Bodor Ferenc: Coffee-Houses - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)
Estike The dessicated clumps of grass in the dingy park salvaged from the socialist are era coloured by the neon sign, alight after prolonged solicitation. The severity of the arcades is relieved by the colourfulness of the painted rubbish-bins. The Estike, like the ball-room of a district cultural centre, is outsize and angular. Points of interest are a string of lights, mirrors and partition walls. The faces of the refugees of the FDJ party branch organization huddled in the corner light up when the little-headed people walk in, men with hammers and sickles, women clutching ears of corn, spinning wheels and lyres to their tunics. When night falls, they alight from above the doorways—the friezes empty, but a warm feeling of solidarity is born. Their excited conversation is smothered by the pum- meling noises coming from the television in the lobby. Two little stone bears come growling in, looking for Mr Sebők. Mr Sebők is not available, only the natives in their track suits, the Zugló twilight slowly turning purple, and the disco globes, slowly and sedately beginning to spin. 76 KEREPESI ÚT, XIV. 57
