Keszthely, Hungary

Annies Words

Yes my turn to write the blog again. Let me begin with the two HUGE pieces of news for the W’s.

First our daughter Kathryn and her partner Iain are expecting a baby on 21^st December which is our son Chris’s birthday. We will be leaving for NZ just a few short weeks after we get home from Europe so we don’t miss the birth.

The other is our son Chris, has landed his dream job and will begin training with cityrail as a driver on 7^th July. We could not be happier with the news.

We couldn’t tell anyone till Kath was 3 months so Sue has been driven mad with me being so excited about the baby. Every time we see a baby, I tell her that I am getting one for Christmas! I love driving her mad, gets the best reaction.

Just a note about something else here, Sue bought from home a big book of the Lonely Planet Europe. It is a great book and gets referred to as the Bible, there are not too many places it has not been to and has been a valuable tool for us. Sue loves it so much that I plan to throw it in the box when she leaves this mortal world. She needs something to read on those long cloudy days.

We have also now developed our own language, here are some examples

VERVE to deviate from the route gently

AMBIENTIAL Pleasant atmosphere

SWAVITY The act of being Swave

TREE FALL Shade of a tree

OK now the blog.

Saturday 7^th June LAKE BLED, SLOVENIA

I know Rob has covered this in his blog, but I have to add that this is one, if not the most beautiful, peaceful place I have ever been to. Remember I was a travel agent for over 30years so I have seen a lot of places. The mountains, trees the lake, the castle, the church on the island. Just magic. Even Judy could live there. I wanted Richard to buy me a certain house I took a fancy to but he wouldn’t. Not a caring husband is he.

This was one of our best day trips. Slovenia turned out to a real surprise packet.

Sunday 8^th June LJUBIJANA (Capital of Slovenia)

Usual breakfast of yogurt, but let me tell you Slovenia yogurt is not great, they mainly have drinking yogurt which is not good. Richard is still having Italian Corn flakes. We had a sleepless night as there was a Slovenia wedding reception at the restaurant attached to the caravan park. Sue and I went down for a sticky and it looked quiet tame. That changed when we went to bed and the noise was terrible. Fireworks outside the van at 1am and loud music till 2.30am was not fun. Of course, anyone who knows Richard, knows that he of course slept through it!!!!

We were told that there were markets in the city and the fruit and veg in Slovenia was not good, and Sue and I love the markets. So we dragged the boys into town, found the markets and they were closed. Bummer. So we decided that we would see the city while we were in there. Found a park, cost 3 euro and walked. We found the flea markets. They were very interesting. Ljubljana is a modern city with not much of its history left and we had seen nothing to indicate that either world war had affected it.

The markets had heaps of stalls with war memorabilia including German helmets, ration books, medals even swords. It was amazing to see. They also had a very large bronze statue of The Man from La Manche which Richard priced at 1549Euro!!! He didn’t buy it.

We then got the funicular railway up the hill to the castle. Not your run of the mill castle, turned into a somewhat modern museum with very sparse exhibits. Sue gave me the money to buy the tickets to a virtual museum. I get to buy the tickets when they have seniors discount because of my grey hair and no asks us for proof then. Cost 2euro each instead of 3.50euro.

We got issued Polaroid glasses and a translator with headphones for the presentation. We looked rather good I thought. The presentation was terrible very arty and never really told us much. Except at the end when they mention immediately after getting independence from the old Yugoslavia then had a 10 day war with the remaining countries.

Back to the vans for our picnic lunch today and of course it rained. Slovenia provided even more rain than we had before. Afternoon free till we had a good old fashioned Aussie BBQ for tea. Sausages and chicken, homemade coleslaw and potato salad and salad. Really yummy. It was great just to have something normal from home. Except the sausages were stuffed with cheese would you believe.

Sue and I had worked out that we would be best to go via Austria for our next jump, well of course that soon changed and we decided to head for Hungary! At least I was included this time, they usually wait till I go to the toilet to change things and then forget to tell me! Happens to me all the time.

Monday 9^th June,

Happy birthday Carolyn (Sue’s sister). Jump day. Sue and I decided we needed to resupply before leaving Slovenia because things are cheaper. So off to the supermarket in the E car while the boys packed everything up and got the vans ready. Couldn’t find the entrance to the supermarket we had spied out, but found another, got our shopping after parking on the footpath, just like everyone else. Then we got lost on the way back to the park. For those of you who know Sue and I, you will know that we are both good Navigators and getting lost is not something that either of us do very often. Nigel had not been programmed with a waypoint. We saw parts of Ljubljana that most local had not seen. Finally got back and unpacked the food. The guys had everything ready.

The E’s had just gotten the eastern Europe maps for Nigel and we have had them for a couple of weeks so we led. Not problems getting out of town heading for Zagreb, Croatia. Got to the boarder and of course the usual type of person had been recruited as immigration officer. You must have to pass a no smile and no personality test to become one. Gave our passports over and continued through no mans land to Croatia. Same thing there. We did actually get stamps in our passports though. I didn’t feel comfortable in Croatia, don’t know why. I did not seem as prosperous as Slovenia.

Stopped for petrol along the way then lunch at a petrol/café/parking stop. In the E van picnic with a new dish we invented, potato slaw very nice, take potato salad with lots of extras and add it to left over coleslaw. Don’t knock till you tried it, very nice.

Then yet another boarder crossing to get out of Croatia and into Hungary. The same sombre guards. More stamps, more DMZ and into Hungary. Yes for those who counted 3 countries in one day and within 250 ks, unreal. The roads in Slovenia are outstanding, lots of really good toll ways and Croatia was the same. Hungary are building motorways but they are not open yet, so we had a goat track from about 10ks into the country to our destination of Keszthely which on the southern end of a lake about 180ks south west of Budapest.

