tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48742553885559929652024-03-05T05:54:26.631+01:00Diane Kappa & Steven GreimannSteven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-41478927094989496602010-09-19T11:27:00.004+02:002010-09-19T12:02:26.106+02:00Weekend of Celebrations!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>This weekend was full of celebrations. <div><br /></div><div> Saturday was Diane's 'name day.' Name days are a tradition celebrated in many countries in Europe and Latin America. Everybody has at least one day where friends and family can celebrate one's given name.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Names are an interesting thing in Hungary, you can only name your children using government approved names. So if you want to name your little girl <i>Amanda</i>, you are out of luck. You can request from the government that the name be allowed. New names are occasionally allowed such as <i>Jennifer</i> which becomes <i>Dzsenifer</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA808qnbzxwgVG_vhNqAQr42LP1X-oYwoWydEh5Jun_2AuTC5MBB7j4RzezSux87LQdl6QO04t4VIWjgNm4hjdbEzLtppsOtavjpcZ9gRmCG-PUhhA9M7lMItUkuMwBJDmxi-xQwzI2sk/s400/love.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518562051784202722" /></div><div><br /></div><div>On Sunday, we also celebrated the <i>"first time we met"</i> anniversary. 19 years ago today, Steven and his best friend, Jim, entered a bar/dance club in Cincinnati where Diane and her best friend, Mindy, were hanging-out. By the end of the night Diane and Steven fell in love...or at least that is how the story is embellished these days. The rest is history!</div></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-16632699234885367452010-09-15T19:55:00.007+02:002010-09-15T22:34:20.895+02:00Budapest International Wine Festival!<div>This past weekend, we visited Budapest's biggest wine festival. It features Hungary's top wines which by the way are underrated in the wine world. On one hand, this underrated situation benefits us local wine drinkers, but of course for winemakers it is not a desired situation. Even more unfortunate, the wines that often make outside of Hungary are very poor quality.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some photos...!</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gVIHNvYCyAsDEZ_05qjjb0xV2PkKDhf4tCnCabFpgY6TFvhB4xxzWNzvzprg0Gau0izAkmgSGkS2XWHOUGMagkx4G0lDTyPNpdzG_TvoB42LfuHG8iFlfDddZvUEV_1QBny9p0aO92-H/s400/P1000508.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517233066175434594" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Festival takes place in Budapest's Castle District.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You can see the Daube River on the left here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezjKkQvMrhmTYs7XlVo04e-UhSyyNo6M6cdAc_xFPPls9ydHEu5l0lDAOLpRmQaQmnZfMiVsgrnEMawRZMROxrKMu4IO-D7Fr6BsgPMsTxGNI40pGdhgS377vtQGI9hjDFYHSpq76G052/s400/P1000511.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517234013394341522" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We joined our good friends Susan and Bill.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBozqoF9Yt7ctgIZEM5Fm0R2K-Fi_qy5to3iVC2jKL1mnn7sfFB1Z6Pj8VtVGFUWeF6Imn4AB03ya46ynbvw_TAI4e2SCyWXRCjCjoWJaxhpp5tLJ8uG4UT6SXVzIxdQCG0yi97qvGdLXf/s400/P1000515.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517236525271662706" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hungarian sausage, mustard, bread and a pickle. Yum! This is a very basic and traditional meal in Hungary. Steven sometimes hits the local market for lunch and eats this meal. Cost = 600 HUF or about $3...and it is all freshly made.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36g78mvDNPEy0ETsVryeoIfUW8qT0ZaoTmS5dT6iIt0UiRerc6kR8HinPqArQqNXrXhlWy3cBs8vmf-gYmVcJQdR5GRLdOW5qZI7kCv2_SQ3kN_wouy7zGQkX_SKbjNdBd2-DzQqdngOY/s400/P1000524.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517236532402267858" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Beautiful location for a wine festival!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxKlnSEechgCT05aR_RAvmbshZSIksm060dyWUy69i7CkG6Rdo0cHyWDtEia4NpS07Gx4OvIFtF23Mcg19gBH1cRrd8m-_w3j9C3SLJMt7jKH-ed9NKV62_H_4UXldgR7163mAEfoeHCp/s400/P1000509.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517234003239784290" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Too many options! Each little kiosk offers wine tastings.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYG73nMKVQ2uCKp0KchgWtPbAJli4UM9315OmCnC-8r-w6WyhJ1Kw8-2_CSglIxUXXJ46ixq_BXXQcBIKT1ymVNu8-xwPTzsi6l3b8ekYERSLa_6VoUVib-W80I3y40ht7Oaqwt1Wf0gZ/s1600/P1000535.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYG73nMKVQ2uCKp0KchgWtPbAJli4UM9315OmCnC-8r-w6WyhJ1Kw8-2_CSglIxUXXJ46ixq_BXXQcBIKT1ymVNu8-xwPTzsi6l3b8ekYERSLa_6VoUVib-W80I3y40ht7Oaqwt1Wf0gZ/s400/P1000535.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517237040070507762" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As we waited for the bus, the Matthias Church stood beautifully by.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYG73nMKVQ2uCKp0KchgWtPbAJli4UM9315OmCnC-8r-w6WyhJ1Kw8-2_CSglIxUXXJ46ixq_BXXQcBIKT1ymVNu8-xwPTzsi6l3b8ekYERSLa_6VoUVib-W80I3y40ht7Oaqwt1Wf0gZ/s1600/P1000535.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57NGoOtXJvN2TIO3H-4gXoEc64hTM1dc_qNhkv8n6PsBw4LHDdjOv-N9dQOCRB2ip103SMPyZ_qcbVDXW2l1KElJAQC9bVGPj8tbHvy4jvo1G-5xe8UE4wj2d8eIy1jbUNUrxA_3dZoWM/s1600/P1000534.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57NGoOtXJvN2TIO3H-4gXoEc64hTM1dc_qNhkv8n6PsBw4LHDdjOv-N9dQOCRB2ip103SMPyZ_qcbVDXW2l1KElJAQC9bVGPj8tbHvy4jvo1G-5xe8UE4wj2d8eIy1jbUNUrxA_3dZoWM/s400/P1000534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517236536758819218" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Waiting for the bus...that will take us to the metro...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">that will take us to the bus...that will take us home</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">!</span></div></div></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-10948197516429188642010-09-11T15:27:00.007+02:002010-09-11T15:52:09.404+02:00Two Year Anniversary!<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteNDm9jo5S1B_CIqBDktNfp09ZsoXdL6megDG9cpy2dn1245YyVbHZ2JsFWckYcESKLTAN-rCcmG7liVm_rdGhqUtJEgpex3M4QDE2ivXhh52tGX0wGvRxgOf3IaB_gEXYARazTVqlcdb/s1600/Happy-2nd-Birthday.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteNDm9jo5S1B_CIqBDktNfp09ZsoXdL6megDG9cpy2dn1245YyVbHZ2JsFWckYcESKLTAN-rCcmG7liVm_rdGhqUtJEgpex3M4QDE2ivXhh52tGX0wGvRxgOf3IaB_gEXYARazTVqlcdb/s200/Happy-2nd-Birthday.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515650632197795970" /></a><div>September 10 was our two year anniversary of arriving to Budapest, Hungary. After several years of planning, we left our home in Seattle in August 2008, drove across the country to Ohio--4-days on the road!--and then arrived in Budapest in September.</div><div><br /></div><div>Diane said best on her Facebook page:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#333333;"> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>"It is hard to believe that two years ago we arrived in Budapest with no home, no jobs, and no friends. Now look at us. We have a created a nice life here with a wonderful flat, a successful business and have meet the nicest and most interesting friends along the way. Cheers to Budapest!"