budapest

Hi, this is my very first message. I would like to know if anyone has been to Budapest, and if so, what did you like/dislike about it? Went to Prague last March and loved it - very haunting and dramatic.

welcome to the forum Midtown girl! I am sure I speak for all the regulars in here when I say I hope you find a home here and make tons of new friends.

Now about Budapest...about the closest I can come to that is a piece of Redwork I bought a while back at an antique shop. It has a wonderful saying on it but because I didn't speak the language, I had to write to the Chamber of Commerce in Budapest to find out what it said. How did I know it was wonderful? Well, because the pic (the Redwork itself) was a little boy handing flowers to a little girl. It is very large and my guess is it would cover the back of a couch? Tablecloth? Dunno. Anyway...drum role....It said...."I can't give you anything but flowers." Ta daaaa....I love it and have it hanging over a Drunkards Path quilt in my bedroom. The people I emailed in Budapest were absolutely the sweetest people and so friendly. I have always thought I would enjoy visiting there. Who knows...maybe I will someday, eh?

I hope you do get to visit Budapest one day. Do you like to travel? I love to and am planning on going to Africa this August. I am meeting with various friends who have been there so we can discuss the highlights of their trips. It is one looooong flight - I know that much. I can't wait to get safari clothes like Jane Goodall. Has anyone been there?

MG,
If it were up to me and the bank, I would do nothing but travel and write. However, they have a different view! ha!

I have been to Scotland and England, but that is about as far away as I have gotten. Candice is the one you need to converse with, as that girl as been everywhere.

And come to think of it....she never takes me...hmmm...Yuhhoooo Candiceeee....we need to talk girl...

Hi Marianne! My husband was an international pilot for TWA. He has been about everywhere. Many places were a few decades ago. But if you have specific questions I would be happy to pass on for a response. He is not a ready talker fo such things but I might be able to glean an items or two or be able to pass on info I already have.

My mother-in-law, who travelled extensively onher sons free tickets, loved Africa, particularly Kenya and Hawaii the best. She too, went everywhere.

Stick around in the forum for awhile and see what turns up.

Midtowngirl, yy husband and I like to travel too. However we tend to end up on warm, sandy beaches. When we go on vacation we just like to relax. Unfortunately, as a result, our kids have been to lots of nice beaches, but not done much sightseeing in some of the typical tourist spots in the world.

We always go where it's warm. I guess that's why I wasn't surprised when my son only looked at colleges in the south.

PS, an African safari sounds thrilling. What a great trip to look forward to. Your 20 year old husband mustn't be slowing down too much with this trip coming up. There are people with younger husbands who can't get them off the couch!

I love sandy beaches too (as long as I have books to read). It was really fun going to beaches when I was younger - just laying out and trying to get the best tan possible. Man, have things changed. Now, I feel guilty and stupid if I don't have a 50 spf on. I don't feel very sexy putting thick white goop on my face and neck, but oh... that old coconut oil Hawaian Tropic stuff was great.

Hey jawjaw. Sorry it took me a while to respond, but I have been battling a severe cold and infection all last week. Great way to come home from Italy. As far as budapest, I've never been and don't know anyone who has. I have friends who spent a year in Africa working for various NGOs. That is something I wouldn't mind doing for a year. I can tell you that you should wear sweatpants, layers, pack lots of snacks, water, and moist clothes for the long plane trip. Stagnant dry air always gets me on those long flights.

Oh and jawjaw, I already told you you can come next year when the business trips are to Philladelphia and Cleveland.

I always pack food when I travel on long flights. I get something nice from the city we are leaving and ask for a tray on the plane(mostly to use the utensils) and when dinner is served, and my fellow travelers are eating so called "food" on the plane, I am enjoying a gourmet sandwich, some good cheese, and pastries or whatever. Life is too short to eat plane "food".
I know you are supposed to wear khaki colored stuff on safari, because you don't want to stand out and draw attention from the animals. I thought safari goers always wore khakis and stuff because it looked so cool

Hey, Midtown Girl -- we're neighbors! I'm from Lititz. What do you think of that?

