Sparkling S U M M E R

As a resumption of the story about our trip to Denmark, I decided to go on with the happenings and actions that kept us busy continuously one by one in this wonderful summer.

By the time we came home from Denmark, Lassu family had been in Hungary and I had the pleasure to drum together the family members for this occasion and found the means for a big get-together.

Dominik spent the following week with my ex-mother-in-law from morning till evening, Monday to Friday. They made a couple of joint program together with Karcsi (Magdi's companion) and his grandchildren like bath and spa, kid's railway, cinema, etc... Even on the same week, the next family vacation was due that was spent with his father, Juli, Noémi, Laci, Eszter - and two dogs. They drove to Székelyland which is a historic and etnographic area in Romania, inhabited mainly by Hungarians and Romanians. They admired the natural beauties of Székelyland and made excursions to the legendary Red Lake (Gyilkos-tó), into the beautiful mountains and forests of the National Park of Harghita county, to the Bicaz-Stejaru Hidro Power Plant to see the dam, to the Bicaz Gorge (Békás-szoros) that is a narrow pass, the former border between Romania and the Kingdom of Hungary, tasted the famous curing mineral water of the region (borvíz) and grilled local sausage every evening for Dominik's greatest pleasure.

The week without Dominik was much more different like last year. I planned it a bit more stirring as it succeed in real. The beginning was undoubtedly so lively with the Spirit of Balaton and the baby shower at Andi & Zoli, and then I managed to slow down. That week was about relax and recreation unintentionally. However, I should have met my friends on each day but almost each of the meetings was cancelled either by my side or by the other side. 







Coming home from Székelyland, the swimming camp was the next summer adventure for Dominik. As he could swim within a hair, this camp was definitely a good choice for the sake of completeness. It proved to be pretty useful as I expected. Although, he was dead tired by end of day, it gives him much pleasure and said that he was praised by the trainer more times every day. Aaaaand, at the weekend he finally could show me his new ability at the public bath. Yesss, he swam through the big pool with me more times and what's more, he did not want to go to the small one but stayed in the deep one all along.

And then, me and my mom set off, flew till Napoli, discovered Pompei, were away for 4 days and came home for the finishing touches of the Sherlock Holmes themed birthday party.

And then, Dominik turned 8 on the 24th of July...

The 20th

Reunion Countdown

Kids' Dream: LEGOLAND 2015

(This note should be just before Spirit of Balaton chronologically.)
I'm going to write about an undoubtedly pure family vacation. First flight for Emil and Noel and the very first trip abroad together. I can't remember if any of our vacation was such eagerly expected as this one. Seriously, Dominik packed his suitcase even in December, on the following day when the idea was arisen first. Although, the content was changed week by week. And then the day of departure slowly but finally came. What a joy! What an excitement!

Zoli was waiting for all the 6 of us. Actually, I never met such an exemplary host: self-denying, generous, considerate. He organized everything for our convenience. A spacious van (even additional 4 people could have been seated) and a whole beautiful huge house that was incredibly comfortable for us. We were more and more amazed and most of the times just stood in openmouthed wonder. Strawberry and melone as welcome fruits, fully filled fridge, thinking of everyone's taste with more kinds of salad, beer, refreshments, caviar, some Danish specialties, fully filled bathroom, even would buy diapers for Noel if it was up to him. And this list is endless as I'm saying. 

Legoland is only 2 kms far from Billund Airport. Zoli came there and collected our packages so that we could through ourselves into LEGO!!! And we did. Also the following day was planned to devote for Legoland. 

Additionally, Zoli found out some programmes that thought the kids would enjoyed. Like a ZOO and safari park in Givskud where we were allowed to drive through by our own car among lions and giraffes. I also really enjoyed the newly built dino park where we could meet lifelike dinosaurs in full size in their habitat. It was a very nice sunny day full of great memories, including the car engine, too. :-D

Previous night Zoli took us to a beautiful place, to one of the westernmost point of Denmark. We had to be in a hurry so that we could reach the amazing island of Rømø and could see the last rays of the sun. Rømø is linked to the Danish mainland by a road running across a causeway. And wow, what a natural beauty! Really a National Geographic theme. The sand was waving because of the wind, the puddles reflected the amazing colours of the sky and many shells were lieing waiting to be collected. The colours, the air, the sea, the wind, the sand and only we 7 of us that soaked in everyone's mind then and there.

My sisters' went home on the 4th day and the whole house suddenly emptied. Dominik and me extended our stay with 3 more days in order to seek out some Unesco World Heritage Sites, visit Copenhagen, the ancient town of Ribe and the viking runestones in Jelling.

