Off to Budapest

Fred and I are going to Budapest tomorrow. We’ll be back on the first of January. The original plan was to go to a warm place, but that didn’t happen because Florida (and any other place that is warm) was too expensive to get to. Plus, we’ve wanted to visit Budapest for a while now. When I was working in the hospital in Brooklyn, years ago, a colleague of mine was from Budapest - or Budapesht, as she said. I never asked too much about Budapest because I didn’t know what to ask. Now I have questions and we’re not in contact any more. At least we have a guide book.

Oh! A little guide book-buying tip for anyone living in Amsterdam. Twice, twice we have gone to the Scheltema to get a guide book for €20 and twice we have walked down Leidsestraat to the New English Book Store and found it for €10. Of course the book from the New English Book Store was a little older, but it’s Budapest. How much is going to change in two years? (And how much of that are the writers actually going to catch?) Last time, Fred took the book back to the Scheltema and got a €20 voucher. That’s what he used to buy this book. So he’s going to take this one back when we get back and get another voucher. It’s ten euros. As Fred says, “Fool me once…shame on…shame on you. Fool me twice…you, uh…you can’t get fooled again.” Wait. It wasn’t Fred who said that. But was someone just as loveable and huggable. The point of this tale, check the New English Book Store on Leidsestraat first. They have an amazing (and unpredictable) selection of Eyewitness (or favorite) guidebooks.

We will miss the noisy mess that is Amsterdam on New Year’s Eve. It’s all fireworks and partying at midnight. We have always watched from the front window, where we have a fairly good view of the skyline and what’s going on in the Center and a very good view of what’s going on in our square (which varies from year to year). A few weeks ago, I thought it might be fun to try to be in the Center next time we’re in town for New Year’s Even. I may have to do that alone. Fred’s not a fan of the noise and the mess.

We’re not even sure what goes on or where we should be on New Year’s Eve in Budapest. Surely there will be something fun going on. A couple of years ago in London, we were standing in a bar at 10:30 when we realized that we’d rather be in our hotel room. So I spent the last hour of that year sitting in bed knitting while Fred read a book. In Florida, we drank too-sweet sparkling wine on a beach and watched fire works.

It’ll be a fun trip. Fred and I travel well together. I’m going to finish a hat I’m making for him and then I’m going to take another wack at another project I’ve started but can’t seem to get to work. There is sure to be a lot of walking. Fred loves to walk. And when we come back we can put a new pin in the map. No need to pick one of these up. A colleague, Rachel, brought me one back in August of 2006. Love that. She was a peach.

I won’t be writing on the blog until we’re back. I’m going to try to stay off the computer while we’re away. I’ve had a lot of “screen time” in the last couple of weeks. I need a break. I’m going to try reading. I hear that’s coming back in fashion.

Have a happy New Year. I’ll report back upon our return. All the best to you and yours.