Tuesday 21 July 1998
Slideshow
Pictures
Mohács, Hungary
After leaving Kalocsa we crossed the Danube and stopped at Mohács to have something to eat at a roadside restaurant.
Again the weather was very hot and we marveled at people, some quite elderly, who were riding their bicycles without working up a sweat. At the Napraforgó Étterem (Sunflower Restaurant) Rita had a Gulyás. It was good but not as good as in Budapest. I asked the waiter where the battle ground where the Hungarians were finally defeated by the Turks was. He said there was a monument a little ways back at the bridge.
We went back and found the monument. King László who was advised not to take part in the battle, nevertheless did. He was trapped under his fallen horse and was drowned in the mud. The disheartened Hungarians lost the battle. He was only twenty years old. Sulaiman the Magnificent died a little while later in this part of Hungary and was buried somewhere there. His heart was however taken back to Turkey.
We passed trough several villages where strings of garlic and peppers were being dried on the walls of the houses. Some of the houses were practically covered with dried garlic and pepper. Too bad we didn’t take a picture it would have looked good here..
Pécs, Hungary
Arrived in Pécs late in the afternoon. I parked the car and walked to the hotel. After reconnoitering the neighborhood and getting parking directions from the staff at the Palatinus hotel I walked back and drove the car to the parking lot in front of the Turkish church. The bellhop was sent out to take our luggage with a trolley to the hotel. The hotel was very nice, built in a U shape with the entrance in the heart of the U. We were given the choice of two rooms above the entrance looking into the U. The ladies picked the room on the right side. After freshening up we went for a walk around town.
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This was the most tourist oriented city we found in Hungary. Lots of gift shops catering to tourists.
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Some of the local ceramics, which are beautiful, called Zsolnay, were exhibited in the windows. The price for a single plate was around $200
CAN. Needles to say we didn’t buy any.
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We went back to the hotel had beers and a coke in the outdoor restaurant in the U of the building and then up to our room determined to finish our buck a liter wine. We did quite well, but could not finish it.
Wednesday 22 July 1998
Had breakfast at the hotel after which we packed and were off to Bratislava.
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We were crossing a border so we decided to leave our buck a liter wine behind. There was still about two liters left in the five liter jug. With tears in my eyes we said goodbye and left.
We stopped at Siofok, which is on the south side of lake Balaton, to buy some gifts for the Scandinavian relatives. Had refreshments in an outdoor restaurant, and then walked the gauntlet of the vendors. We were looking to buy lace tablecloths and pretty much given up hope as we neared the end of the row. Right at the end stood an old lady with six lace tablecloths folded over the railing. We asked the price and said we would buy five of them but first I had to get some money from an ATM. Went off and after a little searching found an ATM. with a long line-up. I had left the ladies alone for too long and they had found a pair of shorts that Rachel wanted. So we bought the pair of shorts and five lace tablecloths and were on our way. As we drove out of town we saw the old lady walking home with her remaining tablecloth. She had closed shop and called it a day.
Drove around lake Balaton and up to Györ.
Stopped at a roadside restaurant (Gypsy restaurant) close to the freeway in Györ. A real dive. Rita says it's the most disgusting bathroom she has ever seen. Nonetheless, we were starving and had no time to waist looking for another one, had something to eat, drink and were on our way. The freeway was brand new, not a bump on it. Before crossing the border we stopped at a gas station to fill up the car. The bathroom was ultra modern. Automatic doors, flushing, soap dispensing, taps, hand dryer. nothing needed to be touched. Total opposite of the Gypsy restaurant. Arrived at the Slovakian border and there were trucks lined up for about two or three kilometers. Cars however went through without any problem. We showed our passports and were on our way.
We had spent almost 2 weeks in Hungary, saw most but not all the relatives. Loved it, but it was time to head north to Sweden and Finland.