</i></span></span></p></span></div><div>We celebrated modestly by toasting a couple glasses of wine at one of our favorite pubs called <a href="http://www.budapestindex.com/going-out/dining-out/bars/jelen">Jelen</a>. Jelen reminds us so much of <a href="http://www.hattieshat.com/photogallery.htm">Hattie's Hat</a> in Seattle. It feels familiar...without the fisherman at the bar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>p.s. After a full-month of blogging silence, we will be posting more often!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzF8ruywEPmHEdbZOu5KzQwwY4AQ_dkeXxxVPvPexTkAESNV5HnXwxCtFWUeSypOfQUHZeE5wg6nrjfw2ThBaH96nV0QhdsPIR4iJdcKanARMFfKgem4jlSH5hJjyfVMbstTpTi1wWJj8D/s400/Jelen_001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515651035829778178" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo of Jelen facing the bar. We usually grab a seat the bar.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They have a great kitchen with one of the few places in town offering genuine pub food (finger food).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-90783977336319094402010-08-09T14:52:00.001+02:002010-08-09T14:52:00.346+02:00Somewhere over the rainbow!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">While in Estonia, we saw a beautiful full, <i>double</i> rainbow. We think this type of rainbow is called a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernumerary_rainbow#Supernumerary_rainbow">supernumerary rainbow</a> which is a rare sighting. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Living in Ohio most of our lives, we seldom saw full rainbows, but in Estonia (and Seattle) they are frequent.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The video is taken from Tiiu & Guido's 2nd floor terrace. You get a good sense for how wonderful their backyard is as it edges up against the Emajõgi river in Tartu, Estonia.</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxSPkeVj2jMEAICdpYIDN-_PHIvQ8VAZNG5IGpO0jCsIyZuBjQktcR68qklh5XQML3McavjASZmXpED2blxxg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-70048518311609815462010-08-08T14:25:00.006+02:002010-08-08T17:48:22.132+02:00Talking Heads at KUMU<div style="text-align: left;">Although the title of this blog might suggest we saw the music group, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_Heads">Talking Heads</a>, while in Estonia last week, we actually visited the Estonian Art Museum also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KUMU_(museum)">KUMU</a>. In one large room, the museum cleverly exhibits several busts or heads of different people ranging from historical actors to common folks. And the heads are talking! Several voices in the room can be heard as if the heads are talking to you or at least with each other. See the video below.</div><div><br /></div><div>The museum is new only just opened in 2006. Finnish architect Pekka Vapaavuori designed a beautiful building inside and out. KUMU won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2008. The museum is a must-see if you are in the area.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzLIT8XSZtrpBKhhAIM4OPqZvvEOoEb36ALPVRnO4CKGSm0hmXFjPromprlroZBeHi2obldAZ5Q6Hxm9UCNRQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Look closely at the 'head' at the end of the video. The woman's gaze is powerful. You feel awkward for starting at her, as if she is looking back you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiNTkby637kYvLc6JsxPIswO7e_qJ8xCwjiYyJizimIU8X70IlwrzLawUhdJFTR4oRYlMewr6Yrdgcy_3ZnP2RCTFUjwav5qUXe2XBWFdYVHzYsfOMCxaM0Cy0xJFb0DoDmPG2R6DrM3l/s400/web_image6_show.php.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503018196492780626" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">View of KUMU from outside.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Photo </span><a href="http://www.ekm.ee/eng/kumu.php?id=39"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">credit</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"> to Kaido Haagen.</span></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-64684305453810539912010-08-07T22:05:00.003+02:002010-08-07T22:13:31.476+02:00What we bring home from Estonia<div>As most of you know Steven loves most things Estonian. Diane loves it too especially the chocolate! We thought it would be humorous to take a picture of all of the food we brought back from our recent trip to Estonia. If we could there would be <i>much more</i> food in the picture such as Tiiu's tomatoes (for Diane!), herring, sour cream (Estonian sour cream is the best), porridge, smoked fish, blueberries (they are plentiful and much cheaper then in Budapest), Tiiu's fresh dill pickles and the list goes on.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZFHOj1scwS7lzZvrYFzp3q6ELluOMUSJyDT7VnbNYVQv0aONRSLvzk2p7y8jf7bb26Nxi4qFyASlPP4RZvAFQqUBGCJ_K0gXi31LYsfoELIwZvHiv40w5gss1GH7IA3YN8DTUBrj14qm/s1600/crave04.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZFHOj1scwS7lzZvrYFzp3q6ELluOMUSJyDT7VnbNYVQv0aONRSLvzk2p7y8jf7bb26Nxi4qFyASlPP4RZvAFQqUBGCJ_K0gXi31LYsfoELIwZvHiv40w5gss1GH7IA3YN8DTUBrj14qm/s400/crave04.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502762579059374002" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The "Must" bread is Estonia's delicious black bread. We can buy German-style black bread at Aldi in Budapest but it isn't the same. Lots of chocolate! Of course some Estonian vodka. And over 2L of Vana Tallinn which is a yummy liqueur. </span>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-27722894768969166092010-08-04T11:51:00.002+02:002010-08-04T11:52:34.032+02:00Check out Diane's blog for France photos!Diane is posting photos from France over on her blog. Check it out: <a href="http://www.dianekappablog.com/"> www.dianekappablog.com</a>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-17391202221997894132010-07-29T18:58:00.002+02:002010-07-29T19:03:35.051+02:00Sunset in Estonia<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3kbCtSN2YFFo1XzhS7xFELZZf99RBZh1tacyAZbravcdvfUgYhGEzAH8MVSq_BOA8Y4pscYNRejU1F3gvoA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunset off the island of Vormsi, Estonia. This view was just a few yards/meters away from the summer house where we all stayed.</span></span></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-39413450022499483422010-07-29T18:49:00.003+02:002010-07-29T19:00:12.819+02:00River boating on the EmajõgiWhile in Tartu, we made several trips by Guido's boat. On one trip back to the house, we ran out of gas and had to switch the second gas tank. While drifting in the river for a few minutes, Tiiu "drove" the boat the old-fashioned way!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz9em0QO5ewUbOhsdvJ5LeiqO48BXcxSBpIZUymjxq9vDDGcU34x1rR0-9Q0TaGtNV_Q1OO6gweR07JEUkc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-14699305847366277672010-07-29T18:33:00.002+02:002010-07-29T18:42:54.101+02:00Joonas goes swimming!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Kadi & Jaan's son, Joonas, went swimming in Tartu's Emajõgi (Mother River). Joonas has been a little afraid of the water so this was a big day.