheap flight and one last cup of Starbucks.

-Mari Clementine