The Synagog, Castle Hill, and a Bit of a Farewell...



The Jewish Synagog in Budapest is one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest.   It has a great history.   It is the second largest Synagog  in the world.  While Germany was occupying the country they took over the Synagog and housed offices and horses in there. 
This is a picture of a very cute girl taking a picture. 
The gates you will notice are closed and locked because it was the Jewish Sabbath.



This is in the back yard of the Synagog, in front of the museum.   The metal tree was donated by Tony Curtis, the actor, who is Hungarian and Jewish.  The small leaves on some of the branches have names of people who were killed during the Holocost.  There are many reminders of that terrible time thoughout Hungary.



Just us with Parliment and the Duna in the background from Castle Hill by Fisherman's Bastian.



Brent found a Willie Nelson wannabe.  He really liked playing for us.   We didn't buy his CD.




They continue to excavate at the castle and are really making it a nice place to be.  This is just a view down one of the holes they are working on.



This fountain built into the side of the National Museum spouts water only during the warm weather.   I was amazed that I could get this picture without a flash.   It is all hunters and animals.  It is really beautiful.



One last picture of our sweet Baughmans.   We were able to have one last outing with them.  Saturday they are on their way home and our new President and his wife, the Smiths, arrive Friday afternoon.  We know the transition will go well; we have done it before.  We also know that we won't be far behind.




On our last big outing with the Baughmans we went to Szentendre and went to one of the most wonderful restaurants we have ever been to.   It is not classy by any means, and very small, but oh, the food was so good!   We had Blueberry Fruit Soup and even I loved it.  We asked how they made it and one of our friends who was with us is going to work on it to see if she can replicate it and will send us the recipe.   Some of you may want to be prepared to eat it.
I asked if I could take a picture of the chef and his other friend with our men and they allowed me to do it then the other guy took my camera and pushed me into the line and took my picture.   So, what do I have in common with Larua Bush?  I had my picture taken with Mahr Attila Jr. the chef at Aranysarkany Vendeglo.  See the white paper with a picture in the middle, just over my head?   That is Laura Bush with the same chef and friends.   Now we know why she stopped there to eat!   It is so small that I don't know where all her secret service people were.

It was just one more lovely, rainy day for us. 

We have loved being here with the Baughmans and all the other senior missionaries.  We have learned so much and had many wonderful experiences.  We are happy to have served with them.



A Trip to Opusztaszer National Heritage Park...

This is a trip into the Hungarian past.   What a great adventure and it was not too far from home, just a bit south of Budapest.



As we walked in to the park we came to this small hill with two statues on it.   The name of it was Comora.   Hmmm. 




Next we walked past this tower, so I named it King Benjamin's Tower.  Notice the small huts in back. of the tower.   We were able to go into one of them.




Notice the beaustiful blankets and othere things hanging on the wall.   That is where they store what they are not using.



Of course, the Bagozzi's had to have their picture taken in costume.   They look pretty good!



Not to be outdone, Elder Gudgell had to ride the rocking horse which was made of sticks.  He didn't go very far.



This was one of the bigger and colorful blankets.  They are all hand made.



More important items stored along the walls.   You can try to figure out what they are all for.




We went to look at all the horses.   We were hoping for a horse show,  but it was raining too hard for that in the morning.




We walked through and around forests all over.  




I have been very suprised at the number of windmills we have seen over all our time here.  



There were a row of buildings showing life in the past.   I am sure that the Davis High Marching Band would not like to have to wear uniforms like this one.   Maybe just the band major.   Talk about a hot coat.

This is from the telephon office  and telegraph office..  The lady is standing right next to a piano.  Go figure.   Maybe telephoning was just a tad slow at times.

This was the ladies favorite.  The beauty shop.   Anyone want a perm?

Lots of pots on the walls.

We were fascinated by the ladies here.   The one was cleaning out the ashes from the oven.

Here the older lady was ladeling the cake mixture (which was very runny) into the cake pans.  The lady in the purple then put cherries on top of the batter.    We didn't stay around to see them baked.



Next stop, interesting replica of an old church.



Everyone's old friend, Anonymous, was sitting around still writing things for us to read.



These are probably goats with the most interesting curly horns.  They look like a paper that you roll up and pull out long to make a twist.   They were just grazing all over the lawn.




A very beautiful pond.  
By this time we were thirsty and so stopped for a rest and a drink before heading back to the horse show.




Costumed men and women on horses having contests.  




Racing.



Did a little fighting. 