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz55xs6GMNXO-rCNwa92Kc6bPiwx7ArOdmuDANOho7XVibi7V6Dhy8HttYu7HWBXoDM0EslV3dwESajsDCfLA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the video you hear Tiiu (Joonas' grandmother) saying, "You are a good boy!" to Joonas. Joonas replies, "I swam nicely!" Joonas has such a proud walk!</span></span></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-85694020049086401422010-07-28T17:11:00.005+02:002010-07-28T22:28:08.846+02:00Happy Birthday to Steven!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;color:#333333;"><b><br /></b></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTArvdbIMIOsjbZlJyJVmqED-8Bkkt4pHe3R4Fkf_BB0wahE-rnYFwM5jhf8bY5EPuK4JAB0_P1ZmyAW4GYhQFaUvQZVkGbL7CLPJDWl3z0fv7X9KGH0kgybz69ML121dwzBQyY_YcJSEM/s400/DSCF2367.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498975957309190098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">We are spending the day doing everything he loves to do....</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">We started the day in Voru with our friend Tiina making Estonian pancakes (more like crepes that American pancakes) filled with fresh berries!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">We arrive in Tartu and had lunch and went for a swim in the river.</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"></span></span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWbiTYyGEec8rmpH-vQn97m9GYbqTgLDEzkgZP436GsTLDDGpHcXdWLXWcDICJwe0crSySYDnJQs-FutlQ0oktIgzbXT6bmAmWu5nPVwoAIa5TYFeE_zGk2XdmVt8Ob-PjNHVRY9Zji-U/s400/DSCF2337.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498975964513469874" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Tiiu spent the afternoon making kringle for Steven. A tasty (and labor intensive) treat! Tiiu fills the kringle with raisins, apples, pineapple and raspberries...and lets not forget the chocolate! Three rolls are made.</span></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicstpTw8KSXkSyOiRz3oGwVEALc7UVhk3zVs5eYPgnil4QBgvjcvXhCK30VgWu8_uih8Ex4cAzzIOrptGks_6CJ85jy2DQwpsVwqYxLkXVHyIC6KX4mRntb7qWOY-tF76rUU2-OJY2WLx7/s400/DSCF2387.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498975949677747938" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The rolls waiting to be braided.</span></span></span></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2unuYCuVGU18u8Mj1Ru0UQv4UEqEI0qGlsAyP8jjWaPxQz_kLQ5qW07xdxkJRBIxjQd0pqjZk8e9NpZ-DKY7KGsi-HO5CJ99RLCetgRR1op1Li6WcJsihRYoQurnguOV8mQyqRAWR9oMF/s400/DSCF2392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498977279035846242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Braided Kringle</span></span></span></u></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-p0zbsBOwRTGBSuYxxgFjqPLePOxm-fJFQNCeOE7-WClUKDf-415xXL7tO_bGP4r_O3gHrkrZYwu0OO9rzM7IFvAHcbXU1EyCkgSvFwEF0Q7b2427-qKct4YcyIo4xw-ivRaLxi-qDd2/s400/DSCF2394.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498977289564773042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">magic is happening!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFru2h77-3tUDKUrOQENnhTPe26qkVfvMPG21J2JuxMmZt9noQQ8xvY8w560eu6xCqtl5EKadIP2eaKSMNoH8cXJ0cJHJf8CBCzO-5HbLDCgzCyi_eFB58cHJ_RsdCTiGF-ucDUnsFfAoL/s400/DSCF2395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498975944761203970" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">topped off with chocolate! Photos of eating coming soon!</span></span></span></u></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"></span></span></span><u style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNx_Rejp_b1IXdsx-sLS4dbJZuH3j6FXIlK_wR5QJZA1FnZR0XADe7BZ45neHWUopW6u2_vlTosp_bB32f6rFyIpPYU7bG2RxqHp8TTmsuA_FPeoeWlYmM9mXGw3Wry8qYiXetqZAdis3/s400/DSCF2396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498977292088732818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></u></div></div></div></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-12251182374307966042010-07-25T20:09:00.007+02:002010-07-25T20:41:25.198+02:00Greetings from Estonia!<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">A few photos from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Vormsi</span>, Estonia. The island was great despite the biting flies and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mosquitos</span>. Diane learned on the boat ride to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Vormsi</span> that "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Vormsi</span>" is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">swedish</span> for "snake island" - no snakes were seen. More photos and stories coming soon....</span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></i></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzh814oisaeQxHUjXWwPEfkSLxscLH2vCmG4KaYiYJxj3JYATr0QzhH4Y_kW9IA6xpfXRA6ECeX3ibdMBeCRvrhSYA3_iC6LOqUMBE41Ch2SJqEB_HugMC-HE-xDVP4_iaAENvdGYb-kZa/s400/DSCF2246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497908502182653714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">arriving on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Vormsi</span> Island</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuROvpqS4YQU3SP0kBv9EcjjFCJqnKSPDVabnornZu8NNVqVvW-RYHv_FC5RLHCludxsUuYR7uDFx2UuqM4CtwAGH8Vk4XY4er5pBR5EgaXkBfOAQ287Nyb4pUXfemUCmZw3u5UQrGBi3f/s400/DSCF2195.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497908499984397874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the view from the house we rented-not bad</span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2ieuQ_Mwburxi0h119VawkwaSbWEQsxqVt9MeYR6E3veAFdAd729K5CslxYRT5FJnRlUCpkVyrejGLeaL03nzZ98yxAcYAxUmykwAs5aV0YEPXbGc0Is7hXjVMQTDqE_VUxEyJ_3j8GN/s400/DSCF2299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497909634029037122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Diane and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kadi</span> - You would think these two are sisters since they share the same love for nature and bugs.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOVFPnp0PmDngaUEEevLxsCh9h-DcGU0U_mPCSO7ZIeYR5IgEDzBdAWuHwggVB6F86NISWdLYtBxIqg9jrk0hsUd86rmG21FThLnSP8eH_yqqXqxxAMXRwM5Lc0TJod7r2I-kFfY0DEiR/s400/DSCF2213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497914496353791378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Estonian hot tub - do you see the beer can and that black pole? </span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">This is where the logs and fire are started. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The "furnace" heats the water. No electric, all natural.</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbChwvs6g_1GP0hBOfRZl-3tsTc8CYJipHQINRZ1Cxgjc2dNoPnLnl6MGPX9DfNlhpuTzA6V8UcaPAzXX9YAUDAY04uttICCPWCb1aM5QEx-GTWrkOhLK4w9nBeQ9G2ao0-k-LAyOtPXB/s1600/hottub.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbChwvs6g_1GP0hBOfRZl-3tsTc8CYJipHQINRZ1Cxgjc2dNoPnLnl6MGPX9DfNlhpuTzA6V8UcaPAzXX9YAUDAY04uttICCPWCb1aM5QEx-GTWrkOhLK4w9nBeQ9G2ao0-k-LAyOtPXB/s400/hottub.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497909637709927970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The dining room we ate in every night. The most amazing view of the sea and the sunset!