Back in OZ for Xmas via Amsterdam & Abu Dhabi...Aghhh, the Humidity Already!!!

In all my backing and forth from here to there and other places over the past 6 years, this was the first time in 63 departures and landings that I jumped ship at a destination!

Amsterdam had almost a 20 hr layover so I left the airport and stayed the night in the city, visited and had dinner with a friend I'd met years ago on my first overseas backpacker days.

That was so much fun, I'm thinking to include a stopover every time from now onwards. Never thought to really do it before, even though I had checked it out!

It is allowed by airlines, mostly costing a few dollars only for a few days break in the onward journey. The stopover cities in Europe each visit to OZ have been either Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt and another one I can't recall just now.

I'm not interested in breaking the trip in Singapore, anywhere in Asia or Middle East, so European cities will be my next lot of  fun breaks to work on now.

In OZ it is overcast, thankfully and not too hot, although still muggy and far too humid for me.
Family are well and once I collect the car from my son, I'll be off on those whirlwind trips, visiting family and friends again.

A sit on Santa's knee is a must at Xmas...

Found a great idea for my grandson, but it was too big to fit in my case!

A lovely few weeks of sunny days and clearish skies.

Having a nice lazy Sunday afternoon on the swing seat on the verandah, in the sun, before the caretaker family arrive the following week.

Getting ready for a going away Xmas dinner on 4th Dec, with my Volunteer /caretaker family. They will be staying for the time I'm away!

Prepping the must have Xmas tree! Could not find the white paint to do the tree branches, but next morning it was all done outside for us with snow on all the trees!

Little miss tinsel helping decorate the tree!

Set up the little bed for the 6 year old. It looks so cute too!

Imre eventually was able to start the bathroom wall when the framing timbers arrived from Romania. The top of the wall is meant to be straight we think!

Then a quick few jobs outside in the sunshine on Friday, putting in a new fence post, building and hanging a new gate, before I leave on Monday.

Then, to top it all off, Imre brought me in this mirror! Amazing. I showed him the pic below and said I want the vanity to look sort of like that...and next thing, presto!  An antique mirror, exactly what I wanted. What a gem this man is!Still a bit of work to do, but all the gear is in place now.

What my bathroom will be modelled after!

The day I left was amazing! My very own White Xmas farewell gift from above. So beautiful.

Deliciously delectable indeed!

My dream again!

No snow on the tracks, but just enough on the trees to be magical.

Simply stunning!

From the train...

Typical train commuters! The trouble with these big seats is that the train always looks empty! But not so.

Arrived Budapest just before 3pm, so it was light enough to find my way around, find my hostel and then head off to my fave restaurant for dinner, followed by a hunt for some Xmas lights.

Hitting the streets to find my fave restaurant up near Nyugati Railway Stn

The lights are on in some areas, but it isn't dark enough yet.

4pm and it's getting darker now...

Thought I'd check out another restaurant....hmmmnnn??? Looks lovely, but nowhere nice to sit down inside!

Darkness falls all of a sudden now. I'm looking for some mulled wine as for me, that, with a snowfall, is Xmas in Europe!

Found a lovely spot and a great hot, spiced wine...ahhhh!

Back outside after a nice hot spiced wine, it is dark. 4.30pm! hahaha, can't get used to this yet.

Heading over to my fave place for dinner...

Familiar landmarks...

There it is! Italian, which I never eat, but this place makes a pizza I can eat without consequences as long as that is all I eat. I have to have not eaten any wheat products at all for at least a month before coming here. No beer, this time, even though it was free with the massive pizza. It is a plain , thin, crispy pizza base, oil, garlic, tom paste and parmesan cheese...simple, but oh, so yummy with the dipping dishes on the side.

Inside...my fave spot...

This is what makes this experience so delicious...these 2 dipping sauces and the parmesan cheese extras. Garlic in oil and chilli in oil. Yummo! I always save some of the pizza for the homeless people under the bridge, so that will be where I'll head after my little treat here.

Some kid will be very happy to receive this monster Minnie Mouse for Xmas!

On the Margurite bridge. You can see the beautiful Parliament building on the left in the distance and over on the right, the massive castle complex on the hill.

Going down under the bridge now to deliver someone a nice big piece of warm pizza.

Jogging back I had a laugh at these shirts in the coffee shop on the staff...hahaha...

Now the lights are better to see.

It is lovely and balmy, for me, anyways! Not even glove weather.

A lot of people out tonight, Monday evening.

Just outside my hostel, which is slap, bang in the middle of Octagon Square

The view through my hostel window...

Looking uptown from my 2nd floor window. It was a hotel and apartment building, but now converted to a 200 bed hostel. Free breakie, eggs, (cook them any way you want)tomato, cucumber, cereal, toast, tea, coffee etc, free wifi, a beautiful kitchen on each floor with a massive fruit bowl of apples, free tea, coffee and a big fridge to store your food, lockers with padlocks. Price also includes the nights accommodation...all for $7 Aussie Dollars!

This pic is for Imre so he can build in the heaters under my windows if necessary...if and when people tend to sit on the heaters.