Beautiful Hungary (Part 2.- Pécs)

After our first three days in Budapest where we enjoyed the city and its sights, buildings, etc... We were ready to continue our trip around Budapest. Where to go? Take two minutes to see Hungary map and you'll discover a great lake in the middlesouth of Hungary, it is called Balaton lake and since it seemed to be one of the must-visit places there in Hungary, we didn't hesitate to go there. 

Me at Balaton lake

Besides, the lake is, more or less, in the middle of the trip to Pécs where the friendly Eszter was waiting for us. So on thursday we woke up early, packed our lugage, had some breakfast and left from the hostel after saying goodbye to everyone there. Honestly at no time did we want to be late in order to get the train but the brutal truth was that we were absolutely about to lose it... only 30 seconds later and we wouldn't have been able to get it on time... so once we were on we prayed for being so lucky... a little bit tired and sweated after the rush, we just made ourselves

confortable, chilled out in our seats and enjoyed glanceing at the landscape. After two hours approximately, we arrived at a town called Siofok. We were said that that town was somekind of hughe town, turistic one, ... but we came across the opposite situation... at least from the point of view of people... the town was unexpectedly undercrowded. Siofok looked like a town in the middle of a western film, lots of closed hotels, no one wandering out in the streets, every single word was either in Hungarian or in german, and the bizarrest thing was that the lake seemed to be private just behind the closed hotels and we couldn't see the way to access the lake from the road we were at.

Eventually we saw the light just at the end of the hotel's row. The lake is huge, however if you are lucky, as we were, and you have a clear and sunny day you'll be able to glance at a really cute landscape. After the lunch by the lake we return to the train station and we got on the train which was would led us to Pécs. After three hours by train, which I used to read the book Leviathan by Paul Auster, we arrived at Pécs where the nice and friendly Eszter was waiting for us. She and her father head us to their home, which was in the outskirts of the city. The house was pretty cool and we were kindly offered a bed to sleep.

Pécs detail 1 

Since at the following day she was going to take place in a stiff competition about her studies, her father, Attila, took care of us. I really liked the way to interact with Attila, because as his English was not as good as his german and keeping in mind that my german nowadays is far from fluent... we used some kind of Hybrid language to communicate, a mixture of English and German. The good point was that we could understand each other most of times and eventually

this is what counts. Turning back to Pécs... after the breackfast, he took us till the city center, where we went sightseing.

Pécs detail 2 "The cathedral"

After dozens of pictures we met Eszter at the city center, and she became our personal guide, telling us every tiny secret of the city... ok maybe it was not as detailed but still. Later on we returned to her home and picked the bath clothes in order to go to a spa located at a nearby town. The spa was simply great, various pools filled up with water at different temperatures, nice company, and I found out what for me was a really arresting fact, some people were playing chess while bathing. Hardly had I thought about playing chess when Eszter propose it, and since I don't want to boast about it, I won't tell who won :)

Pécs detail 3 "The lockers"

We left the spa and headed for Pécs again. During the return trip, Eszter was phoned by her friend Gordana who kindly offered us to attend a concert, we eventually decided to go despite the fact that the singer was going to perform the concert in Hungarian, anyway the concert was pretty cool and hopefully for us she also sang some well-known songs from different international artist or bands like "highway to hell", so at least for us the concert livened up in some occasions.

And that was the last remarkable thing we did that day, later on we went back home, took the dinner and rested to be ready for the next day.

Up in the telecommunication tower: Me, Vero, Gordana

So saturday came and I woke up early to prepare some "Tortillas de patata", maybe you are wondering why and the reason is that Eszter had decided to go for a picnic in Pécs outskirts, and I thought, as I way to reward the hospitality they had shown, that a pair of Tortillas might be a good choice for the occasion.

The mentioned Tortilla de patata

But before going to the lake we went to the telecommunication tower of the city from which we could glance at whole city. Honestly the city looks bigger from the tower than if you wandering around the city... 

Lake on the outskirts of Pécs

So there we were all of us: Gordana, Eszter, Vero and me at the tower resting... resting??? Absolutely, resting because we took on a bus which led us to the bottom of the hill where the tower was, therefore we had no choice apart from hiking up the hill through trees and bushes.

The tower had nothing interesting apart from the sights but it was interesting, as I said before, to check that the city is not as small as it looks. After some minutes there and having eaten a "Kindern egg" (thanks Gordana for that small but sweet pleasure) we decided to head for the lake. 

Eszter at the Picnic

Everything was going smoothly, perhaps too much, and you will know why I am claiming so. In order to reach the lake and as it was not said to be close to the city, Attila provide us with his car which I carefully drove.

It was not more than 30 minutes trip to the lake in wich we were eating not only the Tortillas but also the crepes made by Eszter. We spent a really good time there "E"speaking in "E"spanish, because both of them had taken some spanish lessons, furthermore Gordana has been an Erasmus in Madrid. 

