Budapest, 4:50

It was good to see everyone together last night at our meeting. We shared ideas for the interesting things to see and arranged to meet again as a group Friday morning. We settled on a curfew and discussed again rules for the trip.

On the list to see were the traditional baths, museums, Heroes Square. I don't think many were planning to be out early today. There was some serious need for a good night's sleep. We are all getting used to the street names, public transportation, and the conversion rate. (Twenty American dollars equals approximately twenty-seven hundred forint.)

I went to the National Museum of Hungary this morning. I looked and looked for our Unitarian King (John Sigismund), but he didn't make the cut. (Each room covered about 150 years.) The history of the Transylvanians was prominent enough, though. It was wonderful putting a little piece of our religious history in a larger context. Learned of one King, 1458, who was influenced by the Italian Renaissance and welcomed the humanist scholars to his court. I have to believe this was a little piece of what made it a hospitable place for the liberal reformers of the following century. (I will look that up.)

Tonight some of us are meeting at a historic church for an organ concert. We have one more full day here and then we leave early Saturday morning for Szentgerice.

Budapest, 5:30

We have been in Hungary about six hours now. The flights were easy enough. I did not see many closed eyes...not until the flight from Paris (which left at 3 something our time). The nervousness eased up quite a bit after we took off. I think everyone is feeling more at ease. The movie selection helped...seemed like about thirty to choose from. Only one bag didn't make it yet--Morgan is being a good sport. Everyone has offered to loan her things. We were glad to find Gary E. and Bill B. at the airport here. (Bill's bags also haven't made it yet...)

Emery arranged shuttles for both groups. A small group went to a Baptist Guest House. The rest to the hostel. The seven of us who are at the Guest House will meet the others for a meeting tonight at 8:00. We'll set some guidelines and try to coordinate some sightseeing over the next two days. Here is a link to some of what we might see. http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/things_to_see

John L. is working really hard and doing a great job keeping us on track. He has his clipboard at every turn, checking us off. Emery has already translated my sermon for Sunday. Unfortunately, I didn't remember until after I'd written it that it will be (at least) twice as long as usual because of the translation. Emery has graciously agreed to help me shorten it!

I think I will have internet at the guest house once we figure it out. When that happens, I'll post some pictures.

Until next time,
Marz Katherine (those peskz z's and y's are reversed on this kezboard!)

Travel Day

Virginia, 9:00 a.m.
Welcome to the 2008 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax Transylvania Trip blog. I'll write as often as I can to share our experience. In addition to parents of the teens traveling with us, I hope other Unitarian Universalists might also be interested in our adventures. It's my first time blogging--so, forgive me any lapses in etiquette.

There are thirty of us traveling together from UUCF. Fifteen are youth and fifteen adults. We fly out tonight from Dulles, stopping in Paris (a very fast layover...I hope we make it) on our way to Budapest. We will spend several days in Budapest, then travel to Szentgerice, home of our partner church. We will spend August 2nd through August 9 in the village, with two day trips in that time. From there we travel to Kolozsvar for two nights and then back to Budapest for our flight home.

Now I have to finish packing! I hope to write again after arriving in Budapest.