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSOFnUT7PFjdivK38JgyS-kdDO-PwZ-vCsqoNNA-ggXB7o1enISFl9LYQ3O996TvgCqbFa-fSvwm7xPuEL8zG1XMykjAdbLYr6COBa4tnIbXAzAY28s6f4Cm8xTCqkqiE04A8R4l-uLwy/s1600/DSCF2328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSOFnUT7PFjdivK38JgyS-kdDO-PwZ-vCsqoNNA-ggXB7o1enISFl9LYQ3O996TvgCqbFa-fSvwm7xPuEL8zG1XMykjAdbLYr6COBa4tnIbXAzAY28s6f4Cm8xTCqkqiE04A8R4l-uLwy/s400/DSCF2328.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497909626731109010" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Tiiu</span> and Diane</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBiQ-TJedLJUI6YQrFHcl99cBJqaE6Qai6Yyq-pU-0IgleKflVt1kWdfzrpuEAuAtq1qMzMEL1OUhWnT-iX-9Y8A98McolXYDngaMVd56RAnrx2LYi5hnPMaN25RVSy9efzuQKKtkmNXM/s1600/DSCF2297.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBiQ-TJedLJUI6YQrFHcl99cBJqaE6Qai6Yyq-pU-0IgleKflVt1kWdfzrpuEAuAtq1qMzMEL1OUhWnT-iX-9Y8A98McolXYDngaMVd56RAnrx2LYi5hnPMaN25RVSy9efzuQKKtkmNXM/s400/DSCF2297.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497909614915484354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Kaitlyn and Lee</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL00QMsurPdNWENTZFOS9qITOS4_CUlqK91btTlI6UQbZti_Ig-JFWtuAB5Nj8QEBxOQDhYHITpNCNsuUwrD4inkNteGmKir8VKVDLZHgS-7Z3euVsqhuMD9EcSt2qeO8eemTr06L2qX4Q/s400/DSCF2204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497913373153710306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Steven and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kail</span></span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpRfBAjQDGYXMbdou5dBQtX17YK90ZWu_kqxIS_PeggtBg6qGsGd-VQzMFFwZrb6KnzzTIHSoHgzOqMpoNyGMqWRKkyXnn-39W17BB0ehFJSSJE5F8DptIw-Z5jWItu_9LJSHRZKu5_kU/s400/DSCF2196.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497913362390132946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ivo</span> barbecuing the chicken...a true barbecue</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocj93az0QCAC2c7bxYtmQcutXo25Mw6ktmKxeqDJ7PSFmhdoib1lExeQ4rJgUpHppVQ06MRyY1yVrJIQW5qIDs5-P1xSrAV7WkMc8nAR5gO5buv5xFYPIwExf44s9bKEZ90oJ1M4jCjgP/s1600/DSCF2290.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocj93az0QCAC2c7bxYtmQcutXo25Mw6ktmKxeqDJ7PSFmhdoib1lExeQ4rJgUpHppVQ06MRyY1yVrJIQW5qIDs5-P1xSrAV7WkMc8nAR5gO5buv5xFYPIwExf44s9bKEZ90oJ1M4jCjgP/s400/DSCF2290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497909612151927186" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Tiiu</span> and Guido</span></i></span></u></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucNgpRnGi4WrUqARs65bbyi9cGxktpuPNZc4cag47_EmIP555RbXkjqu6pxC7IfZfR8rXeLvcbVNFcth_FUcuBuvOudsxzXxhMUxpWkGBRFxh-I2CaZRx9mY1Ior2O-aWVT1sffQVC4x_/s1600/DSCF2298.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucNgpRnGi4WrUqARs65bbyi9cGxktpuPNZc4cag47_EmIP555RbXkjqu6pxC7IfZfR8rXeLvcbVNFcth_FUcuBuvOudsxzXxhMUxpWkGBRFxh-I2CaZRx9mY1Ior2O-aWVT1sffQVC4x_/s400/DSCF2298.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497913366981571010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></u></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Finding and eating the most flavorful wild strawberries.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">There is more flavor in these little guys than in any store bought strawberry.</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdS-iJOTMl0fn_sXSyzm7HaBA0xm-EEmyL7CBKNOMN15L619N3PySxqCef-72zme0EK-hnwBXmGFu016LG9ZenCjs_4TqjESl6tiHco0zUkYiTAspGOPedO-oN5Cpd1qrdLI1WwYaoToY/s1600/DSCF2266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdS-iJOTMl0fn_sXSyzm7HaBA0xm-EEmyL7CBKNOMN15L619N3PySxqCef-72zme0EK-hnwBXmGFu016LG9ZenCjs_4TqjESl6tiHco0zUkYiTAspGOPedO-oN5Cpd1qrdLI1WwYaoToY/s400/DSCF2266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497908513745094738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Jonas missing his dad who could not able to join us.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT60MGPKOs__9YCj51KhWmwICguK5gwO4wmwYaPLeP5BDPtt5mgFbdqDo03NnsqnFLGZ-qxAE0Ro3Ju5r-ja-0tpYaLWrAeb3-qFMuKPbVDY_DM6GWiot6GfsZ0_q4mXw6ydLkHt9UBMiY/s400/DSCF2193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497914485805815202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Diane did a bit of work. The view was really inspiring for her.</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU5va9EjN4CmAAvC3MMQzDiH3MFLDr332MyPIkOSnP9uAvFQhTqQQxIqPxEiu9JCC-s9v-_yHC8lTgbnIADSraKc6bW_X1RneE_lzxaeEHt1NGbPzM-I74wfM61j7juQvzFMgTGPLst3t/s1600/DSCF2260.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU5va9EjN4CmAAvC3MMQzDiH3MFLDr332MyPIkOSnP9uAvFQhTqQQxIqPxEiu9JCC-s9v-_yHC8lTgbnIADSraKc6bW_X1RneE_lzxaeEHt1NGbPzM-I74wfM61j7juQvzFMgTGPLst3t/s400/DSCF2260.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497908508751133698" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU5va9EjN4CmAAvC3MMQzDiH3MFLDr332MyPIkOSnP9uAvFQhTqQQxIqPxEiu9JCC-s9v-_yHC8lTgbnIADSraKc6bW_X1RneE_lzxaeEHt1NGbPzM-I74wfM61j7juQvzFMgTGPLst3t/s1600/DSCF2260.JPG"></a></span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU5va9EjN4CmAAvC3MMQzDiH3MFLDr332MyPIkOSnP9uAvFQhTqQQxIqPxEiu9JCC-s9v-_yHC8lTgbnIADSraKc6bW_X1RneE_lzxaeEHt1NGbPzM-I74wfM61j7juQvzFMgTGPLst3t/s1600/DSCF2260.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU5va9EjN4CmAAvC3MMQzDiH3MFLDr332MyPIkOSnP9uAvFQhTqQQxIqPxEiu9JCC-s9v-_yHC8lTgbnIADSraKc6bW_X1RneE_lzxaeEHt1NGbPzM-I74wfM61j7juQvzFMgTGPLst3t/s1600/DSCF2260.JPG"></a></span></i></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The most beautiful sunsets!</span></i></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXo6zopKRFSj5wF6677enG6zOqltYf8rvLUMs-fzY9M3t0hyphenhyphen6C5pN40dRy0bbdkZQ1U14NIXX4G8jRVJEbXBCsp_jH079raDJsWcZMXKv4YB0n-gHfieWRJhMHqNOB5VFQP968DVXbSTD/s400/sunset.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497912152609240386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">A good vacation so far. More coming soon!</span></i></u></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU5va9EjN4CmAAvC3MMQzDiH3MFLDr332MyPIkOSnP9uAvFQhTqQQxIqPxEiu9JCC-s9v-_yHC8lTgbnIADSraKc6bW_X1RneE_lzxaeEHt1NGbPzM-I74wfM61j7juQvzFMgTGPLst3t/s1600/DSCF2260.JPG"></a></span></i><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-78420707265480773342010-07-07T03:25:00.000+02:002010-07-07T03:25:00.559+02:00On our way home...<div>We just had a great "New York" pizza dinner with our good friends Bill & Sue. There is a great pizza place in town called <a href="http://www.newyorkpizza.hu/">New York Pizza</a> and it is as close to the 'real thing' as it can get. The pizza oven was brought over by the owner who used to work in NYC making pizzas!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw9nW4dts0YZgi_KdZt101jO1heQDV3M1pZh6ik7woXsJXGPPuriZ8-9hSh_-EYChHZO7Lz9_XM8cRvbuamQiOv0BhNu5lOsaknXNGOyDlsnegqvfiFi5g5UhmMVwGXgWo_Pjqj-U9CDg/s1600/DSCF1818.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw9nW4dts0YZgi_KdZt101jO1heQDV3M1pZh6ik7woXsJXGPPuriZ8-9hSh_-EYChHZO7Lz9_XM8cRvbuamQiOv0BhNu5lOsaknXNGOyDlsnegqvfiFi5g5UhmMVwGXgWo_Pjqj-U9CDg/s400/DSCF1818.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490893311740016770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At Deák Ferenc tér on our way home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt5gaL1VBDn9bnA977jsU4yKoASvwr2byYa07os7h1AabjSu897mPpwc2JcTdfG-ZfZ8Wl8pGl85kKCxRkmsOWBnEUhwSlgG3UPlFsLoe-qEBZjSCi2efCRY55bbZf2_JRMV3KtVDE01j/s1600/DSCF1816.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt5gaL1VBDn9bnA977jsU4yKoASvwr2byYa07os7h1AabjSu897mPpwc2JcTdfG-ZfZ8Wl8pGl85kKCxRkmsOWBnEUhwSlgG3UPlFsLoe-qEBZjSCi2efCRY55bbZf2_JRMV3KtVDE01j/s400/DSCF1816.