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NY-Prague/Budapest-DC
  • Bruce Winters
  • Karen Winters
  • Bruce Winters
  • Karen Winters

NY-Prague/Budapest-DC

We are finally getting Lee back to Prague after his semester overseas was cut short due to COVID. This time we are joining him in order to share the full experience with him. The trip is: 7 days-NY, 6 days-Prague, 6 days- Budapest, and 8 days-NY/DC. Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 30, 2025
    NY-Prague/Budapest-DC

    A New Journey!

    October 30 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 63 °F

    We are so grateful to begin a new journey and to once again have Lee traveling with us. We begin this trip with a miracle! No cars on the 5 or 405. For those of you that live in California or have visited and tried to get anywhere on these 2 roads, at any time of day, you know there is no "rush hour traffic" like in NY. There are ALWAYS cars and traffic on the 405 and 5 freeways. NOT THIS MORNING. We learned the secret of this miracle ... get there at 3am.Read more

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    So we started Halloween a few days early

    October 30 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    We knew that we would miss the California festivities, so we are including our "pre-trip" warmup festivities for Halloween. YES, our neighborhood reallllly got into it.

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    Halloween Events we participated in!

    October 30 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    -Recognize KING NEPTUNE? He also handed out "goldfish", since even the fish are afraid of the God of the Sea (OSC MATE).
    -We went to the "Witches & Kyacks/Paddleboards". Doesn't everyone?
    -The Skull & Pumpkin photos were for my assignment in my photography class on Halloween!
    - See video of the skeletons dancin' (on a neighbors garage)!    Read more

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    Arrival 2:23pm Ha HaA Big Turn and then....Round and roundArrived in Phili at 6pm

    PHILADELPHIA VISIT- Unexpected!

    October 30 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 61 °F

    Weather in NYC had us diverted to Phil for a few hours where we stayed while they refueled and the weather passed and then to NYC. Would not have been "too bad" if we had not got up and left at 2am and not got to NYC until 9pm.
    Note: we did get to experience local art in Phili    Read more

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    HALLOWEEN- TODAY SHOW

    October 31 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 52 °F

    Could not be in NYC and miss the ROAD TRIP and "characters" on the
    Today Show today:
    Savannah Guthrie as The Devil Wears Prada's Miranda Presley
    Jenna Bush Hager as Anna Wintour
    Carson Daly as Rocky Balboa
    Al Roker as Clubber Lang (Mr T)
    Craig Melvin as Prince
    Peter Alexander as Jimmy Buffett
    Sheinelle Jones as Cowboy Carter Beyoncé
    Dylan Dreyer as Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons
    Willier Geist as Wayne Newton
    Laura Jarrett as Saved by the Bell icon Lisa Turtle
    Note: MetroCard Farewell Campaign, a month-long celebration honoring the legacy of the MetroCard (while ushering riders into the era of tapping).    Read more

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    1Mary (on the left) makes EVERY scone and loaf by hand!11

    MARY O - IRISH SODA BREAD!!!

    October 31 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    As featured all over NYC programming. https://maryos.nyc/home
    We "had" to stop and see Mary at Mary O for breakfast and get the most incredible scones, and made from Irish Soda Bread, always right out of the oven ... until they are gone for the day ... every day.Read more

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    This was HOME
    Williamsburg BridgeCrossing DelancyThe NeighborhoodSamuel Sullivan Cox- Letter Carriers (my grandfather) Friend

    647 East 5th Street - Lower East Side

    October 31 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    America was seen as a refuge from religious persecution and oppressive tyranny and a beacon of hope and freedom. My mothers' family, The Heckers, came from Russia, landed at Ellis Island with almost nothing and then settled into the densely populated tenements on the lower East Side (LES). These homes were cheap low-rise multi-family apartments. Their apartment was less than 500 square feet with 2 bedroom and 6 people lived there. See the neighborhood now (in photos).Read more

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    Our Tour Guide buying us croissantsWe got to choose 3 cookies each.... yumAppetizing & Deli TOGETHER?CHALLAH!BAGELS & LOX for EVERYONE!1Trader Joes in a BANK?George was HERE!

