A Hungarian Rhapsody

We left Oradea without seeing much of the city as we could not find a cheap place to stay. We paid 40Euros in a 3star hotel without breakfast for a night's stay and spent most of the time in the room for a much needed rest. In the morning we headed to the border about 15 kilometers away and after Immigration formalities that took only about ten minutes we were in Hungary. After about 30 kilometers on a generally flat road flanked by farmlands, we reached Berettyoujfalu, the first town after the border and decided to stay the night there to get the feel of country before moving on towards Budapest. We bargained for a discount at the hotel ( Molo Panzio and Restaurant ) along the highway and after drawing cash at a Tesco outlet nearby we headed back to the hotel and was pleasantly surprised when the owner of the hotel, George, greeted us with a further discount . What was originally quoted as 45 Euros for a night George reduced it to 25 Euros, with breakfast thrown in. A very good start indeed in Hungary, I must admit.
The next morning we packed, ready to leave after breakfast but after breakfast it started to rain. We decided to stay on another day at the same rate quoted by George. On the third day, again we packed ready to leave after breakfast, but as fate would have it rained again, and George who came in after we had our breakfast offered us another night's stay FOC. How about that ??!! and to add icing to the cake George also invited us for a free lunch at the hotel restaurant later in the day. We had a sumptuous lunch with George and after lunch he showed us around the place including another hotel and restaurant that he owns a kilometer away.
Berettyoujfalu is a quaint little town in a neat setting and the houses are mostly single- storey buildings with its own little garden. Many people use the bicycle to move around and what is most noticeable here are the numerous sports facilities available. There are facilities for ice- hockey, soccer pitches both grass and artificial turf, gymnasiums, swimming pools, a hot spring pool, etc. Apparently the town had also produced an Olympic champion in fencing and sportsmen who excel in other sports. While stopping at a gymnasium we were introduced to a burly young man, Nobert, who is the under 18 bench - press champion.
As I write this blog we are still in Berettyoujfalu hoping to leave in the morning but who knows what lies ahead. Ege'szse'g - that's ' cheers ' in Hungarian.

Oradea, Romania

Hungary, here we come

Hungary, 10th country on the list

Breakfast at George's hotel

From left: George, his brother Johnny, and
the Belgian couple who offered their place
when we get to Belgium.

With Nobert the bench press champion

The houses in Berettyoujfalu, spring is here
to stay

With George and his wife

George's other restaurant

Location:Berettyoujfalu, Hungary