Random Thoughts

Twenty years ago in Aberdeen Scotland, while studying abroad, I discovered the joy of Doner Kabobs - tasty little pita-filled bundles of pure gastronomical pleasure. They start by warming up a pita against the open flame (or recently now I've noticed some microwaves being used for speed and efficiency), then, depending upon your preferences - red cabbage, onion, lettuce, meat (chicken or lamb), and two sauces (one hot, the other yougurt) go inside, filling the pita. The kabob worker wraps the bundle in a piece of tin foil and napkin, then extends the treat as if offering you a nice gift for take-away. I bring this up now because I was surprised to find them here, everywhere. Back home, I sometimes run into a Starbucks on every corner in major US cities, well, kabob shops are equally ubiquitous here. To those who thought my recent facination with getting lean was problematic (Simon, Kim, mama, etc...), you'll be glad to know that I have enjoyed a kabob or two each day, typically late at night around 3 or 4AM following an evening of frivolity and debauchery. This is flooding me with memories of Scotland. Back when I studied there, my fraternity brother Will, we called him Rambo (don't ask, too long of a story to explain here and now), and I would often stopped off for a doner kabob after late night partying in the pubs. The walk back to campus took a winding course and we needed the sustenance to propel us during our jaunt back to the dorms. Budapest is no different. The kabob shops are very busy all day long, but late, after the bars close, the activitiy around some of the favorite kabob shops, of the locals and savvy tourists, intensifies. I suspect these people too seach for an evening meal for exactly the same reason. Most of the public transport ends much earlier than the bars, so many are forced to use their feet instead of trams and subways.