THis is a question for Lynn's husband the pilot or anyone who's traveled -- but what about Ukraine?

Looks like in about 1/2 a year we may be traveling there to p/u 2 more of our wayward children (the little rascals were born to someone else and have taken a number of years to find us -- their intended parents!

I found a site to learn a little Ukrainian and it sounds like muttering! Ha! I'm sure English sounds the same to others.

I've lost my previous love for flying so this will be a challenge. I HAVE traveled quite a bit prior to marriage though this'll be my husband's first trip out of the country.

He has, however beaten me by a L_O_N_G shot on number of flights cause he travels monthly with work! He's flown hundreds of times and I've only flown about a dozen. But I've jumped outa planes and he hasn't done THAT! Ha!

Anyway, I've been to Japan, Greece, Crete, Spain, Egypt, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Taiwan, and was a foreign exchange student to France in highschool.

I would love yet to see Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland, England and Ireland, among others. But it looks like The Ukraine it is.

Any info out there? Tips? The loan of a dog-eared Ukrainian-English dictionary?

I have not asked husband about the Ukraine yet but will. I know a few people who have adopted from there and said the trip was not bad. But to carry plenty of cash. Your agency should be able to help with details like this.

It is also a stressful trip in that you will be focused on those beautiful kids instead of sightseeing. Bonding and making the little ones comfortable is #1 priortiy compared to a fabulous dinner out.

My husband and I had a trip planned to China for adoption when our son (Korean heritage) was born in Baltimore. Trip wsa off although it was a place I always wanted to go. But the stress of flying halfway around the world with my new baby outweighed everything else. My son, Nathan, found us in the nick of time and we are so glad. Now I think a trip to Korea will be in the future instead.

Congratulations and keep us posted as time goes along. We all want to know how you are doing.

Hey Garrie that is cool that you are closeby. My boss went to the Ukraine to pick up his new daughter. The trip was rough in that it is like being in a third world country as far as amenities and/or facilities. Do take a lot of cash, preferably crisp bills. There are internet cafes, but if you want to call home, switch to international cell service. Make sure your contacts in the Ukraine and clearly known before you go, as he or she will be your guidance. Personally, I would take some extra bottles of water and lots of packaged snacks (granola bars, trail mix type things).

You will need cash to "grease the way" as you go. That's just how it is done.

Hopefully, these travel tips helped and your trip will go well. If you have any more specific questions, please feel free to ask.

Midtown:

Thanks for the tips. I'd really be interested in chatting up your boss if he or she's the type of person to converse with a stranger (I mean -- not like any of us, right?!).

I have lots of questions and most people I've encountered have adopted from Kazakhstan -- very few with info on Ukraine so far.

Do you happen to know if they used an agency and who that might've been? Well, tell your boss about me and give your boss these e-mails if (s)he wants to drop a line: JSolus@hotmail.com or garriekeyman@yahoo.com

Thanks!

Garrie, I gave him the message, so maybe he will email you. He is a very helpful person generally. Hopefully he can help. Did you say you are getting two children or one? My boss went with the idea of an infant/toddler, but found a lovely girl 8 years old. When do you leave? I don't know if he needed a Visa or not, but for sure a passport. Is yours up to date?

..."Looks like in about 1/2 a year we may be traveling there to p/u 2 more of our wayward children (the little rascals were born to someone else and have taken a number of years to find us -- their intended parents!"...

Gerrie - I LOVE the way you put this! How beautiful! Congratulations on your little rascals finding their way home.

We've had visitors from the Ukrain, Kazakhstan, Tasjikistan -sorry for the spelling, Russia, Norway. They are in an exchange program with Bluefield State College in WV and visit Thistle Cove Farm to learn how we market, promote and sell our farm, products, other traditional artisans and crafters. I talk to them about local and regional tourism and how to promote their offerings. I'm excited that I have a possibility of going to Albania this year to discuss tourism and how it can work for them.

Best,

Sandra
www.thistlecovefarm.com