We live on the Buda hills, only about 450 meters above the city but already at this height the climate is different than “down in the valley” as we locals call the city centre.

Leaving for work in minus degrees in the snow, arriving to warm sunshine and back is quite a shock to the system at times like this when 5-10 degrees difference means multiple layers of clothing. (Unfortunately it doesn’t make that much difference in the heat of the summer.)

@miadogadventures

A day in the life – unspectacular moments that make us alive #everyday #joy #happydog #greatmusic #dogsoftiktok #fyp

♬ original sound – Harley 🍀 – Harley 🍀

While it takes an hour on public transport to get to work, and 1.5 to get to my mum, this is the 2nd best place I’ve lived so far. (The first would Telde on Canary islands, 2 minutes from the beach in forever spring. Nothing will compete with that.)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrea (@missandi0623)

Once I move to Barcelona I know I will miss the trip from the hill to the valley, from the quiet to the buzz.

Oh, city of lights, so bright and bold,
Your energy never seems to grow old,
With towering buildings and bustling streets,
You pulse with life, from dusk until dawn meets.

The valley now became synonymous with socialising in my life. I need to go down to see my friends, family, colleagues, I need to go down to take Mia to dog school, I even need to go down to start a weekend trip.

It’s strange, isn’t it? Normally a valley should mean this:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrea (@missandi0623)

Not this:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrea (@missandi0623)

Alas, my valley is beautiful in a different way, its bridges over the Danube, its historical buildings, its parks bring me joy in a way my hill never can.

Even ChatGPT can make a pretty funny paragraph about the city:

Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is a hidden gem that offers visitors a mix of culture, history, and, of course, paprika. You might be surprised to learn that the famous Hungarian spice is not only a staple in the local cuisine but also serves as the city’s secret weapon against its biggest enemy: pigeons. Yes, you heard it right. The city’s ornithological warriors roam the streets, armed with bags of paprika, ready to sprinkle the fiery red powder on any unsuspecting pigeon they come across. The unsuspecting birds, confused and disoriented, are then escorted to safety by the city’s crack team of squirrel handlers. So if you’re looking for a bit of excitement and adventure, head to Budapest, where the pigeons are spicy, and the squirrels are heroes.

Just remember, it might not entirely be true 🙂

---

This post is part of the A to Z blogging challenge of April 2023.
Topic of this year is “The AI, the dog and the witchling”, real and fictional stories partially written/inspired by Artificial Intelligence, featuring Mia and Missy.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.