Sitting on our veranda we can see and hear pretty much what’s going on in the village all day. We live on the main street so most of the traffic we recognise and wave a cheery “Jo Reggelt Kivanok” (Good Morning in English), to passers by. Our village is a dead end and is usually very quiet.
But not today! I could faintly hear some music getting louder as it came down the hill towards us. What could be going on, my camera at the ready I took a leisurely stroll down to the gate. This is what I saw…
A group of people walking in a procession accompanied by some Hungarian music. I spotted a man at the front of the procession, carrying a stick full of ribbons and dressed smartly with an interesting hat.
The music became louder as the musicians walked slowly past. I suspected something was happening down at the church. A wedding perhaps? These days with the Covid19 virus around the rules around marriages are different in different countries.
My waiting paid off, the music again could be heard in the distance as the wedding party left the church and made their way up the hill, past our house and towards the lake, presumably for wedding photographs.
The day was especially hot, in the early 30’s degrees centigrade, very warm for walking in the village but a treat for everyone to see.
I later found out that the happy couple’s parents live in the village and dad is our local daily bus driver.
I was intrigued to know the purpose of the gentleman with the ribbons and hat so asked a local Facebook group to give me some background of his purpose.
He is the “Master of the Ceremony”. In Hungarian “Vőfély”. The person who brings fun and joy to the wedding. He creates a good vibe with guests with games and jokes. He is the one who tells short poems to start the different courses of the dinner and makes a funny toast to make the guests drink…creating lots of laughter.
The Vőfély gets a ribbon for each wedding they have participated in. Some Vőfély are very popular and booking him is usually the first wedding related planning that the future bride and groom secure. He is a paid professional.
Those aren’t feathers in his hat as I first thought. It’s a type of wild grass, called “árvalányhaj” (literally, “orphan girl hair”). It only grows in a certain valley in Hungary and is protected by the government with massive fines if picked!
It was also interesting to learn that at midnight of the wedding, the Vőfély manages the ‘sale of the bride’ (when guests pay or bring their gifts and dance with the bride).
The final lovely touch was that I was offered chocolate sweets by one of the wedding party. It would have been rude to refuse.
As the musicians passed for a second time I felt fortunate to have captured this special moment in this young couple’s lives. I have also learnt a great deal about Hungarian weddings.
Perhaps I will catch another one soon.
Have you ever come across a wedding by chance, did you take photos?
Yesterday my ever patient driver, my husband, took us for a cruise around the villages of rural Hungary. I never know what’s going to be around the next corner, so my hand is always on my camera ready to take that next memorable shot.
It is sunflower and sweetcorn season in Hungary with fields and fields of brightly coloured yellow heads bobbing in the wind. The sweetcorn stands erect and solid lining the roadsides not quite ripe yet but will be soon bulging with tasty corn.
Cheerful Sunflowers everywhere
Nearly mature tall sweetcorn
Our route took us past many of the roadside sellers with stalls overflowing with different melons. The area is called Cece and is famous for its excellent growing conditions, low lying ground and plenty of rain. The melons known in Hungarian as Dinnye are sweet and delicious so we regularly stop like many others to buy them. I particularly like the Galia melons.
Entering the village of Sáregres we were greeted with these super storks. They perch on top of telegraph poles in most villages in Hungary. Soon these youngsters will fly the nest and return again next spring to nest and raise their young.
The immaculate church in the village has a 30m high tower in front of the western facade and was built in 1884, last being renovated in 1925. Inside there are 450 seats for worshipers. The 2 church bells cast in 1868 were sadly requisitioned in World War 1. The church now houses 3 bells bought jointly by the villagers of Sáregres.
Around the village rambling roses and geraniums add pockets of cheerful colour.
A little further through the village, we spotted some sheep…..not unusual but what was slightly strange was they were living in a house! Not something you see everyday!
Most rural villages have wells for pulling water. Years ago this was the Hungarian’s only source of water. This is called a counter-balance well in Hungarian Gémes kút. We have a well in our garden but not with the poles. Nowadays most of the wells are filled in and are purely for decoration. Pretty nevertheless.
My next photographic moment came only a few hundred metres later. Eric kindly stopped the car to let me investigate. In the middle of this tiny village was a Potter… in Hungarian Fazekas. I have indulged in pottery myself in England so was keen to see inside the tiny workshop. It appeared to be in the Potter’s house.
Outside there were pots drying everywhere taking advantage of the hot sunshine.
Inside were shelves filled with rows and rows of the potters work.
We chatted with the Potter (in broken Hungarian) and found that he can do commissions, which was useful to know as I am on the lookout for a vase for cut flowers. He might be my man!
We bought some plant pots and this lovely bird bath all just costing pennies. I want to paint this before putting it outside. A lovely addition to our garden.
Leaving the potter we travelled a little further and discovered Rétimajor. Intrigued by the sign we went to have a look at what was there.
The grounds were gorgeous, lined with apple trees, little bridges and colourful flower beds.
This pretty little thatched hut sat on the water’s edge with views over the lakes and canals.
After a little research, I realised this area had been awarded money from the EU to support the extensive fish pond production based on traditional techniques, including the conservation and enhancement of the surrounding countryside. It would appear that global warming has affected the fish and their environment over many years.
For more information and spectacular photos of this amazing fishing area click here. (in Hungarian).
The grounds house a museum showing examples of fishing equipment and fishing techniques used in bygone times. I did not go inside.
One end of the museum had been painted with a fishing scene.
On the site there is a highly regarded restaurant – Golden Carp Fishermans Tavern which we shall certainly visit in the future. The former water tower and blacksmith workshop were converted to create the restaurant, keeping the original wooden ceiling seen here.
Another rather gruesome drawing on an outside wall.
