Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

May you and your family enjoy health, peace and harmony reaching out to distant relatives and friends who are alone. God bless all of you dear new virtual friends!

Christmas Eve

Appropriately enough for Christmas eve, here is a night shot of St. Stephen's Basilica. I hope you will forgive the lack of sharpness and think of it as an intentional romantic glow. Merry Christmas to all of you and your loved ones!

Opera Christmas Tree

The major streets and avenues are festively lit and the Christmas tree in front of the Opera was being installed and decorated as I walked by. The fragrance of pine from the sawdust was a perfect mood setter.



One of these days, I promise to go out with camera when it is dark and the lights are on to show you why it's been officially said that Budapest looks more Christmasy than Vienna for the second year in a row. Hope you are enjoying your week-end and it is warmer where you are.

Christmas on Vorosmarty Ter

Vorosmarty Ter is where you've earlier seen the Gerbaud building and the cluster of statues in the center. It is also one of the places (the most central anyway) where the Christmas booths are set up and people can stroll around, browse, shop, enjoy performances and have some local food (sausages, pastry and mulled wine).

It was a mild Sunday and people had a chance to enjoy the outdoors and each others company along with the performances and "window shopping." A nice day all around.

Window Shopping

Things are definitely headed that way. This is the window of a fine interior design establishment. Look what they have by the door. :) An equally fine, tall, elaborate, beautifully decorated - Christmas tree!

"Thanksgiving Comes First"

Today I'm dedicating this blog to the effort of reminding merchants that Christmas is on December 25th. We all know, we have always known and do not want or need to be reminded of it months in advance. I'm personally beginning to resent Christmas because of the buying frenzy the public is whipped into that by the time the holiday arrives who can really enjoy it? If you feel the same way or had similar thoughts - please visit these blogs and do what your conscience tells you. You have the RIGHT to enjoy and savor your holidays - the first thing we must do is reclaim them.