Winter

Kaposvár Black Friday Nov 25 Drop-dead gorgeous winter day Hi: 10°/50° Lo: -1°/30°

Spent the afternoon on a walk-about town, soaking in the sunshine. Everyone I saw seemed to be in a good mood, after a week or so of cold, windy, overcast days; I do not remember it being this foggy around here. It is forecast to get much colder in the days to come, which isn't surprising, as it's almost December. The Hungarian Weather Bureau has even projected snow for late December. How can they know this? Seems to me they are simply setting everyone up for disappointment. I'll have an update before Christmas. [Alexandra has bemoaned the 'new reality' of 'snow-less' holidays.]

Before I forget: I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day, surrounded by family & food, but not too much!

Kaposvár is the government seat of Somogy county, a farming community. There's something like 70,000 residents, but it seems to me much bigger than that; everywhere I go, there are people on the street and lots of activity. While on my walk today, I passed in front of the bus station, which was rebuilt a few years ago, being re-positioned next to the train station. [A very pragmatic move by the authorities; why can't America be as level-headed with infra-structure?]

Anyway, I wanted to mention how busy the bus station was on a Friday afternoon: it seems people were converging on it from all directions, many with luggage. This is something I've commented on before, and it has to do with how the communities here handle educating their children. Much as in the U.S., there are plenty of elementary schools in each borough, as it's no doubt important that the kids have good instruction close to home and family. But for high school, instead of each small town in the county having their own brick & mortar building, the teens are housed in 'dorms' here in Kaposvár, they attend the high schools during the week, and then go home for the weekend. To paraphrase Harry Potter: brilliant.

David
Kaposvár

Today/Ma

Kaposvár Friday 11/11/22 Cool Hi: 12°/53° Lo: 3°/37° Cloudy

While walking through the main square here in Kaposvár, I was surprised, yet delighted that the town was busy raising the Christmas tree for the Xmas Market; there were at least 5 workmen on scaffolding, busily scrambling around putting up the twinkling white lights that I remember from last year. It's a very large tree, perfect sitting between the City Hall, the Kapos Hotel & Saint Imre, the Catholic Church towering over the square. [I found this info: in Hungary, 'Imre' is a masculine first name, the same in Estonian use; it relates to the name Emeric, Emmerich or Heinrich. Its English equivalents are Emery and Henry.]

As I was writing that, Mary called from Jordan. She and Dave are staying at a small hotel near Petra; she says it is fabulous, highly recommended. That's good to know, as I've always wanted to visit those historic caves. (She mentioned that Julie & Ritchie spent time there, last month, after their tour of Egypt.) I believe Mary said she & Dave will head to Qatar & Doha for the World Cup championships when they leave Jordan. The next time I see Mary & Dave will be in Zagreb, Croatia, around the middle of next month. I'm looking at Airbnb's for Zagreb & Budapest; they will stop over here in Kaposvár, in between, for a few days to see Andrea & the family. (Mary & Kelly were here when Cameron & Alexandra were infants, around 2000, 2001.) Cameron have invited us to Kecskemet, for a volleyball game, before we spend the last few days of their Europe/Near East vacation, in Budapest.

Winter is worming its way into our lives. Today was brisk, windy & cool. It certainly puts me in the holiday spirit. There are no 'Thanksgiving' celebrations, so the stores have Christmas decorations & gifts out already. The Christmas Market I mentioned earlier will get under way in a week or so. I love a cup of hot, mulled wine, while listening to the Xmas carols. Many nights, the local children's choirs sing on the stage set up near the tree. Very festive (but not gaudy).

I've been working on a wrap-up of my trip to Istanbul; hopefully, I can finish that & post it here. More later.