Exhibits of old boats surrounded the museum along with a wonky sign!
Leaving Sáregres and making our way home we stopped on the roadside to enjoy some very delicious yellow plums.
….and once again admired the amazing sunflowers Hungary has to offer.
Hungary has plenty of surprises everytime we go out. We really love this country we call home. We shall be venturing out again very soon to explore the pretty villages of rural Hungary.
We moved to Hungary 3 years ago coming from “unpredictable weather” England! Now we can plan our days out as the summer weather is predictably hot! Today we are visiting the beach, the Hungarians call it “Strand” and my trusty camera will make some photographic memories.
All my younger life I had associated beaches with sand, I had never considered beaches with grass before. Hungary offers plenty of beaches around Lake Balaton some sandy and some with grass. Eric and I have not actually swam in the lake before so it was to be our “virgin visit”! Our son has visited and swam in the lake so I asked him what he thought about grassed beaches. He actually said the experience of visiting the beach with grass was ace, far better than with sand. The grass was cool on his feet, there was shade if he wanted it and access to the water was easy.
We were excited to visit Lake Balaton and take a swim in “The Hungarian Sea”. As you can see I made some preparations, then prepared a packed lunch and finally into the car before 9.30 am.
Using our elderly SatNav we managed to negotiate Siófok city centre and reached our destination around 11.00 am. Free parking was available in the many side streets and paid parking was situated right next to the entrance….we chose paid parking, working out at 50p an hour. The beach was reasonably quiet at this point and there was no admission charge (some beaches charge an entrance fee).
We made our way through the many trees and found a spot close to the waterfront. We wanted shade and sun. This beach seemed popular with families with small children and their little areas had been set up with tents, towels and many inflatables. No dogs were allowed on this particular beach but there are others that catered specifically for dogs dotted around the Lake.
It was very noticeable that everyone spoke Hungarian, no foreign tourists just yet. Sadly the world pandemic has affected the tourism industry in every country, not just Hungary. It was good though that finally people can get out and about and enjoy the Hungarian summer. There was a definite air of fun with laughter in the air, splashing in the water and music drifting in the wind. Great atmosphere!
As we are retired we have no restrictions when we have a day out so we try to go midweek in the hope it will be less busy. We visited on a Friday and it was pleasantly full. We sat on the grass and social distanced ourselves as much as possible. Nobody wore masks. Difficult to social distance on the chairs and parasols as they were so close together.
This couple spent a very long time inflating dinghies and floatables to take into the lake. Eventually they were all set to go. There were many activities on offer for messing about on the water…the paddle boarding appeared popular working out at about £7.50 an hour.
Away from the lake shore was a large collection of shaded marquees and eating establishments to cater for every taste. On this occasion we did not try the food as I had made a picnic packed lunch. For future visits we will definitely try the food.
There was a huge seating area outside this restaurant and inside too. I noticed how clean everything was, no litter anywhere which was nice to see. Inside they were serving fast food similar to McDonalds.
There were tents selling ice cold beers, fruity ice creams, pizza and pastas, langos, various coffees, soft drinks in fully stocked fridges, lots of variety.
The WC block was easy to spot, immaculately clean with a lady on the door taking coins for toilet tissue. Inside there were also shower facilities if needed.
As the morning turned into afternoon and the temperatures were soaring past 33 degrees Celsius it was imperative we had a swim. Metal staircases jut into the lake with railings to help you get in the cooling water. We walked for a long way out as the water was shallow, perfect for children as the floor of the lake was soft and sandy.
My husband and son had another dip a bit later whilst I “People Watched” and took more photographs.
My opinion has been changed, Hungarian beaches are beautiful, well maintained and in my opinion better than sandy beaches where you scold your feet, eat the sand with your dinner and get it in your eyes!
The only negative would be….and we did not experience this, is as there were so many trees around it could be a problem with bugs and pesky mosquitoes in the early evening.
By 3.00 pm we had had enough and prepared for the long drive home. The car park by now was full to capacity and we were glad we had parked close by. I think my tip would be: Get there early!
Finally, I took this short video so you are able to appreciate the pretty beach side surroundings of Siófok Szabadstrand. It is certainly worth a visit if you find yourself travelling around Lake Balaton in Hungary.
Every month or so we take the long journey to Siófok usually to visit the bank. Yesterday was no different except now the virus restrictions have been lifted there were lots of street cafes and restaurants open for business. Time for a bit of sightseeing and then lunch.
Siófok is Hungary’s second most popular holiday destination after Budapest. The town can boast a 17-kilometre-long coast, with over 1,000 hotels, plenty of bars, restaurants and night clubs. Siófok is one of the richest municipalities of Hungary due to tourism. Hungarians often call the town “the capital of Lake Balaton”, as it is the largest town on its shores and acts as a touristic hub for the southern shore of Lake Balaton.
Approaching Siófok city centre the roads were lined with beautiful flower arrangements decorating the lampposts. There were hundreds of them on both sides of the wide road. The photo does not do them justice as we were speeding along! I wondered how they organised watering the many arrangements?!
We managed to park up the car and take a walk across the busy square towards the bank. It was mid-morning and the street cafes were just beginning to fill up. I particularly liked the colourful geraniums sitting on the pavement, such a colourful display.
In the main square of Siófok, at the foot of the Water Tower is the statue of Count István Széchenyi placed in the middle of a circular fountain in 2012. The large bronze and chrome steel statue depicts the Count standing on the first steamboat of the Balaton, the Kisfaludy, as Széchenyi was the founder and lifetime president of the Balaton Steamship Company.
I could not resist taking a shot of the fountains. The bubbling sounds were so relaxing, great on a hot sunny day.
Seats all around the square accommodate weary walkers enjoying ice creams. A view from above captures the famous statue of Count István Széchenyi.
