American Serb History 101

with Baba Mim....

Check out my other websites too:

Not Retired From Learning! http://www.notretiredfromlearning.com

and....

Bizic Education Enterprises.

"The Power of Three"--> www.mimbizic.com

And the Moon Township Historical Society website:

www.moontownshiphistoricalsociety.com

Serbian History 101
PA
United States
m.bizic@comcast.net

Serbian Embassy In Budapest, Hungary

Note the location of Heroes Square to the Serbian Embassy in Budapest, Hungary. Mim and Žikica, the Ambassador's chauffeur. He was delightful!

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The Serbian Embassy in Budapest, Hungary, where His Excellency, Ambassador Rade Drobac serves. Ambassador Drobac was busy, but Minister Counselor, Jelena Cvijanovic gave us a lovely tour.

The Legend of the Budapest Goose:

Finding the Embassy by Serendipity!

On day 9 of our 11 day CROWNS OF CENTRAL EUROPE tour with Gate 1 Travel, my sisters Rose Gantner and Alexandra Nolan, along with cousin Cheri Bobik and Kuma Natalie Wuchenich and Dejan Maksimovich were in Budapest. We had traveled from Prague, the Czech Republic, to the UNESCO town of Regensburg and Munich in Germany, to "Sound of Music" Saltzburg and beautiful St. Wolfgang Lake in Austria, back to Germany to see the Eagle's Nest, Hitler's notorious Bavarian hideout, supposedly built for his 50th birthday as a surprise. Then it was on to Vienna, Austria where we enjoyed a buggy carriage ride in the afternoon and heard a wonderful concert dedicated to Mozart and Straus in the evening. Now we were in Budapest, Hungary, definitely long on my Bucket List.

We had traveled all morning from Vienna, and arrived in time for an afternoon tour. We ate lunch downtown and later visited the Fisherman's Bastion and toured the St. Matthias Church, seeing breathtaking panoramic views of the city in 90 degree plus weather, highly unusual for this time of year. By the time we got to the incredible HEROES Square after going through the adjoining Varosliget city park, I was finished. There was no way I could hop on and off the bus again. I was content to view it from the bus, as I was still able to hear our guide speak of its many wonders.

I watched our tour group following our city guide, and all of a sudden, what I thought was a Canada Goose flew close to the bus.

Hmm. My family and I have some "spiritual connection" to Canada geese and doves. "Did I just see one?" I questioned myself. "I didn't realize they're here in Hungary too, this far away from North America," I thought to myself.

Just then two smaller birds flew by. "Oh, it was just a big bird," I tried to convince myself, when unexpectedly, for sure, the Canada Goose flew VERY close to the bus. "Mum? Gus? Is that you?" I know it sounds weird, but its the truth. I stared at the Goose and watched as it did a few loops in the sky and then suddenly turned left, my eyes never losing sight of my "Messenger." From my peripheral vision I saw the crowd taking photos at the monumental Heroes Square, created to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of Hungary.

Over the heads of my companions it flew, and then suddenly disappeared! Gone! Only a second of time, when I blinked, hoping to see what had happened to it. Instead of the Canada Goose, I saw the Serbian flag! It was the Serbian Embassy, about a long block away, so close, right across the street! None of the others had seen it! How I pounded on the window, trying to get my traveling buddies' attention to no avail. But soon Natalie boarded the bus, and I breathlessly told her to look out the window! "Look! That's the Serbian Embassy!" I told her.

"Where is the American SRBOBRAN when you need it?" she asked, thinking we had left it behind. "Right here!" I reached into my bag, and off we were, ready to spread the word to the others. Once tired Milana (Mim) sprang off the bus!

Natalie took a selfie photo of the two of us holding our SRBOBRAN with lots of pride. Later, I bounced onto the bus with so much energy, proclaiming, "Look what Emotional Intelligence" can do to the body!" I certainly was rejuvenated! I asked our guide if she could arrange a visit for us the next day. She did! We were to be at the Embassy by 10:00 AM!

While Alex and Dan went on an optional tour of the Parliament Building, Natalie, Rose, Cheri and I took a cab to the Embassy, just a straight shot from our hotel, but too far to walk. There we met with our guide, Jelena Cvijanovich, Councellor of Consular Affairs in the Consulate building. Jelena knew His Excellency, Ambassador Djerdj Matkovich, the present head of the Serbian Embassy in Washington, DC, as he was her former boss. We showed Jelena the copy of the American SRBOBRAN and said how Ambassador Matkovic was featured on the cover of the SRBOBRAN only an issue or two before when he toured the Serb National Federation headquarters in Pittsburgh. Thank you, Jelena and Zikica, for a fine time with you all! xoxoxo

Rose, Mim, Cheri and Natalie with the Serbian Crest and SRBOBRAN at the Budapest Embassy.

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Lovely room, lovely ceiling!

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Mim and Jelena with the Hungarian and Serbian flags in the background. Look at the beautiful walls, and extra woodwork, grillwork and drapes!

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Mim and Jelena at the monument, across sthe street from beautiful HEROES Square!

Farewell to our Serbian Embassy in Budapest! What a visit we had. Thank you all! On the steps, Mim Bizic, Rose Gantner with SRBOBRAN, Cheri Bobik and Natalie Wuchenich.

Top of Monument at Heroes Square, built to commemorate the 1000th Anniversary of the Magyar conquest of Hungary.

Alex at the Monument at Heroes Square, across the street from the Serbian Embassy in Budapest!

Magnificent sculptures at Heroes Square.

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At the Counsalate in Budapest:

Natalie Wuchenich, Mim Bizic, Jelena Cvijanovic who would be leaving the Budapest Embassy for a post in Belgrade soon after our visit, Cheri Bobik and Rose Gantner.

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