I am now in a new hotel for the evening! Hotel Pannonia in Miskolc, Hungary.

This morning my now very well known translator Adam, from Miskolc picked me up at the The Matyas Hotel and I was really glad to see him. Prompt, 10 minutes early! His English is superb and I was happy to have him on our team. My now known driver named Cornel with a nice comfortable car, does not speak English.

Adam helped me happily with my bags and he was really very helpful the entire day. He has owned his own company and has designed websites for different companies. He’s worked for many adoptive families in the past as translator and guide.

We headed out to Miskolc (pronounced “MEESH kolcz”) and I must say that was one of the most picturesque drives ever! Every so often you would see a little church on a hill with a needle steeple so tall above everything, and a little cross on top of the steeple. The spring flowers are beginning to pop up and the trees are blooming in all colors. I made a video of the drive some and I hope I can edit out the shaky car when I get home to have something really neat to watch.

I took pics here and there through the windows. It is so hard when you don’t stop for any reason to take pics…so I did my best.

Driving here is completely different than in other Eastern European countries. They are quite respectful and civilized drivers!! I think Hungary has long gotten a bad rap from the international world associating it with Eastern Europe. People think that it is full of degradation of the country and finances and akin to countries like Ukraine, Russia, Romania and the like. It is not. The people are prideful and it is not the way that most Americans imagine it to be. It is nothing like those countries. This is old world Europe with a beauty and spicy flavor all it’s own.

Miskolc is about an hour and a half or two hours from Budapest.

Oh the roads….ahhh the roads. They are just like Texas roads, and in case you don’t know, Texas has some of the finest highways in the US. Yes, Hungarian highways are quite large, and no playing name that pothole, or dodge the driver!!! They have nice little “truck stops” along the way and I hope to post up all of these pics as soon as I get home.

My colleague who helps me with the Hungarian side of our adoption program just called to make sure everything is ok. He’s checked on my comfort and needs every day. He also travels when families adopt. He tried to make it here to me but the volcanic ash had one up on him!

I ventured out a little tonight before it got dark. The Pannonia Hotel is right in the middle of the art and music district. Behind the hotel is the opera house and playhouse. I took a stroll down that walkway street, and I sat and listened to singers practice their scales. It was very nice. Not difficult to find my way back to the hotel.  This is a winter panorama of the Pannonia Hotel.

At the end of the street was a gorgeous Orthodox Church. This area is called Heroes Square. The patina of the buildings is simply amazing for photography. I’ve done some very close photography of the building textures and colors.

I’ll post another about the orphanage and my day with the Child Protection and Guardianship Office and meeting the foster family.

One last thought. I pray that I’ve captured a shot of what I call “paprika hair” the women with it are everywhere here! Various shades of red pepper colored hair!!! Haha its just as bad in Romania but here it has a fun color association for me! More later…