This was a very fun adventure for us.  Had a wonderful day with wonderful companions.

A Trip East, and Showing off Budapest...

I can't believe how packed the past two weeks have been.   We were pretty busy.  We were home most of the first of the two weeks, and we were busy doing the usual.   On Saturday we attended a baptism in Miskolc of a cute young girl.

Her mother is a member.   Here she is posing with her grandmother and two cute missionaires who taught her.   It was wonderful.

Her mother made this cake.   Love the lettering.  They are both excited to be members of the Church.

After the baptism we headed to Nyirgyhaza, where did some training of the new branch president and also spoke in church.   We were able to stay the entire three hours and totally enjoyed the  members there.   Victor, the young man who came home with us from our first mission in order to enter the MTC , was not there.   However, his mother was and she had pictures of all of us at the airport.   What a morning that was.   It was so good to see her.   We hope to be able to see Victor before we leave.



After church we drove home the more rural route.   We saw lots of storks and their babies, who are growing rapidly.



The hillsides were covered with grape vines.   They are so well cared for and are beautiful to see.


We had visitors coming on Monday afternoon.   The McBrides came to attend a meeting we had with some of the church leaders.   The meeting was great!

As we got off the Metro we found our cute little friend from Kispest.   We met her on our last mission and she seemed happy to be able to talk to some missionaires.   For a number of years she has not been active in the church.  When we attended her ward a few weeks ago she was there and was so excited to again be attending church.  We were all excited to see each other again and of course we bought our tickets from her for the Hop on Hop off bus.

   

We are so cute on the bus.   Sister Mc Bride behind us.

 

This is the pink bus.   The reason for the picture is the girl with the red hair just behind the door.  She matched the bus.



After we did the cruise on the river.  We had good seats and needed to get out of the hot sun.   It turns out that it was a record setting day for  heat.  Sister McBride enjoyed the shade.



This is going under the Margit Hid.   On of the sculptures on the underside of the bridge. 




At the end of the day we walked down Vaci Utca.  We loved the flowers on the light posts.  The women rested their weary legs and feet and the men went to get Kolac's for us.   Ummmm Good!

It was a wonderful few days.   We enjoyed the  McBrides and were so glad they came to visit and help.



The Long Trip; Going Home (part 3)

Saturday was our day to attend the District Training in Bucharest and to be able to teach and talk with many of the leaders of the District.  On Sunday we attended church in Bucharest.   It was great.  Following church, we headed out on our way home. 





We passed this monument on our way out of town.  It looks like the Arch 'd Triumph in Paris.

  



This was interesting to me.   It is a beautiful building and if you look carefully on the top, they have advertising on it.





As we drove toward Bran, we came to misty mountains.   They were beautiful.

 


We kept finding this little bazaar's along the side of the road as we traveled.




Wanted you to see part of the roads that we traveled to get to Bran.  Interesting.  This was only a small part of the turns.




Notice the cows, then the milk cans, then the man in the upper left hand of the picture, he is carrying a stool and a pail.   They were doing the milking right there by the side of the road.  Can you find the man sitting on the stool milking?  This is indeed sometimes a trip into the past.



We arrived at our hotel and found some swans on our bed.   The hotel would not be considered fancy with lots of amenities, but was very relaxing, because of the balcolny and the view.   You could hear birds, insects, cows, sheep, chickens, bells and the breeze.



This is our view of Dracula's castle from our room.  Dracula, it is said, did not own this castle, but was imprisoned there at one time.  It is also said that he was not really a vampire.  




I found this on our wall in the morning.   I guess it is to protect us from the vampires.  It is so subtle.



Part of our breakfast, which included this apple juice.   We also had an omlet.

This was my glass of yogurt.   It had no flavor and was hard to drink, but I did it.   Evelyn Thatcher, wherever you are, be proud of me!

This is the castle from below.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, the castle was closed so we did not get to go inside, but did get on our way home earlier than we planned.



Another view of the castle with a museum from below.



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This is an interesting church.   The domes do not show up, but are very gold and shiny.




We passed this accident not long after it happened.   Didn't look good.
 
We chose to not take another day to drive home, as we left earlier than anticipated and arrived home just after 8:00 p.m., glad to be able to sleep in our own bed.

Today was much landry and resting.  Brent got new tires for the car, because of the one that blew.   It was a hard trip because of so much difficult driving.  We are grateful for  that in spite of some difficulties, we were able to accomplish what we went to do and arrived home safely.  What a week!!