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!