num_pages: 372
description: Moving humorous travel memoir: One senior woman crosses the world to research skeletons in the family closet tracks down and embraces long-lost cousins becomes a resident and tells it like a witty thriller. Many have ancestors who arrived via Ellis Island: this one went back and she's funny. To celebrate her 60th birthday Eileen Kay disobeyed her parents' old edicts flew to Hungary and investigated their genealogy mysteries. She knew nothing about her ancestors knew no one there and did not speak a word of the eccentric Hungarian language but started with a few names and a lot of questions. One woman's journey turned into 3 years of tenacious research and the family tree grew to hundreds of characters. Like a detective story their weird and wonderful unfolded a surprising saga of mixed races and very mixed fortunes spanning an ocean and over a century. She embraced a Holocaust survivor made many young new friends came to adore flodni cake and before she knew it Budapest officially declared her a resident. Also: Interfaith marriages - Catholic and Jewish Family secrete and hidden feuds Hanging around in cemeteries and archives Harry Houdini escapologist at the centre of Budapest's House of Houdini Bela Bartok House museum in former home of the classical composer Footballer Ferenc Pushkas celebrated in a beloved street mural Rubic of cube fame was Hungarian Flodni cake is heaven on earth Jewish princess Zsa Zsa Gabor escaped the Nazis went to Hollywood and married nine times six more than some of the author's cousins and that was bold in the early 1900s This is for fans who love travel memoirs by women especially solo travellers. Seniors may relate best of all especially armchair travellers. Those intrigued with family trees ancestral searches finding long-lost cousins and a good genealogy mystery will love this. It already inspired readers to research their own family genealogy mysteries in the hopes of travelling to the land of their ancestors. If you have any kind of mystery in your history this will inspire you to pursue it. In fact if you have any sort of burning question this will inspire you to pursue your answer. It's an inner journey as well as a travel memoir. It's all about travelling with a purpose. And cake. And cousins. This family history is set against the background of the history of Europe in Hungary and nearby from before World War One through World War two and into the Communist years. In between serious and even some tragic drama is a light-hearted spin through groovy contemporary Budapest and its international ex-pat community with joyful descriptions of food attractions and young new companions. The author's first book was Noodle Trails a Travel Memoir: Fair Trade Dung Trade and Travels in Thailand and beyond Failed comedienne seeks beach hut to recover from heartbreak and business collapse. Ten years later in the same hut she writes her sweet funny tale of mangoes lizards and a new life. Its about travel with a purpose. And Thai noodles. And keeping a sense of humor. Top 3 REVIEWS: Engaging funny poignant - everything a good travel memoir should be. For real travellers rather than tourists. Mary Smith author of No More Mulberries Drunk Chickens and Burnt Macaroni Beautifully written gave me a real feel for the country people food and culture.
language: None
title: Noodle Trails 2, a Travel Memoir: My Secret Century in Budapest, One Senior Woman’s Journey into a Genealogy Mystery, Hungarian and Jewish culture, ancestry, gossip, food, friends and a new life
publisher: Sabre Books London