It was so fun!

Kari and Jonathan returned to France two days ago (Friday) but I still have pictures of the end of our time with them. Earlier in the week we went on a dinner cruise on the Danube River.





It was very nice, not too crowded, food was good, and the outside temperature a little warm until the sun started setting later in the evening.






We opted for dinner outside. There was also a small "band" and a little space for dancing, most of which was done by the guests who were enjoying their drinks a little too much.





We took the evening cruise which leaves the dock at 7:30 pm and returns at 9:30 pm so we got to enjoy the cooler weather and the sun as it was setting. Notice the huge, well-let building up on the hill? That is the castle, formerly the Royal Palace. Actually, it is 3 castles that have been built on top of each other, the first being built in the 13th century. The President's office is located on Castle Hill but he does not live there.




On Wednesday, the day before Hungary's biggest national holiday, we went into town to watch the qualifying rounds of the Red Bull Air Races.

It started with some fancy flying by four planes, much like the Blue Angels.

The official air show and races were on Thursday but we got to watch them practice on Wednesday with only half the crowd! The races were over the Danube River, between the Chain Bridge and the Margaret Bridge. If you look closely, you can see the pylons (underneath the bridge) through which planes flew, being timed and scored for their precise maneuvers. The planes fly UNDER the Chain Bridge, then around and around the pylons in a specific order toward the Margaret Bridge, then do a loop in the air before reversing the whole process, and ending up by flying back under the Chain Bridge. We had great "seats" right next to the Chain Bridge where we could see the planes go right under it!

This is another view of the Castle district as it overlooks the Chain Bridge. In the distance, you can see the Margaret Bridge.

On Thursday, Saint Stephen's Day, and through Sunday, there were probably a thousand booths set up through out the castle area and then winding down the hillside to the river. It is a big festival that draws people from all over. And you thought Kari and Jonathan came from France to see us???

Anyway...

...we spent Thursday morning and early afternoon just wandering through the castle grounds and the cobblestone walkway that descends through the park on the side of the hill. Everything for sale in the booths was hand-made in Hungary! Everything from soaps to jewelry, baskets, furniture, clothing, cards, purses, shoes, scarves, pottery, blown eggs, etc.

They also had genuine artisans on hand to demonstrate their craft. My favorite is the potter at his wheel.

I also loved the basket weaving, but how many baskets can a person use? Always one more!

This is a very family-friendly festival in that they have plenty of things for the kids to do. They had games, all home- and hand-made, such as this mechanical labyrinthe for the kids to play.

They even have places where the kids can try their hands at making things. It was amazing! They had places where kids could make paper or felt, make cornhusk dolls, paint eggs, weave, spin a potter's wheel, and a lot more that I can't remember. My kids would have loved this when they were little.

They even had things for BIG KIDS to try!

While we were on the top of the castle district, we wandered to the edge to take some pictures. Here, the wall is about 3 feet thick and I am about 5 feet short. I had trouble seeing over the edge so Glenn, being the helpful husband he is, gave me a hand.

Literally.

And this is the view over the wall.

We had a really good time checking out the booths and eating some of the local foods but we didn't want to spend all day there because we didn't want to get too tired. There were fireworks at 9 pm that evening, so we wanted to get out of the sun, go home and rest, and come back that night to sit on the banks of the river to watch all the fireworks.

Good idea, but once we got home-we collapsed and never made it back into town. Instead, we watched the fireworks on t.v.! They were awesome, and had I realized they would be as good, as long and as pretty as they were, I would have made the effort to go back into town. Oh well, we learned. Next year!!

While K & J were with us, we made two batches of vanilla ice cream.

Of all the purchases I've ever made, this $2 electric 4 quart ice cream maker is the BEST!

I made the ice cream while Kari made the cherry cobbler (using cherries out of our freezer that came from our tree). Every night, almost by clockwork, Jonathan would head to the basement to get the ice cream...We will miss our nightly ritual of ice cream, but we will miss Kari and Jonathan even more!

They left Friday but will be back to spend Christmas with us, as will Chris and Kate from New Jersey. We will have a house full, but I'll never complain because I cherish each visit with my kids. I am NOT looking forward to our family living on 3 different continents. It's bad enough that Chris and Kate are across the ocean. Kari and Jonathan will no longer be "just a country or two away" once J graduates and they move to Senegal.

Well, the Stevens are still in America and so we still have Eden House responsibilities, but this is the Doyles' weekend to cover so I am going to my bedside table-once I finish this blog-and choose from all the books I'm reading right now and curl up on the couch and read, read, read.

There are not many things better than curling up with a good book, especially when the weather has turned cooler, which it has! The sky is overcast, the wind is blowing and the chimes are singing. Ahhh, this is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice (and relax!) and be glad in it!

AMEN!