    Brooklyn Food/Walking Tour-Lee's Tour -1

    October 31 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 57 °F

    Brooklyn’s Smith & Court Streets and 4 surrounding neighborhoods have a vibrant mix of small, locally owned, and artisanal Italian and Middle Eastern specialties food shops unlike almost any other neighborhood in America. We learned how these businesses have shaped the neighborhood, how they’ve adapted to modern challenges, and how they support the local economy. Insight into Brooklyn’s culinary history and changing neighborhood character. We had 6 food tastings!!!
    Food stops #1-#3    Read more

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    Halloween Parade in NYC! (1 of 2)

    October 31 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 57 °F

    For those that have never heard of this event, the 52nd Annual New York’s Village Halloween Parade began in 1973 when a puppeteer, Ralph Lee, took his family and friends on a walk in the neighborhood. The parade grew larger the following year after a theater became involved. Fifty-two years later, the parade now attracts around 2 million spectators and around 80,000 participants. This year the theme is POTLUCK! When we do it together and care for one another, there is enough for everyone!

    At its roots, Halloween is a Harvest feast, a celebration of abundance that defies the scarcity of winter. It speaks to the soul of NYC, it’s not political, ethnic or commercial like many parades, but has at its heart a recognition of spirit of NYC and people.

    The photos say it all! Don't miss the 9 videos posted here too.    Read more

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    21Mini-museum at Central Synagogue

    Mishkan- Saturday Morning Services

    November 1 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    One of the most meaningful Shabbat Morning Services for me at Central. It was Torah Portion "lech lecha", so significant to me and emotional. We received an Aliyah and beautiful prayer for families.

    Abraham: Lech L’cha! - “Go forth!  “You should go” “Go for You,” “Go to You,” “Go within and find Yourself” … take on this impossible internal/external mission and I will make for you a great nation and you shall be a blessing as will all subsequent generations. “I will bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore”.
    Abraham was over 85 and was still without a son but had faith and courage … bringing him Ishmael and Isaac.



    Lech l'cha, epitomized by Debbie Friedman’s Song, has been my deepest, maybe most meaningful prayer/song, since 1993….  and this is where it began...



    I attended the October 1993 Reform Biennial in San Francisco. It was a breakthrough conference in many ways. It focused on Jewish Diversity with Rabbi Schindler urging Jews to actively pursue converts, there was a big push for LGBTQ+ equality, and there was the release of a gender-neutral prayer book.



    ALSO, Debbie Friedman was introduced and, in person I watched her sing Mi Shebeirach (written in ’89) & Lechi Lach (written in ’88) for the FIRST TIME in a public setting. This song became very meaningful to many people and started a tradition of being sung at B’nai Mitzvot across the Country. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7NCBTyXu4

    Since that time, it has been my long-time favorite parsha. Like Abraham, I too had dreamed of having a son and for 10+ years struggled and tried many traditional methods and related to this Bible story of infertility and it’s struggles. Every Shabbat in Synagogue for many years I would watch children, relatives and friends, become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and I would hear the cantor sing Debbie’s Lech L’cha. It always brought tears to my eyes (still does) and a sense that I had to work harder toward the goal and pray more intensely. Using science (and a lot of money) to “help” the natural methods did not work, and we eventually left behind the “familiar routes to parenthood” and moved on and found a new mostly uncharted path, bringing me a son in 1999 (feel free to ask me for more information). Fast forward and we now have a wonderful 26-year-old son. May our people continue to grow and thrive like the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore.    Read more

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    Seagrams
    Park Avenue

    Short Midtown Tour with Lee

    November 1 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    On our walk from Central Synagogue downtown, we had a short midtown tour. Some of the highlights were:

    -Seagram Building known for its architecture and famous residents over the years is also the first in NYC, privately owned urban green space that is open public space.