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490893285984732514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2Kx55JX9CTNadKViDAUCnq9922wTrsVdrfXaf6gLjX6qLFL0wOEgjmeo7847-QWpLiJbGJkaswn6K2afmTmOgZi-OhhzWdAZQjcToBS1wby_HPUh-m3Oncd6fHbr5V6tfBbNNxehOHwl/s1600/DSCF1819.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2Kx55JX9CTNadKViDAUCnq9922wTrsVdrfXaf6gLjX6qLFL0wOEgjmeo7847-QWpLiJbGJkaswn6K2afmTmOgZi-OhhzWdAZQjcToBS1wby_HPUh-m3Oncd6fHbr5V6tfBbNNxehOHwl/s400/DSCF1819.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490893277563139138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Catching the metro!</span></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-8923783727860339042010-07-06T06:06:00.000+02:002010-07-06T06:06:00.357+02:00This is amazing!<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dya1Fkr9VC8UbUk0GQXeyERRmjw7VMH582LDGl4P9IdP0NDRcpI89cByLIvV9PZK8Nb7ZQIlQEndJhT9aQicQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Roza playing piano.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">She is only 13-years old!</span></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-36594401812722258182010-07-05T21:27:00.004+02:002010-07-05T22:03:02.048+02:004th of July...Hungarian style<div>We started celebrating the July 4th at the US Embassy's 'official July 4th party' made-up of VIPs and dignitaries. We are still wondering how we got invited! The party was in the Castle District at a property that is amazing--view of the entire city looking down onto the Danube River.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Sunday, we visited our friend's Támas and Szilvi. Their daughter, Roza, joined us as well as their (and our) friend Laci and another family friend with the same name, Laci. We had a traditional Hungarian cookout with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecsó">lecsó</a> and grilled meat...and of course delicious Hungarian wines. Diane made some 'American' chocolate chip cookies which we had with ice cream and sour cherries. The lecsó was a tasty treat!</div><div><br /></div><div>We ended the evening with a private piano recital by Támas and Szilvi's daughter, Roza. She is an amazing classic pianist. We'll post tomorrow a short video of Roza playing. You will not believe that she is only 13-years old!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R6NoC4eOKs4ohyunWqr8IXx5-jB2tPagMikMUY8G7L_Mn1gUrZavTB6ggFHXXEGQZsT4NQuWloVBlqv1otJZrp-qCJIVQ1XMECt_sP8_i-4hfzeRJ8xLxxp8QwpI33fy4d1VpUtSDuIa/s1600/1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R6NoC4eOKs4ohyunWqr8IXx5-jB2tPagMikMUY8G7L_Mn1gUrZavTB6ggFHXXEGQZsT4NQuWloVBlqv1otJZrp-qCJIVQ1XMECt_sP8_i-4hfzeRJ8xLxxp8QwpI33fy4d1VpUtSDuIa/s400/1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490510840672766402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Laci, Roza and Támas - checking-out the camera. Laci is a good photographer. Hopefully, we'll have some more photos that we can post later.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fXzhhQJIcmPwN0V_MtrfyDyHWnYfSM-vdD9iRrcibtMoPR4oXzWRkXra3AHxIaHFmHi-zQ_0iabLtC4aVcl74dU8kAHSE5wDv-Bl_bJJEoUTAlyPprsPXe9xdOiO59T3qD2qzaqyWUNM/s1600/2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fXzhhQJIcmPwN0V_MtrfyDyHWnYfSM-vdD9iRrcibtMoPR4oXzWRkXra3AHxIaHFmHi-zQ_0iabLtC4aVcl74dU8kAHSE5wDv-Bl_bJJEoUTAlyPprsPXe9xdOiO59T3qD2qzaqyWUNM/s400/2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490510827609445394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Szilvi and Támas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySl3AGZaq2nQsJgWoKntvDU3EXCAs5z7N77fftmBBSb5aDWeNeG26AR685yXWApHQFfvmbjbO08AnQMWP3XJmPjFyvSPUUE0UdpUMB_00WJyGMjIfr_Z5RUcev17zjYYGjxioN_hevqfN/s1600/3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySl3AGZaq2nQsJgWoKntvDU3EXCAs5z7N77fftmBBSb5aDWeNeG26AR685yXWApHQFfvmbjbO08AnQMWP3XJmPjFyvSPUUE0UdpUMB_00WJyGMjIfr_Z5RUcev17zjYYGjxioN_hevqfN/s400/3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490510815378045170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All of us in the garden.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtuV02z_UAd2WbIBmXIoq6MffCW0oUJkKG3WfnKeY7YAFVDjkgBFto95i3qQdWpLU1wB3jWnX8EL1di-1SRjgbzrV-B65wc14DguYN8iuFM88oLgbL5z9WDLVND7SkED6MiF9SWGRFFAl/s1600/4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtuV02z_UAd2WbIBmXIoq6MffCW0oUJkKG3WfnKeY7YAFVDjkgBFto95i3qQdWpLU1wB3jWnX8EL1di-1SRjgbzrV-B65wc14DguYN8iuFM88oLgbL5z9WDLVND7SkED6MiF9SWGRFFAl/s400/4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490510800020548050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Roza practicing with batons.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH9ea9x560-o-e7TFa5_B4uCHRfMCaPQeTIcOICqjOtDmEFaHyNBXYyupn2srX3waKFvrYWhB1QX5rkCZH8aV3cQsUlT0sZAI23wQ7vL_dc9Y1BlrUdNwZI_pkiyugVWhNVljAcsgfV1A/s1600/6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH9ea9x560-o-e7TFa5_B4uCHRfMCaPQeTIcOICqjOtDmEFaHyNBXYyupn2srX3waKFvrYWhB1QX5rkCZH8aV3cQsUlT0sZAI23wQ7vL_dc9Y1BlrUdNwZI_pkiyugVWhNVljAcsgfV1A/s400/6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490510785670788018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A sneak peek! We'll post a video clip tomorrow.</span></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-21329639290150868192010-06-28T01:00:00.000+02:002010-06-28T01:00:02.086+02:00USA vs. Ghana<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">USA played well this round of World Cup. Hats off to them!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But...</span></span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>:-(</i></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><b><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzGf1X_wpV3s_sPkeRP9pqbmKPVBebp-GD2e72CneSBFKylyJlw_3afJQZNstq-D-wHRrSVIkkqG4Oe9tkNKUvWtzb7rsSWH_joCxAFPXNxgFoBBcJNagsnXuUjPFo1bhcXJPUlgA-T73/s400/us+soccer+cling.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487496152567162242" /></b></span></span></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-51507426185313751092010-06-26T15:12:00.005+02:002010-06-27T13:13:44.439+02:00Jaanipäev...in Budapest!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', serif; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">We celebrated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John's_Day_(Estonia)">Jaanipäev</a> on the eve of this important Estonian midsummer holiday. Our Canadian friend Bill got us an invitation to a Jaanipäev event at the Estonian Embassy in Budapest. The Ambassador of Estonian, H.E. Mr. Miko Haljas & Mrs. Marika Haljas, were generous hosts. There was delicious food, drinks and entertainment. Later last year the Ambassador had opened a new location for the embassy in a tree-lined <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&ie=UTF8&q=%C3%81ld%C3%A1s+utca+3,+1025+Budapest+II,+Hungary&fb=1&hnear=&cid=0,0,11961676932365525481&ei=cjAnTKqAAs_GOPnb3PQC&ved=0CBMQnwIwAA&hq=%C3%81ld%C3%A1s+utca+3,+1025+Budapest+II,+Hungary&ll=47.517588,19.027215&spn=0.001859,0.005493&t=h&z=18">neighborhood in Buda</a>.