What we see on our way to and from work

This postbox / stationary store is just below our apartment. The blue box with 3121 is a parking fee machine. Diligent parking guards patrol the street and will instantly issue you a $8 fine if you leave your car without paying the parking fee.









Some shops have their steep entrances on the side walk.




























Telephone booths such as this one are rare since everyone seems to own at least one cell phone.














Further down our street are many small shops, including a tailor, a wine merchant, two jewelry shops, a travel agent, a veterinarian, an antique shop, a leather shop, a store that sells art supplies, a photo processing store, a Chinese clothing store, a defunct bar that is for sale, and the entrances to the apartment houses above these shops.

Wedding

The groom is our landlord, Molnar Zsolt, a lead singer in the Budapest Opera. The bride is Yvette, a set designer at the Opera House.















Zsolt is about 6'5" tall. Here the happy couple is receiving congratulations from their wedding guests.



















We traveled to the wedding on this streetcar.













This is the sign designating a street car stop. One needs to be able to understand the simple schedule posted under the sign to successfully use this form of public transportation.

Whips

Whipping is a favorite activity of LDS missionaries in Hungary on their preparation days. To make the whip crack loudly takes some skill and much energy. Many missionaries take whips home as souvenirs. The handles of the whips can be very ornate.




















Sometimes the whipper snapper gets tangled up in her whip.




















These guys are really proud of their whips. They massage them with oil to keep them limber and use special natural cord for the tips so they will crack with a loud bang.

Ferry cross the Balaton 17 May 2008

Herend world famous porcelain

Pecs

Noemi and Imre went with us to Pecs.

Kakasd and Pecs

This strange town hall in Kakasd caught our attention the first time we saw it. It is even more unusual inside than it is outside. The village of Kakasd prides itself on its handcrafts, quilts, and folk dance group.