Last week, my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Budapest and Vienna with 29 Belmont MBA students. It was a fun—and mostly enjoyable (more on that below)—week.
Here are some glimpses…
The first evening upon our arrival, we enjoyed a delicious dinner cruise on the Danube River. Isn’t the Hungarian Parliament Building (circa 1904) stunning at night?
The next day, we explored the breathtaking city of Budapest. See the same building behind us (from the night before)?
I love doors! I snapped this pic (and the next ones) while strolling through Budapest.
I always wonder about all the people who’ve walked through these doors. Their lives, their pursuits…
My main “souvenir” when traveling these days is taking pictures of doors and then framing them in those multiple picture frames. It’s a great way to remember a trip. Are you a door lover, too?
Next, some of the food…
What trip to Hungary would be complete without traditional Hungarian goulash? Don’t you love the little “bread hats” the goulash is served with?
Talk about comfort food. So delicious!
But wait! The best is yet to come…
We didn’t happen upon this little treasure of a restaurant by chance. I follow Kevin and Amanda’s blog (do you?), and when Amanda recently visited Budapest, she blogged about this little gem—Gelarto Rosa. So…
We scouted it out and oh, was it ever worth it!
The gelato is shaped beautifully, don’t you think? Almost too pretty to eat. Somehow, though, we managed. Gelarto Rosa is located at the corner of St. Stephen’s Basilica. So if ever you’re in Budapest . . .
A traveling buddy, Francis Daniel, stuck with good ol’ plain chocolate and said it was good ol’ plain delicious.
After Budapest, we visited Vienna, Austria for four days. This city is nothing short of spectacular!
Our first evening, we did a walking tour of the city, and I think the buildings were even more beautiful all lit up!
Here we are (Joe, Francis Daniel and me) at Hotel Sacher in Vienna enjoying their famous Sacher Torte. It’s very good but you must eat it with cream (as we were told). Because if you don’t, it can be a tad dry. Still, none of us look like we’re complaining, do we? ; }
It was a great trip all in all, as I said above, but…
One “less than enjoyable” incident was when Joe woke up early one morning in Vienna with excruciating pain. When the pain wouldn’t subside, I called an ambulance. Long story short, he has kidney stones and was admitted to the hospital for two days. Not exactly part of our plan, but we’re so grateful for the medical attention he received. (He already visited our doctor here in Nashville yesterday and will be undergoing further treatment soon. But he sure feels a lot better than he did last week.)
I enjoy traveling but it was especially nice to get back home late Sunday evening. To paraphrase Dorothy from Kansas, there’s no place like it.
What’s a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting? Or perhaps a place you’ve already visited that holds special memories? Did your trip have any “unexpected” incidents?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, btw. Hope you’re wearing green!
Tammy
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We so wanted to see the Lipizzaner Stallions at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna while there, but they weren’t out. You can catch a glimpse of them here. Spectacular! Don’t you love how they jump and kick!
Tamera Alexander
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Our dream vacation is Ireland. Lord-willing, we will travel there in a couple of years! It looks like an absolutely wonderful trip! The gelato roses? Gorgeous!!
Oh Ireland, Catherine… That’s on my bucket list too. The hero in To Win Her Favor (coming in May) is from Ireland, so researching Cullen’s background and family history only made me want to visit even more.
What beautiful pics! So glad your trip went well, aside from your incident. Been there, done that w/ my own hubby. That’s not fun when you’re not overseas. We’ve been to Europe three time now and Great Britain twice. I must say, I am very much in love with the British Iles. I will never forget the first time I saw Big Ben. We came up out of the Tube station and there it was, the very first thing I saw. And hearing it chime – beautiful! Looking forward to going back soon. 🙂
I’ve never been to Great Britain, Jen, but have heard it’s wonderful. Love your descriptions. Especially about Big Ben. I could hear “him”!
Did you see the Lipizzan stallions while in Vienna? That has been my dream for over 50 years!
We visited their stables and walked through the gorgeous buildings surrounding the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, but sadly, they weren’t out. I wanted to see them too! Aren’t they gorgeous. If anyone hasn’t seen them, please visit the link in the post above.
I’ve always dreamed of going to England. I have relatives there from my dad’s side.
We did go to SanFransico years ago. A very enjoyable trip.
Cool on visiting San Francisco, Shirley. I’ve never been there but hear it’s beautiful. So many places to see, aren’t there?
I spent a year in Europe teaching English as a Foreign Language in a public high school there. Great experience! I lived in Prague, Czech Republic, which is another beautiful city, and I got to travel to about 8 or so countries while I was there. (Yup, I went to your two cities featured in this blog!) It was a wonderful year of jet hopping and running after trains, but now I am a stay-at-home mom of one busy toddler with another on the way, and I hardly go anywhere at all! Life changes, that’s for sure!
Oh, I love Prague, Courtney, and how wonderful that you lived there. What an experience you had. Europe is so rich with history, and the U.S. seems so “young” by comparison, doesn’t it? Yes, life is full of journeys, but I think they one you’re currently on is especially blessed!
Wishing Joe a very speedy recovery! I just returned home Sunday night from spring break travels within Texas that had been preceded by a trip to California for my mom’s birthday. I’d only spent 3 nights at home in 17 days, so I can very well relate to your ‘no place like home’ feeling upon return.
