I had a “Family Travel Reality” epiphany this past weekend. Something I think I should have realized long ago. We are a U.S.-Postal-Service travel family.
Let me explain: We were in Budapest, Hungary, for a two-day, one-night weekend trip and there was a high heat advisory. Like high, high– around 100 degrees with 104 heat index on the day we arrived. We were going to the thermal baths Budapest is famous for so I wasn’t worried. The second day had a forecast of 104 degrees with a heat index of 109!!! Our plans that day were to sightsee around the city–we wanted to go to Buda castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and St. Stephen’s Church. I briefly considered changing our plans. But then I thought, what would we do instead, sit at the hotel? Go home early? This was our time in Budapest, and I didn’t want to miss out. Just to double-check, I warned Christian about the heat and asked if he thought we should change our plans. He scoffed at me. This is why we make the perfect travel partners! (Let me tell you, “travel personality compatibility” is a thing!)
Towards the end of the day, I sent this picture to my mom, one of my favorites of the weekend. That’s the Hungarian Parliament and the Danube River in the background.
My mom knew the temps so her response was that we didn’t even look that hot! I laughed out loud and decided to send her a shot of my reality–the dreaded sweat stains when you wear the absolutely wrong shirt for a heat wave. Really, what was I even thinking?! I humbly, oh so humbly, share it with you now in the spirit of the blog–Family Travel Realities. Summer European Vacation 2022 is not all fun and games, y’all.
And that was my epiphany–I realized we are just not the kind of family who changes our plans for bad weather. I think I get it from my dad–he was a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for most of his life and all of my childhood. Their unofficial motto has always been “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” I know the postal service gets a bad rap these days, but I saw him live this out every day, day in and day out, year-round. There were even times that the snow was too heavy and he couldn’t drive his personal car but he trudged up to the Post Office to get the mail truck out anyway! He would come home in the winter with hands cracked and bleeding from the bitter cold and come home in the summer drenched with sweat. My parents gave me my love of travel in so many ways growing up (that’s a whole separate post), but apparently, they also gave me my hardiness too! So, Dad, this one is for you! Thanks for teaching me to be tough and to wear my sweat stains like a badge of honor! I love you.
So, Dad, this one is for you! Thanks for teaching me to be tough and to wear my sweat stains like a badge of honor
Since you were brave enough to face the very sweaty reality of Budapest, I will reward you with some of the actual highlights of our weekend there–the more social-media-ready pics. Stay tuned to the end and I will share another one of the realities of traveling through Budapest in a heat wave. Actually, this has less to do with the heat…
And finally, one of the other realities of the day. You know how the pictures make it look like everyone is always happy? Not always… Too much family time, too much walking, too much heat, just too much…. or maybe it was not enough sleep, not enough water, not enough ice cream?
Then she noticed me taking a picture…
But to her credit, she got back up and kept going–nothing will stay that girl from the swift completion of her appointed rounds!
Thank you for allowing me to travel with you. Please tell Genevieve I love her pout and then her “smile”….say cheese Genevieve.
First, please don’t let GG know I’ve seen your posts because I want to hear all about her travels without any hesitation over what I might already know.
Second, I doubt I’ll see these places before Jesus returns and takes me on a tour, so thank you for all of the beautiful photos and info.
And finally, thanks for sharing your family adventures and stories. I hope GG gets my one letter before you come home. I was really hoping to send more, but six weeks isn’t as long as I thought. 😁
I won’t tell her–I’m sure she will talk your ear off with all her most random stories when we return. And I can’t wait to hear what she says are her “favorite parts”–I can be certain I can’t guess the things she will remember the most! I still have so much more to share so stay tuned