Travel Notes
Friday, July 6, 2007
That morning, Puck laughed in his sleep. He was probably dreaming about his ever-illusive dum-dums.
Denae forwarded an email to Collette that day from another girl, Brunhilda Cuppett, who also was on the mission team to Hungary:
“…I do stand out to some extent. Whenever people hear me talking out in the city, they turn and stare. And the first day we were here, I wasn’t even talking – just sitting quietly waiting for a bus – and this guy came up and stood across from me and just stared like I was some rare animal at a zoo. So I guess I must look at least a little American – whatever that is.”
Collette recalled the same thing happening to her when she had visited Hungary. It was typical. Somehow, the Hungarians had this innate “Amerikai-radar”. They didn’t even need to hear the American tourists speaking English. They could tell by just looking at them. And oddly, to the Hungarians, it wasn’t considered rude to stare with great concentration at other people. However, the American team had been warned beforehand not to stare back at a person of the opposite sex in order not to indicate unintended “romantic feelings”.
From another girl on the mission team:
“…Budapest has the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. I could just stand and gaze at them for hours. The buildings are tall, most are painted muted colors like soft yellow, and they have window boxes of red geraniums peeking out every once in awhile.”
Confirmed again. It was a beautiful city.
Meanwhile, Cairns it was again for Carrie-Bri and Eve. Also listed on their schedule was “hiking in the rain forest”. Australia’s vegetation and terrain seemed to be as diverse as it was back in the States.
Mom was off with Grandma for the weekend and dropped off Francis and Linnea with Collette and Puck on her way out so that OLeif and Collette could take them and Puck to see “Ratatouille” at The Great Escape.
During the performance, Puck watched almost the entire thing. Half-way through the film, he must have been inspired by the rat’s recipes himself, and began sucking and slurping loudly on his fingers.
Afterward, they all decided it was another great Pixar production, as could be expected.
“That was you in rat form,” Collette told OLeif on the way out of the theater.
“I’m a combination of him and his brother,” OLeif said.
Collette agreed.
And one of Diana’s articles had made it to the Sun Times that week. She definitely seemed to be moving up in the world.
Later, Dad forwarded more information from Carrie:
“I will be leaving for Christchurch NZ on the evening of the 9th. And leaving the 15th. I will probably be taking some ski lessons as it is 15 degrees there! (Don’t worry Mom I’m buying a coat!) We spent the last two days in the rain forest and went snorkeling in the great reef today; it was fun!”