More December fun?

In December there are not only the organized must do Christmas events 

but there are always those other fun spontaneous ones that only come around once a year and I feel like we have to do them or our lives will never be complete and I really push for them and hope they are instilling all sorts of magical memories in my kids and I get all worked up excited about them knowing

my kids are totally going to love every minute and be in total awe and remember me as the best mom

ever and then... they don't love them at all and they aren't in awe and they are crying and fighting and telling me I am the worst mom ever. 

That doesn't happen to you? 

Oh good me either.

I will let you decide which ones were a success and which ones weren't.  

As you can see here is another activity where our family was divided, I think Mack was at a birthday party for this one.

There is a children's train here that is actually run by kids. Not just any ol' kids but ones who are training to work in the train industry when they grow up. Can you imagine such a program in the states?
At Christmas they run a special route where you ride with Szent Mikulas and are
given a HUGE bag of goodies and little toys.
So big that I am not sure how they make any money of this deal.

The gaggle of american children
You really have to feel sorry for the Hungarians when we Americans decide to go somewhere as a group we tend to invade and be a little loud. 

Creed and Callan spending time with Szent Mikulas. 

Hands down my favorite aspect of living in Europe during Christmas time are the Christmas markets.
Most major cities have them starting around Thanksgiving and ending after Christmas.
We saw London's while we were there and it was okay,
 I have heard Germany has some of the best ones {someday hopefully}
and Budapest's is actually ranked in the top 10.
Being a novice to the whole market scene,  I can only assume their ranking is accurate. Though we
do know it beats London's.
Next year baby, my goal is to hit at least two other nearby cities,
like Vienna and Prague.
Oh to dream.

The two most famous markets in Budapest are on Varosmarty Ter and the Bazilica.

I arrived early on the day the Bazilica market opened and was able to capture this picture before it got
crowded with people and vendors.
I felt it was a great reward to being early, maybe I should try it more often.

the boys and I had some last minute christmas shopping to do at Varosmarty Ter (brr...) and NO outing is complete without some yummy fresh from the fire Kurtos kolacs-- cinnamon chimney bread.

after our shopping was complete we walked over to the Bazilica market for some ice skating

life imitating art on the Imre Nagy statue 

Budapest really out does themselves around Christmas.
 I LOVE IT!
There are nativity scenes  all around and some in the most obscure places,
buildings and streets covered in lights,
it is truly magical.
One last holiday event we had to squeeze in was riding the holiday tram along the Danube.
They take 3 of the bajillion trams in Budapest and completely cover them in lights.
There is no extra cost or any special routes just an extra way to add some more spirit.

(If you look really close you can see the chain bridge in background over my right shoulder. )

This thing looks like it is on fire which it almost is....I really need to figure out how to take pictures of light at night.

Can you find the rest of us without blinding yourself?

The end or starting point depending on which way you ride is right in front of Parlament.

Well played Budapest, well played!