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">The entertainment was best! But not just any entertainment. Lauri Saatpalu and Peeter Rebane of the rather famous Estonian band <a href="http://www.dago-band.ee/sisu/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=3">Dagö</a> was performing. This was an amazing feat! How the Ambassador got Dag</span></span></span><span lang="HU"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">ö</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> to visit Hungary on Jaanipäev is unbelievable. Diane and I got to talk with Lauri and Peeter. They were humorous about the fact they were in Budapest performing for people that knew nothing about them--save a small group of us that very much appreciated their performance.</span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Steven met a colleague at the party—an Estonian! We stayed late into the night sitting near a tiny Jaanipäev fire…but it was still nice to be by a fire on a cool summer night drinking a beer and talking with friends.</span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">The night ended when the Ambassador kindly asking us to leave. He was very nice about it and seemed a little sad that he had to close the party down before dusk and dawn cross-over which is a symbolic time during Jaanipäev.</span></span></span></o:p></p></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuI2Kvblq_-yrCE2t_pI_1IbtsyrFiXkRQ1iVGXG36naovAuP_JJ5ruMtJg0pK8zANYAuKkKyyYIkHcrRSZZFcTrm8jz_4sd4htoKxR_8MDDHVV1iP9ckmTg4FKFrd7203rAWR-WyundC/s1600/Image005-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuI2Kvblq_-yrCE2t_pI_1IbtsyrFiXkRQ1iVGXG36naovAuP_JJ5ruMtJg0pK8zANYAuKkKyyYIkHcrRSZZFcTrm8jz_4sd4htoKxR_8MDDHVV1iP9ckmTg4FKFrd7203rAWR-WyundC/s400/Image005-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487407199812305106" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', serif; font-size: medium; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lauri Saatpalu and Peeter Rebane from the band, Dagö.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xAR3tVMEexHCF8qxO52KkpZAmEXRNprEdQOW71PicDBJBQ2Qx-CH69Tpcvoj8jp5gMOctsa9bNjfOzInIFM4mO01ijXPwcIVlzAVv3IaqiwXg1hnB2UtZZWdDQSdFomajkLz2CaL7Pvn/s1600/Image007-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xAR3tVMEexHCF8qxO52KkpZAmEXRNprEdQOW71PicDBJBQ2Qx-CH69Tpcvoj8jp5gMOctsa9bNjfOzInIFM4mO01ijXPwcIVlzAVv3IaqiwXg1hnB2UtZZWdDQSdFomajkLz2CaL7Pvn/s400/Image007-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487407191720795762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jaanipäev fire.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(photo taken from our mobile phone)</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><p></p></span></span><p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-60134925069944969442010-06-17T20:15:00.004+02:002010-06-17T20:46:48.535+02:00Starbucks in Budapest!Starbucks is here! After several years of rumors, demands and false starts... The photo below would have you believe that Hungary has no quality coffee which isn't true. It will be nostalgic to see the shop...nice reminder of Seattle. We just a Starbucks coffee cup that says "Budapest" on it!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEUkS27kZ3InijLOZd9znprrGrlOw-sA7WnvksGYivcfFDPxTpZ72ikOrWM5HRN_xZqRiHq9UoeheBTlfhD5AbkOMOaZ-4pVChmmemK8BvhSDwp62aNhORPGSirRL-NTCqNNlvCHB7Jkc/s1600/starbucks2-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEUkS27kZ3InijLOZd9znprrGrlOw-sA7WnvksGYivcfFDPxTpZ72ikOrWM5HRN_xZqRiHq9UoeheBTlfhD5AbkOMOaZ-4pVChmmemK8BvhSDwp62aNhORPGSirRL-NTCqNNlvCHB7Jkc/s400/starbucks2-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483815359359900178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">McDonalds 1998 in Budapest (top photo)</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Starbucks 2010 in Budapest (bottom photo)</span></div></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-692125101867282372010-06-13T15:52:00.006+02:002010-06-13T16:17:11.032+02:00Dreams do come true!<div>OK, the title of this post is melodramatic...but we now have a <a href="http://www.nespresso.com/">Nespresso</a> sitting in our kitchen and the novelty is exciting. For those of you unaware of Nespresso, it is a coffee machine that uses a variety coffee pods to produce wonderful espresso. The consistency and quality are impressive given this is an automatic, pod-coffee machine which are usually uneventful. Nespresso cannot replace well-drawn coffee from an espresso machine, but it is close to the real-thing...and very convenient.<div><br /></div><div>Steven was in Brussels a couple of weeks for a conference where our friends, David & Eva, sold their Nespresso machine to him. They had graduated to a traditional espresso machine that produces amazing coffee albeit it takes some time and there is art-science to making a good cup.</div><div><br /></div><div>Steven then had to pack the somewhat large and heavy coffee machine in his luggage and drag it to Warsaw where he had another conference to attend. So this coffee machine is well travelled.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once the machine made in Budapest, Diane stopped by the Nespresso boutique to buy the coffee pods. Yes...that is right...there is a "coffee pod" boutique. This goes to prove that you can market about anything these days. Diane bought a few boxes and registered with Nespresso's loyalty program. It is the frequent flyer program of coffee drinking!</div><div><br /></div><div>A US Peace Corps friend of Steven's--Dan Migden--was in town and helped us inaugurate the first use. The machine is dangerous because it takes just a few minutes to enjoy a tasty espresso. We'll have to be careful how much we drink.</div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSr923A63P0p2Na9J4Q4GQB3MXbsOoGHpgCFt_kzF00_DQpzOEt5AWVR2fsoDvW0k_TG2ln5M9sYeEvdYxvnUCxlGmUOqHeEdF4A3qVl0aKdtesS2m9ss1X6WwwYajamlDCFxCJbTLFtc/s1600/DSCF1608.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSr923A63P0p2Na9J4Q4GQB3MXbsOoGHpgCFt_kzF00_DQpzOEt5AWVR2fsoDvW0k_TG2ln5M9sYeEvdYxvnUCxlGmUOqHeEdF4A3qVl0aKdtesS2m9ss1X6WwwYajamlDCFxCJbTLFtc/s400/DSCF1608.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482260277504471698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Our pride and joy!</span></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-82784012159091266952010-05-30T22:40:00.006+02:002010-05-30T22:58:32.942+02:00Mini Vacation: Döbrönte, HungaryWe took a short trip to a spa in <a href="http://www.dobronte.hu/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Döbrönte</span></a>, Hungary. We spent Thursday-Saturday walking to a castle, playing tennis, laying by the pool drinking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mohito's</span> and getting sunburned, eating, swimming, taking a carriage ride and playing cards. A great few days spent with dear friends talking, laughing, sharing and as our friend Bonnie would say...creating new memories. A fantastic trip! We stayed at <a href="http://www.hasik.hu/english/magunkrol/">Hotel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hasik</span>.</a> A fantastic hotel with everything....except comfortable beds...they were a bit too hard for all of us. One of the best parts of this short trip - no one was at this hotel. It was like we had a staff of 20 to serve just the four of us.<br /><br />Here are a few photos...more coming soon....