The Heinzelmann's are here!

Well, we've had two weeks of fun, fun, fun, but I guess it is time to get back to the real world. Kari and Jonathan stayed for almost two weeks, but due to the record high temperatures, we really didn't do much but stay at home and try to keep cool. We kept the windows and shutters closed during the day to keep out the 111 degrees of heat, and then about 9 pm we would open the windows wide and let in the cooler evening air. It's a good thing Kari brought work to do and Jonathan found a few books to read and some fruit to eat to keep them occupied!


Kari and Jonathan cool down with wet rags


Waiting for the Heinzelmann's to arrive!

My sister Karin, her husband Eric, and my two beautiful nieces Morgan and Corrie finally arrived on Monday evening after a 6 hour delay due to a missed flight in Amsterdam. Fortunately, they arrived safely, but Corrie's suitcase didn't (until the next day). Kari and Jonathan were able to spend just a few hours with them before returning to France the next morning. It was another Christmas day around our house with all the "loot" they brought us from America! Merry Christmas to us, and thank you to them!


Family photo from the top of Castle Hill

Let the sightseeing begin! Karin's family was only going to be in town for 3 full days so we had to pack every day to the fullest. Glenn and I would take care of business in the mornings, and then head into town just before lunch. We would go all day, visiting all the well-known sights, and return to the house in the evening about 10 pm.


No trip to Budapest is complete without a meal on Vaci Street

Can you believe we are wrapped in blankets??? The days were hot with temps in the upper 90's (but not as hot as when Kari and Jonathan were with us!) In the evenings when the sun would go down, so would the temperature, and sitting on Vaci Street with the cool breeze was such a refreshing change that no one complained about the "cold". Everyone loved the Hungarian goulash soup!


Pedal carts in the City Park

Morgan flashes a beautiful smile!

This smile attracted a bunch of young male teenagers at one of the places we ate. (Sorry, I was sworn to secrecy not to reveal where we ate for this particular meal.) Those young boys were more brazen than they were smart. After staring at Morgan during their meal, they were brazen enough to wave bye to her as they were leaving the "restaurant", even though she was eating with her mom, dad and her uncle!!!

We rode public transport while they were here; buses, trams, and the metro. We also walked a lot so our feet and ankles were tired by the end of each day! Some of the things we saw included the Hero's Square (statues depicting the Hungarian kings that joined to form Hungary a thousand years ago), City Park (where we strolled and rode pedal carts), House of Terrors (which is the original site of the captivity and torture of Jews and Hungarians before the Revolution of 1956), St. Stephen's Basilica (St. Stephen brought Christianity to Hungary), The Gellert Hotel (famous for its thermal baths; we did the wave pool and thermal baths, but I was disappointed by the thermal baths!), Castle Hill (which gave a beautiful view of the city), strolled down Vaci Street and ate dinner in one of the sidewalk cafe's). We also took a bus tour of the city and a boat tour of the river. Fun, packed, tiring, hot 3 days!

Grabbing a seat while we refill water bottles

Walking across the Chain Bridge over the Danube River

Corrie holds a brochure from the House of Terror

The first day out we took a 2 hour bus tour of the city and on their last day we took a one hour boat ride up and down the Danube River. It was a great tour of important buildings along the river and told a lot of historical facts about Buda and Pest, and now ranks as our #1 thing to do with company that comes to visit us! We started out just before it got dark so we got to see everything clearly, but when the sun went down and the lights along the river came on, the beauty of the city sparkled under the yellow glow!

Gazing at the statues at Hero's Square

Because of all the walking, we could endulge in a little treat!

After they left, we took a two hour nap and rested our feet the remainder of the day by watching videos they brought us! Even though we were exhausted, we had a great time and look forward to "the next time they come" to Budapest!

Do want to add one note here: we've been asking you to pray about someone coming to help us with the Eden House....well, we got word this week that the family in the States that was considering it has decided that they are not coming. Please pray for God to move in the hearts of just the right couple to come join us. We wait for His timing and trust He will give us what we need in the meantime. Have a great week!

