VISA & TGI Fridays!

Monday 9:15 am - took the metro (underground train) to the American Consulate to get Gianna's VISA. Two at a time through security, leave all electronicals in the drawer and given a number, and take a drink of that water please.

10:35 am - Got our number 400, and had to give the guy at the window the sealed envelope from the Dr. We waited almost 2 hours, had to pay $870 for translating the documents, and left Gianna's birth certificate and Hungarian passport with them overnight. We were told to come back tomorrow to pick up the VISA. That's the LAST step - pick up the VISA and we CAN GO HOME!!!!!  This calls for a HAPPY DANCE!!!

 Mistake #34: we didn't write down her passport number and exp date...and we have to have that to book flights. So we can't book any flights until tonight - hopefully some are open for tomorrow (crossing fingers, praying profusely...)

Before we caught the metro back to the hotel, we played in the park for a bit. I spotted what looked like a coffee shop, so daddy went in search of mocha and cappuccino. He came back with these Dixie cups filled about 1 inch high with a "mocha". LOL. One sip and it was gone!

Kiddos played, and then we wandered around downtown for a bit, to see what there was to see. Found a bunch of cute bistro restaurants, and tourist shops. 

 Had a bit of broccoli cheese / almond soup in a cup and a panini.

 So many beautiful buildings and amazing architecture everywhere...

We actually found our way back to the train station! This is where you go underground to purchase a ticket...if we hadn't come out of this one on the way here I would have never known it was the station. We also got a free ride on the longest, fastest, steepest escalator I've ever seen.

We had some time to kill at the hotel to soak in the 'thermal' tub and swim in the pool (by the way, we weaned her off of the water wings, and she does the doggy paddle all across the pool ALL by herself now!! Teaching her how to swim under water now, and not plug her nose. She's so quick to learn!)

4:30 pm - leave to meet the Montreys at TGI Fridays. Our last time to see them in Hungary...we will really miss them! They are good friends now, and we have been so glad to share this experience with them. They are finalizing their adoption for 4 girls TODAY!! 
We took the trolley (cable car) this time. This one is free, just hop on and off when you want. Google showed me which busses to take, and we made one connection and made it to TGI without a problem.

 We were all SO excited to finally get some "Americanish" food. We actually got a BIG glass of tap water with ICE. Ice, I tell you!! The food and the atmosphere was almost exactly like being back home. Michelle and I finally felt relaxed, and it was wonderful. We have had a wonderful time here, but it's really time to go home now.

It was their youngest new daughter's birthday, she turned 4 today. We asked the waiter if they could sing Happy Birthday in Hungarian for her. They came out when we had all finished eating and sang for her, and we recorded it. We'll have to play the song to Gianna at her next birthday in February.

On the way back to the bus we had a ceremonious balloon release (instead of just popping them and throwing them away like we wanted to), so we could 'happily' get rid of them before we got on the bus. We watched them both float up into the sky and said our goodbyes...it kind of symbolized saying goodbye to Gianna's old life and saying goodbye to it. We're ready to get her home and start our NEW life!!!