I've been in Budapest for a month now. My original plan was to settle in London for a while, get a part-time job on the side, and travel in Europe. But that didn't work out.
I went on CraigsList.org and checked for rentals in Budapest. They were incredibly affordable, I mean REALLY cheap. I found this studio for 50,000 Forints per month, about $220 depending on the exchange rate. It's a large room with a high-ceiling and wide window, hallway/kitchen and bathroom. Furnished! >>> Photos
I've moved around a lot and lived in many cities but I don't think I've ever had a deal quite like this. And I couldn't imagine I would find it in a European capital.
My building is a charming three-story Austro-Hungarian residential structure built in 1900 near the center of town. It has a beautiful court yard, a staircase like the ones in film noirs, and small apartments all around, almost all of them decorated with shamdoonis in front. Hungarians love shamdoonis. They are everywhere. I forget what they're called in English!
If you want to get away for a while and live in a quiet, easy-going, and very affordable large European city, Budapest is it. And from here you can go on little weekend trips all over Europe. Which I plan to do. I have all the time in the world. Do you? Get on that plane and see the world >>> Photos
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Well
by Escape on Wed Jul 07, 2010 02:19 AM PDTNiki Belluchi is going to be there :) :) :)
//www.niki.belucci.hu/
Mean People Suck
JJJ (JJ jan)
by Doctor X on Tue Jul 06, 2010 04:27 PM PDTAre you looking for a personal assistant?:)
I am so affordably available.
Kinda far
by Escape on Tue Jul 06, 2010 01:35 PM PDTBut there is a beach party in Beremend this weekend on Sat.It's called the Srtand Beach Party
JJ Jan
by bajenaghe naghi on Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:13 AM PDTThank you.
I'll look for some Unicum here in the States. From reading what you have written, it seems to be very special and quite beneficial.
Unicum
by Jahanshah Javid on Tue Jul 06, 2010 09:32 AM PDTBajenagh e Aziz: According to Wikipedia, "Unicum is a Hungarian herbal bitters, drunk as a digestif and apéritif. The liqueur is today produced by Zwack according to a secret formula of more than forty herbs, and the drink is aged in oak casks. During the Socialist regime in Hungary, the Zwack family lived in exile in New York and Chicago, and during this time, Unicum in Hungary was produced using a different formula. However, before moving to the States, Janos Zwack had entrusted a family friend in Milan with the production of Unicum based on the original recipe. After the fall of communism, Péter Zwack returned to Hungary and resumed production of the original Unicum."
Oh Budapest....
by Souri on Tue Jul 06, 2010 09:19 AM PDTIt reminds me of the short trip I had in 1983....What a great experience!
True, it was a very cheap and affordable city compared to the other European capitals.
I remember when I got to a luxury hotel (don't remember its name) asking for a room, the guy at the reception said: We don't have any room available! I went out and took the metro, to look for another hotel or Auberge to stay 2 days before I leave...but I couldn't find anything. I was alone and wasn't able find the addresses on the map!
Early evening (in Fall, it gets dark there at 4pm) I came back to the same hotel and begged the guy to give me a room at least for one night, as I was so tired of searching for a room.
He looked at me with a sense of pity ( I was wearing an old jean and a simple T-shirt like all the casual students in France) and he said: Mrs, we are very very expensive, you aren't able to afford it!!!
I got scared!! I said: How much?
He said: 400 Forints!!!!!!!(just an example, I don't remind how much it was in Forints but it made only 100 Franc means $20 at that time!)
I laughed so loud!! In fact I laughed hysterically because I'd got mad at the guy for having judged my financial capacity by my appearance and caused me so much headaches!!
I spent the night at the hotel which had a very luxury club at the top stair, dance and chant and wine.....There were lots of Germans and other nationalities there.
But I was so tired from my excursion for finding a hotel, that I went to the bed early and the next day I left for Romania.
