Christmas Break Recap

Ahh..Christmas break.  It's a long looked forward to break from the normal routine a chance to relax, to enjoy this place and the people around me more.  It's a time to exhale from the busy semester.  It is also a time to connect with family, both in the US and the family of believers.  

God had a special blessing in mind for me this Christmas break.  I had hoped to go to MN to be with my family for Christmas as it has been three years since I have celebrated with them.  In the fall, I began looking at tickets but it became quickly evident to me that I likely wouldn't be able to go.  About the same tim, a dear friend from my home church in MN, Kristin, contacted me from Kenya where she teaches.  She was wondering what my Christmas break plans were as she and her parents were considering a trip to visit me over Christmas break.  A few weeks later the tickets were purchased for the three of them to spend Christmas here with me in Budapest.   They arrived the first day of my break and stayed for many days.  We were able to do a bit of exploring around Budapest and even crossed one of Kristin's top 5 places to see off her list by visiting Auschwitz in Poland.

Kristin & Deb at the Christmas Market

 Our first stop was to visit the amazing Budapest Christmas market early in the day when it wasn't so busy.  We enjoyed some hot apple cider and did some shopping while trying to keep warm.  Later we had hot chocolate inside to unthaw and to warm up!

The next day it was clear and beautifully sunny.  A perfect day for exploring the high places of Budapest to get great views of the river, bridges and the city.

A view of the Chain Bridge (Lanchid) and Parliament  

Kristin & me at Fisherman's Bastion

Craig & Deb at the Citadel

A walk down Gellert Hill 

Another day, afternoon we spent wondering around Memento Park.  It's an outdoor museum that contains many of the statues from the Communist era.   (More on Communism to come in another post.)

Memento Park Statues

Kristin driving the Trabant

Of course I had to treat them to hamburgers and A & W root beer at Johnny's Bistro in Diosd.  This is a special treat for them (and me) A & W is very rare here in Budapest and a good hamburger is hard to find.

Christmas Eve lunch- traditional Hungarian food- red wine beef stew, goulash, and cabbage rolls.  (Cabbage rolls are quickly becoming a favorite of mine.  I had them three times in December.)

Christmas Day was a blessing to celebrate with my roommates, new friends and old friends.

My two roommates and a friend

My roommates parents- Reading the Christmas story

After Christmas my friends & I ventured north of Hungary.  Criag drove us up and down through the Tatra Mountians where we did see spots of snow along the road and a few ski hills.  A few hours later we arrived in Krakow, Poland.

Christmas Market in Krakow's Old Town Square

 The next day began our serious study of history from about 1939 to 1945.  An hour west of Krakow lies Auschwitz.  (Another post to follow)

We returned to Budapest for another day before it was time for my friends to leave.  It was truly a blessing to have them here.  It was a bit of "home" that came here.  God was very good to me. 

Liberty Bridge over the Danube on a foggy day in Budapest (10:30 am)

I wrapped up the rest of my break mostly at my house or school.  I did lots of baking, sleeping, cooking, reading and crafting.   So thankful that God puts breaks- Sabbath's into our lives.  This break was indeed full of adventure and rest.