Saturday 24th July

 

24/07/04 - Day 21 (5 Months? will 5?)

Today has finally shown signs of complete recovery for the invalid - she, of course, is claiming the (rather nice) lemon scones we had for breakfast are what helped. but the last 11 days have been good practice in inspiring 96.3% of what emminates from her mouth. Incidentally, if or forever knew that was how you spelt 'incidentally' fractually, I accused Boris today that it will be 'stranger and certainly thinking' about Heather's bounds. Out of all days on the tracks (3 + so far) she has been ill for 50.0 % - but a) I think it is a credit to us both that a) I have not gone mad. b) She has not died. c) no team have been (seriously) dealt. d) We have still had a great 11 days. e) We are still hanging schedule. and f) our relationship has survived an infirmacy that not he relationship should be subjected to.

A good cup of tea and bacon sandwiches are what I needed all along (Note Bulgarian coffee with cinnamon for home next year?)

Train journey to Syfok was mercifully longand full of Hungarians! and their kids going to the beach. Really unpleasant and you wouldn't catch me doing it in England. Still, the view of Lake Balaton / and the very nice 'houses with gardens, balconies, piers (bash on on the bank) were pretty impressive. Not enough posh - on the hotel for my liking, though. It took us a while to actually work out how to get onto the beach, which was, to be fair it, small for all the many people desperate to get a spot in the sun, including us. We thought we'd come away with golden tans but something went wrong and I have a sea front and Brian looks like he has 3rd degree burns. The water was really shallow but you could kind of wade and wallers, this way long dearth ice cream. But I think '3 hours was enough for us and we caught the 3 o'clock back back - getting back in a third of the time it took to get there.

was not an Hungarian food shop close early as ex Saturday we didn't know this and consequently for quite hungry. I think we tried the whole evening perfectly so that we set out at dusk and wandered along the way clearing the semel (yes we're getting better at this) place to eat. When we sat down the sun was just setting up the + nearly it Binden castle. We had the perfect table with the best views - the place was really bustling too. Hungarian wine is great fun. Kmarched goulash for starters. Food was prompt and excellent helpful people telling me I couldn't have the duck' I went for 500R in a plum sauce with mashed potato and stewed cabbage. It never had gone before and I'm rather stuffed that may have one (or very similar) expt '98 in Budapest as it was Stimpians. There was a group of violey, accordion and double bass (many Hungarian)wandering around the tables taking requests which really made it very special - as was As the castle closed (lit up) and the citadel and the bridges on the 'bridge' came on it became a lot nicer picture postcard. Then, yes, thunderstorm and rain but again our perfect table was nicely situated under the canopy and we kept on eating as the others, particularly the Japanese, panicked and the waiters put the Hungarian version of a rain delay at wimbledon into action. I had a traditional Hungarian pudding but I can't remember what it was called - it was sponge and chocolate basically.? And so we made the very damp walk back with, despite my disgust for our tourist night out but I've ever had. Pack The best night but I've ever had. Pack

I've just read Heathers account and wanted to tell her it was nicely written and most all the night where I unfortunately though, she's already asleep.

I will try and do my paces-coming with out repeating too much.

The train to Soomoo (Balaton) left from Budapest geliti station (on the Buda side) so we braved the metro to get there. Now I have always enjoyed and extensively quoted the last famous joke Excepting the fact that the black handball gun escalator even goes faster than the escalator itself. His point is that, if the escalator won to move at this some spotless the handball we'd all get there that little bit faster. Well Budapest's Metropolitans have taken this to heart - their escalators are Snail-terrifyingly fast. In fact, on one, the hand rail moved SLOWER than the stairs!!!

Lake Bilaton was lovely, and I would have much like to venture to the North side (where the far water is more than a foot deep '3000 visitors, out (I kid you not!)) and away from the sit-cray-land masses. So we'll just let the two of us in bags - but catch too many people noSandcastle-rental and searching head a couple of hours was just right. Yes I did get burnt, but it was blattently Heathers fault - Not being used to lying in the sun, I never bothered my belly (ok so that's not directly her fault but there's definitely a convention!), and for this was her fault!) She did not cover out my back with sun tan lotion. So now I'm a backpacker wth sunburn belly AND shoulders! And as she said, "I look a mess!!"

The meal in the evening really was something special. One way to express it would be to recap a conversation we had, discussing What our options were to 'top it in' 6 months time, what could be better than a view over the Danube to Budapest? World heritage castle dated with the sun setting over then 'the cities night light, the musicians, the traditional Hungarian (excellent!) Cuisine, a superb wine and an overall cost at least a third if not less than what it would have cost at England? (our answers centred on Rome, venice, Vienna Paris, New York and Seattle - you got the visa!!!)

And the thunderstorm was just tossed in - taking the overly picture-perfect in extra one this evening (of our coursein! cup of tea really), and providing a bit of guilt-ridden many walk the Japanese who were so determined to sit outside that one of them came out to - what can only be described as 'lost the car' and, sording it not to his safeguard. Walked 8 metres to the right and tried again. (He also wore a Bonnale on his head).