Dzsini and Wanda in Budapest
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Friday, January 21, 2005
Sze'p a Popo'd :)
OK, I know I said that I will write a log of my far east trip, however, I've just got back from Hungary and want to write about that first.
I realised that I should do some packing at 11pm on the day before my flight. I had 8 hours of time before my flight, plenty of time. However, what I didn't bank on was sleeping through my alarm and then waking up exactly 3 minutes before we had to leave. So the departure didn't start to well, however, the day completely turned around. I was met at an airport for the first time in my life! Dzsni and Wanda must think I'm easily pleased but I loved it.
Statue Park, Budapest
Day Two
My first trip to the Spa and what a spa! Szechenyi spa in Budapest is set in very ornate building and who should I stand behind, 10 people from Newcastle who I took under my wing because I could count to ten in Hungarian, and my sign language was better than theirs. Before visiting a country its very important to learn 2 words, male and female. This knowledge came in very handy when going to the changing rooms. In the spa you could definitely tell the tourists from the regulars. Us tourists ran over the cold icy floor into the pool and then ran back. The regulars had dressing gowns and flip flops, a good tip.
In the afternoon Wanda treated us to some gorgeous alice bands with balls on top to walk to the station with and I was very glad to say 'its ok, i don't live here' as we paraded through central Budapest and then through Szeged.
In the evening we ate and ate and ate. My good friends quickly discovered that the best way to make me try some food is to not tell me what it is first so the english 'vegetarian' tucked into some tasty beef and enjoyed every mouthful. After dinner I had my first 'first' by playing a game of jenga, another game i'm useless at. However, the opposition were pro's, i'm sure of it. I was then told that it was traditional to go to an adventure playground so clothes on and off we trundled into the freezing cold night at 4am. I stood at the bottom of the spiders web saying no no no, its ok, i'm scared of heights, 5 minutes after i was climbing. I will never forget looking across to Miss Vica jumping up and down as hard as she could and asking is this is the usual behaviour of a 25 year old pHD student :)
The Dom church, Szeged
Day Three
Day three was a day of firsts. The morning started at midday and horse sausages wrapped in sheeps intestine. Yummy. Then fruit soup, I must apologise for all of the times I have ever said 'urgh, fruit soup, are you serious?'. I take it back, it was gorgeous. At Miss Vica's parents we had lentil soup which is to bring wealth for the year ahead so I tucked into as much as I could. I'm still waiting for my wealth.
Day Four
Another day at a spa, the szeged one this time. Miss Vica dropped me off, passed me to someone who could speak English who then felt that it was his duty to monitor me on a half hourly basis, make me use everything in the spa and then show me around the whole spa. Hungarian hospitality, nothing beats it. In the afternoon we had a walk around Szeged and walked the promenade along the river to the most ugly sculpture I've seen in my life. My apologies to the Szeged population.
Day Five
A day at the zoo! I had fun saying the animal names in Hungarian but I don't think Miss Vica understood one of them.
Miss Vica, Szeged
Day Six
Day six started with a trip to the pasty shop for cottage cheese and apricot pastries for the journey to Budapest. Then that was it, I lost my left arm, aka Miss Vica. That was it, on my own and speaking Hungarian left, right and centre. I had too, I was sat on a stationary train for two hours before I realised I was on the wrong train. A days travelling later, I was in Kesthely.
Day Seven
My second Hungarian test, to get on the right bus, to ask for a bus ticket, to get off at the right stop and then to find my way to the spa. Today's expedition was to Heviz, the largest thermal lake in Europe. I read that you get used to the sulphur smell after some time. However, I smelt it every minute I was there, however, no pain, no gain and all that.
Lake Balaton
Day Eight
A moring travelling back to my right arm (Dzsini and Wanda). We visited St Stephens Basilica, a fantastic cake shop, second hand english bookshop, National musum. Gabby joined us at the National Museum and we ended the day with a cup of hot chocolate, yum.
Day Nine
Before going to Hungary I thought I had better practice some Ice Skating. I knew there was an open rink in city park. What I wasn't told was quite how big it is and that there aren't any barriers around the side to hold on to! Dzsini held my hand for a few metres and that was it, he told me just to go. Easier said than done. After an hours skating my cheeks were permanently ref, my feet were frozen but I was on a high and couldn't stop smiling. To compensate for doing exercise, in the evening I ate a ridiculous amount of food. Dzsini and Wanda took me to Sir Lancelot resturant, a medieval resturant where you eat with your hands, your soup is served in a bread roll instead of a bowl and you eat until you drop. The 'vegetarian' then decided to give up vegetarianism.
Ms Keela on ice :)
Day Ten
Day ten was a sad day, the day of travelling home which was eventful after I left Dzsini and Wanda, if only I could have taken them with me. I flew home in a storm which was amusing when the plan landed.
So all in all I loved my trip to Hungary. A few people have asked 'Why Hungary?'. I tell them that for the first time in my life I have seen a completely different side of tourism. I'm not a tourist, I am shown around by people who live there, people who can speak the language, people who are passionate about their country. My sincere thanks to Miss Vica, Dzsini, Wanda, Gabby and Liz, I had a fantastic time in Hungary, koszonom szepen to you all and see you in the summer :)
I realised that I should do some packing at 11pm on the day before my flight. I had 8 hours of time before my flight, plenty of time. However, what I didn't bank on was sleeping through my alarm and then waking up exactly 3 minutes before we had to leave. So the departure didn't start to well, however, the day completely turned around. I was met at an airport for the first time in my life! Dzsni and Wanda must think I'm easily pleased but I loved it.
