Okay, I know this guy’s not Bill Murray. Or … I’m pretty sure.
But the thing is, this photo was taken almost ten years ago when Sam and I were living in Germany. We took a road trip to Budapest, Hungary, and while there, I fell completely beguiled by this gorgeous hotel and spa built in the early 1900s that was located on the Buda side of the Danube.
Anyway, when I heard about Wes Anderson’s new film, The Grand Budapest Hotel (starring, among others, Bill Murray) I kind of got excited and thought that perhaps it was about this same hotel. Alas, from what I could look up, it is not (in fact, I think the film was shot somewhere in Germany) but the parallel does not stop there. Because while we were visiting that fancy hotel and spa all those years ago, I … may have pretended to be a travel journalist in order to take a peek at the facilities I couldn’t otherwise afford the entrance fee to.
In addition to the expected steam and massage rooms, there were facilities for various mud treatments as well. The custodian of these chambers — the earnest man featured in white shorts and undershirt — demonstrated the scooping and applying of mud with admirable professional pride while I snapped his photo. Even as I took it, I remember giggling to myself at the striking resemblance. Also? I can’t help but suspect that posing as a mud-spa guy in Budapest is something Bill Murray would actually do.
Now, since I haven’t seen the film, I do not know what role Bill Murray plays in The Grand Budapest Hotel, but I’d die of laughter if he had anything to do with mud treatments. I just wish the film was actually filmed at this place in Budapest.
Just for fun (and because this place in Budapest was kind of awesome), I’ll post a picture of the exterior and the pool below.
I’m pretty sure that is Bill Murray. May explain why he has been absent from the Hollywood scene for so long. LOL
What gets me is the guy’s expression! So awesome.