Hungarian park sleepers

I'm noticing that in the parks throughout the city, people love to nap in numbers I haven't seen before. I'll try not to speculate yet about what this says about the Hungarian character or the quality of life in Budapest or whatever, but all types of people  seem to love to enjoy beautiful summer days by going out in the parks and drifting off in the grass under the sun or a tree. The parks might be tiny, surrounded by buildings and filled with people, or the sprawling 300-acre Varosliget (City Park) or 1.5-mile long Margit-sziget (Margaret Island) in the middle of the Danube, despite all of the people around (or perhaps because of them) people love to sleep outdoors. 

Admit it: you would too.

Snoring on display

This man was snoring so deeply, his cheeks were puffing out and vibrating as he exhaled. He retained his dignity however,with his smart shoes and by keeping his shirt tucked in.

City park kolbasz

On our way into Varosliget (City Park) yesterday, we stopped at a vendor and bought some fairly cheap wine (no prohibition on alcohol in public parks here!) and two kolbaszok. Judging by the way the teen lounging in the booth grudgingly lifted her feet off the counter to get up and grab the sausages for me, we weren't expecting much once we sat down in the park. 

The moment we cut off a slice and started to chew our eyes opened wide. The sausage was so fresh and soft and meaty; I've never had a kolbasz that tasted like this. There was little of the garlic and fennel that so often overwhelms keilbasa I've had in the US. Here the flavors were straightforward and intense. The heat was tempered, and limited to the sweet heat provided by major paprika. It was mostly a giant punch of concentrated beefy/porkiness. It's been noticeable that meat here in general has a slight gaminess that adds intensity and richness but hasn't yet been so strong as to be off-putting to this palatte so used to blander meats. That same added strength was certainly present here.

Ultimately, we just found ouselves eating slowly, savoring every bite, almost with our eyes closed.