Tall Tales from Kansas

Yay for the whey

Several of you have mentioned that I must try Gjetost when I am Norway.   This weekend I decided a little pre-trip preparation might be in order.   Todays mission:  Find Gjetost.   I am here to report I was successful and I have actually had this before - but I did not know what it was called or that it was from Norway.  I believe this knowledge enhanced the tasting experience today. 

Gjetost is a firm, dark, goat cheese.  The brand pictured above is actually the most popular in Norway (according to Saveur magazine anyway) and it is only about 10% goat's whey and the rest is cow's whey.   All I have to say is yay for the whey.  No matter it's origin.  This stuff is good.   It has a slightly sweet carmel flavor that is most unique and most delicous.    Perfect with grapes and triscuits.

My tastebuds are now officially ready for Norway.

I'm in line here!

When my sister went to San Francisco recently I had to pull out my travel journal from when we were there together in 2001.  She often gets memories mixed up with dreams and I have to remind her about where we really went.  The bottom line is I needed to set her straight about a few things, and I used my first travel journal to do it.  

I enjoyed recalling our adventures in the big city - walking across the Golden Gate bridge, renting that Scoot Car where we used our feet as the brakes,  having my first lemon drop, mistakenly wandering into "the tenderloin" late at night, etc etc etc.  

Let me just say that while this drawing of my sister with the Edward Scissorhands hands does not look a thing like her, it takes me back in one second to the exact circumstances that inspired the drawing and how we laughed for a solid hour over it when I showed it to her. 

her pairing of the flowered shoes and polka dot purse

I saw this girl in Denver last week.  I chased after her shamelessly, trying to get a decent photo of her extremely cool shoes. 

I really loved her pairing of the flowered shoes and the polka dot purse.   She definately had it going on.  In that way that makes you smile and say "you go GIRL" and really mean it. 

the pre-trip modus operendi

The only thing better than going on a vacation is thinking about going on a vacation. 

My pre-trip modus operendi involves getting a couple of travel books with decent pictures and maps.   I like to be able to close my eyes and think about where I am going to be in a country and what I will be surrounded by.   I want to think about what I am going to see when I get there.  

Vikings.   Fjords.   Fata Morganas.   Trolls.   Stave Churches.  Gravat laks.   Aquavit.  

I have some reading to do. 

my Norwegian headgear

My sister and I are bound for Norway this summer.  She posted some pictures of our apartment  that you might want to look at.   I am already selecting my attire and getting my bag ready to go.  Do you think this hat will be too warm in Bergen, Norway in June? 

I might need to get busy and make one for my sister too.   I am certain that she will be wanting one as soon as she gets a load of how cute it is.  

the shadows resting on the walls of the city

I am about done posting pictures of Budapest.  But maybe just a few more.  As you can likely tell I was fascinated with all the architectural features from classical to gothic to rococo to art deco.  I couldn't really tell you which was which.  But the jumble of them together was quite pleasing to my eye. 
She stood guard over the city.  On top of the Liberation Monument, palm branch held high over her head.  Happy with what she saw below her.



 
I loved the accessible majesty of Budapest.  You don't need to go to a museum to see grandness.   The city is littered with it.  The windows with their flowerboxes, the signs with exotic writing, the bounty of the market...

  
 
... and my favorite, the shadows resting on the walls of the city.

Nothing beats public transportation to get the feel of a city

I guess if I had to depend on it everyday I wouldn't think it was so cool.

 
But I am here to tell you this friends...  in a foreign country NOTHING beats public transportation to get the vibe of the city.   I enjoy feeling as if I am just like everyone else ... going to work, going to the market, hanging out with my friends, going on a date.  A tram, a bus, the metro,  you name it - we did it.  

As we bounced happily down from the Citadela my sister and I commented on the very capable, meaty hands of the bus driver as they deftly maneuvered the  hula hoop sized steering wheel.  He navigated the hairpin curves like he was playing music.  The bus his instrument, we the audience.   We clapped and bowed when we disembarked at the end of the concert.  

Budapest as National Park

 When I get back from exploring a city on vacation I am often asked "what did you do?"  When I say that we walked all over the place and looked at stuff the next question is often... "yeah, but what did you DO?"
 
 
On this trip I realized that really exploing a city is no different than taking a vacation to a national park.  You hike all over the place - in sandals instead of boots.  You take lots of pictures.  You use a map.  You try not to get lost.  You sometimes go off the trail.   You look up and down and all around.


 
Sometimes you come to a fork in the road/trail and have to pick which way to go.  Some paths lead you up high to a spectacular view.  You stop to take obligatory photos of yourselves in front of these views. 

 
You refresh yourself often so you don't get dehydrated.   One very large difference is that instead of trail mix, you stop at a sidewalk cafe and get waited on.   Ahhhhh.  I'm not saying that raisins and peanuts and pretzels aren't good.  They just don't quite measure up to paprika chicken with potato dumpling noodles with sour cream and bacon. 

 
Budapest as National Park.  I think I may have stumbled on to the way to finally explain what it's like to fully explore a city... and why it's a whole lot of fun. 

Extending the trip in my mind

My travel home was relatively uneventful.  The only moment of panic was when I gathered with all the other passengers at my gate in Budapest to listen to some official-looking man giving instructions.  He went on and on in Hungarian barely stopping for a breath.  The longer he talked the more nervous I got.   Flight canceled?  Flight delayed?  All passengers named Carol would not be allowed to board?  Finally I figured out he was the tour guide for this group and what he was saying had absolutely nothing to do with the flight.  It's easy to give in to panic while traveling when you have already experienced a few issues.  

As the plane made it's way into KC the flooding from the Missouri river was an impressive site. 
This morning I am thinking of Budapest.  Extending the trip in my mind.

Recalling the days that started with thick slices of toast, slathered with butter and honey, and cappuccino on the balcony.

 
Closing my eyes to see all these things again.  The parks, the people, the buildings, the bridges.

Ending the day by stopping at a streetside cafe for a drink to watch the night walk by our table.  Making new memories.  Recalling old ones. 

 More tales of Budapest to come in the days ahead.  Right now I gotta think about unpacking.  Ugh. 

Imprinting the city on our brains

It's almost 11pm in Budapest.  My ride to the airport arrives at 4:30am. Obviously I made it safely home on my own last night.  My sister and I have contingency plans for such things. When we become separated we each think "what would be the most logical thing to do?" Then we do the opposite.  It hasn't failed us yet.  

Today we saw another of the things I most wanted to do in Budapest.

The Shoes on the Danube.  This is 50 pairs of bronzed shoes, a monument that commemorates the Jews who were killed by the Nazis puppet government - The Arrow Cross in 1944.  They were shot and their bodies fell into the Danube.   Another powerful memorial.

The last day found us imprinting the city on our brains.   Wandering the streets.  Riding the busses and trams.  Enjoying the adventure of discovering a new city.   Each and every little bit of it.