Hi party people! Again, I’ve been neglecting my blogging duties. Now that I have my amazing new iPhone, I will be able to easily add more pics to my blog. I’m still, however, working on getting Internet at home (*throws fist angrily into the air screaming “Hungary!!!!!!!”*).

The last few weeks have had their ups and downs including a lot of late nights at work but also some fun times with new friends. We have a lot of public holidays this calendar year (ha ha. suck it, non-Euro countries) so we had a nice picnic for the May Day celebration. We all made food and met on Margaret Island, the island in the middle of the Danube. Before I moved here I had no idea there even was an island in the middle of the Danuble in Budapest. It was lovely but very hot! Summer came to Budapest seemingly overnight (but we’re back to winter conditions already).

Last Friday we celebrated the publication of the CEU 2011 Annual Report which was the result of blood, sweat and tears from many of the communications office staff (including moi). If any of you are so inclined (mom), I wrote the profiles on pages 18, 24, 44 & 36. It sucks having essentially Twitter-length character limitations within which to write people’s stories but they turned out pretty well in the end. When I say we celebrated, that equals our cool boss Sybil hosting a party at her house featuring her famous gin & tonics. Yum! She also made some yummy tacos and it was the first real taste of home I’ve had since I moved here. Thank you, El Paso seasoning packets! 🙂

I also recently got the sad news that my friend and colleague Stephen will be moving back to the U.S. along with his boyfriend Theo. 😦 They are two of my very favorite people and it will be hell saying goodbye to them. I guess I have to say I’m happy for them but I’m just mad at them. 🙂 I kid, I kid. I have made them promise to return for Thanksgiving. I plan to have a big Turkey Day party w/ my visiting cousins & local pals so it’s a great excuse to return. Speaking of Stephen and Theo, we had the most amazing day yesterday, beginning with an indulgent Mother’s Day buffet at the Budapest Marriott. We stuffed ourselves silly with champagne, bacon-wrapped pork, shrimp cocktail, omelets, fine cheeses and roast beef. After that, we went to the dessert table and just put our faces directly into the chocolate sauce. We then did some light shopping at an outdoor market where S & T talked me into buying a really beautiful necklace and bracelet made from repurposed metals.  Here’s the cool necklace I got that is made out of a vintage compact cover: 

In the evening, we went to the amazing Szechenyi Bath for some nighttime fun in the warm pools. It’s really sweet to be outside when it’s kind of chilly but soaking in the warm pool! I want to go in the dead of winter too. One of the outdoor pools has a circular area with a strong current that flings you through the ring. It is a major laugh inducer and Stephen, Theo and I laughed until our abs hurt and I broke my toe (not an official diagnosis). It’s a bit like getting a hilarious enema as you pass each strong jet…is there such a thing? 🙂  There are even cool colored lights in that pool and random bubble gushers. I plan to go back many, many times! Here are a few pics of Szechenyi from the Interwebs. We finished off the night with some Montenegrin hamburgers that Stephen has been wanting me to try. Not exactly an American burger, but damn good anyway. Overall, an A+ day!

Getting together with friends tomorrow night to plan a long weekend in Croatia this summer. YAY!

Lots of love from Hungary!

C