Tag: photography

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Everyday Life in Hungary

Capital Calling – Budapest

In Search of Turkish Spices

I had fabulous day out with the Eric yesterday! We took the long drive into Budapest, the capital of Hungary and realised how I had become very accustomed to empty roads and very little traffic in the countryside!

Crossing the River Danube

Driving in the middle of the capital alongside tram lines and bright yellow trams was a hair-raising experience! Pedestrians frequently crossed the main roads with no regard to moving traffic and the general crazy driving of other motorists made me hold my breath more than once!

Imposing buildings lined the streets with little cafes and shops housed at street level. Lots of things to take photos of but I had to keep my eye on the road! I was navigator along with Sat Nav man!

Finally we reached our destination in one piece, car parked and we both let out a huge sigh of relief!

This was the Turkish food market I had found on the internet and hoped it would sell everything we needed.

👌https://www.facebook.com/TroyaTorokelelmiszeruzlet/

We usually get our herbs and spices from England but the Covid-19 Pandemic had put a stop to that. Our supplies were running low and it was a good excuse for a day out and to get into the city.

The Turkish supermarket was located in the heart of the 8th district of Budapest, one of the oldest districts in the city and occupied a prominent corner position, so easy to spot.

Thankfully our efforts were not in vane and the long journey was forgotten as soon as we entered the store. We were not disappointed and bought far more things than we had intended too!

Above the herbs and spices hung these amazing Turkish lanterns in lovely colours suspended from the ceiling, the shelves were filled with numerous Turkish nik-naks…. I felt like I was in Turkey!

The store had a well stocked Halal butcher and a fabulous bakery selling enticing sweets and mouth watering breads.

By now we had filled our trolley with lots of wonderful products and breads and hams for us to eat for our lunch. Shopping had made us hungry!

I had looked on the map to find somewhere close by to have something to eat before heading off home again. I was delighted to find a huge park that was also a cemetery just around the corner.

This was Fiumei Road Cemetery and park…56 hectares full of rich fauna and flora. Also perfect to have our picnic.

A beautifully peaceful park with an added bonus at the entrance, a useful information centre that gave me a map providing a little history about this huge majestic cemetery in the heart of the Budapest city….in English!

It would not usually be a place that I would have taken photographs but I was mesmerised by the fantastic stone sculptures on the tombstones. Each one told its own personal story.

Those buried here are prominent personalities of the Hungarian nation dating from 1849. Most of the tombs have historic value and were created by reputable architects and sculptors.

This is called “Arcades” built between 1904 and 1908 in the Art Nouveau style.

Inside the entrance this was painted on the ceiling. Spectacular!

After walking through the many avenues of trees and pristine shrubs I came across these two wonderful memorial creations.

With our car laden with fresh lamb, Turkish breads and all the herbs and spices we needed to last us another 6 months we headed off home.

We pulled off the road for a break and came across a hidden beauty…I just had to photograph it! Set back from the road was a massive fishing lake looking tranquil in the afternoon sun. This was Lake Adony. It was also a chance to eat fallen apples from the laden trees surrounding it. A perfect way to end our successful day trip to Budapest.

Categories
Seasonal Photographs

Seasonal Summer Photos in and around Kisszékely, Hungary

We are nearing the end of summer in our little rural village of Kisszékely. Our 3rd summer here and everyone has been wonderfully beautiful, full of flowers and wildlife, sights and sounds I would never hear in the city.

I have collected together my 12 best summer photos to give you an idea of summer life in Hungary.

The glorious sunflowers of Hungary, all different shades of yellow attracting bees and insects all summer long.

As the late sun goes down over Kisszékely lake it reminds me of why we moved to such a tranquil place. So very peaceful.

Haley Husky loves to get involved in every aspect of gardening! She manages to find her way under my feet regularly!

Hungary is blessed with radiant orangey sunsets, this one was particularly beautiful.

I can’t resist a field of sunflowers in full bloom. The heads are left on until the plant is completely brown and ready for harvesting later in the year.

Our garden has many Hibiscus of varying colours white through pinks and purples. It would appear to be a popular easy to grow plant with many flowers all summer long.

This is my colourful view whilst relaxing on our verandah.

This is the view from our bedroom window… lots of delicious sunflower seeds for hungry finches.

The white roses have flowered three times this year producing a wonderful display.

Walking around the village I was taken in by this lovely front garden. The splash of red often seen in front of Hungarian houses pops out at you. In Hungary the residents are responsible for the grass verges outside their houses.

We are fortunate to have a fairly lively animal farm in the village with a huge variety of animals including there gorgeous donkeys. They were looking hopefully for something to nibble.

Country life in Kisszékely Hungary suits us very well. Now it’s time to prepare for crisp autumn walks and hot warming casseroles.

Categories
Everyday Life in Hungary

Exploring Siófok, Szabadstrand (Public Beach)

LAKE BALATON

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.

Categories
Everyday Life in Hungary

Summer in Siófok, 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.

Cafe Roxy, Siófok, Hungary

For more details about Cafe Roxy look here

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.

Categories
Everyday Life in Hungary

Market Day in Tamási Hungary

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.

Categories
Everyday Life in Hungary

My Camera – My Day

21st May – Friday

Today my dear husband agreed to take me out and about with my camera and be my chauffeur and my second eye. Sometimes he sees things I miss and he is good at pointing out different options for the same shot. I love a second opinion. We don’t always agree!

