A Sunday with no itinerary? Priceless!

I can not remember the last Sunday I had that did not have a schedule, list of things to do, alarm that needed to be set. Normally my Sundays involve an early morning start to get my run in.  Had a good proper sleep-in and then a lovely late breakfast/brunch with all my market purchases (which were delicious by the way!)

The deli wrapping from the cheese we bought at the Market.  I'm pretty sure the pig and cow are chattin' up the chicken!  

We headed out to wander the city and shop!  I'm spending the bulk of this next week with my friend Kim.  Kim was my team leader for this Habitat build.

Kim and I at our last dinner in Oradea before heading to Beius

I met Kim in 2008 when she led my Habitat build in Szarvas, Hungary.  We were room-mates and instant friends.  In 2008 we had a bit of time in Budapest together but wanted the chance to explore the city together this time around.  Kim knows the city very well having been here many times with Habitat...and we both love the place.  Plus we both are happy to simply wander and explore by accident and not with any real purpose.  She a great friend, an excellent team leader! I'm lucky to have this time with her.

I should also note that we both love afternoon coffee and treat breaks!  In 2008 it was the quest for the perfect Dobos torta.

My Great Aunt made the best Dobos and I have tried not only to buy a slice that matches but even try to re-create hers.  Inspired to give it a try again once I am home. 

But with the heat these last few days it seems to be the perfect ice cream I am in search for.  I love ice cream so I'm in a good place. Sadly they are all so good here, it's hard to pick a winner!

After spending the last 2 weeks as a group of twelve all the time, there is a strange loneliness now that everyone is gone save Kim.  Woke up missing the Beav, Sarah and Pete.  Travelling in a group is a fascinating experience which I should write more about once I have time to reflect a bit.  Definitely a learning experience every time I do it.

One last dinner in Budapest and then off to Holland tomorrow via Brussels!  Kim is starting a new life in Brunssum, Holland working at an international school.  Will be helping her get settled in her new house and checkin' out her new hood!

I suspect cheese, beer and chocolate are in my future!

Another day...another country

Spent the morning in Budapest preparing for our road trip and sneaking in some last minute tourist spots with a few people. Did a quick trip up to Castle Hill on the Funicular with Bev. 

Now you shouldn't really "do" Castle Hill quickly but better than to not do it at all. I had the very good fortune of spending a half day on Castle Hill with my Dad in 2008.  I hope I pointed out the highlights to Bev.

Sadly we did not have time for Dobos and coffee but perhaps we can sneak some in before we leave Budapest.
Then it was aboard a mini-bus for a 5 hour drive to Romania which included an hour time change as well. It is midnight as I write this post but really can't sleep. Not entirely sure how I will function on the work site tomorrow.  I am somewhat overwhelmed with my surroundings.  Although I've only seen it in darkness, it's not so much how it looks, but where I am that is got me energized.

A little bit about where I am:

In addition to having the great opportunity to again work with Habitat for Humanity in eastern Europe, I am living and building in a city not far from where my mother was born and her family originates.  Yes, I have Transylvanian blood in me! And there was a time, not that long ago, that was also a part of Hungary.
Romania is a country about the size of the state of Oregon, situated in South East Central Europe on the lower Danube. It borders Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the Northeast, and the Black Sea and Bulgaria to the south.

The areas of Oradea and Beius (where we are working) was founded in the 10th century, when a a small citadel was established by King Ladislaus I of Hungary. Until the end of World War II when Romania was awarded this region of Transylvania, possession of the city and the it's surrounding environs, alternated between the Hungarian and Austrian empires and Romania.
Here is a map of what Hungary once looked like.

This a VERY simplified version of the history.  But when it was still considered Hungary, my mother was born in  Kolozsvár.   (Read more by clicking on the link) And I am now on the same land that once was where my Mother called home.

Looking very much forward to the sun coming up and getting a look around, meeting the families at the Orphanage and getting to work.

The views in Budapest...and meeting the team

Finally correcting my internal clock...I think. Slept until 10am after being awake for almost 24 hours. A very sound sleep after wandering  the streets of Budapest and enjoying the amazing way it is all illuminated.  Definitely feeling like vacation mode.

I moved from my apartment in Budapest to the hotel where the rest of the team is staying. The hotel itself is an uneventful Communist-era building with decent accommodations.  The hotel is just down the road from the apartment and in the midst of the theatre and Opera district.  The majority of the buildings are gloriously old in Budapest (save the Communist-era ones which are not so nice!) but there is something about being surrounded by old playhouses and being down the street from the Opera House. History and culture all wrapped up into one!

The view from my hotel looks onto a small park and a number of bars, coffee houses and small grocery stores.  But I won't grow too accustomed to it as we head for Oradea, Romania tomorrow at 2pm.

Had our first team dinner tonight:  Kim, Bev, Sue, Heather, Pete & Sarah, Gabe & Joanna. We are still waiting for 3 more people whose flights have been delayed but if all goes well, they will arrive in time to catch our bus tomorrow.

As much as I am enjoying the city and all the great indulgences it has to offer, chatting tonight with everyone about their previous Habitat builds and thinking about my last build in Szarvas, Hungary, I am anxious to get to the orphanage and get to work.