Statue Park, Budapest
Day Two
My first trip to the Spa and what a spa! Szechenyi spa in Budapest is set in very ornate building and who should I stand behind, 10 people from Newcastle who I took under my wing because I could count to ten in Hungarian, and my sign language was better than theirs. Before visiting a country its very important to learn 2 words, male and female. This knowledge came in very handy when going to the changing rooms. In the spa you could definitely tell the tourists from the regulars. Us tourists ran over the cold icy floor into the pool and then ran back. The regulars had dressing gowns and flip flops, a good tip.
In the afternoon Wanda treated us to some gorgeous alice bands with balls on top to walk to the station with and I was very glad to say 'its ok, i don't live here' as we paraded through central Budapest and then through Szeged.
In the evening we ate and ate and ate. My good friends quickly discovered that the best way to make me try some food is to not tell me what it is first so the english 'vegetarian' tucked into some tasty beef and enjoyed every mouthful. After dinner I had my first 'first' by playing a game of jenga, another game i'm useless at. However, the opposition were pro's, i'm sure of it. I was then told that it was traditional to go to an adventure playground so clothes on and off we trundled into the freezing cold night at 4am. I stood at the bottom of the spiders web saying no no no, its ok, i'm scared of heights, 5 minutes after i was climbing. I will never forget looking across to Miss Vica jumping up and down as hard as she could and asking is this is the usual behaviour of a 25 year old pHD student :)
The Dom church, Szeged
Day Three
Day three was a day of firsts. The morning started at midday and horse sausages wrapped in sheeps intestine. Yummy. Then fruit soup, I must apologise for all of the times I have ever said 'urgh, fruit soup, are you serious?'. I take it back, it was gorgeous. At Miss Vica's parents we had lentil soup which is to bring wealth for the year ahead so I tucked into as much as I could. I'm still waiting for my wealth.
Day Four
Another day at a spa, the szeged one this time. Miss Vica dropped me off, passed me to someone who could speak English who then felt that it was his duty to monitor me on a half hourly basis, make me use everything in the spa and then show me around the whole spa. Hungarian hospitality, nothing beats it. In the afternoon we had a walk around Szeged and walked the promenade along the river to the most ugly sculpture I've seen in my life. My apologies to the Szeged population.
Day Five
A day at the zoo! I had fun saying the animal names in Hungarian but I don't think Miss Vica understood one of them.
Miss Vica, Szeged
Day Six
Day six started with a trip to the pasty shop for cottage cheese and apricot pastries for the journey to Budapest. Then that was it, I lost my left arm, aka Miss Vica. That was it, on my own and speaking Hungarian left, right and centre. I had too, I was sat on a stationary train for two hours before I realised I was on the wrong train. A days travelling later, I was in Kesthely.
Day Seven
My second Hungarian test, to get on the right bus, to ask for a bus ticket, to get off at the right stop and then to find my way to the spa. Today's expedition was to Heviz, the largest thermal lake in Europe. I read that you get used to the sulphur smell after some time. However, I smelt it every minute I was there, however, no pain, no gain and all that.
Lake Balaton
Day Eight
A moring travelling back to my right arm (Dzsini and Wanda). We visited St Stephens Basilica, a fantastic cake shop, second hand english bookshop, National musum. Gabby joined us at the National Museum and we ended the day with a cup of hot chocolate, yum.
Day Nine
Before going to Hungary I thought I had better practice some Ice Skating. I knew there was an open rink in city park. What I wasn't told was quite how big it is and that there aren't any barriers around the side to hold on to! Dzsini held my hand for a few metres and that was it, he told me just to go. Easier said than done. After an hours skating my cheeks were permanently ref, my feet were frozen but I was on a high and couldn't stop smiling. To compensate for doing exercise, in the evening I ate a ridiculous amount of food. Dzsini and Wanda took me to Sir Lancelot resturant, a medieval resturant where you eat with your hands, your soup is served in a bread roll instead of a bowl and you eat until you drop. The 'vegetarian' then decided to give up vegetarianism.
Ms Keela on ice :)
Day Ten
Day ten was a sad day, the day of travelling home which was eventful after I left Dzsini and Wanda, if only I could have taken them with me. I flew home in a storm which was amusing when the plan landed.
So all in all I loved my trip to Hungary. A few people have asked 'Why Hungary?'. I tell them that for the first time in my life I have seen a completely different side of tourism. I'm not a tourist, I am shown around by people who live there, people who can speak the language, people who are passionate about their country. My sincere thanks to Miss Vica, Dzsini, Wanda, Gabby and Liz, I had a fantastic time in Hungary, koszonom szepen to you all and see you in the summer :)
Thursday, January 20, 2005
My first post
Well here goes my first post. In February I am travelling around the far east and will be recording my travels here. At the moment I'm doing my best to avoid everything to do with the trip. I have managed to renew my passport and reserve my excursions so I think I'm doing quite well. However, my mother is now starting her daily pesters to get me to apply for my visa. You can already tell that I have my priorities wrong because i'm writing this instead of my visa application :)
Anyway, not much to report on as yet becuase I'm sat in my flat on a cold Bristol morning. More to follow.
Anyway, not much to report on as yet becuase I'm sat in my flat on a cold Bristol morning. More to follow.
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