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQc_T-WxsFQmJll6IODvsxxnMBZ0ZY5YssUkSd0iX28r4W-Bi66QS-LM0psnNN_UxrzjbA_0kv7a5sfg99ur57P3vqpU_aXagLWoaS9rs4C3fopxsXyOSug49EjjHJ7WOZStApZBtYIFD/s1600/Dobronte_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQc_T-WxsFQmJll6IODvsxxnMBZ0ZY5YssUkSd0iX28r4W-Bi66QS-LM0psnNN_UxrzjbA_0kv7a5sfg99ur57P3vqpU_aXagLWoaS9rs4C3fopxsXyOSug49EjjHJ7WOZStApZBtYIFD/s400/Dobronte_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477166338650036146" border="0" /></a>Hotel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hasik</span> - view from our room (castle in the background)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWLcyoJiS6zCO4CzNYbkP8bNb39GHGciOD9fRQWvRdRCTnLNVMUghH1LXhJ3Kx1RwS7jN7F6msPmLPRCcIWnhsBG3xKptVCHnWbgPrxBb9y0h7kkY6M1C9x-YOIBDgXkrU73qv0JhyphenhyphengZS/s1600/Hotel+Hasik_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWLcyoJiS6zCO4CzNYbkP8bNb39GHGciOD9fRQWvRdRCTnLNVMUghH1LXhJ3Kx1RwS7jN7F6msPmLPRCcIWnhsBG3xKptVCHnWbgPrxBb9y0h7kkY6M1C9x-YOIBDgXkrU73qv0JhyphenhyphengZS/s400/Hotel+Hasik_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477165951703428418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii77io_Eec7b-DKMnxQ7n16NbL8o8wl0Q4sL5L70a7kpD2A9g1_rI9SP4qtSOlh25JfFQxxX4osvMa9YB7Uabdoi08C7wN6Tf5BoykLmuLtSAXoeckEWYkU5kTfxgSI0vq3JK_LmA9GB7-/s1600/Hotel+Hasik_3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii77io_Eec7b-DKMnxQ7n16NbL8o8wl0Q4sL5L70a7kpD2A9g1_rI9SP4qtSOlh25JfFQxxX4osvMa9YB7Uabdoi08C7wN6Tf5BoykLmuLtSAXoeckEWYkU5kTfxgSI0vq3JK_LmA9GB7-/s400/Hotel+Hasik_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477165923330386050" border="0" /></a>the coolest gutter!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaviBv12GXVqqb46En2QckbFfwrrVbf2EtdBHewYLK_T_QyOnzaUG44ChQpQquWi8yHd5_X7Ky9H8YSwWC_3Kn1N4mwCwn-Qsc4bp5MQIlrqBwMuCQ0CIpLJRxtQvHAR1NY5SL5Vf231-e/s1600/Hotel+Hasik_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaviBv12GXVqqb46En2QckbFfwrrVbf2EtdBHewYLK_T_QyOnzaUG44ChQpQquWi8yHd5_X7Ky9H8YSwWC_3Kn1N4mwCwn-Qsc4bp5MQIlrqBwMuCQ0CIpLJRxtQvHAR1NY5SL5Vf231-e/s400/Hotel+Hasik_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477168511028944066" border="0" /></a>the castle<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjD-Z3AhaPuC6uGbo5rCk5IsWKr7jJ1NCMR1Qu9NlW-USoG5h0PjlIvwvsMMIAO0sQPkVP6s9V7E8rqV1-LpupjrBfsbrt4o262eCZRLKhcMHTtx3ZXFE5VM7mBdS9oyrPIXTexee6MlF/s1600/Dobronte_3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjD-Z3AhaPuC6uGbo5rCk5IsWKr7jJ1NCMR1Qu9NlW-USoG5h0PjlIvwvsMMIAO0sQPkVP6s9V7E8rqV1-LpupjrBfsbrt4o262eCZRLKhcMHTtx3ZXFE5VM7mBdS9oyrPIXTexee6MlF/s400/Dobronte_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477166359164858402" border="0" /></a>Steven<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kPzbm8VbhDfJN4vAcayFRDEwd5_OJNy-6piLcIBOmomb1TGuZrZDcvGtyRWBBhLmbd8jvEal2wU0NmWl-YXehsBj5Y0OHRbhWGIbMomOxzldvROQwVn39f8AJJbWyXzSWB4kY_ENqJ3d/s1600/Steven.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kPzbm8VbhDfJN4vAcayFRDEwd5_OJNy-6piLcIBOmomb1TGuZrZDcvGtyRWBBhLmbd8jvEal2wU0NmWl-YXehsBj5Y0OHRbhWGIbMomOxzldvROQwVn39f8AJJbWyXzSWB4kY_ENqJ3d/s400/Steven.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477165926396214770" border="0" /></a>our very photogenic traveling partners: Jeremy and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Zsuzsa</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3RFICGKhr_lc7DjEY3C_4VWqBswttgLp0_Nl_k4fA2kyeH_qsQMoJfnclMiQAopcGnUL8JqciQTxbZYV8UROqlVV5ki1UAm3zKMWc_0XD1W0P4qpQ7HGShaJr0vJXdDaxCOdouz2E3_P/s1600/JeremyZsuzsa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3RFICGKhr_lc7DjEY3C_4VWqBswttgLp0_Nl_k4fA2kyeH_qsQMoJfnclMiQAopcGnUL8JqciQTxbZYV8UROqlVV5ki1UAm3zKMWc_0XD1W0P4qpQ7HGShaJr0vJXdDaxCOdouz2E3_P/s400/JeremyZsuzsa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477165940619778370" border="0" /></a>around town<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUvkaAgutMraZP16II_EQF0Ho5HPBKsZZ6GrA_ro7G1BkkOecaAUmPKt-FZXzNZsH-UDbELUtx4LVauKb39kISxtzUhcPRxE0_96TcqBmFL1leuoo8JILOXuftvi-HdLme_k4nUdtKa6c/s1600/Dobronte_5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUvkaAgutMraZP16II_EQF0Ho5HPBKsZZ6GrA_ro7G1BkkOecaAUmPKt-FZXzNZsH-UDbELUtx4LVauKb39kISxtzUhcPRxE0_96TcqBmFL1leuoo8JILOXuftvi-HdLme_k4nUdtKa6c/s400/Dobronte_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477166377702037394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwfAxGbSr_iGXL7b9-Ta3DIG9759IMQxWGfKMWqJpdoyX0ir0SE84qOvl3hoXuOtdzxJ0O6p7q_rd4iOtnWaeeEXQXJV6kE7K_bMtniu5wQWK3hR9AxpB_b5J6izjWfgFlzWqSMCxHcm1/s1600/Dobronte_4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwfAxGbSr_iGXL7b9-Ta3DIG9759IMQxWGfKMWqJpdoyX0ir0SE84qOvl3hoXuOtdzxJ0O6p7q_rd4iOtnWaeeEXQXJV6kE7K_bMtniu5wQWK3hR9AxpB_b5J6izjWfgFlzWqSMCxHcm1/s400/Dobronte_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477166376304796594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D_HFYUp1apTpLWOety_oT0aVj1d1OJHt_VHMxKyLbDD7kugaMy2yNP7CLcSrce02xo4afYSmTYq5Me7lso9b95W62IhJp-7UuGJ7gJ7ZZwrdhv9VNEblB-WV9l1GLJ3O3WkY86E0ngl5/s1600/Dobronte_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D_HFYUp1apTpLWOety_oT0aVj1d1OJHt_VHMxKyLbDD7kugaMy2yNP7CLcSrce02xo4afYSmTYq5Me7lso9b95W62IhJp-7UuGJ7gJ7ZZwrdhv9VNEblB-WV9l1GLJ3O3WkY86E0ngl5/s400/Dobronte_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477166351336564594" border="0" /></a>Diane<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCIQxAk-YtLVOUgOppEFjxeAwnzG8BqEQdYArgHXDthEpNKHMDjJj7VvzCi0wedaecDbX53NcA3uWq0bRcuTXYZd-fL1G131GbvLkZS6dm4y23TccN77rWyMEhiJbnEdO3fK2vpD1ZsdG/s1600/Diane.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCIQxAk-YtLVOUgOppEFjxeAwnzG8BqEQdYArgHXDthEpNKHMDjJj7VvzCi0wedaecDbX53NcA3uWq0bRcuTXYZd-fL1G131GbvLkZS6dm4y23TccN77rWyMEhiJbnEdO3fK2vpD1ZsdG/s400/Diane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477165916561530770" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCIQxAk-YtLVOUgOppEFjxeAwnzG8BqEQdYArgHXDthEpNKHMDjJj7VvzCi0wedaecDbX53NcA3uWq0bRcuTXYZd-fL1G131GbvLkZS6dm4y23TccN77rWyMEhiJbnEdO3fK2vpD1ZsdG/s1600/Diane.jpg"><br /></a>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-22361986544395637112010-05-22T14:04:00.005+02:002010-05-22T15:41:43.874+02:00"I want to rock and roll all night..." in Vienna!We had fun in Vienna on Thursday and Friday. We drove from Budapest with our friends Jeremy and Zsuzsa. After an extra 2-hours--detour because of a <a href="http://greimannkappa.blogspot.com/2010/05/flooding-in-central-europe.html">huge hole in the highway</a>--we arrived in Vienna.<br /><br />We ate at local restaurant which has become a regular stop for us. Delicious German food is on hand and the service is fast and friendly. You feel like you're in a small town diner but you're actually in the center of Vienna right by the Cathedral!<br /><br />Jeremy and Steven went to the KISS concert. The concert was amazing. KISS delivered on all points. The music was great although not too much from their older albums. Gene Simmons was his typical self. He was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8zB-8hNe-4&feature=related">breathing fire</a>, wagging his tongue, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz69qyVHw8E">spitting 'blood,'</a> and had on his huge platform <a href="http://ponderingsfrompluto.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/dragon-boots1.jpg?w=322&h=479">boots</a>.