Lake Balaton

We lived just a stone throw from the lake . It took us around ten minutes to get there by train . I see even nowadays the aquamarine of the lake - I taste the langos (the fried bread ) , and the Bambi( orange flavored soda ) , the happy holiday makers coming from all over Hungary and from abroad !
When traveling to Budapest by train we rode all along the Northern part of the lake .In summer time it was full of cheers and life .With my brother we kept standing at the open window and take part in this summer fiesta by watching ! In winter it was abandoned and it made me always sad to see the empty beaches !


Feet Entering the Thermal Waters of Lake Balaton, Keszthely, Hungary

Keszthely, Helikon Kastélymúzeum
2009. szeptember 5. - november 15.


the exhibition by HectorFernandez
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nSitu - Contemporary Canadian Hungarian Artists Exhibition

The exhibition of more than 40 Hungarian-born artist living in Canada, presents the work of the Canadian Hungarian Artist Collective (CHACE) resolution.

Participating artists:

Anna Biró, Susan Bárdos-Dobbek, Andrea Blanar, Phillip Borsos, Alex Brzezinski,Andrea de Gosztonyi, Sophie Fekete-Fehér, Éva Ferenczy Reichmann, Péter Földes, Géza Hermann, Péter Horváth, Mária Jankovics, István Kántor, Mary Keczan-Ebos, Albert Kish, Judit Klugerman, Emilia Kun, Doreen Lindsay Szilasi, George Mihalka, John Paizs, Jeannette Pekári, Péter Pusztai, Júlia Rajcsányi-Ciamarra, Miklós Rogan, Kristi Ropeleski, Clarissa Schmidt Inglis, Yvonne Singer, Sándor Sipos, Sheila Szabó Butler, Ági Kéri-Szeben, Andrea Szilasi, Gábor Szilasi, Anna Torma, George Ungár, Tamás Vámos, Tamás Wormser, Ági Zóni, Bálint Zsakó, Dávid Zsakó, István Zsakó

Patrons of the exhibition: His Excellency Pierre Guimond, Ambassador to Canada and Csak Ferenc, the State Secretary of International Education and the Ministry of Culture.

Badacsonyi Szüret Badacsonytomaj (Badacsony) - (2009. szeptember 12. - 2009. szeptember 13.)
Vintage Badacsonyi Badacsonytomaj (Badacsony) - (September 2009. 12 - September 2009. 13)

spectacular parade on Sunday
Badacsonyi vintage wine exhibitors:

Barber Family Winery
First Hungarian Wine House - Szeremley Domains
Imre cellar
Léránt Cellar
Sipos Wine
St. George Winery

craft fair
play house

Locations: Festival Tent, Main Square, Pier Park

Tihanyi Szüreti Napok Tihany - (2009. szeptember 12. - 2009. szeptember 13.)

Harvest Festival in Tihany, Tihany - (September 2009. 12 - September 2009. 13)

grapes, wine, the spirit of harvest time

horse shows ,artisan crafts ,

Sunday 14 am starts the Vintage Parade

Location : at the shores of the Inner Lake


fruitful dreams by almawad
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-Lacus Pelso - the shallow Lake that's how the Roman used to call this lake - in fact it is shallow only in

the southern side -in the northern shore it's not
- the first bath house was built in 1728 at the lake
-Each summer the water temperature of the lake reaches as high as between 25 and 27 degrees Centigrade SUMMER CLIP ART
-average depth of the water is between 3 and 4 metres
-in winter the ice is very thick and it's very good time for iceskating or "ice sailing"
- at some winter nights the frozen lake gives out very strange sounds :screams ,groaning ,moaning ,
it peaks at around 9-10 pm then it becomes silent -all of i that is due to the tension in the ice -as the temperature changes
- the air in the northern area is the cleanest one in Hungary
-in summer the number of visitors can be fivefold to that of the residents'


Lake Balaton, Hungary

This is a thing that I can't remember as I was only two years old .It was a company's holiday house with excellent service .My father being too young and new at work did not manage to take us there in summer .But as my mother says it was excellent holiday even that it was winter and abandoned : we were walking by the lake and in the hills and relaxing in the holiday house .
It was at the town called Balatonkenese




summer at lake balaton
by

almawad

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My last holiday before moving abroad was at the same place .Balatonkenese .
But I must have changed as an adult . It was difficult to get used to the train 's noise .All along the lake there are rails and you can not avoid them . The first night I spent there I saw myself in my dream lying under trains !
The busy beaches did not attract us either .We looked for something more quiet : we found a small entrance meant for fishers - and attended only by few families However much I like swimming the best moments were not in the water but by sitting in a boat and watching the gentle waves or looking down to the lake from a hill . When hiking in a nearby hill all of a sudden we found a WWII burrier ground - hundreds of German soldiers were resting there and gave me a chill thinking of the fierce battles which took place all along the Northern Hills seventy years ago !

