Day 39- July 3rd : Today was action packed, and again my poor feet! Strange o'rama

try telling me this is not scary

After some breakfast and a lot of laziness, Andreas and I finally got out of the room. It's strange how two of us end up hanging out together but with the others. I guess because we share a room and we are actually very similar; I see a lot of my younger self in him. I can understand him.

This residency is a bit different than the last, this group of artists are fairly independent from one another. Even though Andreas and I have two other suites- mates, Gregory and Howard we don't rally hang out together. Howard is a middle- age photographer with the hormones of a 19 year old college student, so he is always out and about trying to find beautiful Hungarian women to photograph. Gregory... It doesn't seem like he's even this the residency at all. We don't see him other than right before bedtime, he only likes to hang out with his formal student; a Hungarian high school exchange student in the US, now 18. I don't know if he even likes us. The girls are in their girlie world and we can't seem to penetrate. It's all ok because I enjoy hanging out with Andreas.

We went to the castle district, a wonderful collection of Museums and other culture institutions in the old palace castle and old town area on the Buda side. We spent 5 hours walking and sight seeing none stop and there were just so much to see and just the architecture and the views of the city were enough to blew me all the back to America. I love how the old city was laid out and the Palace is just amazing and it offers the best view of the city, naturally.

The highlight of the trip which is also the one of the highlights of my Budapest residency is the Labyrinth under the Buda's old town. I expected caves, mazes and a little spook but it was a out of this world experience. Bizarre is the only word to decribed it. A system of old tunnels used for military, storage, shelter and other purposes since the 1600's and now made into an art, Alien, ghostly, poetic and even per-historic experiences with strange and anything goes art (loosely) installation.

Sounds of a beating heart from a caged wells, red wine flows though fountains in almost complete darkness; half of a huge had sculpture in the middle of the large cave.... spooky army like stone sculpture guarding every corner. This is just too much fun.

Day26- June 20th: They asked why; I said Why not?

I had a few of interesting conversations with several different people today. They didn't know one another and came from different culture and social backgrounds. They all asked why have I decided to extend my stay in Budapest? What are the things I like about the country and the city? What the the things I do not like about the city?

This might seem a simple question but it actually involves a lot of analyzing. I know there is not one thing that would make me want to stay in Budapest longer than what I am supposed to. I like Budapest because it's real, human, and imperfect. It give you a sense of place but yet it is displaced on the crossroads of industrialized and socialist society. It's so unique because it's completely foreign and take me out of my comfort zone. It's lovely, beautiful when you look from afar but rundown, dirty and smelly when you are close.

People here are either super nice and go out of their way to help you or they simply don't care and scream at you. It's the city of two extremes and the city with hope. To me Vienna is perfect and what is there left to do when you live in a utopia?

I believe human being thrive on imperfections and Budapest is the place for thriving.

Day 23th -june 10th: It turned out better!

After last night's ranting on almost being over charged; a small miracle happened today!

On my way back from the frame store ( retrieved my Doll's of Hungary piece) I decided to stop in a little fruit and vegetable market a few doors from the hotel. I got some native strawberries as I had done in the past. I also saw some wonderful looking blackberries at 900 forints per box, it was too expensive so I put it back but the owner gave me a box of raspberries for free!!! It is very generous of her considering I only spent 700 forints. I didn't understand her but I felt her kindness and thank her.

Today is Rudee's last day and Maegan's last days here in Budapest and we had our last supper at the Artist club. We went to the Artist Club for supper a and it was a delightful experience. I feel if as I have stepped back in time and venture back in the 1960-1970's supper club in Budapest. It was absolutely wonderful and the meal was good but not excellent. It's a interesting concept of blending art gallery, performance space, lecture halls and restaurant in one building. It has the old Soviet sensibility and a genuine eastern European experience.

Day 6-May 23: Storybook day

Four of us decided to go to Hero SQ today: two of the artist wanted to try the Szechenyi Bath / Spa and Meagan and I spent a good amount of time walking around the beautiful sq. and the park ground. We also visited a castle! It was so picturesque and hard to believe a family of royalty actually lived there. I wonder what it was like; amazing, I am sure! We also walk through the Hungarian Agriculture museum (mistaken for the modern art museum) although it was also a nice to know how Hungarians have lived for the past 3000 years.