<br /><br />Diane and Zsuzsa hung-out in Vienna shopping, eating and have a drink at a cute Irish pub. We all met later in the evening for a nightcap in Vienna's Bermuda Triangle district.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vz7ENkIrRQ-bpg0zMgBMb9jQZzTnjqkK7SlIb7rAqOZqgtLaB5fSQaZBhUiGVKngkMJGA2GYlFw5wxvbjtSydZcJvn-0JtuviKECoiBMRMBDRijvihezkngiRvZgLYudHH1wlhyphenhyphenEfN0P/s1600/poppies.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vz7ENkIrRQ-bpg0zMgBMb9jQZzTnjqkK7SlIb7rAqOZqgtLaB5fSQaZBhUiGVKngkMJGA2GYlFw5wxvbjtSydZcJvn-0JtuviKECoiBMRMBDRijvihezkngiRvZgLYudHH1wlhyphenhyphenEfN0P/s400/poppies.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474068632492438162" border="0" /></a>Everywhere wild poppies dot the Hungarian countryside.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIM5SCP5TCg2fZXQkgMWE0ffw3eV2JV8AVojcsA0PPcH2QAyPDpxALeCHHwzhf057yeH6EgJ_QuSILXVVCMSymPN7o-zYNAm9dMKbysT6ewCZPhxP675RbuGlPEQN8PH_3AnbopR1hgdgt/s1600/flower+shop.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIM5SCP5TCg2fZXQkgMWE0ffw3eV2JV8AVojcsA0PPcH2QAyPDpxALeCHHwzhf057yeH6EgJ_QuSILXVVCMSymPN7o-zYNAm9dMKbysT6ewCZPhxP675RbuGlPEQN8PH_3AnbopR1hgdgt/s400/flower+shop.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474068625278913906" border="0" /></a>Vienna is a beautiful city!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3bP_dDF-OBvUG18bNAuxGAG_qgSGk-KzmtWrskZan-2Vy-xO2Oj1arCtNLXnA_y0G72OOHpWln5MfOGBY7dLKEUvUxIfpo-uAdiA8CxyeMRGWYzEgyTndfbThrUlSMgoiX72dXC7JjtI/s1600/bicycle.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3bP_dDF-OBvUG18bNAuxGAG_qgSGk-KzmtWrskZan-2Vy-xO2Oj1arCtNLXnA_y0G72OOHpWln5MfOGBY7dLKEUvUxIfpo-uAdiA8CxyeMRGWYzEgyTndfbThrUlSMgoiX72dXC7JjtI/s400/bicycle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474068619199663746" border="0" /></a>Diane finds beauty everywhere.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1rxpHzzcC_I2CnPyzeHzdRDjKQAgIBWlyKtcfeEmj3hXiFs9r58wXRMGx9i_Io4V-fTaa65RPL5ZIAH1FQ_Fk3zp22_mQk95vh-fE40aF0s58unraw8l57IEQCYntGYxj2XS7LgD1mfZ/s1600/steven+and+hot+dog.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1rxpHzzcC_I2CnPyzeHzdRDjKQAgIBWlyKtcfeEmj3hXiFs9r58wXRMGx9i_Io4V-fTaa65RPL5ZIAH1FQ_Fk3zp22_mQk95vh-fE40aF0s58unraw8l57IEQCYntGYxj2XS7LgD1mfZ/s400/steven+and+hot+dog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474068615275798818" border="0" /></a>A hot dog eating Steven...or...Steven eating a hot dog?<br />He bought this at a kiosk called Wurstland!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2vH2lbKpYQJV96vgygAjL1H2q4fKABZxRKfQReYupWMbLUr1mrVfOoTAQr0iZHBdToUhMw21qt4Cti8NJj7bxP5N0MyBTGNC96w4fQ1z5lmjWbxslgCf8Ul02gmnw6RxO76qVRObxF22/s1600/kiss.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2vH2lbKpYQJV96vgygAjL1H2q4fKABZxRKfQReYupWMbLUr1mrVfOoTAQr0iZHBdToUhMw21qt4Cti8NJj7bxP5N0MyBTGNC96w4fQ1z5lmjWbxslgCf8Ul02gmnw6RxO76qVRObxF22/s400/kiss.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474068608054267874" border="0" /></a>KISS! If you can, see them. Even if you're not a big fan, you'll<br />get to see an amazing, good 'ol fashioned rock-n-roll show.<br /></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-51762793409651986552010-05-20T13:00:00.000+02:002010-05-20T13:00:01.147+02:00Flooding in Central EuropeThe rains keep coming. The wind and cold weather don't help. Major flooding has taken some lives in Hungary and caused serious damage. The last big flood was in 2006. Let's hope we don't repeat that one!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkewLaQ21I-dNB1L1khmHwaodNMSpnHZOWYvKdVrTNtIezpT-Lbv5TTZEG-kcNme1UYcYO94RnLxRIbkWDmgwH3j_zKTQC3of9BG5uF2anH5v6cM8-b4tYUgKeqyu3Gmzqu0wQT5-mGzU4/s1600/20100520_437562_01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkewLaQ21I-dNB1L1khmHwaodNMSpnHZOWYvKdVrTNtIezpT-Lbv5TTZEG-kcNme1UYcYO94RnLxRIbkWDmgwH3j_zKTQC3of9BG5uF2anH5v6cM8-b4tYUgKeqyu3Gmzqu0wQT5-mGzU4/s400/20100520_437562_01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473118698743441106" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A huge hole in the M1 motorway. The M1 is the major connector between Budapest to Vienna.</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-5950638143901498002010-05-19T22:03:00.000+02:002010-05-19T22:03:32.406+02:00Powerful Video!<div>Steven is focused on accident prevention with his work at United Way Hungary. He often comes across some amazing creative that helps communicate the need to be safe. This video will move you. Made us cry.</div><div><br /></div><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h-8PBx7isoM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h-8PBx7isoM&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-2222685578220337722010-05-05T10:00:00.001+02:002010-05-05T10:00:01.275+02:00Martinis: James Bond or MacGyver?We like Martinis. Dry vodka martinis with olives to be exact. Steven likes them very dry--just simply pass the bottle over the glass without pouring any vermouth. Diane likes them a little less dry.<div><br /></div><div>We sold our cocktail mixer and have been using a variety of containers to make martinis. Our newest invention is using our French press to mix and then use our whisk to to keep the ice from toppling out.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think James Bond would approve but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacGyver">MacGyver</a> might.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHpoaNjX8Ci_SF7B37V8ecw7rOXGj19YPvfk1dKOpa9jXuHGLFjOpqWszvM0dk3xWRCwCecxKgLAjjdGnB_B6m1yLxST6lkk-kgUOQ-dlvBI3LqeUAFu9XNmR5oodFY6TTyQByuJlOWhd/s1600/martini.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHpoaNjX8Ci_SF7B37V8ecw7rOXGj19YPvfk1dKOpa9jXuHGLFjOpqWszvM0dk3xWRCwCecxKgLAjjdGnB_B6m1yLxST6lkk-kgUOQ-dlvBI3LqeUAFu9XNmR5oodFY6TTyQByuJlOWhd/s400/martini.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467512220654025202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">What is worse? Using a French press and a whisk or that we buy our vodka at Ikea? (Vodka is great by the way. We've blind tasted it against some premium vodkas)</div><div><br /></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4874255388555992965.post-87466516611284355732010-05-04T10:44:00.000+02:002010-05-04T21:20:48.703+02:00The Boban Marković Orchestra in Etyek - wow!!We spent a fabulous Sunday in Etyek which is a small town just 1-hour outside of Budapest. Etyek is a cute wine producing town. It reminds you of California's wine country with its rolling hills and vineyards.<br /><br />We joined our friends at a festival. The festival wasn't advertised but was intended for local enjoyment. We listened to one of the best Balkan brass bands. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boban_Markovi%C4%87">Boban Markovic</a> hails from Serbia and leads his orchestra with great energy and skill. He and the band are known around the world. We very luckily enjoyed the performance among less then 50-people at the foot of a vineyard. The sun warmly shown while we drank the fresh white wine cuvée and ate artisan cheeses and ham<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwPiUI49bWDELEODo3tl3CGKjazpfoQCCbQ4XSb_67F-pFoLLIyEluZtzaFsCpiXK8XUhQipv1TnGAgNpjPQw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />The Boban Marković Orchestra (Etyek, Hungary)<br /></div>Steven Greimann and Diane Kappahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05273792222234889662noreply@blogger.com0