As I was typing the title of this entry, I was reminded of the theme song from MASH – “Suicide is painless”. It is certainly less painless than sitting on a discount airline flight, to Eastern Europe, with screaming children (and their passive parents). That said, I’m in love with Wizzair.
I bought my flight, last minute, for $89 one way from Lisbon Portugal to Budapest Hungary. This was not a cheap ticket by European discount airlines standards. I have heard of people paying $20-25 for flights across Europe – no shit.
Wizzair is known to charge you for everything. I was worried they were going to force me to check my bag due to its size. Admittedly my bag is too big and heavy for their posted dimensions; Admittedly I didn’t care about restrictions. I was all ready to throw away everything in my bag, paying for replacement items, rather than give them $65 to check my bag. I was nice and polite to the gate agent, she dealt with an asshat before me, I tried to speak her language and she repaid me with kindness and cost savings.
I’m flying to Budapest and this trip still doesn’t feel real. I’m wondering if I’m on too many meds again and am going to dial back (I’m certainly tired of carrying the shit). I wonder what it means when you start dreaming about throwing away your possessions.
Lets talk about Portugal…
Portugal was fucking fantasco. The people were great. They didn’t exhaust me, like the French, and they were welcoming. I believe that the Portuguese understood that I was genuinely trying to use their language in a meaningful way, they responded politely without making too much fun of me.
Price is always relative. Portugal was crazy cheap – especially in Porto. The most expensive meal I had (in Lisbon) cost me about $25 for wine and an entree of fresh mackerel and rice in a tomato beer sauce. There was also a bottle of wine. I spent, with the exception of one night, less than $22 – usually around $15/night.
The climate was unseasonably hot when I arrived – about 104 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius) but when I left the temperature was in the 60s and 70s Fairenheit. It was slightly humid as you would expect from being next to the ocean, also as you would expect I have not had one good hair day since arriving; I’m planning to get a haircut and manicure/pedicure in Eastern Europe. It rained only once while I was in country, it was very light and I am quite curious what their winters might look like.
Portugal had an amazing vibe to it. They live the siesta lifestyle and from what I have seen as long as you do not bother anyone else they will not bother you. Last night I was in a park having a beer with a friend, we walked off to see what else we could find and realized, a few hours later, that his bag was missing. We retraced or steps and his bag was still in the park – next to the same large group of kids that had been there the whole time. I was worried about pickpockets and am now ashamed at my ignorance. Also of interest, all drugs were decriminalized. Drugs are treated as a public health issue and rates of addiction or low and they do not have prison overcrowding for nonviolent offenses.
The traditional foods were simple and basic, the modern spins on Portuguese classics were simply amazing. The Mediterranean diet is a real thing with lean meats, whole grains, red wine, healthy fats at every meal. They have a very relaxed attitude towards alcohol as well, people walk down the streets with beers and other alcohols, they enjoy wine in the park and they are severely punished for driving while drunk.
Tonight I’m staying with a couch surf host named Bence, in Budapest. He already has a couchsurfer staying with him but has graciously offered to share his bed with me. This trip is a lot of firsts.
Trever's European Gaycation... 