Take me to the countryside

I'm a girl from the south! Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. So I know a few things about family values, playing in the creeks beyond the woods, and eating a home cooked meal. 

So there's something about visiting my husband's family 2 hours west of Budapest by train, that makes me feel like I'm at home.  

It's that moment to get out of the city limits of Budapest, and breathe in the fresh air. A chance to connect with family, good food, and lots and lots of Palinka! 

Tip: when offered a palinka, you must drink. These traditions are relentless and the person asking won't take no for an answer. They're not asking, they're telling you. DRINK THE PALINKA!!

So of course the trip started with dinner and PALINKA at my uncle-in-law's resturant. We were able to stumble to our room which is upstairs from the restaurant. Thank goodness!!

The weekend consisted of sleeping in late and journeying from house to house to see cousins, uncles, aunts and of course Mama! We would be forced to eat at every house because the Varga's show love through their cooking ... and I'm not complaining!

We truly enjoyed quality time with the family and I look forward to seeing them more often. Although I miss my family, it's great that I get to spend time in the countryside thinking about mine while spending time with his. Family time is what life is all about. I am filled with joy that my husband gets to grow his bond with his Hungarian family that he hadn't seen in over 15 years. You can never get that time back but you can always gain new memories. That's what this weekend taught me! Take a step back from our busy lives in Budapest and head to the countryside for family, food, and PALINKA!