If you like snow and winter coats during Spring Break, then Hungary is the place for you!The weather has still not read my blog – snow! snow! snow! Why, oh why, must this form of precipitation plague my existence?!
Narnia forever.
One of my best friends, Grace, came to frolic in this great land with me during “Spring” Break. I always find taking someone into town to show him/her the sights to be an interesting and eye-opening adventure. I have become quite accustomed to the beauty which surrounds me – I can get most places without thinking at all. I took Grace to areas I haven’t been to since August. Seven months ago I only knew five or so phrases in Hungarian, was afraid to take any public transportation that wasn’t trams 47 and 49, etc. Times have changed, that is for sure. In regards to the mystical Hungarian language, Grace and I learned the word “vészcsengő” at one of the baths in Budapest. While in the sauna, Grace pulled a chord she thought would “steam up the room.” It was not what we thought it would be though – turns out the word means emergency alarm. Classic mistake, right?
Inside Saint Stephen’s Basilica.
In addition to hanging out in Budapest, we went to Esztergom. Saint Stephen was crowned king here in 1000AD. Esztergom is home to the largest church in Hungary (Esztergom Basilica – The Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St. Adalbert) and the 18th largest church in the world. The largest church in the world is St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. I went there in October of last year.
No idea who this is.
Me in front of Esztergom Basilica.
Grace.
Grace and I even walked to another country – the Mária Valéria bridge over the Danube connects Esztergom, Hungary to Štúrovo, Slovakia. This bridge was named after Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria. She was the fourth child of Emperor Franz Josef and Elisabeth.
Slovakia-bound!
Danube River and Esztergom Basilica as seen from Slovakia.
One last thing: I FINALLY LOST MY BUS PASS! Oh yes, it happened. So, in seven months I have lost my: phone, debit card, grocery rewards card, and bus pass. Pardon me while I pat myself on the back.
A lesson from Miss Jennifer: Buy spare tickets in advance and keep them with you at all times. You never know when you might need them.
The Great Escape 
That camera was the best thing you did for yourself. 🙂 Great, Jen!
Thanks, Dr. A!
I can’t remember being so charmed. Of all your many talents, and your way with narrative is formidible, do not leave out your photography! I love very many of your pictures. I mean love. Love them. Would like to have prints of them. Tell me what camera you are using, and what lens? And with your eye for composition, please get a fifty mm one, the ‘storyteller’s lens,’ I might have the mm part wrong, I don’t actually know what the numbers indicate, fifty is right, but mm might be pp or ll.
Best of luck to you, but you don’t need it. By the way, your losing things is really your continual donation.
Thank you for your kind words! As for my camera, I have a Nikon D70s + 18-70mm lens. Not new by any means, but I love my faithful companion. PS. Hopefully I do not lose anything else… I am tired of donating my things!
“No idea who this is.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A1nos_Vit%C3%A9z_%28bishop%29
^ ahaa, yes yes yes.