Siófok Water Tower
The Water Tower is a well-known attraction of Siófok, standing in the centre of the town. The tower was fully renovated in 2012 and houses two panorama elevators taking guests to the rotating Belvedere floor where you can enjoy staggering views over Lake Balaton. There is also a cafe if you need refreshments.
Siófok Water Tower – more information in English – here
A little closer to the lake and we came across a range of different eating establishments. This one had street food on offer.
A little closer to the lake and we came across a range of different eating establishments. This one had street food on offer.
Another selling Gyros.
We finally settled on Mustafa’s to eat our lunch, a Turkish/Mediterranean menu with a huge selection of dishes. We wanted to sit on the pavement and do some people watching!
Mustafa’s is a great place to eat good quality, tasty, inexpensive food. The surroundings were lovely with a pretty outdoor garden, TV included!
Our menu ….and the sticker on the pavement reminded us we are still vulnerable during this pandemic. It was pleasing to see this restaurant was taking things seriously.
So to our menu…an enormous pizza..
…with Falafel, Salad and Chips and Chicken Breast Caesar Salad. Beautifully cooked and politely served, I would certainly recommend Mustafa’s.
After finishing our meal and walking up the street we realised that Mustafa’s owned the full block, restaurants and takeaway. Impressive.
I discreetly noticed the local police constabulary seeming to be enjoying a Mustafa’s at lunchtime.
Adjacent to the restaurant were these beautifully manicured flower gardens and pretty parks.
Looking further into the park made it very inviting but alas we had no time left on our parking so we had to make a move.
The Siófok mini-train goes about its daily tour of the area. Riders can get on and off at various points around Siófok.
If skateboarding is your “thing” then you will be very comfortable in Siófok amongst the street skaters. I preferred to just sit and watch!
A lake resort would not be complete without a gift shop for tourists to pursue and buy trinkets and toys. This was one of many lining the streets.
Karika Tura was out in the sunny square offering Henna tattoos to anyone interested.
Travelling out of the town we encountered many railway lines with rather attractive crossings.
Waiting for the train to pass I hung out of the window and took this shot of a little cafe on the corner. The brightly coloured blue chairs caught my eye along with the lavender in the pretty flower bed.
This is my special man who took me out for a wonderful lunch and as usual, was my taxi for the day and a second eye for my photography. Thank you very much 💕
I hope you have enjoyed our little trip around Siófok there is so much more to see we will need to visit again one day very soon.
Let’s PARTY meant very late nights, thick beery hangovers the next day and a mass of clearing up to do! As we got older our taste in entertainment changed. No longer did we feel the urge or the need to go out every night and have a blow out at the weekends. We discovered very civilised “dinner parties”. There was no need to shout and yell at each other like in the nightclubs but a chance to have a decent conversation with the aid of good food, good company and delicious wines.
Wearing a jacket even when it’s hot!
I feel the cold, more so than I did in my younger days. My hands and my feet get really so very cold. My solution, is more layers, more movement. I also LOVE socks, I have many warm woolly ones, that makes my feet nice and toasty, winters are painfully cold in Hungary.
Taking photos of people and things, not themselves
Guilty of this habit! Never have I been comfortable with “selfies”, I am not good at it and I would prefer to be on the other side of the lens.
Reading my Kindle instead of hardback books
Despite convincing myself years ago that I would NEVER get a Kindle, I succumbed when we moved abroad. My hardback collection is still in England, I shall be reunited with it sometime in the future. I love being able to slip my Kindle into my handbag and take it out with me for an opportunistic read.
My handbag is a suitcase
Long gone are the days of only carrying a small clutch bag with only the essentials for a night out. Nowadays my large handbag, now renamed “Sue’s Suitcase” by my husband is full of emergency supplies like tissues, a manicure set, glasses, a phone, hard candy, cardigan etc etc …!! I am covered for every eventuality whilst we are out and about in Hungary. Husband and son always thank me for being organised when they require something from the said suitcase!
Discuss the weather
As youngsters, the weather did not influence our lives as much as it does now we are many years older. I remember vaguely my parents talking about the weather, it always seemed important to them. When I became an adult myself I have to admit to scrutinising the weather daily, through habit and necessity. When my children were small, we walked everywhere and living in England meant the weather was always unpredictable. We needed to be dressed appropriately for those frequent rainy days. Now living in a country with predictable weather it’s great, no more guessing.
I love a good wall calendar and have used them for many years. My youngest daughter suggested to me that I should be using an online planner, as it’s way more efficient. I didn’t really want to do that as I prefer to see everything in front of me, to me it’s more visualising and pleasing.
Drink a lot of tea
The older generation does seem to drink many cups of tea. I know people who seem to continually have the kettle on for their next cup of tea. I used to hear my parents inviting people around for “a cup of tea and a chat”. A very orderly affair sometimes with freshly baked buns for the chattering guests. Tea is readily available everywhere, quick to make and provides a satisfying refreshing drink. My personal favourite is Vanilla tea although I am also partial to an Earl Grey cup of Tea.
Bingo is ALWAYS associated with the older generation. I am surprised by this as in my hometown in England there were Bingo Halls filled with bingo players of all ages. Holidaying abroad in all-inclusive resorts often have bingo sessions to help entertain the guests. There is online Bingo that I have experimented with and believe me it can become quite addictive. I soon lost interest when the summer months arrived.
The comfortable look
I followed fashion trends when I was younger through the 70’s and 80’s changing with the latest fads enjoying having what I considered to be reasonable “fashion sense”. As I have got older my style and how I wear things is very different. I deserve to be comfortable and relaxed in the clothes I wear now. For so many years throughout my working life, I would don a smart business suit and wear make-up and jewellery every day. Now I still like to look smart but my look is either long floaty dresses or shorts and teeshirts through the summer months. Winter is for leggings and wellies!
