Budapest: The Paris of Eastern Europe? (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)
What's more important? Time, money or peace in the car? We made that decision without any qualms today. We left Vienna behind, but not before we stopped at an electronics store in an attempt to find a converter that would allow us to charge the kids' Nintendo DS/DSi/3DS's, otherwise known as the mind-absorption machines. The store did have a converter that would work, but it was enormous and cost about $120. We're not THAT desperate for peace and harmony. They also had a little gadget that allows my camera to communicate with the computer. If we could just get a decent internet connection in our room, I'd add some more pictures. Here's hoping.
In light of the fact that we would not spend that kind of money in their store, the electronics clerk sent us across the street to Toys R Us. Bingo. For $25, we got a car charger that adapts to all of the various generations of DS that exist in our household, thereby guaranteeing peace, harmony and a serious loss of brain cells.
On this drive, which was only just over 2 hours, we realized again the wonders of the modern age. Our rental car unexpectedly had a built-in navigation system. Wow. In days past, travelling in foreign countries meant Brian white-knuckling it through dubious turns and exits with me bent over a map that I could only half decipher. Now we have smooth sailing with directions laid out to the closest 100 meters, and an incredibly detailed map that keeps us from any missteps. There is one snag. The voice on the navigation system is a British woman (think Rose Tyler, you Doctor Who fans), and she is unerringly polite and unemotional about our driving decisions. While the navigation system has dramatically reduced the marital tension that results from missed turns or wrong turns or u-turns or you-name-it, I have a sort of funny feeling about the amount of undivided attention that Brian pays to this particular woman's voice. I'm trying to get over it. After all, it means I get to nap in the car.
On to Budapest. Budapest is glorious. Vienna is gorgeous and cosmopolitan. Budapest is gorgeous with a little more of an edge--slightly less refined, slightly more stupendous. We love it. We also love Julie and Jeff Bouman and their kids, Bastian and Abi. They are staying here for the fall semester to lead a Calvin semester in Hungary, and we were glad to see them again! They have had a wonderful start to the semester and are loving every minute of it.
We checked into our modest but well-equipped apartment (in spite of my inability to keep details straight, which resulted in Brian re-parking the rental car three times as I remembered more information that the apartment office employee told me). Julie and the kids came to greet us, and Natalie and Abi had a joyous reunion. We walked a few blocks to the magic fountain, which goes down when you stand on weight-sensitive tiles. If you wait on top of the water spouts, it forgets you are there and starts to spray again. Which means they were all pretty soaked and pretty happy.
We walked on to their apartment, which is perfect for a family of 4 living abroad for a semester. High ceilings, lovely courtyard in the middle of the building, and a kitchen to meet all their needs. Jeff was busy helping a student in need, so we hung out in the apartment for a while. The girls all disappeared into Abi's room, and Bastian helped us form a schedule for tomorrow. Julie let us read the hilarious account of a friend who visited them, then continued on to Rome to have one of the worst hotel experiences ever. Here's hoping we avoid that scenario!
We all headed out for an Italian dinner for Americans reunited in Hungary. Fabulous. Jeff explained that Budapest and Bucharest sort of squared off (I think mid-1800s) in a competition to become the Paris of Eastern Europe. I have never been to Bucharest, and my Paris memories are fuzzy at this time. But I have to say that all on its own, Budapest overflows with charm.
Funny thing, how many entries I've written talk about the food. And yet, as Bastian planned our itinerary, we noticed that a good half of the suggestions included some specialized food. You can look forward to seeing more, much more, of us when we get home.
In light of the fact that we would not spend that kind of money in their store, the electronics clerk sent us across the street to Toys R Us. Bingo. For $25, we got a car charger that adapts to all of the various generations of DS that exist in our household, thereby guaranteeing peace, harmony and a serious loss of brain cells.
On this drive, which was only just over 2 hours, we realized again the wonders of the modern age. Our rental car unexpectedly had a built-in navigation system. Wow. In days past, travelling in foreign countries meant Brian white-knuckling it through dubious turns and exits with me bent over a map that I could only half decipher. Now we have smooth sailing with directions laid out to the closest 100 meters, and an incredibly detailed map that keeps us from any missteps. There is one snag. The voice on the navigation system is a British woman (think Rose Tyler, you Doctor Who fans), and she is unerringly polite and unemotional about our driving decisions. While the navigation system has dramatically reduced the marital tension that results from missed turns or wrong turns or u-turns or you-name-it, I have a sort of funny feeling about the amount of undivided attention that Brian pays to this particular woman's voice. I'm trying to get over it. After all, it means I get to nap in the car.
On to Budapest. Budapest is glorious. Vienna is gorgeous and cosmopolitan. Budapest is gorgeous with a little more of an edge--slightly less refined, slightly more stupendous. We love it. We also love Julie and Jeff Bouman and their kids, Bastian and Abi. They are staying here for the fall semester to lead a Calvin semester in Hungary, and we were glad to see them again! They have had a wonderful start to the semester and are loving every minute of it.
We checked into our modest but well-equipped apartment (in spite of my inability to keep details straight, which resulted in Brian re-parking the rental car three times as I remembered more information that the apartment office employee told me). Julie and the kids came to greet us, and Natalie and Abi had a joyous reunion. We walked a few blocks to the magic fountain, which goes down when you stand on weight-sensitive tiles. If you wait on top of the water spouts, it forgets you are there and starts to spray again. Which means they were all pretty soaked and pretty happy.
We walked on to their apartment, which is perfect for a family of 4 living abroad for a semester. High ceilings, lovely courtyard in the middle of the building, and a kitchen to meet all their needs. Jeff was busy helping a student in need, so we hung out in the apartment for a while. The girls all disappeared into Abi's room, and Bastian helped us form a schedule for tomorrow. Julie let us read the hilarious account of a friend who visited them, then continued on to Rome to have one of the worst hotel experiences ever. Here's hoping we avoid that scenario!
We all headed out for an Italian dinner for Americans reunited in Hungary. Fabulous. Jeff explained that Budapest and Bucharest sort of squared off (I think mid-1800s) in a competition to become the Paris of Eastern Europe. I have never been to Bucharest, and my Paris memories are fuzzy at this time. But I have to say that all on its own, Budapest overflows with charm.
Funny thing, how many entries I've written talk about the food. And yet, as Bastian planned our itinerary, we noticed that a good half of the suggestions included some specialized food. You can look forward to seeing more, much more, of us when we get home.
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