Pool of my Dreams

Look at that! It is designed by a Hungarian architect who was also an
Olympic gold medalist for Hungary. It is a beautiful structure, and
easily the most amazing pool I have ever swum in. We happened to
arrive on the day of an open diving practice, and were told that some
of the people training were from the Olympic team. We lingered until
after 5pm, keeping on saying we would stay for 'just one more dive
from the 30 meter platform' by our favorite diver. Such a treat to
see. Great day.

Bikes, and Other Loves.

We rode our bikes to a pool on the lovely Margaret Island, which is in
the middle of the Danube between Buda and Pest. It was such a nice
day, lazy-- but also brim-filled with many things I adore in life. I
love bikes, parks, gardens, swimming, markets, and food and drink.
This is so constant about me-- but I have been shocked to realize it
so fully on this trip. I think of myself as a whirling dervish of
interests, changing my passions every few years-- but these things
have remained lifelong loves, and I have lived enough life now that
this statement actually means something. I gave myself a little gift,
and decided to let the rest of my travels be governed by these loves.
I can spare myself the obligatory "sights" of the places I visit- from
here on out it is bikes, swimming, flowers and grass, books, picky
belabored-decision style shopping, and yummy food and drink. I might
throw in some architechture, and modern art as well.

Gaurdian of the Citadella

This is Budapest...

...at night, as seen from the highest point.

Bicycles, Wine, Sights

We took the rental bikes & some crispy white wine, and hauled our
asses up to Buda's highest point. There is an awesome statue of a
woman lifting a sheath of wheat above her head. She is patinaed
green, and is a beacon for the whole city. When I first saw her, I
took what she was holding for a shield. She is wonderfully-lit at
night, and we kept going up and up, until we were just underneath.

Homeade Dinner With Canadian Alison

I made dinner with Alison (her last name also starts with a B, so I
will call her Canadian Alison). Yummy Bikaver wine (my favorite T
shirt in the 90s had a Bikaver logo, but I did not realize it until
Budapest :), pasta with a girgonzola sauce, and I made a summer veggie
salad that made me sad for home. Finally, some yummy dessert. Looks
good, huh?

Lovely Gellert

It is mega-touristy, but I could really give a fuck. How can you not
love this?