11 Sunday church and other events

Sunday, July 10th


Jake was gone to camp, and we got up a couple hours later to prepare for church; it occurred to me that I hadn't worshipped on a Sunday morning anywhere but home for years and years! We drove through town to get there, and it was interesting that some of the shops and other buildings were starting to look familiar; it seemed to be a city of manageable size. We arrived and parked, got out and walked past a coffee shop that was host to a church plant--almost full! We went up an outdoor staircase to the international church where we were meeting. Several rows of chairs were arranged on the terraced risers; many people were on travel, so we had plenty of places to sit, but it filled up rather nicely just the same, with people on travel TO here.








The space notwithstanding, they were using CMG graphics--I recognized them right away!--and were playing preservice music that I recognized-- one was Grace That Won't Let Go. The regular band was not playing, so we heard the keyboard, flute, and cello practicing with the singers when we got there. It was a very different vibe than the energy offered by a good rhythm foundation, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

It was good to sing familiar songs--only one new one to me--and it was fun to sing harmony with Sheila!!! It was good for me to see that it can be hard if you don't know a song, though, so I will have to ponder ways to make it easier for visitors. It was interesting to BE a visitor, though, to be more considerate of how it feels to be in a new place. I was glad to be worshipping, at home with the family of God there in Budapest. A great sermon on forgiveness--and how the resurrection plays into the power of forgiving. It was then I heard about the Dallas event--wake up people!!!


We went home for leftovers for lunch--delicious again!--and then we let the girls stay at home while we took a quick trip over to Castle Hill.

 Again it was nice to have friends with diplomatic parking privileges; we drove right in with no problem. We parked and then strolled through the cobblestoned sidewalks to the Castle area, which is actually a series of ancient buildings, connected by walkways and information signs.

Attention ailurophiles...check out these feline gargoyles!

We first stopped at St. Matyas Cathedral, glistening white and gold, intricate with gargoyles and detailed carvings.


Sheila, tour guide in training

In the courtyard open area stood a tower of saints and angels or the like, very well-maintained.
We continued on, past a construction area and through a spiderweb gate

and past a tall fountain against the wall, a la Trevi in Rome.

Andy was complaining of sciatic issues, so I gave him drugs, and we went through a cooler tunnel to emerge on the back wall of the Hungarian National Gallery, which is hosting a Picasso exhibition. We dismissed the art in favor of some outdoor architecture and took a table facing the walk overlooking the Danube.  I had another iced coffee--NO CREAM, I said, so it came with just ice cream...while Sheila had a raspberry lemonade; the guys had iced tea...


Sheila and I went on a short explore across an elevated walkway to see what was the monolithic statue of a mother and child; was it that they were waiting for father/husband to come home? We both got depressed just on general principle, but then we found out that it was actually Mary and Baby Jesus.

 Music began to waft from a building far below; I looked down and realized how far up we actually were. WOW! But I was quickly intrigued by the source of these beautiful sounds; turns out that it was a brass quintet in full regalia--full wool, that is...I'm sweating just thinking about it! It was hot.

Anyway, the walkway provided an amazing view of the city on the other side of the Danube--the Parliament and St. Stephen's Basilica that we had seen the other day were the highlight of the cityscape, but from our vantage point we could see for miles up and down the river and count at least five or six bridges or turn around and see behind us the ridges we had visited the day before.

It was time to go, so we headed back. We stopped in one shop to purchase some beautiful hand made/dyed hímestojás (Easter eggs) before returning for another homemade meal.






We knew that we would be leaving the next morning, which was a little bit of a downer, but it was so fun to spend the time with them; even Harley let me hold him--twice!!!


Aslan and Harley ponder the possibilities on the other side of the screen...

Sheila gave us a framed duffel bag for checked luggage so that our two wouldn't be overweight and make us pay! Kinda makes one think that maybe, if they charged passengers themselves by the pound, it might make a difference. I packed the bags, wrapping the bottle of Tokaji with extra bubble wrap, in a 1.5 liter Coke bottle, and then in a couple sweaters.