I visited Vienna when I was growing up and remember eating Sacher Torte at the Sacher Hotel. I loved all your photos!
Hello my Sacher Torte Sister! Thanks for sharing, Becky, and so glad you’re home once again. That’s a lot of traveling, woman!
What a glorious trip, Tamera! My daughter and I were in Europe, too, and we ate gelato in Rome. Yum! Didn’t have the flare of those roses, though. How gorgeous were those?
So sorry about the kidney stones. My husband has had bouts with those twice in his life, and there’s nothing like seeing such a big strong man curled up in excruciating pain. I’m thankful Joe is doing better. Vacations are the worst times to be ill.
Thanks for sharing your pictures. So fun!
Yes, Karen, you described it so well in regard to watching your husband hurt. So hard. And being so far away in a country where we don’t speak the language was also especially challenging. Thankfully, most Austrians speak at least a little English. English is taught in their schools from a very young age. And Joe had a wonderful Austrian man as a roommate. We had fun getting to know each other in that regard. There’s always a blessing even in the most difficult of circumstances, huh? #GodIsSoGood
Beautiful pictures, Tammy. And I’m glad to see that your tradition of eating ice cream for lunch continues.
LOL, Lynn. I thought of you (and me and Kelsey and Elizabeth and Anne-Ruth and Christian) in Germany last summer. Fun times.
So glad you’re home and all in one piece… Keeping Joe in my prayers!
My dream trip is to York, England to stand by the door of the house my great-great grandfather lived in (with my great-great-great grandfather and grandmother) before they sailed to America. My grandparents, my parents, one sister and my brother, along with assorted aunts and uncles have gotten to do so, and I would LOVE to do the same before I die! Of course, I’d travel by way of Berlin, where our oldest son lives. We’d love for him to be our tour guide if we ever get to visit Europe! Sadly, we just did our taxes, and it sure won’t be THIS year. 🙁
Oh Deb, what a wonderful dream. I’m praying right this minute that God will guide you to that very door some day. What a special moment that will be. We’re so drawn to our roots, aren’t we? The more I travel (not that I’m all that well-traveled, by any means), I’m struck by how alike we all are in that desire. And then ultimately how alike we are in our origin. We all come from the God the Father, no matter our earthly ties. We’re unique to be sure, but also very much alike.
I would love to go and visit Paris or England.
Paris is beautiful, Steph. You’ll love it. And I’d love to do England…and visit Highclere Castle! ; )
Your trip looks amazing! How fun was that gelato?! I’ve never seen anything like it. I have so many places on my wish list. My husband and I are going on a mission trip this summer and we get to have a long layover in Paris…so excited! I’ve never been and even if it’s just a few hours it’ll be worth it : ). I’ve also always wanted to go to Australia, Greece, and Italy. I’m so glad I married someone who loves to travel as much as I do ; ). Hope your Joe feels better soon!
YAY on that long layover in Paris. You’re gonna love it, Stacey. Hugs to you and *your* Joe! (Mine is definitely better than he was last week in Vienna. He has some work ahead of him, but we’re getting there.)
Enjoyed these photos, Tammy – – and so glad you were able to experience that trip!
Since I’ve never been out of the USA I’ve always thought Ireland and Scotland would be lovely places to visit.
Prayers for Joe, and I’m so sorry that happened (especially while overseas – – somehow being sick seems even worse when a person is away from home). 🙁 But I’m thankful he did receive good medical attention there.
Several years ago my husband flew to the ACFW conference in Dallas with me. The night we arrived home he ended up in the hospital in horrible pain (due to kidney stones). We were thankful we’d at least made it back home before that happened.
Thanks again for sharing with us, sweet friend!
Hugs and Love to you, Patti Jo
I’d love to see Ireland too, Patti Jo. And Scotland… Another bucket list item. I’d like to go with Liz Curtis Higgs on her group tour some day. Wouldn’t that be a kick for some of us to do that? #DreamFodder So sorry your hubby suffers from kidney stones too. This is pretty common, I’m discovering. And so painful! 🙁
Bless you for sharing. And LOL on the “closed” pun you posted elsewhere. Love it!
You have a unique door photo collection. Can’t say I’ve paid much attention to doors, but I remember those in Dublin, Ireland, being interesting.
We (my daughter and I) have some beautiful pics of doors in the Netherlands as well, Terri. I bet Dublin does have some great ones. Sigh… Someday, maybe! ; ) Thanks for sharing!
Gelato in rose form? Sold. Glad the hubby is doing better! Tell him to drink water w lemon in it!
Tammy, your pictures are so beautiful. It made me feel as if I were there too. Would love to spend time in Scotland as well as Germany (homeland of my mother’s family. So sorry about your husband’s experience with stones. Glad he is better. Hoping to spend another weekend in Nashville this summer and another stop at Belle Meade. Looking forward to reading “To Win Her Favor” (already preordered) so I might as well add Ireland to that “bucket list”.
Wonderful photo journey, Tamera – Thank you!
Scotland and England have been travel treasures for me that turned into longer stays than anticipated and then doubled !
So I definitely feel blessed in God’s ability as tour director <3 !
Can not believe the gorgeous gelato presentations and just imagining the delish tortes…
glad you're a travel lover ~ such a wide and wonderful world to explore…