More with Lynne, Doug & Amber

Okay, to continue the rest of the story (from way back in August)… the next part of our time with family and a friend continued through the week, as we celebrated St. Stephen’s Day. While we Ivy’s were back at home in Budapest, Lynne and Doug had planned to go to Slovakia, a relatively short trip to the northeast, and stay a night or two. So, what did they do? They went to POLAND! After a few surprises with the rental car, they made it to and through the High Tatras Mountains… and loved it!



So, after a day at the Folk Art Festival and watching the annual air show from Castle Hill, we met them at the BEST casual Mexican food place in Budapest – Arriba Taqueria – and they told us all about their trip, highly recommending that we take the same adventure some time. After dinner, we all came back to our apartment to watch the St. Stephen’s Day fireworks. St. Stephen (Szent István) was the first king of Hungary and canonized in 1083. In his honor, and in celebration of his founding of the Hungarian state, fireworks displays are shown in several spots up and down the Danube. As our apartment is right on the river, we had an excellent view from the balcony – thanks be to God! The streets were crazy-crowded with pedestrians! All the bridges were closed to cars, and public transport was packed. It would have been way too much to drag the girls into; and thankfully, we didn’t have to…



Over wine and hot teas, we relaxed and watched the fireworks… Abigail was thrilled, and Elizabeth seemed indifferent (even with the thunderous booms so close to us!). The show went full-on for about 25 minutes. We were really impressed. They had only 2 or 3 very short intermissions and would get right back to it. It was the best show any of us has seen in person (although we have grossly inadequate photos to prove it). In fact, the whole show was so awesome that it was almost hard to tell when the grand finale even started! But somehow, the Hungarians knew, and – after huge cheers and applause – the crowds started heading back to the trams. I cannot tell you how THANKFUL I was that we did NOT have to get in that crowd! Then, Lee drove Lynne & Doug back to their hotel after we said our goodbyes. They were headed off to Romania the next morning, for some mission work at an orphanage in Jdioara. It was so great to spend so much time with Aunt Lynne and Uncle Doug. Abigail has renamed them Auntie Dearma and Pumpkin! Thanks, Lynne & Doug, for a wonderful time!

The rest of August was spent with Amber, showing her around Budapest as best we could, while giving her a sense of what it would be like to live here. She also showed me a few things… like how to spot a teahouse! Before she came to visit, I had hardly even noticed one, much less been inside. But we did go to a teahouse one day, after a trip to the Grand Market Hall, and it was – in a word – lovely! We chatted, and after she left a little early to run another errand, Abigail, Elizabeth and I sat and had a nice little “story time” together. It was very sweet. I now notice teahouses everywhere and have learned of one that I can’t wait to take Abigail to… I will definitely post that one!