    -St Bartholomew (St Barts), a landmark in NY and a Park Avenue Church among all the skyscrapers, is famous for the moving the original 1902 three arch façade (designed by Stanford White) from its 1835 downtown location to this new location. It is a French Romanesque Rival portal made from bronze and depicting scenes from the Bible.
    It also was the scene in one of my favorite 1981 movies, Arthur, where he is married.

    -JP Morgan building is the first totally environmentally electric building made from 98% of the 98% of materials reused from the demolition of last building, that was in its place. Also, its base was done in a tripod for the first time in construction of a skyscraper, so they didn’t disrupt Grand Central Station underneath and to create strongest possible base.

    -Grand Central Terminal (since trains terminate there) is one of the most famous and busiest train stations in the world with over a quarter million daily commuters. Its distinctive architecture is a landmark and its main concourse and ceiling is an art exhibit in itself with much history, stories and beauty.    Read more

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    Queen of Versailles, World Series

    November 1 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 54 °F

    Our evening entertainment was the Broadway Show Queen of Versailles with Kristin Chenoweth. She was wonderful as was the Stephen Schwartz music. The story is one of those where you walk out saying "truth is always stranger than fiction" with this story of a "driven" woman determined to build the largest home in the United States continues. (see video of standing ovation for Kristin)

    We got back to the hotel just in time to watch the end of the 7th game of the World Series and a Dodgers Win, their NINTH one. Born in Manhattan and being a NYer most of my life, as well as watching this win in NYC, I can't help but give some credit to its origins in Brooklyn from 1883-1957 when they moved to Los Angeles and have played ever since. I also must mention Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto who was named the World Series MVP this year for his outstanding performance.    Read more

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    Stroll to the Marathon

    November 2 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    On our walk to the Marathon we went through the beautiful and serene Central Park and around the Reservoir. After watching the marathon, we joined the crowds in the subway (who were trying to get from one part of the Marathon where they saw friends and family to catch a glimpse of them at another part) as we passed interesting artwork that is often missed by commuters and those that rush through the NYC Subway system.Read more

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    Elite Runners - The winner is here, can you spot him?

    NYC MARATHON

    November 2 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    For the second consecutive year, New York broke the world record for the largest marathon ever (over 59,000). We went and WATCHED the 54th NYC Marathon. We have watched it on TV for many years but never in person. It is incredibly exhilarating to watch the energy and fortitude as we stood at mile 18 on First Avenue at top of the hill and watched these runners. We also watched some of the handicap runners come in at mile 23 which was amazing. Note: Watch the 3 videos including the short 4 second one of the top elite runners flying by.

    They come in all ages, shapes and sizes and from all over the world (132 countries). They are incredible happy and focused at the same time and although some seem to be hurting they persevere. The energy on the street with the screaming, bells and signage in support is a sight to be seen. In addition to lots of blown up head shots of the runners, the signs like: "Stamina" " I don’t know you but really proud of you" "Energy" "Who's Chasing You" "I Also Run from My Problems" "Where's Everyone Going" "You Run Faster than My Dog" and "You Can DO This".....

    WEATHER-Start: 52 degrees, 55% humidity, wind calm; Finish: 53 degrees, 51% humidity, wind 7 mph
    It was absolutely wonderful and inspiring.
    59,226: The number of finishers who ran 26.2 from Staten Island to Central Park.
    2:08:09: The time both Benson Kipruto and Alexander Mutiso ran to finish 1-2 in the professional men’s race. In a photo finish, Kipruto beat his Kenyan rival by 0.03 seconds—the closest finish in the history of the event.
    7: The number of American runners who finished inside the top 10
    2,396: The number of people who ran faster than 3:00:00, including 203 women
    20,047: The amount of people who ran faster than 4:00:00 on Sunday.
    2: The number of back-to-back Broadway shows Jordan Litz performed as Fiyero in Wicked after finishing the New York City Marathon in 3:40:53 on Sunday morning..
    132: The number of countries represented in the race.
    The mens winner in 2:08 (USA 2:10) and women's in 2:20 (USA 2:23)
    Wheelchair men 1:30 and wheelchair women 1:42
    Hand cycle 1:34
    Oldest male 91 in 7:25.
    75-79 men- 3:35 women-4:13
    80-89 men81-4:21 woman82- 6:43    Read more

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    Hannah Senesh!

