Budapest, Part 1 (DAY 1) The plane landed smoothly at 9 AM, ..

Budapest, Part 1 (DAY 1)

The plane landed smoothly at 9 AM, and I was eagerly anticipating the moment I could enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee on one of Budapest's central streets. I could already imagine myself sitting in a cozy café, watching the city’s morning hustle and bustle unfold on a sunny autumn day 🍂☀️

The owner of the apartment where I was staying asked me to contact her via WhatsApp to confirm my arrival. I immediately messaged her, saying that I was already in the city and ready to check in.

To my surprise, her response was unexpectedly rude. I won’t go into detail, but her messages were so cold and curt that I was completely taken aback.

Not believing my eyes, I took screenshots and sent them to my friends to make sure I wasn’t going crazy. They all agreed: the apartment owner, whom I was paying for my stay, was being rude for no apparent reason.

This situation threw me off balance and dampened my mood. I also started worrying that I might need to find new accommodation at the last minute, which is never easy and would likely cost much more.

However, I decided not to dwell on what had already happened. Knowing I couldn't change the situation, I set out to explore the streets of Budapest and clear my mind.

Budapest… Words cannot do justice to the beauty of this city. It’s a true architectural masterpiece, and it’s absolutely worth your attention. I could hardly believe that this elegant metropolis, with its stunning variety of architectural styles, was once part of the Soviet Union.

While I do have a fondness for Soviet architecture—there’s a certain charm to it, something familiar to the heart—I was born and raised in Minsk, Belarus, a city where the Soviet spirit still lingers. But Budapest, with its Gothic structures, neoclassicism, intricate stucco, and grand sculptures, didn’t fit into the Soviet imagery I was used to. Of course, St. Petersburg is also stunning in terms of architecture, but Budapest was something entirely unique and incomparable.

Every step in this city revealed new facets of its beauty. While I was busy taking another picture on my phone, marveling at the architectural wonders, I received a message from the apartment owner: the apartment was ready for check-in.

My unease hadn’t subsided after our unpleasant exchange. In person, she turned out to be quite friendly, but there was an air of insincerity about her. At first, I didn’t fully grasp what she meant when she asked me to cancel my booking on Booking.com and pay her in cash. A few hours later, it became clear: she was trying to avoid paying taxes.

After examining her profile on the website, I noticed that most of her reviews seemed, at the very least, suspicious. They appeared to be either fabricated or left by acquaintances to boost her rating. A few negative reviews also mentioned that she had asked people to cancel their reservations and pay in cash.

I promptly contacted Booking.com support to report the situation.

To be continued...