When one's parents could not afford a holiday at Balaton - still there were chances to get there .Summer camps were organized by the country's only political party and by the trade unions .My mother got for me a two -week camp when I was 11 from the trade unions .
We had to go to the nearest city .There was a train collecting the girls from all the area then our train headed towards the lake . It was a most enjoyable ride with a lots of laugh and cheers .
There were hundreds of girls in the camp .We slept in a military style huge buildings around 50 of us in one room .Our days were also very much structured .Getting up at 6 - doing exercises - then getting ready for the room supervision .After lining for breakfast then to go to the lake . It was not so great even the swimming when you have to follow orders !
We were given plenty of good food - we were taken out every day - and funny competitions were organized for us .
However the nicest day was the last one ! Some girls dared to disobey and made the supervisors crazy .We felt we had some kind of revenge on them for they had been yelling with us all the time without reason .We were just laughing and pillow fighting the whole night !
That was the end of the only Summer Camp of my life !

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sailing boat no1
by

almawad

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The cyclist road around Lake Balaton is 210 km long .Not all of it is cyclist path - but some kilometres are side roads by the lake - but it is safe and worth doing it .
For a fit biker it takes only two days to ride around the lake - but it is worth taking your time and you'd better stop by the villages and towns and beaches . It is worth going up to the hills and looking down to the Lake .
You can find easily accommodation when going from one town to the other .If you feel too tired to go on with your bike then you can take a train and your bike will be carried as well .You can borrow bikes at most of the towns .
Be prepared that the Northern shore is hilly area - and it is more challenging part while the Southern part is a flatland .
Unfortunately ,after the peak season - it means after summer - most of the museum and heritage houses are closed .
You should always lock well your bike - as bike theft is common in Hungary ,
Take a travel book and plan well in advance your tour de Balaton . There are too many things to see and you can not stop everywhere and see everything .
Get your camera with you - as you will see so many things to photograph : landscapes , beaches , hills , birds , sunsets ,sunrises ,villages worth remembering .
Szigliget Peninsula, Lake Balaton, Hungary

Details of a recommended tour :

you arrive from Budapest by train at Balatonakarattya
you ride towards Tihany
you stop at Katica bakery / Balatonkenese ( Katica pekseg in Hungarian ) to taste their specialty the scone baked in ashes
you may ride up the hill at this village - the outlook is wonderful( you must take photos here ! )
riding towards the next village to Balatonfuzfo you will cross a lovely forest while on the path
arriving at Csopak you may visit their famous wine cellars
after Csopak the path will be easy you will be rolling downwards after a slight upward and you're in Balatonfüred the most imporant city on the northern part
before arriving in Balatonfured you will see gray cattles - the ancient type of Hungarian cattles -on the left ( photo is a must )
in Fured you may visit the promenade Tagore , the old town in renaissance style ,Jókai Memorial House then have lunch at the "hatlepcsos " ("Six-step") a cheap, fair place to eat

you go after to Tihany upwards - in case you are hungry you may have some sausage and scones or langos ( fried bread ) at the roadside buffets tough it makes the things more difficult when riding upwards
in Tihany you can take a rest admire the outlook ,visit the curch , try the echo
then you roll downwards towards the ferry to cross the lake to arrive at Zamardi


Lake Balaton, Tihany, Hungary
ZAMARDI is the most beautiful location in the south , it is worth staying there for a night . It is opposite the Tihany peninsula and it is a wonderful feeling to swim there .It has got a fair and net free beach ( szabad strand in Hungarian ) -better than many other trendy beaches around ... At night you will see the lights of Balatonfured on the norther side shimmering on the lake

If you are interested rather in completing the tour then ride back as fast as you can to Balatonakarattya to catch the last train to Budapest

