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🌍 River Cruise Wrap-up, Part II: The Challenges and Rewards of Traveling in Eastern Europe
Last year we traveled through nine Eastern European countries – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the spring, followed by Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania on our recent Danube River cruise. And the one thing that unites all of them is a chapter that Western Europe simply doesn’t have: the Soviet Occupation Chapter. But…
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📸 🇭🇺 Photo Essay: Budapest & Hungary
We spent four days in Budapest in advance of our Danube River Cruise. And as much as the photographer in me wants to be using my Leica or my Nikon, you cannot beat the iPhone camera for convenience. It has become my go-to travel camera – it fits in my pocket (or purse), weighs next…
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🍷 🇭🇺 What to Drink in Hungary: A Guide to Hungarian Drinks
We spent four days in Budapest before our Danube River cruise, which gave me plenty of time to investigate Hungary’s drinks culture. And Hungary gave me plenty to investigate. So, what do Hungarians drink? Start with pálinka, the country’s famously potent fruit brandy, Unicum, the bitter herbal liqueur Hungarians inexplicably keep drinking on purpose, and some…
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🇭🇺 Kalsoca, Hungary: Four Horsemen and a Babblefish
Woke up this morning to a breathtaking view of … fog! Back on the herd bus (goodie) after breakfast for the 45 minute ride to our first stop. Woman across the aisle from Ken has not stopped talking since we sat down. How can anyone have this much to say about absolutely nothing before 0800?!?…
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🚢 Embarkation Day: Irish Goodbyes, Tokaji Wine, and a Stolen Passport
We were warned several times that we would be the youngest people on a river cruise. At first glance, can confirm this is true. Ken and I are both a little nervous about the potential for herd tourism on a river cruise – everyone following a guide carrying a flag on a stick. Neither one…
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🇸🇰 Slovakia: Mission Accomplished
Budapest is only about an hour from the Slovakian border. So, I’m on a mission to visit Slovakia today. I’m a compulsive country collector. If I’m within an hour of a country I haven’t been to before, take it to the bank – I’m going to try to get there. I’m not sure when or…
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🇭🇺 A Food Tour of Budapest: You Only Think You’re Full
Today’s activity: A food tour of Budapest with our charming local guide, Dorá. If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know I’m a firm believer that one of the best ways to get to know a country is by experiencing its food and (especially) drinks. Whenever we visit a new-to-us…
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🇹🇷 🇭🇺 Istanbul to Budapest: A Security Surprise, Bullet Holes & Wine Tasting
Phone. Wallet. Passport. On the move today. New experience unlocked: in Istanbul, you have to go through a full security check just to enter the airport. They aren’t messing around. But they are also not especially organized. A massive crowd, and total confusion about which line you’re supposed to be standing in. Good times. So, heads up…