CITY DAILY PHOTO MAY THEME - FRUIT

From the Covered Market in Budapest. The prices are in Hungarian forints per kilogram. The names of the products, with one exception, are indecipherable.              

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - BUDAPEST BY NIGHT

Our river cruise went back out on the Danube after sunset on our last night onboard. Many of the magnificent riverfront buildings are illuminated. This huge confection is the Hungarian parliament building. 

Budapest is much larger, more beautiful and interesting than I imagined. Unfortunately, I had a lot of trouble walking on this trip. If I can get my spine fixed I'd love to come back with more time. Home today, Tuesday. Just one stop at Heathrow, since BA just started non-stop service to St. Louis. Maybe I'll get more pictures edited on the plane.                                   

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - HUNGARIAN SPICE

 

There is a big, multi-level food hall in central Budapest known as the Covered Market. It is geared toward tourists as much as locals. We have no idea why we would buy a jar of paprika. We use it only occasionally in cooking and buy it at the supermarket. Lots of visitors wanted some, though.

These posts are going up on different days. It's Monday here but will be seen Sunday in North America. We are taking a half-day trip out of the city  today, home tomorrow.            

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - HOW TO SEE BUDAPEST

 

That's a new idea to me. The people onboard seemed to be having a noisy good time. Another exhausting day in another very interesting city. I've got a lot more pictures to edit. We're spending today and tomorrow here. Home Tuesday.             

International Relations

Still circulating. This was an interesting couple sitting in a corner. She is a bit exotic. Turns out she is Hungarian. (Which makes me unable to get this out of my mind.) Note the small flag pin on her hat. Simply charming. 

There was some brief time to talk to her companion, below, but I didn't quite get what was going on. The double glasses get your attention and I have a guess about the reason. Eyeglasses are expensive in the US. Mine, complex trifocals, are horrifying. Only a limited number of people in this country have vision insurance. Almost all the many brands of optical shops are owned by the Italian parent company, Luxotica, which can charge what it wants. My theory is that the gentleman has monovision glasses, needs bifocals, and they just cost too much. If I'm right, it's another statement about healthcare in America.