Today our route took us from Enying > Deg > Simontornya. 50 km.

I could not resist a stop in front of these glorious poppy fields, truly enchanting.

My thoughts: I always associate poppies with red, I had never seen such a beautiful field of red AND purple poppies before… just wow! My creative eye wanted to see a sea of flowers, some with a horizon and some without. It helped getting down low.

Leaving the poppy fields behind we headed towards a small town, Enying. Our business completed we set off to find a secluded spot to eat our well chosen Lidl bought picnic! We found our spot and enjoyed the view of an abandoned railway line. We ate freshly baked crusty bread with cheese and hams. It was really rather peaceful.

My thoughts: These lone poppies popped in the centre of the shot giving central focus, and the houses on the right gave extra interest. I wanted to create a quiet harmonious scene, I think I have achieved that.

I ventured along the old railway line and came across the old station.

My thoughts: I love to take photos of abandoned buildings, there is a certain beauty in creating an atmospheric shot. My eye was caught by the multi-coloured frontage caused by years of decay. The splashes of green drew my eye, especially along the platform.

The Blue Old Mill, no longer operational. railway and station abandoned.

Walking along the rail tracks, I was greeted by a very colourful lizard… darting off here and there and blending in so well with his surroundings. I needed to look carefully through my camera to get a shot of him.

Limey Lizard!

We drove around to the front of the Blue Old Mill and next door saw this row of terraced houses…

I suspect the workers from the Mill lived there when it was operational. Terraced housing is not common in Hungary, usually homes are detached properties. These houses are still occupied with the addition of several satellite dishes!

My thoughts: I wondered when the mill had closed. I would love to explore inside for more shots. I see they have built a brand new mill next door very modern and sleek. The Blue Mill is a recognisable blot on the landscape, a landmark for Enying. Its enormous blue building set amongst sprawling flat fields means you can see it for miles around.

Dég

Leaving the Old Blue Mill behind in Enying we continued our trip to the quaint little village of Dég, a picturesque area with a few hidden surprises.

Dég Village Church
Dég Village Church
The resident stork in the middle of the roundabout.

You can find more of my photos of storks in Hungary here: https://makinghungaryhome.wordpress.com/2020/04/19/spring-is-here-and-so-are-hungarys-storks/

We took a winding road through the forest and came across a settlement of houses, I’m not sure if they are holiday lodges but all very quirky and unusual in their own ways.

Travelling on past the settlement of houses and through the trees this extremely large and majestic building appeared! On further research, I discovered this stunning building is a museum called Festetics Castle and is currently being renovated. The gardens surrounding the grounds are open freely to the public. You can park your car at the end of the drive and then walk around the stunning landscaped grounds. We were not able to walk the grounds on this occasion but I will one day. Lots more interesting information and photos of the English gardens here: http://undiscoveredhungary.com/places/454-festetics-castle-and-park-deg

Majesty Tree

We could not pass this magnificent tree without stopping to admire it bowing to the ground with its extended branches. So graceful.

My thoughts: My imagination ran away with me and I could visualise the tree as an elderly gentleman as old as the tree! I also wondered what that tree had witnessed over the years whilst slowly maturing in front of this grand building.

We named it “The Majesty Tree”. Festetics Castle, Dég, Hungary

These were the shots we took from the roadside.

Around the Estate
Around the Estate

Leaving Dég, driving through the village lanes we came across lots of sheep enjoying the spring sunshine. I can’t resist animal shots, they can be so endearing, but sometimes difficult to take. Out of the car, camera at the ready… I could hear Eric making inappropriate noises towards the sheep to try and attract their attention….not too successfully!

When I looked over the fence a whole crowd of curious faces were looking at me!

Leaving Dég we made our way to Simontornya, famous for its castle and staggering views. This shot was taken from the hillside. If you would like to see more shots of what I saw on my drive around Simontornya click the link below. https://makinghungaryhome.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/a-spring-drive-around-simontornya-hungary/

So that was one of our little cruises around the charming Hungarian countryside. There is always plenty to see and photograph at any time of year. We have certainly picked a wonderful country to retire to.

Do you like exploring neighbouring villages and towns with your camera? Fortunately, I still seem to have the ability to photograph new things every day, it’s almost like a challenge… do you have those feelings? I would love to hear from you. 😃

Categories
Seasonal Photographs

Winter Wonderland in and Around Kisszékely, Hungary

I am English and in common with most British people love talking about the weather! We check our forecasts daily and use it as an opening topic of conversation wherever we go. As Hungary has such definite seasons it’s hard to grumble about the weather because it’s pretty predictable. The four seasons come and go usually at the same time every year. As we have recently had snow, I thought it would be lovely to post my top photos I have taken throughout the winter months. Some from this year and some from last. Our village is equally beautiful in all of the four seasons so shall do the same for each of the season starting with winter.

Driving in snow covered roads, Kisszékely, Hungary
The snowy road into Kisszékely
The frozen fishing lake in Kisszékely
Picture Postcard!
Seats in the snow!
Snow laden trees
Deer Crossing!
Beautiful white trees, Kisszékely fishing lake
The frozen village fishing lake covered with ice and snow
Farm animals out in the snow
Farm donkey in the snow, Kisszékely
Picturesque village lake, Kisszékely
Thatched cottage covered in snow, Kisszékely

I love photography, capturing memories whatever the weather. There is always something different to see. I shall post pictures of future seasons in due course. I hope you loved looking at these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.