Love receiving mail in the mailbox
I do so love to receive mail in my mailbox. Am I old fashioned to enjoy the thought and effort gone into a letter sent to me? Post nowadays is either bills or circulars. Most of my communications are done through email. Thoroughly impersonal but quick and reliable.
Slippers are fabulous, they keep my feet warm and clean. The theory is that my floors should be cleaner too but when my husband and son don’t wear slippers… we have words!
Wear a dressing gown….
On a cold winter day when I know we are not expecting visitors during the day, I slip my long super warm dressing gown on…I have convinced myself that it’s a housecoat!
We have ALWAYS had a landline telephone and I could not understand why so many other people just managed on mobile phones. It took me a long time to finally part with the landline and rely solely on mobile technology. Looking back we were wasting money having both means of communication. Now our mobile phones are peaceful, not full of nuisance marketing calls like we had in England and I have learnt everything I need to know how to operate my Android phone efficiently.
The advantage of being older is that you can nap when the mood takes you. It is now acceptable to fall asleep in front of the TV or with a magazine laid open on your chest. My husband takes full advantage of this privilege regularly.
Cruises
We are certainly not ‘cruise’ people, but we do know people who have had fantastic luxurious cruises in their later years and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Everything is laid on for guests with plenty of varied lively entertainment. Unfortunately, I suffer from sea-sickness quite badly so have never had the desire to go cruising.
Crosswords/Jigsaws
‘Crosswords are for oldies,’ I used to say about my mother-in-law. Every day without fail she would do the daily newspaper crossword. Nobody was allowed to fill any of the clues in and her aim was to complete it within the day. Not many people nowadays buy newspapers as computer technology has replaced them. News is available through numerous different outlets online making the humble large page newspaper a dying breed. I discovered crosswords by chance whilst waiting for a flight to visit my daughter. I picked up a book of crosswords and took the plunge, and started crosswording I am now hooked!! I discovered jigsaws only last year and completed my first 1000 piece puzzle over the long winter.
Youtube beats any Encyclopedia
Technology has enhanced our lives tremendously. When I was a youngster and had a question, I was directed to the family collection of Encyclopedia Britannica. Dust covered heavy books full of interesting facts filled our bookshelves at home usually providing the answer. It is so much easier now with huge capacity search engines to help you discover ANYTHING. My husband is particularly hooked on YouTube and has been entertained for many hours on topics he is interested in.
Get up early
We don’t have to get up early but we do. No longer is it a necessity to get up at a specific time. We are retired and do not have jobs to go to. We are free to lie in if we want to. Rural life in Hungary usually starts at 6.30 am with everyone up and about before it gets too hot in the summer months. I love first thing in the morning sitting on our veranda enjoying a cup of tea and the early morning chattering of the birds. We also go to bed reasonably early too, we have no time constraints.
We are not ‘old’
How old is old? When I was a child I thought my parents were old. When I was in my 20’s, 40 sounded ancient! I am now nearing my 60’s and don’t feel like that number. Age is a number that doesn’t have to be scary. As we age our life experiences change to suit that phase in our lives. With age comes experience and knowledge which we hopefully can pass on to future generations. Who knows what the world will have to offer our grandchildren. No doubt they are looking at their grandparents now and thinking how old fashioned we are!
Let me know if you know of any other differences between the older generation and the youngsters of today. I am sure I have missed loads.
As we get older our goals in life often change. What we wanted and predicted for our future at 16 is perhaps far different from the actual reality of living at 50.
Our lives had been generally predictable in the sense that we had been mentally timetabled to ‘fit in’ to society. We got up, we went to work, we ate at regular mealtimes, then slept, ready for the same again the next day! This was not a bad thing, just reality.
Some of our friends loved the regimented organised lifestyle but others hated living by the clock, just working hard to live comfortably.
As Eric and I neared our retirement age our thoughts and conversations often wandered to all things new. A new life, a new country, early retirement and challenging changes, we were ready! We wanted all that and wanted it SOON!!
The question was: Could we afford to retire early?
A VERY important question everyone should ask themselves. It is essential to do the maths, and double check every financial outgoing you have against your total income and earnings. Devise a basic spreadsheet and estimate what your expenses might be in the future. Then ask yourself the same question again.
Fortunately, our sums added up so we made the brave exciting decision to retire early to Hungary, located in central Europe. Moving from city suburbia in England to exquisitely beautiful rural Hungary was quite a dramatic change! Nearly 3 years later we do not regret our momentous move overseas.
If you are lucky enough to be able to retire early, you have a lot going for you. I sat down at my computer and thought of all the good reasons why we are enjoying living overseas so much. I wanted to share my thoughts with you to see if you agreed with my experiences?
I have compiled a list, in no particular order that are applicable to our family here in Hungary. Although you will see that most of them are generic and apply to any country that you choose to live in. So here goes:
TOP 16 ADVANTAGES OF TAKING EARLY RETIREMENT and MOVING OVERSEAS
We don’t have to work anymore
Budapest Hungary
A pretty obvious advantage, I think you would agree, is that you no longer have to clock in and out of work every day. Now retired, there is nothing nicer than waking up early in the morning to the sound of the dawn chorus, then drinking a leisurely cup of coffee on the veranda and chatting with my husband Eric. No time pressures whatsoever. Of course, there are no rules in retirement, if you retire early and want to try a different career, earn a little money, you have plenty of years ahead of you to do this.
