Olympic Trekker

Hungary

Communication with Jeremy since early August has been limited--occasional emails and a few precious phone calls, the Christmas package he sent (consuming much of a Hungarian teacher's monthly salary), and reading and responding to his intriguing journal on the web. So we eagerly awaited our visit with him. While originally planning to travel via train through Austria, we opted to spend more time with him by flying from Milan to Budapest on EuroSky, one of Europe's new budget airlines. Expecting duct tape to support the wings, we were pleasantly surprised to fly on a nearly new plane. And we were equally surprised to arrive at a very modern airport.

It was a wonderful reunion as we were greeted by a smiling Jeremy and his Hungarian friend Eva. Six years ago they worked together at Camp Nan-A-Bo-Sho. (Once again NABS works its magic.) Eva, who now works for the Hungarian Ministry of Defense, crammed our bags into the back of her little car and whisked us off to the Red Bus Hostel. Her only request? Some of Carol's world famous fruit roll-ups. And the recipe! Prior to the collapse of Communism in the late 1980's, we would not so quickly divulge these international secrets.

Budapest is a remarkable city. Enduring repeated conquests through the centuries, its most recent conquest is McDonalds. We saw 4 in just a matter of blocks. Although compared to the previous conquests, this one is relatively benign. It is more a "McDonald's Light" called a McCafe--no drive-thru's and a modern Euro-style atmoshpere.

We walked the streets of the central city on our first night and encountered a street musician at midnight playing Bolero on his violin. I wished we had heard his entire concert. A classic moment I will never forget.

Tonight--the opera!

posted by OlympicTrekker @ 2:57 AM