Despite the rigors of the journey, it was certainly worth the effort. When his cousins and friends arrived, Miklos was in prime mood, full of his usual humor, interacting, and surprising some of the other members of the party with his vigor. Seeing the Politzer Saga exhibit reminded him of his family history and gave him a sense of pride in the accomplishments of his ancestors.

We both enjoyed meals with the group at traditional Hungarian restaurants, and really enjoyed visits to Gerbeaud for pastries. Some other stops disappointed by the changes. The New York Cafe, once an integral part of the Budapest coffee house culture, while still beautifully ornate, had obviously become a tourist trap. It was worth a photo, but not an order. Gerbeaud, on the other hand, retained it both its elegance and its really delicious pastries.

The most important moment for Miklos was probably our trip to the Jewish cemetery. Linda had hired a tour guide and a mini-bus to take us to visit some of the houses that various members of the Politzer family had owned before the war. The tour involved walking several blocks between each bus ride, and Miklos began to grumble a little bit about having to be dragged along on this tour. One of Hungarian friends suggested that we be dropped at the hotel before they went on to the cemetery, but I am glad that Linda prevailed.

Within in the cemetery, there are family plots that share a common headstone. When we arrived at his great-grandfather’s plot, we found names of many ancestors. Most meaningful to Miklos was seeing his grandfather’s name. As he stood with Linda holding hands in front of the tombstone, there were tears in his eyes. It was a very moving moment for everyone.

I won’t try to undertake a journey of this magnitude again, but I am really glad we took this last trip together to Hungary.