The interesting thing is that the two satnav systems now are TomToms and we have the Eastern Europe maps downloaded within 2 weeks of each other. Yes you guessed they are different. Kate had some roads that Nigel didn’t. Also they both went crazy at one stage because neither had one road in it. We have learnt not to totally rely on them, and actually read the signs and Sue and I read the paper maps.

Found the camp ground which is very nice, close to the lake, nice amenities and a big pool. The girls decided since this was to be a one night stand that we would go out to dinner. The camp ground has a nice restaurant. Not far to walk. Let me tell you that the menu was really extensive and in some form of English. The waiter was great and speaks English. He has taught us the Hungarian word for thank you which has now been shortened to Cousin Norm by us. Much easier. The food was superb, really I think probably the best we have had on the trip. Rob had Steak Tartar that was wonderful, Richard and Sue had different kinds of steak which were amazing and I of course had pork. It is never a bad day when pork is on the menu. They had it about a dozen different ways. Then Sue and I had desert which is rare of pancakes (really crepes) with cherries and chocolate sauce. Yum. The whole thing with wine, beer and mineral water was only 66eruo or 15,000 in Hungarian. We instantly decided to spend another night here so we could eat at the restaurant again. You can imagine the reaction for the waiter when Rob ask him to read the wine label lovey!!

After pigging out we walked down to the late, very nice, very upmarket with lots of nice yachts.

Tuesday 10^th June Keszthely

Leisurely breakfast then Sue and I got stuck into the laundry only 4 loads this time instead of our normal 5, must be the summer clothes. The boys had lines strung up everywhere. Took us all morning to get it done on the one machine here. Then picnic lunch which we all love and which keeps the cheese makers in business, not to mention the cold meat manufactures. Rob went off for a Hungarian haircut which cost 10Euro. I got a trip for nothing with the chicken shears!!! Believe it or not it looks good, done by the physiodresser. Then Richard, Sue and I decided we wanted to check out a supermarket, it is fascinating to see all the different things. I got changed and madam refused to go with me in the baggy clothes I was wearing, so I had to get changed.

We got the the hypermarket (like Big W or K mart) and I was forced to shop for new clothes yet again. We are buying cheap things because I don’t keep them long. If you have ever been shopping with Sue (Carol you will understand this) you have to try everything on and get measured. Great if you are in a department store, but if you are in the middle of a strange country not knowing the sizing and they have no fitting rooms, what do you do. Why take your shoes off and try them on over your clothes while madam pushes and pulls says no try again. You can imagine my patience going. Richard took off only return to be told by Sue that she was trying on Bras next, you should have seen him go. The upshot is I did get a nice outfit for 7500 thingos or AUD50. We also got some other supplies that have been hard to get like descent yoghurt.

Came back, got the washing off the line and read our books till it was time for dinner. I forgot Richard did laps of the pool because Errol has put on weight. Then time to get ready for dinner and madam asked if I was wearing my new clothes, I said of course I didn’t want to get into trouble. Imagine my surprise when she showed me the non existent scar on her middle finger. First time she has even done that!!

Up to the restaurant again, food just as good, we made pigs of ourselves again, I had pork of course. It is interesting we all order something different then taste each others. One of the interesting things we got at the supermarket today was a packet of instant whipped cream??? Cause the instructions are in Hungarian but that won’t stop us. We try lots of different things, some we like, some we don’t but it is fun trying.

Sometime between lunch and dinner when I was out of the room, it was decided to spend an extra night here, that will be 3 as there are markets and hot springs. I don’t care if they change it as long as they keep me in the loop. I think they do it on purpose.

Then off to a different supermarket after dinner. Rob decided he wasn’t coming it is not his thing. Richard got new swimmers and almost suffered the same fate as me except he wasn’t made to try them on superman style. Lucky for him they fitted or he would be speaking with a squeaky voice now. We finally got zip lock plastic bags which we have been trying to get four about 5 countries. Bed time now.

Wednesday 11^th June Hungary

Up relatively early so we could go off to the markets in town. Took a bit of finding but Sue came through with the navigation. Not like markets we have seen before lots of clothes and cook ware. Even the old fashion triangle style pots to put over an open fire or gas ring. Got some new pants and it appears that I dropped 3 sizes overnight. The sizing is really strange. They did have curtain so I tried them on in there with help from Sue. Sue got some nice leather shoes for only $12AUD. The produce we had gone for was straight from the farm, but not really good standard. We bought two types of cherries. The normal red ones we would get at home turned out to be sour cherries, so they have been stewed up and we plan on making crepes to eat them with and maybe the instant whipped cream. Got some really delicious raspberries which of course I have polished off already. Also a vegetable that we have no idea what it is, we think you boil it in salted water. We didn’t have enough pots to do it tonight.

Then to the supermarket again to get the rest of the things we could not get at the markets. Much to my husbands delight he found pate!!!

I had a nap and missed lunch but apparently he consumed quiet a lot with great speed and delight and now we will have to find more. We spent the afternoon reading and playing rummikub. A storm blew up and the boys put the awnings up, but the rain for once has held off.

BBQ pork chops for tea, pork 3 nights in a row for me…..love it. Sue has told me that she plans to give me pork for 6 nights, can’t wait. We made a wicked mushroom cream sauce to go with it and fresh asparagus. We finally found sour cream and had it with pototoes. Now we have all retired for the night because at this stage we are jumping to just north of Budapest. By moving just north we can do day trips to Budapest and Slovakia. The camp in on the Danube which will be nice.