Me and the Danube

A little light story. My Danube tale starts with my strong attraction to water. My mom used to call me “water duckling.” We lived an hour away from Lake Balaton, and we often went there for a day. I loved the beaches, rivers, Lake Balaton, the sea… And the Danube… it just flowed. Through the heart of our capital, Budapest. It was natural, its existence. It was vast and imposing, just like the capital, to a country girl like me. It seemed dirty. Like the Hudson in New York.

After university, I went to work on a hotel ship. On the Danube, the Main, the Rhine. All across Europe. Our cabin was within the belly of the ship. The small round window was my freedom, my relaxation amidst the 12-14 hour workdays. The small round window was just inches above the water level of the Danube. We melted into each other. I swayed on the water for months. We served wealthy passengers, and the view from their huge balcony rooms was completely different from the view through the small round window. It was barely 25cm. Whenever I could, I got off the ship and sat by the shore. I almost always dipped my toes in. Under 20 degrees, it was just knee-deep. I often bathed. The precious water given by nature. The banks were rugged in many places. It was a miracle when the waters met in Passau. I remember just gazing… people were looking at me, will I really go in? Yes. I did. I’m stable in the water, I feel the water embracing and protecting me, but of course, one can’t always be cautious. I eagerly awaited the waters of the Ipoly, because from there I knew, from this point on, the entire water is “ours,” no matter which side the ship goes, it’s already Hungary. My eyes were always teary. I was grateful to the Danube. I always recite the poem by Attila József , which is also in the form of a statue next to our Parliament.

Attila József, By the Danube

“As I sat on the bottom step of the wharf,

A melon-rind flowed by with the current;

Wrapped in my fate I hardly heard the chatter

Of the surface, while the deep was silent.

As if my own heart had opened its gate:

The Danube was turbulent, wise and great.”

Others are also in love with the Danube. I read countless geographical books, biological research, floods… On the wall of a neighboring house, only two words mark the power of water (water level): “Still, water is the master” 2013. Many years have passed since then. Since then, something significant happened to me.

We moved to Göd by the Danube, thank God. We meet every day. Me and the Danube.