'Summer stories' series: In and Around Budapest

Besides being on longer tours (as seen in the previous posts) we also enjoyed going on smaller excursions in and around the city.

P.S. Since we started our summer vacation in the middle of August, these excursions were elongated to warmer September and October days...and they would still last if the weather would be good enough for that...but it isn't. Imagine, in only 5 days the temperature fell from 28 Celsius degrees to 4-5 degrees. And that's a HUGE difference.

So all kinds of excursions from now on will be postponed to whoknowswhen.

And if we don't want to become froze-bitten, we'll rather have to stay inside in the company of a big mug of tea or hot chocolate.
At least until the temperature rises a bit.

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Our 2009 'Hungarian vacation' started on the 6th of August, when we went to Szentendre to celebrate Mom's birthday

These flowers are the survivors of the cooler autumn temperature, still, they are beautiful





In September, we went to see the free (the emphasis is on this:)), so called Face Poster exhibition at Felvonulási tér (it is somewhere between the Heroes Square and the City Park). It is held annually, always having different themes. This year we saw pictures and photos in connection with the World Economic Crisis and advertisements about the importance of pure water. It wasn't bad altogether, though last year I liked it a little more...

Still, I collected a few of my favourites to share with you.

We also spent days with Budapest sightseeing (walking) tours...(what we often do anyway, but taking photos in and about Budapest never becomes boring)

One day we even became children and went to Hűvösvölgy by the children's railway (the name mainly comes from an old tradition, according to which not adults, but children work on these trains as ticket inspectors).

And recently we went to Robert Capa war photographer's exhibition to the Művészetek Palotája (if you didn't know: he had Hungarian origins and was born as Friedmann Endre).

The information heard of his life and his displayed photos were very interesting, and the building itself was wondrous!

More info on him: http://www.photo-seminars.com/Fame/capa.htm

And that's it. This was our 2009 Summer in pictures.

NOW you may ask what we will do NOW, that the summer is over. Well, NOW we are waiting for some global warming to be able to go outside again and continue...no, not our summer, but rather our autumn vacation...global warming, please, be so kind and COME! :)

'Summer stories' series: The Proposal

I still owe you the description of the 18th of August happenings. Since, you might remember, this was the very day of my proposal. Here comes the story.
It was somewhere between 5.30 and 6.00- no, not evening time, but early-early morning, at dawn. We decided the previous evening to wake up at 5 a.m. and go out to Badacsony harbour to see the sunrise (Usually I do not manage to do it as I am not an early riser. To tell the truth, it was a somewhat difficult mission this time either).
Not the slightest misgivings, no foreknowledge on my behalf. Nothing, just the wish to finally see the sunrise at Lake Balaton, which is so beautiful, and there are only a few days per year when the opportunity is given to me to see it here. And yeah, a little drowsiness accompanied our walk out there.
So, while sleepily perceiving the wonderful, colourful and altogether brilliant rise of the day, all of a sudden he went on his knees and in the midst of this truly romantic scenery asked the so romantic 'Will you marry me' question holding out one of his clenched hands (the one that hid the white gold ring-see it later-which was again romantic). Knowing me, not so surprising that my first reply was a not so romantic 'Are you joking?!' answer. Of course, after a few seconds of surprise (remember I had not the slightest misgivings about his plan) I finally whispered a little bit more romantic yes, of course (but without all those jumpings and screamings that may be seen in some stupid movies that are usually regarded to be romantic, but for me, these are rather funny or sometimes even miserable, artificial reactions). Still, it took minutes, what I say, hours and even days till I really compassed the happenings, and the fact that from now on I am a bride, loyal to my name: a Barb 'ara'. And then was the moment when all became truly ROMANTIC.

P.S. To show there ARE some romantic feelings in my ironical and often unromantic human mind (that's just the surface, though), let me express what the word romantic means to me. Romance is not simply words and spectacular, physical manifestations towards others but rather a feeling of a special moment when you are touched and inspired by something (such as memories, music, a piece of writing or art, etc.) in your own little single soul. So first it is experienced inside and then may it be expressed towards others as well. For me, this 'something' is mostly natural landscape, and therefore is my love for photography. Photos capture and represent the concept of romance. To me. Now dare you say I am not romantic. :)

'Summer stories' series: The Continuing Story

This title ('continuing story') might remind you of the famous Canadian 'Anne of Green Gables' series (this was the title of the second part of the TV adaptation, which was made around 2000), however, this continuing story could get the title 'Bruryah of (Szilas)Greenwoods':).
Sounds good, doesn't it?
So, let me continue my storytelling.
After Badacsony, we went to the so-called Savaria days (this is a festival that calls the Romans who lived in Hungary before the Hungarian Conquest to mind and celebrates them) and spent a few days around Szombathely. The weather wasn't bad during our stay (it was worse last year), except for the day when the main festival was supposed to be held: then all of a sudden it began to rain cats and dogs and since we thought the pageantry will be cancelled or put off, we easily decided not to stay to see it (to tell the truth, the fact that I was in sandals, it was raining heavily and I started to get wet all over attributed to our decision). Lucky us: it turned out next day that it was neither cancelled nor postponed but they kept it in the midst of heavy rain.
No problem, we said. Never give it up. We might try it next year again.


The poster of the carneval (with Dad on the left side: at least, Zsolti said it looks like him:))

Tasty and expensive food is available everywhere (oh those heatbreaking smells...)

Alhough people may buy things cheaper at the marketplace...(if it was open)

Romans and 21st century people side by side each other: what a difference!

and a man half-out half-in a wall

I've been wondering over these points:
1. how they put him in there...and who is this at all.
2. is it a full-body sculpture or just a half?
3. what was first made, the wall or the man?
4. Does it symbolize anything or is it only a 'symbolless'
depiction?
Any ideas?

Hey, see? The same Romans again! (believe me, I wasn't chasing them)

There were a lot of programs for all: a bunch of concerts of various styles, eating-drinking-shopping opportunities, different shows...

...and of course, sweets!

All kinds of sweets you can just imagine.

Neverending lines of sweets. Yummy sweets.

And not so yummy and sweet dark clouds that marked the end of our day.
Dark clouds, look out, we're coming next year, too!