Spiritual Transit

Self-portrait, my first morning in Paris, France, June 20th, 2011

I love jet-lag, even though I usually feel like hell. For me, it is a heightened, ephemeral time that is extremely creative, probably because I'm so exhausted from the flight and time-zone changes, that it strips away all the superficial noise and clutter in my mind, but leaves me raw with my creative self ~ rather like being in spiritual transit.

Summer Trip To Budapest

Police Station with bullet holes, remnants from the 1956 Hungarian uprising. Budapest, June 2011

As I looked at the bullet holes that were never repaired after 55 years, I wondered, Why? What is the political or social message to the public to keep this visual reminder of a painful, violent chapter in recent Hungarian history?

My cousin Kati says that Hungary can only look back and not forward, a testament to their current economic and social woes. The country held great promise after the fall of communism, but 20 years on, it continues to be mired in political corruption and infighting, with Hungarians taking more pride in their history than potential prospects, foretelling a bleak future.