Rafting In Slovenia

Well, since I last posted here Mary, Jessica, Gyorgyi and I have been on the go.  We went to Gyorgyi’s hometown in Hungary, Szeged. Then we headed to Italy, drinking wine, eating pasta and checking out the sights in Florence and Siena.

Then we went to what has to be one of the most picturesque places in the world — Bovec, a small town in Slovenia. We spent one day rafting on a river that snaked through the base of the Alps. Then the next day we rode ATVs through small trails to the top of mountains.

I’m sure my blood pressure and heart rate will return to near normal at some point. Just sayin’.

Anyway, when I get back to the USA I’ll try to add some commentary to what has been an incredible vacation and visit. In the meantime, here are some photos.

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Budapest: A City of Contrasts

Well, Mary and I completed the second week of our extended vacation in Budapest, visiting Jessica and Gyorgyi. And Budapest is amazing, capturing the look and feel of “old” Europe with a very vibrant and engaging metropolitan city.

And walking throughout the city — with its many narrow streets mostly lined with small shops, restaurants and apartments — is a joy. No matter which direction we go from our apartment we’re not too far from a cold beer and a bowl of goulash.

We’re also fortunate that Gyorgyi and Jessica have a car, an excellent sense of direction and nerves of steel. Driving here is not for those with a faint heart — or the desire to hug the middle lane of the expressway like most of us from Ohio. I digress.

Anyway, here are some photos that Jessica and Gyorgyi took as we visited some of the small towns and historical sites outside Budapest. And while we were at it, we had one of the best dinners ever — fresh trout — at a small place along the road and adjacent to the river.

If you are interested in following our travels — while more importantly, actually learning about Budapest and its history — go to Jessica’s blog, Budajest.

Budapest is a city of contrasts, and that makes the visit all the more enjoyable. You can spend time at a shopping mall that would be the envy of most American cities, complete with all the big international brand names. And then walk a few blocks to a market that most likely hasn’t changed much, if at all, for a hundred years or more.

And full disclosure. I found a small shop at the market that sells Jameson. Woot. Not much different than at home.

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Labor Day in Budapest

OK. I’m old enough to remember when Labor Day in the USA marked the end of summer and a time to get back to being serious about work or school. That was before the school bell rung in many places in early to mid-August. And with smart phones, the Internet, computers and so on many these days never get away from work, regardless of season.

So with most everyone getting back to a regular routine, I figured the only sensible thing for me to do was embark on a long vacation. This afternoon, Labor Day in the USA, Mary and I are sitting here drinking beer in Budapest — visiting our daughter, Jessica, and Gyorgyi.

We’ve been here a week, and here’s some photos taken by Gyorgyi and Jessica. I carry a camera mostly for show. I can’t quite figure out how to get the pixels into the computer and out into the real world. So it goes.

And if you’re interested in following our travels, check out Jessica’s blog, Budajest. Beyond following our vacation, Jessica during the past year or so has compiled a comprehensive, informative and readable guide to Budapest and surrounding cities and countries. In fact, if you are thinking about visiting Budapest — or know someone who is — Budajest is an excellent way to learn about a very scenic and historic city, complete with personal info about restaurants, tours and places to see and visit.

Hey. I could do the same thing on this blog.

But I’m on vacation.

And nobody works on Labor Day.

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