Saturday, December 31, 2011

Funicular! / 登山纜車!


儘管不是第一次看到登山纜車,還是很興奮,如果小方和阿楷親眼看到,一定會不停大叫耶!

Though this was not the first time I saw the funicular, I was equally thrilled. If Von and Kai had been here, they'd have screamed in excitement. 




纜車造型真是可愛。

The funiculars are terribly cute...


滿心想著我家雙寶,我把今天的第一張速寫獻給了他們。

Filled with the thought for our two boys, I dedicated today's first sketch to them...

walking tour to Buda Castle 1 / 城堡散步之旅 1




今早看到陽光露臉,不禁又想得快點出門才好,每天就是抱著這種積極的心情旅行。今天的目的地是山區的城堡,步行即可到達。

This morning when I saw the sun greeting me, I couldn't help thinking that I should go out to explore the city asap. That's the mood I wake up in every day. Today my destination was Buda Castle, which is accessible by foot. 


家門旁的垃圾回收處有匈牙利人愛喝酒的證據。

Next to the recycled bins near Carol's apartment lies the proof for Hungarians' addiction to alcohol.


很多居民早上出來溜狗。

Many residents come out to walk their dogs in the morning. 


枯枝之美。

The beauty of bare branches. 


冬日裡這種狀似花椰菜的彩色花豔麗地盛放。

In winter, this cauliflower-looking flowers are in full bloom. 


校外教學的孩子們一片歡欣。

The kids that were on a field trip looked exhilarated. 


城市的許多角落都看得到古蹟,後面就是國會,在這樣環境中長大的人對於美一定相當敏感。

In many corners of the city people are exposed to historic relics. In the back of the photo is Parliament. Those who grow up in such an environment must be keenly sensitive to beauty. 




廣告招牌上很喜歡用這幾個色調,不過它們應該出自於同一家銀行。

These few colors are often seen on bulletin boards, but I think they are by the same bank. 




這裡真的很愛在教堂的表面嵌入雕像。

Again, sculptures are wedged into the facades of churches here. 


公車的休息處。這是給小方和阿楷看的照片。

The depot for buses. This was taken for Von and Kai. 


車站的小麵包店。

The small bakery attached to the bus station. 






再複習一次電車之旅。

Review of the tramcars. 


白天的國會。

Parliament in the daytime. 






迎著太陽的鍊橋。

Chain Bridge against the sun. 


對岸風光。

The seascape on the other side of the river. 


異國風味教堂。

The exotic church. 


還蠻常看到慢跑者。

I've seen many joggers in this city. 




連塑膠袋也有很浪漫的旅程。

Even a plastic bag has a romantic journey here. 


長滿結的樹。

A tree with sturdy knots. 


鍊橋一景。

A shot of Chain Bridge. 

Friday, December 30, 2011

walking tour in Buda / 布達散步之旅


每天早上出門都和自己說:今天不可以再迷路了。天空的一抹光亮也附和我的決心。

Every morning before going out, I'll repeat to myself: You can't get lost today! A glow in the sky seemed to say, "You can make it!" 


先查過地圖,順著我研究的方向走。今天沒下雨,小朋友撐的傘應該是他的聖誕禮物。

I had gone out of my way to check the map and made sure that I was walking in the right direction. It didn't rain today. I bet the kid must have got the umbrella as his Christmas gift. 


果然又迷路了。走著走著就晃進住宅區,因為「布達」是山丘之意,所以有上下坡之路。雖然得多花時間,不如順便拍照,這裡的住宅建築非常自由,連倫敦都比不上。這一棟令我想到巴賽隆納,不知道是誰學誰。

I was lost again. As I walked, I ended up in unknown residential areas. "Buda" means hill, so there are hilly roads up and down. Though I had to take more time than planned, I might as well take photos of the architecture of residential buildings here, which reflect  extreme freedom in design. I don't think that in London is comparable. The building in the photo reminds me of houses I once saw in Barcelona. I wonder who's the copycat. 


意外發現挪威大使館。

I found the Norwegian Embassy by accident. 




這些屋子有樸拙的美。

These houses have the primitive kind of beauty. 


持續迷路中。

I was still lost. 




也有具現代感的房子。

On the other hand, some houses look very modern. 




這裡常見把雕像鑲入建築物的表面。

Sculpted visages are often wedged into the facades of buildings here. 


連路邊的小教堂都別有一番風味。

Even a church by the roadside combines artistic influence from various sources. 


紅牆斑駁的線條很有時間感。

The faded lines on the red wall show a historical sense of time. 


這種房子處處都是。

Houses like this scatter everywhere in the city. 


這麼有藝術感的建築裡面有部份居然是網路咖啡店。

It's hard for me to believe that inside such an artistic place is an Internet cafe. (or part of it...)




此時我已經找到路、泡完澡、準備吃午餐了。今天菜單是墨西哥捲,份量再度大到可以分成兩餐。

At this time I had found my way and finished the bath. I was ready to eat lunch. Today I had Mexican burrito. Again it was so gigantic that I could eat it for two meals. 


早上迷路過一次之後,我已經別無所求,下午選了個在地圖上看起來很近的馬提亞斯教堂,再次仔細確認過才出發。

After I got lost once in the morning, I really didn't have much to ask for. For the afternoon itinerary, I aimed at Mattias Church, which doesn't look far on the map. I didn't set out until I checked it again and again. 

但是怎麼走又走到地圖上沒有標示的路名,真的很困擾,於是我又欣賞起住宅區的房子,這棟看起來很好玩,住在最上面的住戶空間最小。

However, I walked onto the roads that are not specified on the map, which really bothered me. So again I began to appreciate the design of the residential houses. This one looks really interesting. I couldn't help wondering if the dweller on the top has the smallest space. 


美麗的門。

A lovely gate. 


住宅區的小雜貨店。

A small grocery store in a residential area. 


看起來很像鄉下的房子在這個城市都看得到。

A rural-looking house also exists in this city. 


彩色小教堂。

A colorful church. 


第二次迷路,我把目標縮小,只要可以找到長凳坐下來速寫就好,於是我就在不知名的路上畫畫‧‧‧

I got lost for the second time, so I narrowed my goal to finding a bench so that I could sit down to sketch. I thus drew on an unrecognizable road... 




開始畫畫之前,去到巧可可,一家專賣各式巧克力的店,本來是個令我要失控的天堂,但是典型的匈牙利經驗發生了,我買了兩條四百五十福林的巧克力,但店員居然算我2430福林,因為卡洛不斷地提到匈牙利人敲詐的習慣,我又走回櫃台和店員說,不過她一副天真,要不是我有事前教育,我會相信他是無辜的。總之心情有點震撼,必須要用畫畫平復。

Before sketching, I stumbled into Chococo, a store that sells all sorts of chocolate. It could have been a paradise where I lost financial control, but the typical Hungarian experience happened. I bought two bars of chocolate, each of which cost 450 forints, but the clerk took 2430 forints from me. Since Carol had constantly reminded me of Hungarians' habits to overcharge, I walked back to the counter and asked why it was so. However, she acted so innocent that I would have believed that she didn't do it on purpose without Carol's education. I was kind of overwhelmed, so I had to get over it by drawing. 

果然在冷風中畫兩個小時就麻木了,回家和卡洛說這件事,她說這樣我的匈牙利經驗才完整啊!

Well, I was numbed after having drawn for two hours in the cold. After I told Carol the story, she said that my Hungarian experience is now complete. 

但我還是沒找到馬提亞斯教堂啊!

But I still haven't found Mattias Church!