Good morning from the Four Seasons, Budapest—our view from our balcony of the Buda Castle (right). The Gresham Palace is a beautiful Art Deco hotel. Just had what may be about the best cup of coffee ever. More than a touch of cream might have something to do with it.

We are on the Pest side of the Danube and will walk across the Chain Bridge to get to Buda. Budapest is a beautiful, clean, bright city. Everyone we have encountered is especially courteous, friendly and outgoing and fluent in English. Hungarian looks to be a bear of a language to learn, but is not unpleasing to listen to. We met an American couple yesterday afternoon who have lived in Paris off and on for years. She is a linguist who also thinks Hungarian is difficult. I suspect we won’t be coming home fluent in H. Most Hungarian words look like an ophthalmologist’s Eye Chart.

Paris’s CDG airport a breeze. Lovely, clean, orderly. Unlike the TSA in Boston, airport security friendly, even cheerful. We were not looked upon as the enemy. Wonderful bakery—Paul—smack in the middle of Terminal 2F, right next to AirFrance Lounge. Yes, I’m sure there are better boulangeries in France, but Paul was an amazing oasis in what is normally a dismal food scene in most airports.

We will embark on AMAWaterways and meet up with the National Review crowd this afternoon. Danube River definitely not blue. Brown.

And to our friend Ingrid. Thanks so much for the Thieves essential oil products. We were sneezed and coughed upon innumerable times traveling yesterday from Boston to Budapest via Paris, and Dick and I feel like we are going to escape unharmed. (Check out youngliving.com, disclosure: not related.)