    November 2 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    On the eve of the Holocaust, many left Europe for Palestine to save themselves. Very few went back to save others. Hannah Did.

    Hannah Senesh: “Blessed is the heart with strength to stop its beating for honor's sake. Blessed is the match consumed in kindling flame.” These words foreshadowed Hannah's readiness to sacrifice herself to help Jewish people under threat by Nazi Germany.

    In anticipation of our visit this week to Prague and Budapest, last week while in NYC, we saw the one-woman show, Hannah Senesh, which tells her true story, a heroic 18 year old Jew who escaped from Hungary in 1939 to the safety of British Mandate Palestine. She studied at a girls’ agricultural school in Nahalal and settled in kibbutz Sdot Yam. There she joined Haganah and volunteered for a daring Special Airborne Operations mission to parachute back into Europe to save Jews from the Holocaust. Her intelligence movement was made up of 37 brave volunteers that assisted the British and the local Jewish resistance & Zionist movements. She was captured, arrested and tortured in a prison in Budapest for not revealing secret radio codes. Hannah’s story and invincible spirit, along with her moving diary and poetry that she left behind, serve as an enduring inspiration to people everywhere standing up to the powers of hatred and oppression. In Israel she is considered a national heroine. She (only 23 years old) was executed on this day that I am posting this, November 7.
    The famous poem, Eli, Eli was written by Hannah Senesh and put to music by David Zehavi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCBCIFwOy-M

    Note: after seeing this incredibly moving show on Broadway, we went to Dutch Fred's Bar and Restaurant to unwind with an old dear friend, who entertained us for 6 months in 2023. Thank you Laura Pachnos.    Read more

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    Visiting Old Friends in CT

    November 3 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    A highlight of our East Coast Tour was our day with Michael Obadia and Philip and Marcy Feinman. We had a lovely relaxing afternoon catching up and reliving wonderful memories with them.

    Now that we are member of the OC Wine Society and are learning more and more about wine, I can confidently say, "Old friends are like fine wine, they get better with age"!

    Note: we also enjoyed the autumn leaves changing colors and a CT diner!    Read more

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    Next Stop, Bellmore Long Island

    November 4 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    We enjoyed two full days with Matt & Sarah, Logan, Shayla, Sheryl and Bill and Lee, as we caught up with family and got to spend some quality time with Logan & Shayla. I even got to visit my old Jr HS (1968), Grand Avenue, where Sarah & Matt went to vote. We enjoyed a great dinner at a Hibachi restaurant, my mother's favorite, and introduced Logan to a new exciting dining experience.
    Also, see 6 videos.    Read more

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    Dairy Barn...careful driving thru...ShirLEEEasy Bay late nites ...relocated?Carvel Corner- what else would you call this corner?Activities at Mom & Tots & Great UnclesDad Guitar Lessons!Grandpa INSISTED we record this activity!

    Long Island - Day 2

    November 5 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    What an experience! Sarah picked me up and along with Logan (you need a baby or you are not allowed in) we went to MOMS & TOTS & GREAT UNCLES, for a 1.5 hour non-stop activity class with songs, marches, dances, games, projects, play time and of course snack time. Whew, I was exhausted but Logan kept going and going. We then spent the afternoon at home relaxing with Logan & Shayla, ha ha!

    We also did a short tour of Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh to check out the old sites where I grew up. Of course most of them are gone, but I did get to visit 3 favorites: Dairy Barn, East Bay Diner and Carvel!

    See 3 videos too.    Read more

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