The lovely Danube River flowing through Budapest.

This giant eagle is a Hungarian war memorial.

Sofie and I in front of the Hungarian parliament building on the Danube River.

A Russian Lada car, holdover from the communist days. Csaba says they are sometimes referred to as 'Gypsie Mercedes.' Before communism ended in Hungary, Csaba's family had a Lada -- but they were on a waiting list for seven years before they got it.

Budapest detail.

The beautiful Hungarian parliament building.

Standing in front of Saint Stephen's basilica in Budapest.

My hosts in Hungary - Csaba and his girlfriend Sofie. I met Csaba four years ago in San Diego when he was there studying English.

Today smaller, friendlier animals frequent the place where once fearsome lions tore into human flesh.

The Roman Empire reached its furthest boundaries in central Europe right in the middle of modern-day Budapest. Romans once watched gladiators and beasts duke it out in this ampitheater.

The goulash is followed by this equally deliscious Hungarian desert - moist cake smothered in rich custard, cream and chocolate pudding. Can desert this good be legal?

My first meal in Hungary - a scrumptuous bowl of authentic Hungarian goulash.

Dreary grey Communist-era apartment blocks like this still abound in Budapest.

Sweden Beckons

From Copenhagen to Malmo, Sweden we go!

On the new bridge connecting Copenhagen to Malmo, Sweden.

What's going on here?

...just chilling out next to a Swedish supermarket display.

The day we went to Malmo, Sweden, Swedish students had just graduated from high school. They celebrated by donning their tradition graduation caps and riding around the streets, horns honking, hands waving.

My Danish host cousin Rune and I enjoy some cheap Swedish beer, called "Pips Blue."

In the old part of Malmo, Sweden.

Danish mailboxes (just for comparison's sake).

Swedish mailboxes.

Rune and I in front othe Treleborg viking fort recreation south of Malmo, Sweden. This stands where a fort dating from the 900's once stood. It was part of the Danish kingdom under Danish King Harold Bluetooth, son of Denmark's very first king, Gorm the Old.

Audrey and I at a Stone Age gravesite in Sweden.

Denmark takes on Albania in European Cup soccer

Danish soccer fans.

Danish fans celebrate their soccer team's excellent performance.

And Denmark wins the game, 3-1! They will advance in the European Cup, Albania will not.

A real Danish "Roligan" soccer fan.

The Danish and Albanian teams line up.

My Danish host uncle Bjoern and I. You can see how they keep all the Albanian fans in one section of the stands -- to avoid any hostilities with the Danish fans.

Danish fans whoop it up.

Team Albania fans show off their country's fearesome flag.

Team Denmark takes to the field.

A "Roligan," or Danish soccer fan, before the big game.

Christiania - a 1960's commune in 21st century Copenhagen

My Danish host cousin Rune meets Audrey and me after our climb up the spiral church tower and walking tour through nearby Christiania. Read the fascinating story of Christiania here: http://www.christiania.org/info2/

I visited Christiania once before with my Mom and sister, about 10 years ago. This time Audrey and I went a bit deeper into the community. No cars allowed. Dirt roads. Some nice houses, some kind of run down. People generally having a good time. Smell of marijuana from time to time. A 1960's commune alive and well in the 21st century.

Political protest is an everyday scene in Christiania.

Rarely spotted Danish police officers can sometimes be seen patrolling Christiana, where illicit drug use sometimes takes place. See the spiral church up above?

Audrey and I enter Christiana, the social experiment founded in the 1960's where a bunch of Danish bohemians live rent-free and pay no taxes.

Audrey from France, my host cousin Rune's girlfriend, is my lovely co-adventurer for the day. Here she overlooks Christiania -- Copenhagen's "free state" -- from atop the spiral church.

Another view of Copenhagen from atop the spiral church.

View of Copenhagen from atop the spiral church.

A view of the new bridge connecting Sweden and Denmark across the Oresund, from the top of the spiral church in Copenhagen.

See that? It's a church in Copenhagen built in the 1600's, and I'm gonna climb to the top of it!

The Danish Countryside

Danish farmland.

The Danish countryside.

A typically yummy Danish meal of frikadeller (Danish meatballs ), kartoffler (potatoes) and cucumber salad, courtesy of my host aunt, Jette.

My Danish host aunt, Jette, made frikadeller (Danish meatballs) for me at the summer house, and they were yummy!

Ever seen a house with grass for a roof before? This is a Danish "summer house" belonging to my host cousins, where I spent a night. It's in Dronningmoelle (Queen's Windmill), Denmark.

At a Danish dairy farm in North Zealand, much like the farm my Danish Grandfather grew up at in Jutland.