Vero, Eszter and Gordana at the picnic

After the lake we stop the car by a trade fair where some palinka, typical food, and handicraft were sold, the problem was that we stayed there more time than expected originally and this was also the end of the smoothy trip... No sooner we realised that it was late to take our return train to Budapest than did us rush... but in fact it was too late

and no effort made was worth, in fact I tried to speed up a little Attila's car but it also didn't work... At no point were we thinking that we could have arrive on time but the truth was that we saw the train standing on the railways while parking the car and we had at least some faith, but out of the blue the train left...

Trade fair by the lake

if we could had got just one minute more... However we weren't determined to stand within the railway station till the next train's departure, so we all agreed going to eat an icecream. After two terrific days and two wonderful nights there in Pécs we departed in the following train headed for Budapest.

I must say that I really spent a good time there, meeting two new friends Eszter and Gordana. These nice girls took good take care of us and I am really greatful for that.

Thanks also to Eszter, Attila and Attila Jr for their hospitality and time, they are one of the best host I've ever come across.

That's all folks!!

Juwe, juwe, Juwenalia!!!

Czesc!

Juwenalia!!!! How to describe this week... Since we came, last october, a bunch of people were claiming that Kraków has the best student's party ever. We heard that it is called JUWENALIA, and luckily they were not mistaken :) Last tuesday 5th may Juwenalia began and this is what has happened in the meantime. 

Briefly describing, Juwenalia is the week in which students are rulers of the city, thanks to the City's key they are given by the mayor. So from the beginning, till the end of Juwenalia, every activity which takes place in the city is aimed at student's entertainment. Concerts every day till late night, barbecues at AGH Campus, lots of students out in the streets laughing, dancing, chating, drinking... In short the city belong to students and I am really proud to be one of them.

Bartek drinking "Calimocho"

For me Juwenalia started on Wednesday, since on tuesday my friends were still here in Kraków, and they wanted to go for a walk into Tatra's mountains, so when we arrived it was late to go to the concert. Furthermore we were tired after the hiking time in Zakopane. Anyway and although we did not go to the tuesday concert, Krakow was starting to liven up, Juwenalia had just started.

On wednesday we got to go out with our flatmates as it was Szymczak's birthday. And although we are usually boasting about living in krakow... we were even more pleased on wednesday, clubs were full and people was even more commited.

Barbecue at AGH Campus

On thursday we were informed that a barbecue was going to be organised at AGH Campus, just next to student's residence. However, I was not sure how it was going to look like, but actually, it turned out to be probably the best night of my personal Juwenalia. It all got started around 18.00 when Fernando and me decided to go to Rooster's in order to buy our unique fancy-dress for Friday morning parade. After trying the clothes in Rooster's bathroom (we were not sure if the shorts were going to fit us...) we went to buy some make-up and a pair of wigs, nonetheless we could not find any wig. All of a sudden we noticed that the appointment time was approaching so we decided to deliver tasks.  Fernando went to AGH Campus to prepare the barbecue and I went to buy food and drinks for the event. When I arrived there, 2 hours later, I saw how Juwenalia looks like from AGH Campus side.

A guy resting after the party

In fact I was amazed by what I was looking at, the AGH Campus which is normally a quiet place was full of students doing barbecues, chating, drinking... To be honest, I don't dare to tell you a figure of how many people was there... So there we were Bartek, Kamila and me ready to cook our Kielwasa (sausages) and drink some homemade vodka which was kindly offered by Alberto's friends.

We spent there several hours around the barbecue, talking to our new polish friends, and as far as I remember one of the topics was Sporting de Gijon concretely speaking about Cezary Kucharski. 

Rooster's waitresses at the parade

Eventually the friday morning came and we were ready for the costumes parade. We got dressed and we were made up by our flatmates, everybody was laughing at us so we had success in the way that it was exactly what we were looking for. Olga came to home and all of us made way to AGH Campus which was the place choosen to start the parade. 

I had again the same feeling as the previous night, Juwenalia is something special, the street was crowded, hundreds of students dressed with their costumes. It has to be said that students were splitted by universities, and they were singing their university typical songs. In the meantime people was willing to take pictures with us, I cannot remember properly how many pictures people took us... but for sure more than twenty. After few minutes walking among people from all Krakow Universities we met Alberto and we continued our way till we reached rynek. 

Olga, Fer and Alberto ("psepráá") at rynek

At rynek, where a stage was built for the ocassion, everybody kept on singing and drinking while some performances were taken place at the stage. After going for a walk and eating in mcdonals we decided to return home and rest for a while to recover some strenght.

That night another barbecue at AGH Campus, and again the same unique scene. It also happened on saturday night.

