Hungarian goulash

How about some palinka? It's the alcoholic drink, so prevalent in Hungary and the Balkans. The Balkans? The Iron curtain? Wow, it's been 20 years since the fall of communism and I'm amazed at how regular life is here these days. I've been on some Budapest blogs and the pictures reminded me of the same places we visited during our 3 day visit. I do like Budapest, the people are much friendlier. I'm amazed at how easy it was to learn the public transportation system. I'd like to go back one day and see more of the interior.

Images of Yunnan, China

Let's visit Lille again

I'm envious of the Europeans, a short hop anywhere and they are in a different country, a pretty one at that. For us, Americans, especially those of us, me included, who live on the West coast, it's very far even by a fast airplane. It's always an incredible treat when the time comes to take that long airplane ride over to the continent. I remember being so envious of the English when we were about to board the Eurostar train at St Pancras station in London. We saw a lot of English weekenders going to the continent and a lot of the continent people coming into London. An hour and half train ride and we arrived at Lille, a little city to the north of Paris, it's France already. Lille has a very pretty old quarter and we spent a very delightful afternoon wandering around, enjoying all the sweet treats in the shops, both gastronomically and visually. It is a sight for sore eyes.