This is an EXCELLENT advantage for us. It doesn’t matter what age you are having a short siesta in the afternoons or whenever you want is perfectly acceptable even good for you. Revitalise and rest your system for later on. Spain for example does this as part of their lifestyle, during the hottest hours of the Spanish day siestas are very common. Hungary gets hot during the long summers so we often take a ‘nap’ during the afternoon. Waking up in the morning when we want is wonderful, puts us in a good mood for the rest of the day.
There are no restrictions only those you make yourself.
We slowed down our way of life
Leaving our busy lives behind in England meant that being thrust into near isolation in rural Hungary was quite hard in the beginning. Everything in England was monitored by the clock. Our routines were the same every day, the clock guided us. Here in Hungary, we tend to listen to the environment to tell the time. The dawn chorus waking in the early morning, the chickens announcing they have laid their eggs, the church bell chiming daily at 12 noon, a sign it is lunchtime across Hungary. The ice cream van ‘singing’ down the village streets meaning it’s 3 pm, the dogs barking at 7.00 pm as it’s their dinner time and finally the pesky mosquitoes coming out after sundown, meaning it’s time to retreat inside from the veranda. Frequently I wonder what day it is, as the days and weekends seem to merge into each other. I cannot risk getting too relaxed and easygoing over the days of the week as I need to remember when to put the wheelie bin out with the rubbish!
We have never wasted money in the past and I had always considered my housekeeping skills, over the years as good enough to make sure our cupboards were always full. Moving to Hungary in the middle of nowhere with limited access to shops has meant we have become much more aware of costs and how to achieve little shortcuts. We have learnt how and where to buy in bulk, how to preserve fruit and veggies, how to grow a productive garden, and how to cook from scratch on a regular basis. All these little things give us a more cost effective lifestyle and it’s great to learn new skills. We both cook so take lots of pleasure using our own home-grown produce. It is so satisfying and cost efficient and almost a challenge to reduce the supermarket spend each shop. A worthy sensible advantage of retiring and moving abroad.
We can shop when it’s convenient for us
Oh, what a pleasure it is to shop when it is convenient for us. Living a working existence in England meant we had to shop on Saturdays along with hoards of other people. Now shopping is actually a pleasure, a leisurely affair where I can stop and examine items I want to buy without a voice in my ear telling me to “hurry up”! We have the privilege of shopping during quiet periods on weekdays. The queues at the checkouts do not appear as daunting as they did in England. I feel no frustration at having to wait in line, perhaps it’s because I have lots of time now we are retired. *note: At the time of writing shopping restrictions had just been lifted in Hungary as the Covid19 pandemic was easing.
Reading becomes a daily activity
I am an avid reader of books, always have been. Eric however prefers to read news headlines on his PC. His regular ritual first thing in the morning, was a nice way to catch up on world news. Since arriving in Hungary and adjusting to the changing seasons I have come to realise I read more extensively in the cold winter months. I read about 2 books a month. Sadly, I left most of my hard copy books back in England (they are in safe hands being looked after by my daughter) so have started developing a bookcase here in Hungary. I have a small selection of Hungarian recipe books, books of Hungarian poetry, travel books about Hungary, the shelves are filling up. My main reading is done on my beloved Kindle, one I have had for years and has never let me down. The “To Be Read” list is very long, full of books that took my fancy at some time or other. I read my Kindle before I go to bed, it’s a lovely way to end the day. Retirement has made me explore different reading topics I would not normally entertain. Research for this blog, for example, reading about the history of the country we have adopted as our home is extremely interesting. I would not have had the time in England to indulge in so much reading.
Our friends circle changed
“Ladies that Lunch” Hungary
Making new friends can be difficult particularly when you retire abroad. We had to make a REAL effort to put ourselves out there in the community. Both of us wanted to get involved in village life and enjoy the cultural events throughout the year. We became quite visible and known in the village as “that English family”. We have integrated well known by sight by most of the villagers. They always have a cheery wave for us. Our village has less than 300 residents, some of the homes are holiday homes owned by Hungarians in Budapest. They spend summer in the village or even come down just for weekends throughout the year. Two other English couples also have holiday homes in the village, we are the only permanent residents here. Another stream of new friendships has come from one of the Facebook groups I belong too. A group of predominantly English expats living around Lake Balaton frequently meet up and socialise. They are also an excellent support network full of advice and guidance.
Holiday whenever WE want
The coves of Croatia
Another GREAT advantage of retiring early is that you can if you want, see the world, indulge in some new experiences, explore areas of the world you had only dreamed of. We use Hungary as our base, and explore out and about whenever we can. We are located in central Europe with 7 exciting countries to visit bordering our lands. Austria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Ukraine and Slovakia. A 5 hour drive away has taken us to the beautiful country of Croatia. We had an excellent time, ate plenty of fresh fish and photographed the stunning scenery. Our horizons have been broadened by moving here. Researching holidays and booking them is way cheaper when done out of season. You have the benefits of quiet streets and easily accessible tourist attractions. The holiday season lasts through until October so Autumn is a great time to travel around here in Hungary.
Gardening becomes fun
We had a garden in England, a very beautiful one and I often miss tending to it. Thankfully we bought a property here with land, actually way too much for just 2 of us to manage. Not put off I was determined to get our garden up and manageable and with a goal of producing some fruit and vegetables this year. We are learning how to garden in a new country, the soil is different and the climate is too. The first year we had moderate success with a few things but had a glut of sweet corn and tomatoes. The second year due to health reasons the garden was abandoned and became very overgrown. This year I am delighted to say our garden is coming on very well and we hope to have bumper crops. We are experimenting with different ways of growing things and our knowledge base is improving dramatically. We certainly appreciate eating our homegrown produce and love looking after our little patch of paradise.
