I'm outta here

[chick on a bike]

Oh how exciting!! ^^ Have a safe trip babe, but most importantly; have lots and lots of fun! I and everyone else I know looks forward to hearing about your trip once you get back!

God bless and take care! ^^


~Liz

[AutumnBreez]

If you get a chance to get on-line there at the hotel and come visit us here...Buy some crystal there in Szentendre, nice villiage outside of Budapest. Nice! and less expensive too!. I have some down in my cabinet from there when we lived in Austria we would fequently visit Hungary. Have some traditional goulash (gulya`s) soup for me!
A fun place to eat, especially with kids, is King Arthurs, they simulate mid-evil times and have shows, and the food is served on big plater and you get to eat with your fingers.
Chain Bridge is one of my favorites. Our friends little girl used to call it "the no tongue bridge" as there is a story that went to the making of that bridge.
Go to Vienna Austria if anyone gets a chance, especially at christmas, go to the Rathaus on the ring (off the central line for transportation) and Schonbrunn the week before or of Christmas.
So much fun. At the Rathaus, trees are decorated with big lite up ornaments, the kids can roll out and cut cookies inside, outside they set up an ice rink and you can rent skates if needed. The horse and carriages are so neat, especially when the snow is falling. Then you come back to the booths and get yourself a hot chocolate w/amaretto liq. (our favorite), or gluwein (warm wine with spices and berries- yummy too).
Purchase some ornaments at the different booths, and have stories to tell when you put it on your tree in the up coming years. Hungary has some that are wooden and you can put them in a basket to show all year.
Vienna in the spring-Easter, they have decorated egg markets all over. They place them on little tree branches in a potted pal on tables, or use pussywillow branches in a vase and hang them. Pics attached for the eggs, taken in 2001, I Love Europe. Can't wait to hear about your experiences when you get back!!! Ride bike on the path along the Danube.

[bikerz]

CM - have a fantastic time!!! I know you'll have a great time with your family!

[nuthatch]

Bwaahaahaa - I going to ride 1000 miles while you are gone!!!!

Okay, maybe 1000 kilometers...

Don't forget your jacket - I heard it's already getting cold over there. Have fun!

[RedCanny]

I know how much of a family we have become so I just wanted to let anyone that wanted to know that I"m leaving tomorrow for 2 1/2 wks on my long-planned trip to Hungary.

HEY CMac, I see that you appear to be back. How was your trip???

[CorsairMac]

It was awesome! Truly the trip of a lifetime. It was everything I thought it would be - and nothing like I thought it would be. I didn't do any riding - it was a planned food and wine tour and there was just never any time. Plus I was there with my father and sister neither of whom ride. to AB: I was in Budapest, Egar, Pecs, and Balakonybel (close to Lake Balaton).
I walked in tombs that were built in the 4th century, visited a horse farm that is preserving the horsemanship skills that Hungary was reknown for in it's early years, learned about the horror and the sadness that was Communism, and marvelled at how much they as a people have survived over the centuries and how far they have travelled since the "transition". They are a very fierce people (guess that's where I get it from ) and a very proud people; and they are working very hard to restore and/or save everything that defines who they are - the good and the bad. I drank wine that was truly the nectar of the Gods and ate food that could have been served in the best houses in Europe. I laughed at the differences in our languagues and was actually reading Hungarian by the time I had to come home. (ok...I have Not a clue what I was reading.......but it sure Sounded like I knew it!) There were cities that were so old and so well-preserved it took your breath away, and cities that were so ugly it made you bow your head in sadness. We ate at a restaurant with a thatched roof in a village of wonderful homes with thatched roofs, then drove through a city of communistic concrete towers. We drove on roads that were in excellent shape which we shared with sports cars, semis, and horse and wagon. We saw centuries old buildings butted right up against ugly concrete towers. The contradictions were almost alien to Americans yet is part of the Hungarians everyday life. It was truly a trip that will not be forgotten, and yet - the Hungary I saw over the past 2 weeks will not be the same Hungary in the next 5 yrs, or the next 10. It was exactly what I had expected - and nothing at all like I had expected, and I would do it again.

[wabisabi]

Sounds like a great trip, and glad to see that you really got around the country. I've only been in Budapest and on the trains. You probably learned that they had the first continental subway system (and aren't some of the trains OLD?). One does tend to develop your own pronounciation of the language--I think the closest language is Norwegian (I think?). You are so right on about the contrasts there. (My background is also part Austro-Hungarian)

[bikerchick68]

corsair! Good to have you back on the boards... man, that trip sounds absolutely wonderful... I am always amazed at the history of places I visit... enthralled really...

I sure hope you will post some pics or an album... I would love to travel to Hungary this year thru your eyes! Glad it was such a wonderful trip.

[chick on a bike]

Wow...........that trip sounds like it was absolutely increadible...How awesome! I'm glad that it went so well for you; now I'm jealous! *lol* I wanna go! ^^ Though too bad that you didn't get to go riding, that would have made the trip just that much better. *he he*

Glad to have you back and in one piece! ~hugs to you~


~Liz

[nuthatch]

Sounds like the trip of a lifetime, Corsair!