We went to Budapest……

The weather was nice sunny and gloomy at the same time. A bit weird, but that’s the beauty of something unexplainable.

On the way, we passed Győr, and I felt like I was transported in a European documentaries. The vibe was old, perfect, and unique.

Then another hour passed and we finally reached Budapest.

What can I say it’s really different from Slovakia. The vibe, the feeling, the atmosphere. It felt like I was living in a book.

Same routine. We checked into the hotel, dropped our bags, and went out for lunch.

I said, “Let’s have sushi,” because it’s been six months since I last had an Asian cuisine feast.

Inside the restaurant, I saw familiar faces, language, and smiles I always see back home.

“Too many Filipinos,” I told my friend. It felt like I was suddenly in Manila.

Almost all the employees were Asian. They smiled and greeted us, “Hello, Filipino po.”

I answered, “Yes po,” with a big smile on my face.

They were so comfortable dealing with fellow Filipinos. I felt happy chatting with them, throwing jokes like I had known them forever. The food arrived,yes, it was sushi, but not the best you can find back home. I also had chicken satay that tasted old. My chef’s mind spoke on its own maybe they forgot FIFO. I hate old food. I can tell freshness easily because I used to be a cook.

But the food didn’t take my joy away.

We laughed a lot we always do when there’s food on the table. We talked about almost everything, even though my back hurt and my head ached from the long bus ride.

Of course, we had coffee. My life is fueled by it.

I took a nap to rest my feet and back for a while.

In the evening, we went to the Parliament. I was in awe of its beauty how the lights radiated through every corner of the architecture. It felt intentional, beautifully crafted through centuries of art and finesse.

My friend told me there are two sides, Buda and Pest separated by the Danube River.

We wanted to have dinner on a night cruise, but the line was insanely long. So instead, we walked around the Parliament and found the best lángos in Budapest, Retro Lángos.

It reminded me of food I see in Slovakia, especially during Christmas markets.

My friend thought lángos would taste sweet, like ensaymada. I told her no it’s more like doughnut dough, a bit oily and chewy. I prefer it plain, glazed with honey butter.

She insisted it was sweet anyway.

So we ordered two one classic with sour cream and cheese, and one with fried onions. It was huge. Too big to finish. I was so full that night.

Walking back to the hotel, my eyes couldn’t believe the festivity of lights. The glowing Parliament, the city, the beautiful buildings, the trams that looked like scenes from Christmas movies.

People walking past us families enjoying time together. There were so many life stories in the air waiting to be told. Kids laughing, unfamiliar languages, the cold wind from the Danube it was a beautiful night to remember.

It was late when we headed back. We stopped by Spar/prima so my best friend could buy local chocolates mostly sweet ones. I kept reacting to everything she picked, saying it was too sweet, not good. She laughed so hard because I sounded like a mother scolding her child. In that moment, I felt like I was becoming my mom or my grandma.

Before going to our room, we had our last coffee of the night at the hotel lounge.

That moment was priceless.

We sat down and talked about everything that happened in our separate lives. We’ve known each other since 2005 from the time when we had no achievements, when we were just trying to survive life. She knows me when I was still figuring out my career, building a business, struggling through failed relationships.

After that season, we never had the chance to travel together again since our 2016 Baguio trip.

That night, I shared everything the years we missed because we were both busy building our lives. It was sentimental, but joyful. I felt light sharing my struggles and achievements. I was also happy for her she has a life of her own now.

I admire how she navigates motherhood. She often asks me for advice, even though I’m not a mother. No kids. Not even a cat. But she listens because she knows my childhood mirrors her daughter’s situation.

I told her that if one day she wants to understand her daughter’s thinking, values, and decisions, she can always call me. Because growing up without a father leaves a void that’s hard to explain a lot of questions even mothers can’t always answer.

That night, we laughed and cried freely, without judgment.

And I realized that people meet for a reason. Ours is to share wisdom, support each other, and inspire one another through life experiences. I felt relieved knowing my best friend felt heard, seen, and valued. She could ask freely, and I could talk endlessly because I genuinely want her to do amazing things in life.

This was Day 1 of our Budapest trip.

Day 2 awaits.

But this was the highlight we snoozed out at 3 a.m. because of never-ending stories, laughter, and shared memories.