Everything was fun on the train .I enjoyed the speed ,the tunnels ,the buffet , the magazine for kids , the conversation of the adults ,the view of Lake Balaton .There used to be only one thing I hated : the conductor .She /He used to come with a grim face "tickets please " then my parents always got scared as they had something to fear -and served her/him our tickets .he/She checked them with superiority and gave them back then I saw my parents got relief .Other passengers used to behave similarly .It was weird all in all .
Once a strange man entered our compartment : he was barefoot ,he had big beard and long hair .He was wearing striped jeans and a waste coat without anything under just his bare skin .
"Can I sit here ?" -he had asked with docile face .
Everybody had a shock on his face -but they answered : yes ,you can .
There was a big silence after that .The man with a strange look closed his eyes - and fell asleep or at least he pretended to do so ."hippie " the passengers whispered to each other .
Half an hour later the conductor came : Tickets !!!
The man did not react .She shook him very much .When he opened his eyes he looked innocently to her .Ticket ?
He checked all his pockets .There were a lot in his jeans and bag .He was quiet and did not seemed to be scared .Everybody was mute .When he finished checking all he told to the conductor :"it seems that I do not have ticket " - everybody was scared hearing about such a big mistake but him .
The conductor was scared by his tranquility as well .In her most polite voice she just answered :" Then please leave the train at the next stop "
So he did . After he left I asked my mum about it : a hippie she answered smiling .
I admired him very much and at once I decided to be a hippie when I grow up and I will never be afraid of anybody especially not of big headed conductors ...




Spring Flowers Pop Tree Thank You II Postcard
by

fat_fa_tin

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Little Bittern, Common Bittern, Penduline ,Bearded Tits ,Savi's ,Great Reed Warblers ,Bluethroat ,Bean Geese , Greater White-fronted Geese ,Velvet Scoter ,Smew , Long-tailed Duck

Those are the rare species you can spot there . It is usally better to go on birdhwatching tour off season . Before June and after August .

DADDY IS MY HERO
my childhood stories

It was a wonderful trip with my father to Budapest .I do not remember exactly why and how but we traveled to the capital and visited my uncle and my cousins . We had great time together and Budapest ,the metropolis was always full of wonders for the little girl who I used to be .
Our two or three days were filled with joy and fun and when the time came we took the train as usually to ride along Lake Balaton to reach our home hundreds of kilometer far ...Traveling together was pure joy . The beauty of the nature and the kids magazine that dad bought for me on the train made me feel that all the time was very special ! Then came the guy who was selling sandwiches and coffee .When my dad bought a coffee then I asked him to buy for me some chestnut puree which looked so delicious .That was the thing that turned things into a nightmare .
It was a very hot day and the whipped cream must have been stale on the chestnut puree ! At least it made me sick soon after I had it . After cleaning me - my father was looking for potable water on the train -but nobody had any of that . Two hours or more ride was ahead of us and it was scorching heat .
"There is no other solution than getting out of the train and filling your bottle at the tap" said the conductor woman on the train . She consulted her timetables then she added " We will wait 20 minutes at the next railway station - you will have plenty of time to get water "
So my father left the train . I promised him to keep sitting there where I was what ever happens !
I was waiting quietly . One fellow passenger looked out of the window and told me "there are a lots of folks at the tap - you must be patient !"
So was I .
Then I heard the sound of whistle soon . Then the train was rolling under me . I could not understand the whole thing ! But one thing was clear : my father was not back !
As the train started to gain full speed my hope to see my father faded . Suddenly I wished to cry - but I kept telling myself : "Do not cry ! There is no problem ! If you cry then it means there is a problem ! "
A fellow passenger looked up from his magazine "little girl - your father did not come back ?"
"No"
Then he went on reading ...
The conductor woman soon arrived ." Little girl your father missed the train - but do not worry I will take you home once we arrive " "what is your name address - can you tell me please ?"
Luckily my mother trained us well about this point .Though I was so little but I knew all my personal data by heart .Then the conductor woman was relieved ."so no need to go to the police to find your family" "Do not worry your father is coming soon in the next train "
I looked at her at that moment like a savor !
All these things made me quiet but also made me wonder about other things :" what will my mom say when she sees me with this woman and my father lost ." "what will she say when it turns out that all the problems started because of that chestnut puree because I wanted it so much " 'will she blame me for all that ?"
But I did not have to think about those things for a long time ...
The train started to slow down we were approaching another railway station ... The door opened violently and my dad stormed into the compartment .He just hugged me and did not say a word . He was not able to....He was exhausted !
I could not understand anything nor did the other passengers !
Then came the conductor woman and started to shout : " You made a terrible thing it could have cost you your life ! It is strictly forbidden to jump on a train while it is moving "
Then my father shouted back and other passengers were angry with that woman who made a terrible mistake when consulting her timetables .
Finally everything became quiet around me ...And sitting in my father's lap I could listen to my father ....
When it was his turn at the tap then the train started to move . He filled the bottle and was running after the train . He was running more than two kilometers when he managed to jump on the last carriage . All he could do was to hold himself tight while the train was at full speed .He could open the door and enter only when the train was slowing down ...
He knew very well how dangerous all of it was .. But he felt he must do it because all the time a terrible image haunted him : his little daughter opens the train's door wishing to find his dad and falls out of the carriage ...

Since that time I had known that my daddy is a real hero ...


Balaton by almawad
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