Our final morning on land in Budapest began slowly, which was exactly what we needed. We slept in and skipped breakfast, then turned the hotel room into a family laundry recovery operation.
The night before, we had done laundry at a laundromat, but the clothes had still been wet when we brought them back. So they had spent the night spread all around the hotel room drying wherever we could place them. By Sunday morning, everything was finally dry, and we folded it all up neatly and packed it into the suitcases.
This is one of the lesser-photographed parts of family travel. No one posts inspirational pictures of socks drying on hotel furniture. There are no postcards that say, “Greetings from Budapest: We have clean underwear.” But on a long trip, clean laundry feels like a luxury. It may not sparkle like the Eiffel Tower, but it does smell better.
We had arranged a late checkout at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which gave us enough time to go to church before boarding the cruise. We took a cab to a meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a little farther away because that location offered English translation.
It turned out to be a wonderful choice. There was an English translator, and we met people from all over — mostly locals, but also international visitors and members from different parts of the world. Some spoke English, some did not, but everyone was friendly. We met new friends, talked with lots of people, and felt welcomed right away.
There is something special about attending church far from home and still feeling connected. The language may change, the building may be different, and the city outside may be completely unfamiliar, but the feeling can still be warm and recognizable. It was a peaceful and meaningful way to spend Sunday morning in Budapest.
After church, we returned closer to the hotel and went for lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant across the street from the Crowne Plaza. The people there were very kind, and the food was excellent. Teyauna, as usual, seemed to order the best dish — a chicken dish that reminded us a little of pad Thai, but with Vietnamese flavors. This was becoming a reliable pattern of the trip: when in doubt, look at Teyauna’s plate and wonder why you did not order that.
Normand told the server to surprise him, and the server brought a beef pho-style dish that he loved. The server said it was something his grandmother used to make for him, which made the meal feel more personal and memorable. Food always tastes a little different when it comes with a story.
After lunch, we went back to the hotel, gathered our bags, and checked out around 3:00 p.m. Then it was time for the next chapter of the trip: boarding the Avalon Passion river cruise ship.
The ship felt beautiful and relaxing right away. Our staterooms overlooked the river, with large windows that opened so the whole room almost became the balcony. There was no separate balcony outside — instead, the bedroom itself opened to the breeze, the river sounds, and the view. You could open the door, hear the birds, feel the air, and watch Budapest from your room.
That evening, we had our first dinner on board. The food was really good, and once again, Teyauna seemed to choose especially well. At this point, the family may have considered letting her order for everyone.
After dinner, we settled into our comfortable beds on the Avalon Passion. After Paris, Versailles, Puy du Fou, Nantes, Budapest, laundry logistics, church, Vietnamese lunch, and hauling luggage around, sleeping on the river felt like the beginning of a much more peaceful rhythm.