Exercise for Health
“Haley” our Siberian Husky
I did not realise how little exercise I did in England. Practically none. We had a car and used it. Moving to Hungary has made me walk more and become generally much more active. I actually love walking with my camera and get out every day with it. As the garden is huge I spend time walking up and down visiting different areas and spots. I started tracking my step count and was surprised to find I was walking between 6,000 and 7,000 steps a day. We own a boisterous husky dog who loves to chase up and down our garden, she enjoys it most anytime I run…..! I’m getting better at running!! Can’t be a bad thing. We have also noticed we are sleeping so much better here in the countryside. Perhaps spending so much time outside and the additional exercise is a good sleep aid for us. Certainly, the air is so much cleaner and fresher than in England, it’s very noticeable.
A chance to own our first dog
Haley our Siberian Husky
We were unable to own a dog in England, our garden was not big enough and at the time we owned chickens. Our son (13 at the time) had been asking for a dog for some time. We promised him, that when we moved to Hungary we would get a dog. And we did! A beautiful husky puppy named Haley. We had to learn how to look after this gorgeous puppy and how to teach her good behaviour and habits. She was quite challenging and disobedient at the beginning but we are finally making good progress in the behaviour department. Our garden is perfect for Haley to tear around and burn off her continuous energy. We all wanted a dog and we have become very close to her. I can’t imagine life without her now, she is part of the family and fits in very well with our retirement lifestyle.
Eat when we are hungry
Home made plaited bread
How relaxing it is now to be able to eat whenever we want to. England required structured meal times, three times a day always by the clock. That was normal and worked. When we had young children, routine was important. Now meal times are dependent on when we are hungry, not when the clock tells us it’s time to eat. Our son for example gets his own breakfast when he is hungry whilst we sit outside having our first coffee of the day. We sometimes have brunch around 11.am and a meal around 3 and fruit in the evening.
I’m finally writing my memoirs
At long last, I have got time to do something I have wanted to do for years….15 years to be exact. I took some online writing courses to improve my writing skills so I could pen my long awaited memoir. I have now started it, enthusiastically writing about my experiences. It’s great to read and enjoy my journals again reminiscing about the past, describing funny memories with Eric. My memoir describes the events leading up to meeting Eric in Canada and the subsequent adventures we got up to there. My aim is to complete the book before the end of the year so am working on it diligently. I am considering self-publishing and have investigated various marketing and publishing options. It’s good to be doing something like this, it stimulates my brain and gives me satisfaction when I have completed another chapter. Eric is very supportive of my project and encourages me all the time. He obviously has a vested interest and is so good at helping me relive the events that I maybe did not accurately record at the time.
Learn a new language he said!
Easier said than done. I have never been very good at foreign languages. I have a smattering of French and Spanish and now a little Hungarian. I cannot believe how hard it is to learn. Only today I wrote a Hungarian word that had 17 letters in it! Added to that certain letters sound different for example the letter S is pronounced SH. Eric is a master of foreign languages and can boast 9 different ones. His Hungarian is at a conversational level and can quite easily get by. I, on the other hand, rely heavily on Eric to translate for me as I am struggling to retain anything in my memory. It’s a hard slog. I watch a little Hungarian TV for practice. I watch Hungarian movies with English subtitles, which helps a lot. I have multiple language apps on my phone. The best way to learn I have found is to listen to Hungarian people chatting with each other, I pick up words that way. But my progress is painfully slow. If you like languages and have the ability to learn your new chosen language then retirement days are the perfect time for learning.
Learning and adjusting to a new culture
Every country has cultural differences and it really was worth reading up about them before we made the move to Hungary. Countries do have different rules and obviously, it was in our best interests to find them out as quickly as possible. I researched on the internet and successfully revealed what we needed to know about customs and traditions. Sometimes things that you consider ‘normal’ are not accepted elsewhere. A good example in Hungary is: There is zero alcohol tolerance when driving a vehicle….unlike England. The police enforce it ridgely and frequently spot check and breathalyse drivers. Still on alcohol, it is extremely rude to refuse a shot of Palinka (fruit brandy) in a Hungarian home, it is considered bad manners and disrespectful to the host. We duly noted this and have not insulted anyone yet!! I love the different village festivals that happen throughout the year, in particular the harvest festival procession that walks the length of the village with singing workers dressed in traditional costumes celebrating the harvesting of the wheat crop.
Rekindled our marriage
When we first met in 2001 – Canada
I wondered how we would deal with early retirement and moving overseas to live in Hungary. We had bucketloads of stress and many setbacks during our lengthy preparations in England until our actual moving day. Thankfully, once here we overcame most hurdles and settled into a more comfortable, easy lifestyle. In the beginning, we had to learn everything from scratch, just paying a bill was challenging or going to the supermarket struggling to read food labels in Hungarian. Eventually, we got the hang of how things worked. We were fortunate to have a willing translator when we needed them, she was very helpful. All the little niggling issues certainly put a strain on our relationship. We finally overcame things together by pooling our knowledge to solve a problem. This meant we communicated far more than we had ever done in England and managed to amicably sort issues out. We had time to sit and talk to each other, laugh at silly jokes and truly appreciate our surroundings and each other’s company. Those first challenging days have brought us closer together so for us, retiring early and moving abroad was and still is, the best thing we ever did.
Have you any thoughts on your own retirement. How has it affected your everyday life? I would love to hear in the comments.
The weather in Kisszékely this month has been a mixture of very hot sun and torrential rain showers. Everywhere is noticeably greener and at last feels like summer has arrived.
We are very fortunate to have not one but two lakes in the village. One of them belongs to Simontornya (the next village) and the other to Kisszékely. Both lakes are available and accessible to everyone for fishing, picnicking or just sitting and admiring. These are the resident ducks patrolling the waters but sometimes illusive to photograph. I got lucky.
Wandering up the main street of the village, I passed a local Panzio (Bed&Breakfast) that looked very empty with currently no guests due to the current pandemic.
