BY THE BLUE DANUBE

It was one of the first piano pieces I learned a hundred years ago when I was young. Tonight on the way into Budapest I saw it for real, just before dark. Talking about the Danube river and Strauss's famous waltz. After arriving at my lodgings, a villa built by a Count who was Prime Minister in the early 1900's, I ventured down unknown streets to a main drag, trying in vain to find food. I have realized, as a friend of a few years knew, that I get very cranky when hungry. Didn't have the local currency, which was a problem, (why can't they use euros?) and banks were closed. Would be closed until Monday.
Bad news.
Then good news. I read the public transport sign out of boredom and no place to go, and discovered that I'm old enough to ride for free. Suddenly the city improved a lot.
Then I asked in what looked like a fancy restaurant, and found out they would accept the euro. So hallelujah, I could eat. They even had live music.
Good news that turned to not so good, because they played songs that I sing, and it made me wish I was at the Gate, performing with the trio.
Oh well. The food was good. Walked back and didn't see a soul in the quiet. I miss the people and street life of Rome already. It suited me better, and was warmer too.
............
But hey, now it's a brand new day, and I explored a lot of the city, (although sometimes I feel as if I'm simply walking and eating, and then walking and eating some more, but that's actually quite fine).
And now that I found out how to post pictures, (on my last day in Rome) I'll show you a bit of Budapest, starting with the famous Gellert spa, then the ceiling of the Opera House, then part of an exhibition called "Shoe Magic" at the museum, next my feet taking a rest by a little pond, then the astonishing St. Stephen's Basilica, which can hold 8,000 worshippers, then a lovely bride about to change her life there, next the view from the Matthias church, overlooking the river and rooftops, me in one of the towers, two gorgeous girls on parents' shoulders, and the beginning sunset. I later sang spontaneously alongside a violinist at an outdoor cafe, but that's a video. I'll see if I can post it later.