Admittedly it was stunning and I am eager to return and enjoy again this magical atmosphere.

Beautiful Hungary (Part 1.- First stage in Budapest)

One could think that spending twelve days there in Hungary is more than enough but in fact it is not. There are so many places to visit, so many wines and Palinkas to taste, so many Spa's in which you can take terrific and relaxing baths... That you'd feel it is never sufficient time.

Going to Hungary has been an enriching experience not only because all the places we'd visited but also for the new people and friends we've met.

Academy of Science

 

And here's how all began. It was 29th march and i had to take the train at a certain time, but as usual I arrived there with only two minutes left. Despite the fact that it was a night train with bed, i couldn't get some proper sleep (beds were a little bit unconfortable after all). There I met two guys from states who are carrying out their studies in Denmark. Well I arrived at Budapest early in the morning and I easily reach the hostel. I had just checked in when the charming girl who was taking care of the hostel, Szava Georgina, offered me a palinka shot... it was 10 in the morning!!... however (you know me), so as not to seem rude, i accepted, it was then when I met two of the most party-french-girls ever Loulou and Leila. After Palinka time, and since Veronica was not arriving at Budapest till late night I joined both of them in their sightseen to Margaret Island. The inner Island is some kind of peaceful place, where you can go jogging or for a walk while having a relaxed chat. 

Leila, Me and Loulou at Margaret Island

This place is a must for those who want to run away from the rush and noise. So we were walking through paths, surrounded by trees and nature, for at least two hours. Then I got them to go eating and after that return to hostel to spend a peaceful afternoon there trying to memorize the city map and organising the different tasks for the next two days: places worthwhile visiting, different routes to follow, places to eat...

At night I took a train which led me directly to the airport from Budapest and because of a delayed flight we were not able to catch the return train to budapest... it was a pitty cause we spend like ten times more in the taxi which carried us to the hostel back. But the good point was that Veronica arrived at Budapest safe and sound. So we were ready to begin our trip around hungary for the next eleven days.

We woke up early the next day, around 8 am (my friend and flatmate Bartek would tell us that it is not early in the morning, but... still) with the idea of going sightseeing only around Pest, and that was exactly what we did. If you take a look at the map, Pest is what remains in the right side of the Donnau river. Parlament, Basilica, Opera ... are some of the buildings we saw that day.

Pest Concert Hall

To be honest Budapest is the cutest place I've ever been, and the weather did help, cause seldom the temperature dropped below 25ºC, having the feeling that the Spring finally had come was indescribable, besides keeping in mind that the week before I was suffering from a -1ºC temperature in Stockholm... However sometimes it was too warm and I assure you that we were sweating over most of daylight time. Pest turned out to be a marvellous place full of nice buildings, crowded of people from every country and also full of life.

Parlament

At about 16.00 more or less we returned to the hostel where Gina was preparing a typical Hungarian food for both of us and also for the french girls. We all got to eat the pleasant food she had cooked, it was just great, and I really want to thank Georgina for that superb lunch.

The most pretty girls in Budapest (Leila, Gina, Loulou, Vero)

After the meal we went the medicinal bath called Széchenyi. It turned out to be a huge place with 3 open-air pools and some more indoor ones. Veronica and me spent there few hours and we had a relaxing and peaceful time, although it was crowded, wandering around the pools which had different temperatures from 30ºC till 38ºC. We also had a go inside the freezing pool at 16ºC but, as you might think this bath did not last too much xD. It was so cold that Veronica did not want to get into the pool so I got her to get inside. 

Széchenyi medical bath

The sun was about to set when we left, and we were told that buda looks marvellous when it is illuminated so that is exactly what we did, we enjoyed the sights, took some pictures and returned to the hostel to get some good sleep in order to be ready to go sightseen Buda.

Budapest at night

The next morning we again woke up early, took the proper shower and departed towards Buda. We had whole day to visit everything that is why we did not narrowed the places to visit down. We visited places like Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, Buda Castle... 

Parlament from Buda

Veronica on a bench

Fisherman's Bastion

After that we ate some salad which I had prepared and took a coffe there really close to Buda Castle. It was already 18.00 and we thought about going up the hill to reach Citadella. This place is the highest, so in there you can gaze at whole Budapest from a different view. Veronica was carrying her ipod and she played some Springsteen's records, as we were f...ing far from our homes, listening to our favourite songwriter, there was nothing we could do to prevent our body from shaking. 

Vero and me dancing & singing

Returning home, having dinner and chating to some people there in the hostel were our last activities there in our first stage in Budapest.

I want to thank Gina, Loulou and Leila for sharing with us great moments and also to Gina and Riverside Hostel for their hospitality. I'd like to recommend this hostel because in spite of the fact that it is a little bit old, people who are working there are great.

Next post.- Beautiful Hungary (Part 2.- Pécs and Budapest at weekend)