Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Ahhhh - Tuscany
Our trip to Italy was everything we hoped it would be: beautiful, peaceful and enjoyable. Without really intending to, our entertainment gravitated towards Italian food and wine and tours thereof - it was delicious! We stayed on an olive farm and learned how premium olive oil is made, we toured a vineyard and sampled many types of Chianti that are made in the area, and we took a pizza class. Our location was so beautiful, and it was away from the flock of tourists. We did a lot of relaxing and enjoying the countryside (with the resident cat Bililo on our laps). We took a sunset hike one night and had spectacular views! The kids desperately wanted to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, so we did that too, and got to go up in it. You can really feel it lean as you climb the stairs.
Click on the photo below to see more pictures from our trip.
Click on the photo below to see more pictures from our trip.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Off to Italy
We're headed to Tuscany, Italy today to eat pasta, drink wine and enjoy the countryside. Oh, and we may see a museum or cathedral too. The kids are very excited to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We'll catch you up when we return next weekend
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thermal Baths
There are thermal baths all over Hungary, and the Hungarians LOVE to spend time in them. They're not as hot as you would expect - they feel like warm bath rather than a hot tub. And, alongside many of the baths they have added water pools with slides for the kids. Nathan and Kate's absolute favorite place that we've been so far is the thermal baths (The Aquaticum) in Debrecen, and we frequent there once a week.
Check out the water slides in Debrecen under the videos section here.
Yesterday we explored some "Cave Baths" in the town of Miskolc. These baths were literally inside a cave - making for a very unique experience. We didn't take any photos - too hard to protect the camera, but here's the website. Very cool!
Check out the water slides in Debrecen under the videos section here.
Yesterday we explored some "Cave Baths" in the town of Miskolc. These baths were literally inside a cave - making for a very unique experience. We didn't take any photos - too hard to protect the camera, but here's the website. Very cool!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Hungarian cuisine
Cock's Testicles anyone? It's true - check out #13 on the menu:
Maybe this is why we don't want to eat out too much? While we're in Debrecen, it's easier and cheaper to eat at "home." Shopping for food has become quite an adventure, though. We had success today at a huge market where all sorts of meats, fruits, and vegetables are sold. The meat market grossed me out - I can manage to buy sliced salami for Dave and the kids at the regular grocery store but much more is rough. I prefer my meat to be packaged nicely with cellophane and refrigerated!
We are loving the fruit and vegetable market, though! We came back today with fresh carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, raspberries, corn on the cob, and paprika (not their beloved paprika powder that is red, but sort of a white bell pepper that is excellent on sandwiches). Everything there is local and very fresh.
The kids' main staple (other than ice cream, which they seem to beg off me frequently!) is big, white rolls (that cost about 5 cents and are delicious!) made into a salami sandwich. Easy enough, especially since we have been picnicing a lot.
So....we'll pass on the cock's testicles. Bocci Chocolate anyone?
Maybe this is why we don't want to eat out too much? While we're in Debrecen, it's easier and cheaper to eat at "home." Shopping for food has become quite an adventure, though. We had success today at a huge market where all sorts of meats, fruits, and vegetables are sold. The meat market grossed me out - I can manage to buy sliced salami for Dave and the kids at the regular grocery store but much more is rough. I prefer my meat to be packaged nicely with cellophane and refrigerated!
We are loving the fruit and vegetable market, though! We came back today with fresh carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, raspberries, corn on the cob, and paprika (not their beloved paprika powder that is red, but sort of a white bell pepper that is excellent on sandwiches). Everything there is local and very fresh.
The kids' main staple (other than ice cream, which they seem to beg off me frequently!) is big, white rolls (that cost about 5 cents and are delicious!) made into a salami sandwich. Easy enough, especially since we have been picnicing a lot.
So....we'll pass on the cock's testicles. Bocci Chocolate anyone?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Settling in in Debrecen
We've been here 3 weeks now. Some things are becoming familiar, others are becoming increasing frustrating. We all thought it was pretty hard to come home from Vienna to Debrecen. Vienna is such a modern, bustling city with wonderful food, clean streets, cool museums, and everything seems easy. Here in Debrecen it's dirty, there's graffiti everywhere, and things seem harder since few people speak English and there just isn't that much to do (being a tourist and having kids to entertain). So, we had a mellow week: we lived without a refrigerator for a few days (it broke while we were in Vienna), we tried to go see Ice Age 3 but learned it was dubbed in Hungarian, we had a mellow day trip to a National Park, we found peanut butter at a big grocery store and bought it.
No complaints though. We're having some laughs too: After I learned at our Hungarian lesson to say, "I would like one adult ticket and 2 children's tickets" and then attempting to say it at the waterpark, the woman said to me, "Do you speak English?" "Yes!" I said. She then said, "It sounded like you were trying to speak Hungarian!" Haa! Well, so much for my attempt. :)
At the National Park yesterday we bought tickets to what we thought was a horse show, but it turned out to be a horse drawn carriage ride! Oh well - something to do with horses anyway.
No complaints though. We're having some laughs too: After I learned at our Hungarian lesson to say, "I would like one adult ticket and 2 children's tickets" and then attempting to say it at the waterpark, the woman said to me, "Do you speak English?" "Yes!" I said. She then said, "It sounded like you were trying to speak Hungarian!" Haa! Well, so much for my attempt. :)
At the National Park yesterday we bought tickets to what we thought was a horse show, but it turned out to be a horse drawn carriage ride! Oh well - something to do with horses anyway.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Videos of Vienna
The kids are really having fun making videos of our summer. Between the Blogger software and our internet connection, I'm having trouble uploading them on here. So, click here and scroll down for Vienna videos!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Vienna
We had a fabulous trip to Vienna! Our mouths enjoyed the wienerschnitzel and the local wine, our eyes were in awe at the beauty of the city and the magnificent palaces and museums, our ears delighted at hearing a Mozart opera (performed by Marionettes!) and our souls enjoyed spending time with our Austin friends who showed us much of Vienna. Nathan announced that he will be moving to Vienna when he is older! Click on the photo below to see more of our fun trip!
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