Budapest Tips

Tips for visiting Budapest:
1) Definitely stay on the Pest side of the Danube.  Near the Opera or St Stephen Basilica or anywhere near the river.  Vaci Street is a shopping street and anywhere near that is nice.  We were on Paule Ede U and it was a great location (in an apartment)
2) When you go the the Baths, don't opt for a package, just the normal entrance fee is fine.  Do get a cabin.  If you can bring your own bathrobe and flip-flops and bathing cap for the lap pool.  We went to Szechenyi Spa and loved the outdoor pools.  Took the metro right to the front door.  Next time we are trying Gellert Spa, but only if it is cold or raining.
3)  Buda hill is an easy walk up and down.  The funicular isn't necessary.  It is magnificent at night.  Way better than in the daytime.  The views are stunning.
4)  The place is loaded with restaurants.  We tried the Langos (a scone with toppings)  It was ok.
The best strawberry soup:  Bob Restaurant: Dob u 2
The best raspberry soup:  Strudel House: Oktober 6. utca 22. I want to go back to Budapest just for this soup!! This was the first strudel restaurant in Budapest.   Fabulous sour cherry with cottage cheese (curd) strudel. (one euro each!)
Hot chocolate at Cafe Gerbeaud.  Best yet.
5) We missed the inside of Parliament.  Didn't do the opera tour.  So we are definitely going back.  It ranks right up there next to Prague.
6) Must do:  Buda hill at night.  Baths.  Boat tour on the river.  Inside of Basilica.  Raspberry soup.

Israel, Israel

Capernaum, and yes, even in April it was hot.

Dome of the Rock.  Dad and I didn't want to pay for the scarf to wrap around your legs, so we sat it out.  Because we did we had front row seats for a demonstration and forced exit of the demonstrators.  (Ladies in full Burka outfits who were chanting)

On the way to the plaza we saw this singer and he was all alone.  On the way back he had several fans!  Right around the corner was the best vanilla ice and fruit drinks.  I'd go back for that.

Western Wall Plaza.  Seth helping Lukas to write his prayer to put in the wall.  Wish I could remember what he wrote...Seth help me out here:  "Help us to have a good day and to be nice"  Something on that order.

I LOVE this picture

Hezzikiah's tunnel.  Don't be fooled by Jonah's smile,  he hated it!  Heidi had to endure whining and squirming and her hair being grabbed and pulled.

We made it out.  Not a favorite activity.  There was a huge (literally) group of Americans ahead of us that kept stopping and really slowed down the time we had to spend in a completely dark, skinny tunnel. Taylor Bluth said it looks like they are standing on donuts.  Now that's all I see when I see this photo.

No photos of Eilat!  We spent two days on Coral beach snorkeling.  A close call back to Tel Aviv airport because we spent too much time at the Tel Aviv beach.  We made our flight by minutes.  They also had an extra night at the Brussels airport hotel b/c of a flight change that nobody told them about.  Traveling is great fun.  Has it's hard times but the great times always make up for it.  Thanks for coming Seth Herway family!  We loved every second.