Hungary


From Venice it was back to Budapest to resume our visit from some nine months earlier. It really felt like returning home. This time we were greeted at the airport by Jano - a friend of Eva and Balazs' who made us so welcome and even gave us an apartment to stay at in a gorgeous area of Buda. Our 12 days in Hungary this time around consisted of many catch up meals with family and friends. Every day we met someone different for lunch and dinner. Nobody escapes a visit to Hungary without gaining a few kilos. And with things like deep fried goose liver on the menu, it is not hard to see why. People would listen patiently as I tried to practise my limited Hungarian and order meals in my new language to the amusement of waiters. At least this time I didn't tell the waiter that "I am very tasty" as opposed to my meal .... like I did last visit! We also had our friends Anna and Alex visit from London for a few days and Mary and Rachael came from Ireland a few days later, so in between catching up with the Hungarian contingent we also did a bit of general tour guiding, including an evening boat ride down the Danube.

Mary, Rach and I with Parliament House in the background

On the boat ride down the Danube

Bol and Jano at one of our favourite restaurants

Bol at the winery with Lake Balaton (Europe's biggest lake) in the background

But forgetting all the fun catch-ups, day trips and delicious meals we devoured, our visit to Hungary this time had an entirely different purpose. His name is Jakab - our six week old godson who is the sweetest thing you will ever meet. As the godfather, Bol took great delight in asking everyone to kiss his ring. And despite his nerves in being responsible for holding Jakab during the christening ceremony, he managed to keep him content and tear free, even when the water was splashed on his tiny forehead. Bol drew the line at nappy changing though, so I stepped in to prove to Tommy and Ilde they weren't entirely crazy in their selection of godparents. Our visit to Szeged to meet and christen Jakab was truly an honour for us and cross fingers the family will come to Australia next year so you can all meet them.

Awww - our godson Jakab

With mum and dad shortly before the ceremony

The doting godfather

And godmother

And it was so great to catch up with Uncle Tibi