Hot, hotter, and hottest!

This pretty much sums up our week: 111 degree temperatures! Fortunately this is a record high in Budapest, so we're not expecting to have this hot of weather often.

According to the weather forecast the end of this incredible heat wave is near. This past week we've reached 100 degrees and more every day. At night Glenn and I have been sleeping out on our balcony since it's too hot in our room!

We've had a great week with Jonathan and Kari here. Tomorrow my sister arrives with her family and we'll get to spend a few days with them before they head to Amsterdam.


Riding the tramway into town. From our house to go into downtown we take a bus, then a tram, and possibly another bus depending on the destination.


Inside the Grand Market Hall (Nagy Vásárcsarnok), the largest in Budapest. Hungary is known for its paprika, brandy (pálinka), goose-liver (libamáj) and a wide variety of sausages and salamis seasoned with paprika (Gyulai, Csabai sausage, Szeged and Pick Salami).


The best place in town for buying Hungarian souvenirs


Stopping for lunch at the Grand Market Hall. You eat standing up around tall tables.


Looks good, doesn't it? We had sausage and sauerkraut, kielbasa with steamed potatoes, and another kielbasa in a paprika and tomato sauce.


One of the food shops on the main level of the Market


The famous Hungarian paprika


Picking up some fruits and veggies


We were invited to a cookout with our friends, the Aderholts.


Our friends and Cile's walking partner, Mark and Kristy Aderholt


Kari picking plums. These are actually in the Aderholts' yard, but there are fruit trees all along the streets in our neighborhood, so you can walk and snack at the same time!


Glenn playing with kids


Hungarian subtitles on the movie 'Premonition'...in an air-conditioned theater!


Working on my Hungarian with Agnes, our teacher


The entrance to the Gellert Hotel and Baths, where Kari and I went with Agnes earlier this week.


One of the seven pools


The interior of the Gellert


Jonathan eating fruit and Kari writing articles on the computer. We saw a lot of this!


Sharing a watermelon on one of the hot days


The Chain Bridge in town


A traditional Hungarian recipe for Cherry Soup. Kari posted it on her recipe site.


Eating dinner with a Hungarian family from our church


Talking with Chris and Kate on Skype. We miss you!

French invasion

Us arriving on Friday evening

Kari here, guest-writing for my Mom. I'm sitting here in the living room watching Mom and Jonathan talk while folding laundry. Somehow I was assigned updating her blog this week, so you're going to get my side of the story. It all started back in 1981...just kidding. We'll skip ahead to this week.


This morning we did "house-church", thanks to the sermon podcasts. We called it "West Cobb Church, Budapest extension" :)

Thank you all for your prayers, e-mails, and notes over the last week. Mom had a rough week of homesickness, which is unfortunately part of life when living overseas far from family and friends. She still misses Chris and Kate, her dad, and others, but is doing much better.

The Doyles left early this morning, so Mom and Dad are now handling the responsibilities of the Eden House. Keep praying for someone to come fill that need!

We took a bus, tram, then a second tram into town yesterday to a craft market on the Széchenyi lánchíd (Chain Bridge) near the Parliament building. There were outdoor concerts, lots of yummy-smelling foods, beaming rays of hot sunshine, and even a section dedicated to France for Bastille Day. Home away from home!


Walking through the market on the bridge


The Parliament House


A Hungarian version of the cinnabun: yeast dough wrapped around a stick and cooked over a fire, then rolled in cinnamon-sugar. Delish!


Mom and Dad checking out one of the stands


Clowns as part of the festivities




Here we are - back in France!


Jonathan working his osteopathic magic on Mom


We had a BIG pizza from Don Pepe's at the food court


Look at how big it was! Don't worry. We took care of it.


Jonathan picked out an excellent watermelon and rewarded himself by eating a large piece, while wearing one of Mom's aprons.


Courtney, my college roomie, and Mom on Thursday night. Courtney was passing through Budapest on her way back from a mission trip in Romania and met up with my parents. Unfortunately we got in a few hours after she'd left, but maybe another time!