Stories from travels in

Hungary

An oasis of flair and precision

I remember when coffee came in two forms: black or white. I also remember the caffeine tidal wave that swept the world, with the success

In need of watering

The first Easter I spent in my flat in Budapest, the doorbell rang on Easter Monday morning. I was a tad taken aback as I

There’s more to a country than its capital

When I ask an Irish person where they’re from, I get the name of the village. When I ask a Hungarian, if they’re not from

Emigrants abroad

Well, that’s St Patrick’s Day done and dusted for another year. For me, anyway. It’s taking me longer and longer to recover from the endurance

Moments that live on … from way, way back

I’ve walked the city of Budapest and noted the names of streets and squares without ever really paying attention to whom they’d been named after.

2015 Grateful 45

‘Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to come into my life?, I asked. He looked at me, a little taken aback.

Getting an education

We’re half-way through January and my resolve to do more than simply work, eat, and sleep, is holding. I’m saying yes to things I would

At the edge of a tradition (3)

It’s not often that parties in my world start at 7.30 am these days. Perhaps years ago when I was following Irish soccer and time

At the edge of a tradition (2)

I have the dubious distinction of being the only one of my Irish contemporaries who has managed to get this far in life without ever

At the edge of a tradition (1)

‘It’s perfect weather for a killing.’ Not quite the words I expected to hear over a pre-dawn breakfast before we braved the -12 degree cold