These Red Hot Pokers are stunning making such a pretty colourful display on someone’s front verge. I do believe they are also called “Mother-in-Law’s Tongues? In Hungary, unlike England, homeowners have responsibility for the verges outside their houses.
Hungary boasts plenty of lizards, you spot them dashing around or just sitting sunning themselves. This handsome fellow stayed still long enough for me to photograph. There is also an abundance of colourful butterflies everywhere you walk. Nice to look at but when they are caterpillars they demolish my garden!
This time of year the trees are laden with fruit and nuts like these, nectarines, mulberries and hazelnuts.
Nectarines
Hazelnuts
Mulberries
Kisszékely is in a valley surrounded by hills with staggering views the higher up you go. I walked up as far as I could and spotted hundreds of birds just sitting on the telegraph poles.
I obviously was not quiet enough because suddenly with a whoosh and a lot of noise they took flight!
Back down into the village and the entrance to the lake belonging to Simontornya village.
I really like this shot of the path surrounding this lake, like a mysterious tunnel of giant trees, very peaceful and tranquil. A popular place for walking dogs.
I sat on one of the many wooden jetties around the lake to take these shots. The jetties are made of wood and some have seen better days! Each fishing jetty belongs to someone and they usually have name plaques to tell you this.
The last shot of this beautiful lake before moving on.
Kisszékely is a hunting and fishing village attracting many people from far and wide to take part in hunts. There is a hunting lodge in the village specifically for this. Hunters come, pay their dues and take part in organised hunts. The grounds and the forests are extensive and are full of boar and deer. There is a giant outdoor fridge made available for the hunters to store their hunts.
The hunting lodge also has a beautiful lake attached with a million mosquitoes hovering around. It was late in the day, I did not stay long!
Through the forest and from a distance I spotted these deer amongst the darkness of the trees.
The boar breeding is in full swing at the moment. I did not realise they had so many babies. They took a quick look at me and made a run for it!
I know hunting is a controversial topic. I am merely taking photos of what I see and sharing with you snippets of village life.
Mama boar and her cute babies.
Leaving the hunting forest I came across this glorious rustic rambling rose covering a run down building. Just gorgeous.
Hungary is a sunflower country, with fields and fields of them in the summer. This one however turned her back on me! My first sunflower shot of the year, I shall be taking more sunflower shots soon.
It has been a pleasure putting together this month’s nature walk, I hope you liked it too. I shall be doing the same next month, follow me to join me on next month’s photographic journey.
Yesterday was Thursday, so it was market day in Tamási. We had visited tabletop and car boot sales here in Hungary before, although we found they operated differently compared to England. If you are interested, I wrote a blog about car-booting Hungarian style which you can read all about here.
This market however, was open-air with plenty of stalls selling a huge variety of new goods, clothes, plants and nic nacs.
Our good friends in the next village recommended we make a visit on market day to the butchers located in the market hall. We were told he sold a wide variety of excellent quality meats.
I was not so interested in marvelling at meats so left Eric in the butchers whilst I wandered around the many stalls.
The market (if you are ever in rural Hungary) was behind the Spar supermarket, held on a Thursday morning and had plenty of free parking. We arrived around 11.00 am and were pleasantly surprised that it was not very crowded….I later discovered the action started at 6.30 am. The Hungarians are early birds!
As I perused the stalls, I had already decided I would be back to visit again, there was so much to see. The stallholders were all very friendly shouting “hello” to me as I looked at their wares. I became a little confused when they continued talking to me in Hungarian, I did not understand what they were saying so just smiled pleasantly and moved on!
I looked rather conspicuous with my camera and felt eyes on me several times. I wish I was more confident with street photography, I have a fear of people turning on me and yelling at me to stop! I would be no good as the Paparazzi!
Despite the Covid19 virus, there was a definite absence of face masks…I only saw a couple of people donning them including me! It would appear precautions are now more relaxed than in previous weeks.
I did notice there was an abundance of shoe stalls, both adults and children. Crocs are VERY popular here for both adults and children. Though not so good for the feet I have heard. Although I have to say I do own a pair, they are my “old faithfuls” in the garden!
Loads of hardware stalls were selling absolutely everything you could need for a home or garden. You could furnish and kit out your home completely from this market. I was impressed.
I was attracted to this huge pile of chiffon materials, all colours and sizes. I shall be returning with measurements of our windows (we have no curtains, just blinds) to see what I can pick up.
I was still waiting for Eric to finish in the butchers when I spotted this young man who looked decidedly bored. He did not seem to mind me taking his photograph. I was getting braver with my street photography!
I was still waiting patiently for Eric to reappear from the butchers….so I took the opportunity to..
Pig, Beef, Calf
…snap the signs in the window and the board outside and FINALLY a photo of an ecstatic Eric with his bag full of meaty goodies!
The market hall seemed to have a variety of clientele. Next door to the butchers was a busy takeaway with a queue of eager customers. Then a bar/pub/coffee shop with tables outside serving thirsty and hungry customers.
This was my favourite take of the day. The men were engrossed in deep conversations, chilling and drinking whilst I presumed the women shopped the market. This depicts a typical Hungarian scene. Alcohol and banter play a large part in the lives of most Hungarians.
Another thing enjoyed by Hungarians is honey and there was no shortage of it here at the market. The Hungarian honey is divine, and very easy to eat a lot of! I was tempted to buy but we have lots of honey at home. Maybe next time we visit the market it will be on my shopping list.
So for the duration of my visit to the market I had been getting braver and braver with my photographs….until I met this bunch!! They were a group of youngsters dressed somewhat strangely…note the gas mask on the left??? I had no idea what was going on…I just started snapping. Little did I know what I would find when I downloaded today’s photos…a teenager flashing his stomach at me HaHa!! I laughed…maybe my street photography is getting better after all.
