Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!


Happy Halloween from the Czech Republic! The Czechs don't really celebrate Halloween as we do. There are some All Hallows Eve things at some churches but no Trick or Treating. Which means there's no Halloween candy :(

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Fall Foliage


Today Tonje and I went on a Fall Foliage walk to see all of the pretty fall colors.
Tonje loves to pose me in front of random things


Playing


Look, leaves that change color!


Castle Spilberk

Castle Spilberk




Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Hot Plate Cooking.

Myma wanted to know if I was eating okay. It's hard to cook like I used to, on just a hot plate with a mini fridge. Plus, I only have a few pots, no pans or even correct utensils to cook with! But, I've gotten tired of eating out with the heavy Czech food. I've been experimenting while my roommate just laughs at me. She's used to small kitchens and hot plates! I will learn and adapt soon.

Thankfully I found Sriracha sauce to flavor everything!

Let Myma know I'm eating well!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Swan Lake

Tonje and I went to the Ballet last week! There was a performance of Swan Lake. We decided to dress up and act like elegant ladies. Key word there is 'act'. During the break we were drinking Coke out of a bottle and scarfing down Snickers bars. We were hungry!
Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Budapest.

This bridge crosses the Danube and was completed in 1849.

Szechenyi Baths




Tonje and I had been planning all week to go to the spa on when we were in Budapest. The spas in there are world famous. These spas are thermal pools and baths for medicinal purposes. There are a few spas in the city but we went to the biggest and oldest one, Szechenyi Bath.



So Saturday morning we made reservations for 30 minute massages and pool access, all 4 of us. I could already tell that this was going to be an adventure. Tonje and I left the boys and went to the spa early because we had to get suits. We had an option to rent suits, but, ew, no. The bathing suits cost just as much as our tickets and we had to buy towels and flip flops. Also, the suits were absolutely hideous and too small for both of us. I was already uncomfortable but these suits just increased that. I had the first appointment so I set off to find the massage room. I walked around, showed my ticket to every attendant I could find, went through ev

ery single pool room like a lost tourist. Finally, with some help, I figured it out. I walked into the massage room expecting something…completely different. The room was huge with about 20 cubicles for privacy. I handed my ticket to a very large man who I assumed was just the attendant and he led me to my cubicle. And then signaled that he was my masseuse. Greg very accurately described him as the Hungarian Fat Bastard from the Austin Powers movies. Huge and hairy, but very professional. The massage is basic; legs, back and arms. At first I was extremely uncomfortable and debated leaving but then I said to myself that this is Hungarian Spa and thousands of people do this every year. It’s an experience that I might not have ever again. And let me tell you, it was amazing. This masseuse found knots in my back that I never knew were there.

After my massage I waited for everyone in a heated pool. When they were done (Greg had the same masseuse that I did, I don’t think he enjoyed that), we hopped around to the different pools, saunas and steam rooms. For a day at the spa, it was exhausting.


Tonje and I in the outdoor bath.