A Place to Call Home

A few nights ago Dennis and I were saying how much we like our flat and how it feels so good to know that when we are done with our frequent travels we have a place like our flat to come home to.

It was last August when we first saw this flat. Prior to that visit to Budapest I had been praying specifically for certain characteristics and features - lots of windows, walking distance to shops/stores, character, safe, secure, even down to some bathroom specifics - that would make our home "us." This is something I have always done when making a move and God has always been faithful to honor my requests. Home is important to me, as it would be to anybody. A place to call your own - to let down, relax, and totally be yourself. Dennis figured that he will be in Budapest only 34 days in the next three months... even more so to make our home a place of replenishment.

Our flat has some interesting history. I'm discovering what was world history in my high school studies is personal history for many in Europe. Maria, our landlady, shared that the house was built in the 1920's or early 30's by a wealthy family. It was a large single family dwelling (actually beyond the city limits at that time) until the end of WWII when the then owners, a Jewish family, were kicked out and five families were moved in - the Communistic system to create equality among the people. Our landlords rented one of the flats in 1988 when Communism was beginning to crumble. They were then given the opportunity to purchase the flat from the state and eventually bought the other flats to own the entire house. They made major improvements as the home had weathered the war (even bullet holes on the outside) and subsequent multi-family living. Frank and Maria are gracious, accommodating landlords for which we are grateful.

All that said, welcome to our flat. Let me show you around.

Enter by the double doors with the blue curtains.
A small bathroom is to your right, coat hooks to the left.
Come in through the second door with dining area on right ,
kitchen straight ahead, and living room to the left.

You don't see many flats with this many windows.

With ceilings 11 feet high we have very tall door ways!
From the central area you enter what is our office area.

My desk.
We each have our own little corner in this room.
Dennis' desk.

On to the bathroom. We are told it is very unusual
to have two bathrooms in one flat.

Note my washing machine to the right. Maria
says it's "old, but very good."

Our bedroom has no closets,
so two wardrobes are furnished.
I hang my wash to dry on a drying rack
in the bedroom, plus heat radiators (like the one under
the window) in every room serve as effective clothes dryers :).

Thanks for stopping by and letting me show you around.
We love calling this place home!