Our tree is gone

 During the flood we had in Budapest earlier this year I took P and baby I. to see the water levels rising, in the morning and in the evening every day. Changes were drastic, and at 4 years old he appreciates it and by seeing it he can really start grasping what the flood means and how it happens. I know it is terrible to say, but this flood was great for us. We had a fun program for morning and evenings, it brought us closer to the river and similarly to us, other people seem to be enjoying the catastrophe tourism, so our walkway along the Danube was never before (nor since) so full of people just talking walks and observing. It felt like summer at the seaside (it even attracted some wakeboarders). During that time we've gotten used to our walks down by the riverside so they continued even when water levels started going down. On one such occasion, when I only had P with me, so we could go closer to the bank without worrying I will jump in, P and I discovered this tree stump, so beautifully painted and huge. We still have no idea who had done that and why but we were secretly hoping it will stay there and can be advertized as another great Budapest backdrop.

 Lucky for us, we spent an hour goofing around there.

And how cool is it that P is wearing his EFVVA Jungle T-shirt in same colors as the tree? (I swear I didn't make him go home and change just for the photos!)

Unfortunately, our tree is gone...they took it away, piece by piece...it got smaller and smaller, until there was nothing left anymore...only Chain bridge and the Danube:)

Oh, and BTW, I am in for the Top 25 European Moms - 2013, please vote - it is just a click of a button:)

Zinka & Simafül

A few months ago I wrote about Viki in connection with beautiful Soulglobes, so when a month or so ago Zinka & Simafül exhibition opened in the nearby Műhely Coffeehouse & Gallery (cute little place with homemade cakes and really good coffee) I knew I had to be there with P.

Zinka & Simafül started as a bunch of illustrations Viktoria Hitka made for her daughter Milla. Some time later it evolved into a real children's book, with text written by László Gál.

 

Zinka is a good hearted little girl with messy hair and a magic coat.

Her best friend is Simafül - the doggy. He has the nicest little soft ears in the whole world. The two friends were born on the same day and they never ever part. They discover the world and go on adventures together...

Shadowboxes made for this exhibition were incredible. If I could take one home, I would be able to choose.

I so hope for all of you non-Hungarian speakers that Zinka books get published in English too. Meanwhile I am happy I don't have to worry about that for my kiddos:)

Playground season - SHOW ME YOUR PLAYGROUND CALLOUT

Finally, the playground season is here. I don't have to put tons of clothes on myself and kids to get out of the house and we can stay outside after daycare. Here in Budapest we go to the playground an luckily for us there are tons. I love the fact that you can find playgrounds in most unexpected places among old buildings or in the shopping area. Most of them are in pretty good condition, fenced and some are equipped with crazy constructions my boys love, like planes, trains or little adrenalin park features.

What is it like in your country? Do you go to the playground or you have your own in your back yard? Please join us in the SHOW ME YOUR PLAYGROUND SERIES! Contact me if you'd like to participate, I'd love to hear from you!

Happy belated spring!:)

Trzy Myszy exhibition (Budapest)

A couple of weeks ago, as part of Budapest Design Week, Trzy Myszy (Three Mice toy factory) exhibition opened at the Polish institute. We've been there several times since. If you are regular on this blog, you might know I am a sucker for cardboard toys, bought and home-made alike. It is not a 'look but don't touch' kind of exhibition and my kids have a blast every time we go there.

As you can see, cars are the absolute favorites.

For those in Budapest, the exhibition can be viewed until November 9 (and it is free) when a a Tea Party with Three Mice will take place as the closing event.
For those of you further away, browse the toys on the website. I am loving the colour scheme.

I. Budapest Bread and Pastry Festival

Last weekend Budapest had it's first bread and pastry festival (I. Budapesti Kenyér- és Péksütemény-fesztivál) ever. I am normally quite annoyed by the place where we live, because come Festival season we are surrounded by tourists, it is impossible to park in front of the house, and God forbid you to open your window at night during the Wine festival, when all the happy people are coming down from Budapest Castle right under my window. But, it was nice weather, festival was for free and it is a mere 5 minutes walk from our house, the idea of fresh pastries seemed like a good one.
We soon became aware of the fact that festivals featuring bread are not merely as popular as the ones where any type alcohol is served, because we had to wander around trying to find the place, and some of the local store owners looked at us blankly when we asked about it.

But after a few circles, and an ice-cream we had to get P so he'd be willing to walk, we found it.

Hungry from all that walking we had done already we decided to go for some kenyérlángos - an old Hungarian specialty made of pre-baked bread dough topped with garlicky sour cream, onions, bacon/sausages and grated cheese, baked in a traditional wood-fired brick oven.

P was still hungry after ice-cream, so he went for potato crisps, made out of REAL potatoes.

There were loads of sweet and colorful goodies to choose from too.

But my favorite find that day, was the Malomgyartó (The Millmaker). With their beautiful mills you can make your own whole-wheat flour, or rolled oats.

From this:

 to this:

homemade flour

or this:

rolled oats

And if you are not at the stage where you will go by yourself a mill and make your own flour at home, there some other stunning product they have, like the grain or flour holders they have. They come in 4 different sizes ( 3, 5, 10, 25 kg) and with a smart little wooden mechanism for convenient opening and closing.

They also have beautiful wooden storage boxes and bowls, which totally do not go with my kitchen style, so it's good husband was in charge of money, not me. Just look at them in the background, would you not be tempted?