Do you enjoy markets in your town? Have you spotted any incredible bargains? I would love to hear about them in the comments.
Tucked away behind the main town of Tamási is Tamási wildlife and game park. A large forested area open to the public to see the deer in their natural surroundings. Unfortunately, I could only explore the grand approach to this huge fallow deer park but not go inside due to the Covid19 virus.
At this current time the forest park is closed but there is lots of information about the history and location to be found here.
The approach road follows a good sized pretty lake with vantage points all the way round. I am not absolutely sure about the history of this quaint wooden building but I think it’s a love house??
Weeping Willows and rushes surrounded the lakeside which gave such a romantic feel.
I could see the little wooden house between the rushes. A young couple stood in the perfect beauty spot, oblivious to me taking photos. They were actually the only people I saw on my walk.
The little wooden bridge to the the love house.
The romantic bridge I crossed to reach the love house had hundreds of padlocks on it. A common sight in the capital Budapest but the first time I have seen this tradition in rural Hungary.
My last picture of the love house, after much patience and waiting the young couple finally left. I returned over the bridge and carried on.
The lake looked rather brown today from this angle, which was a shame as I have seen it bright blue in the past. I always like to look at the various boards dotted around in these forestry parks. I might not be able to understand the text but I look at the pictures to glean my information.
My trusty companions, my son and my husband fed up with waiting for me…they don’t mind really! 😉
One half of the lake was set aside for breeding frogs….there were hundreds of them making a hell of a noise!
I came across this MASSIVE tree trunk, with beautiful mosses growing all over it. It was quite magnificent. I rather liked the fence too, perfect for our garden, I have pinched the idea!
Leaving the deer park behind we ventured up into the hills surrounding Tamási. Every turn we made led us through many attractive little lanes, quite charming.
At the highest point, I looked back and realised how steep the road was and how high we had climbed. This chap stood majestically at a crossroads with his bunch of grapes at his side, this was vineyard country!
I don’t think this property was occupied but it made me look twice particularly at the thatched roof.
Castle, Wine Museum, Viewing Spot.
We did not see the castle but we did get some spectacular views and enjoyed driving through the many vineyards.
Stunning view across the flat terrain of Tolna County Hungary.
We passed the satellite aerial on the way up, you can see the vines in the foreground.
Finally just a bit of fun: These shots were taken by my son, of me taking shots of the wooden love house!
We had an excellent family drive out with lots to see and photograph. We finished our trip with a picnic of Gyros chicken with salads and sauces in wraps from our favourite place in Tamási… Dam Gyros.
There are so many beautiful interesting places to explore all just on our doorstep. We are so lucky. Watch out for more walks around the charming villages and settlements in the Hungarian countryside.
Do you like exploring new places? I do. I would love to hear of new places in Hungary which are worth taking my camera too. Drop me a line in the comments. Many thanks.
Our little village is full of overflowing gardens everywhere you look, this particular one caught my eye, obviously a lot of work went into this with a stunning result, and the bonus…the Mock Orange smelt heavenly!! I took these photos late afternoon hence the lengthening shadows. A beautiful time to explore the village with its changing seasonal beauties. Each month I have taken a walk around Kisszékely with my camera to record nature’s changes. It is amazing how quickly Mother Nature has awoken to brighten our world.
There is a lovely seated area adjacent to the swimming pool full of maturing shrubs and trees. There are bird boxes and bird tables dotted all around. A pleasure to sit and peacefully admire.
Across the wooden bridge over the reed filled river and to the entrance of the swimming pool area. Open during the hot summer months it’s very well attended. There are wooden picnic tables and huge trees to sit among on the grass. There is also an outdoor oven for Al Fresco dining if you like!
“Messing about on the water” these lads were cycling around the village whilst I was photographing, they were having so much fun, enjoying the fresh air and appreciating their surroundings. That’s what we used to do when we were young…no internet then!!
As I circumnavigated the lake I had to negotiate this wooden bridge and steep slope, stupidly not really having the right footwear was a mistake! Even worse if I visit during the winter months as it does get rather slippery.
Round the other side of Kisszékely Lake, I wanted to experiment with framing and use natural objects to achieve this. The trees were growing at an angle towards the water they created a perfect snapshot of the other side.
My man, my taxi and my other eye. 👓 He is forever patient and waits for hours for me to hop in and out of the car to get that perfect shot.
This is our local church we are high up the side of the valley and I’m having fun, dreadfully modelling for “I can’t use the camera Eric” standing on the edge of a wheat field!
Kisszékely Church and the fabulous view over the valley, everything is so vibrantly green it’s beautiful.
This is a Pince (winehouse/cellar), a tiny building with accommodation at the top and wine making facilities/equipment in the cellar. They are situated next to the owner’s vineyards. This one had an amazing Virginia Creeper up the whole side of the building, in its garden it had fig trees with ripe fruit.
Over the other side of the valley, I got a perfect view of the village church and the Panzio (guest house) we stayed in before we moved over to Hungary permanently.
I was staggered when I came across masses of wild roses, all growing wild and randomly, their delicate pink petals covering all the hedgerows.
The trees all seem to be heavy with lovely blooms. The other photo shows caves made into the hillside usually at the end of a person’s garden. They are used for storage and are quite a common sight. This garden had a wire fence around it, and a yappy dog, I had to be quick peering through the fence, you can see the bronzing in the photo.
The last view, the vast lush green landscape goes on for miles, over the valley and onto the next little rural village in Hungary.
It has been a pleasure putting together this month’s nature walk. I shall be doing the same next month, follow me to join me on next month’s photographic journey.
Making Hungary Home 