BTW JJ jon: Rea is right. Zagreb is a most beautiful city in ex-Yugoslavia. Take a hotel on a hill with a splendid view of the whole city. The food is awful though!
JJ Jan
by bajenaghe naghi on Tue Jul 06, 2010 09:16 AM PDTYou are having a great life. I envy you. One day, when I get very old and finally become wise, may be I'll have the balls to pack and go, but then again, salee ke nekoost az baharash paydast.
Your talk about fine wine, pretty women, and cheap rent has made me all Hungry.
BTW. What is Unicum? It sounds a little dirty!
can't wait to read that!
by Monda on Tue Jul 06, 2010 08:48 AM PDTwhere you trying to confuse people about your identity? Well
I'll just wait 'til your piece comes out :)
I did worse!
by Jahanshah Javid on Tue Jul 06, 2010 08:36 AM PDTThanks Monda!
No I did not toff on the shamdoonis and decorate my fingers. But I did paint my nails for real for a week when I was in Washington a couple of months ago. The reactions were interesting! I will write about it soon :)
Beh Salamti!
by Jahanshah Javid on Tue Jul 06, 2010 08:29 AM PDT-- Thanks Red Wine Jan... I will definitely try Bock Libra. I'm sure you've tried Unicum, the interesting Hungarian herbal liqueur. Not bad!
-- Anonymuse: The lease is month to month.
-- Anahid: Tell your relatives to rend a room through the ads on CraigsList. It would be much cheaper than staying at hotels.
-- Thanks Rea. Train to Zagreb? I love the sound of it. I'll keep it in mind.
You are an Artist...
by Monda on Tue Jul 06, 2010 08:28 AM PDTin the way you live your life. Your new place looks very charming at an amazing price! khosh begzareh va thanks for sharing.
(btw when we were kids we used to gently toff the encaved surface of the shamdooni petals and stick 'em on our nails, did you ever do that? can't recall if there were shamdoonis in Abadan:o)
...
by Red Wine on Tue Jul 06, 2010 08:20 AM PDTBudapest is twinned with Paris ... romantic,lovely,... specially at night.
-Becareful about Magyar blond girls, they are too hot than the other parts of Europe .
-Did you drink Magyar wine ? Try Bock Libra and more ...
Have a nice vacation Dear J J .
Suggest a train to Zagreb
by Rea on Tue Jul 06, 2010 08:05 AM PDTThe medieval Old City is lovely.
Then off to the Dalmatian coast, very Roman, spectacular islands.
PS. geraniums are popular all over Europe. Reliable, colourful, and you can have 4 out of 1 by using cuttings. ;o)
Oh, I do
by Cost-of-Progress on Tue Jul 06, 2010 08:03 AM PDTenjoy life. Its just that sometimes you have to plan things carefully depending on the situation.
Currently, I plan on having a mid-life crisis as soon as I can manage one (you know, work, family, finances, etc.)
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Dear Jahanshah, thanks for the information
by Anahid Hojjati on Tue Jul 06, 2010 07:58 AM PDTDear Jahanshah, it is always good to know about good deals. One of my close relatives and her family will be visiting Budapest in few weeks. I wish I had more vacation so I could take advantage of such good deals that you have explained. Have fun in Europe.
Looks nice. Is is a yearly lease or can you go month to month?
by Anonymouse on Tue Jul 06, 2010 07:54 AM PDTEverything is sacred
Ah Geraniums!
by Jahanshah Javid on Tue Jul 06, 2010 07:27 AM PDTThanks CoP for the reminder!
I'm not doing anything extraordinary. All of you can do it too -- at least for a couple of weeks out of the year. And you always have weekends free. Get off iranian.com and enjoy life :)))
Hope you have loads of fun
by Cost-of-Progress on Tue Jul 06, 2010 07:17 AM PDTIts nice to be able to travel like that....freedom to do what you want.....aah, how sweet it is.
BTW, in Persian they are called shamdooni, in English, they are Geraniums!
Stay safe.
CoP
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IRAN FIRST
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