It seemed like every day I grew to love Budapest more and more. What's not to love really? The architecture is beautiful, the people are nice and for the most part friendly, and the food and restaurants are quite good and relatively inexpensive. AND, they have the most polite dogs I've ever seen.
Every day I would encounter more dog walkers than I have ever noticed before. All kinds of breeds from shepards to terriers, mutts, French bulldogs and Bichon Fris. All well behaved on and off leash. I think when a vast majority of dogs are well trained and good citizens, it says a lot about its people. The Hungarians obviously love dogs.
One of the reasons I've noted this is because I have been thinking for quite some time now of getting a dog. I've held off because of the responsibilities which I know are numerous and taking into consideration our life in the Foreign Service; traveling around the world and being able to spend the necessary time and not neglect it.
I suppose my dog from childhood (a border collie) brings back memories of an understanding family member. There were a few other dogs friends had had and who could forget Pablo, my cousin's dog?
Several years ago, I was in SF and I saw a man walk up to a Peet's Coffee on Fillmore street and tell his small dog to sit while he went inside. I watched the dog and it charmed me. When he came out, I asked him what breed it was assuming it was a poodle. It turned out to be a Portuguese Water Dog. I have seen at least 5 of them since and have always been impressed by their intelligence, affection, and personalities. I've been contemplating and even in touch with a few breeders. The fact that President Obama is seriously thinking of getting one will no doubt make them all the more popular. Part of me really wants one and then I think perhaps we should just get a mutt. In any case, may it be as well behaved as the dogs in Hungary.
twenty-something years of "what have you been up to?" 
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