Jelling is not so far from Lunderskov where we lived (closest from Givskud) although, it is of a great importance since those runestones are said to be the very first written memories of Denmark. Two hills that might be burial places, a church between them and the most orderly cemetry I ever seen around. This is all about and the HISTORY.

Staying at history, we also visited Ribe which is the oldest extant town in Denmark established in the early 700s. The long and short of it, it has its own spirit with the main street, the cathedral and the North style houses that completely remind me to the cartoon titled 'How to train your dragon'. Every evening from 1 May until 15 September you may accompany the night watchman in Ribe on his route through the old town, while he is singing to alert citizens about bedtime approaching. 

As a curiosity, June the 21st, the summer equinox reached us in the North where the days are basically longer and now we experienced the longest daytime of the year in Denmark. Of course, the light has its effect to the children as well, they were turning round and round and did not feel tired and did not want to go to sleep. On the other hand, we could well utilized the extremely long daytime for going and seeing a lot because we did not have to worry about the darkness, we could extend our day as much as we wanted. Complete darkness around 12 PM and sunrise at around 3 AM or so. 

We learned well from our last visit that the weather is totally unpredictable. We can live through all the 4 seasons in a couple of hours. This time we prepared with wellies and this proved to be a wise decision because we got showers several times. And if I felt myself uncomfortable at home with umbrella in the rain, I just need to think about those Danish children and adults who naturally walk in the rain without any hat or hood or umbrella and let the raindrops fall on their hair and into their face, disturbing them by no means.

To visit Copenhagen, people have the chance to go through the Storebælt (Great Belt) which is a strait between the major islands. Although, it is quite expensive to drive through the East Bridge with its 18 kms but it's understandable because the construction and maintenance are financed by these tolls on vehicles. 

In Copenhagen and in Denmark generally, the personage of the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen can be experienced. Best remembered for his fairy tales but his popularity is not limited to children. We have visited his 'Little Mermaid' of course, sitting on a rock in the sea. And the rococo style royal residence Amelienborg, the Parlament and got an impression from the famous amusement park and pleasure garden which is the second oldest in the world, operated since 1843, named TIVOLI!!!

Permission for the build-up was given by the king saying if the people are well entertained, they are not thinking of politics. It's a kind of magic or rather crazyness. The rides go too close to the unsuspecting passers-by with the velocity of wind and actually they can be examined in operation from the closest distance seeing the distorted faces. That was a bit strange but fascinating at the same time. Just The Demon roller coaster to mention: reaches a speed of 48 mph (77 km) on a 1,851 ft long track (564m) and a height of 92 ft (28 m) with 3 inversions. No, I haven't tried it, thanks. Even so a big wow for Tivoli where peacocks are walking around the guests. Grandiosity and history, again. 

Next time, I want to be a bit more familiar with the vikings, want to go hiking and conquer some more fjords and those incredible green grazing lands that sometimes seem to be softly united with the fabulous blue of the sky.

We cannot express our thankfullness sufficiently for Zoli for this never-to-be-forgotten family vacation.

Know Your Limits: Spirit of Balaton

Cycling fully round Lake Balaton within a day means 220 km.

Cycling fully round Lake Balaton within a day was on my wish list.

Cycling fully round Lake Balaton within a day was a reason to get a super bike.

Cycling fully round Lake Balaton within a day was a great accomplishment.

In detail:

Once upon a time there was a tour about accomplishment and experience let’s call it Spirit of Balaton. My friends invited me to take part in it. It is held on the first Saturday of every July. I got up so early (2:30 AM)  to join and not to miss the start from Balatonkenese at 5:45 AM on Saturday. The plan was to move forward as far as we can before the heat comes. We started at the South lakeside which is plain and there was no need to swift gear at all.

Previous day I got my loan bike from one of my friend who's got a shop specializing in good quality bicycles. I knew well that a simple urban bike (the one I currently have) is not suitable for such a tour, so I wanted him to renew my ancient MB that wasn’t in use in the last 20 years or so. Once he saw it, he stroke his head saying „Oh my gosh, I’d rather give you a bike instead.” Offer accepted immediately. At that time I did not suspect yet that the tour would be a definite event of my life – thanks to Csabi and his trekking type bike. I experienced such an amazing feeling riding on it like never before. I was flying on its 28” wheels with its lightweight framework. I thought the world is mine and could keep moving till anytime and till anywhere, even up to Mt Everest. And this is not an accident. Csabi made a tour riding this bike even till Copenhagen, Denmark which is around 1 400 km far by car from Budapest and I guess it is much more by bike.  

The truth is that I simply fall in love with the bike and I want to have it. New perspectives, new life awareness opened with the try of it. I enjoyed every minute of the tour, although I carried out the second part of it on my own. My fellow-travellers gave up and decided to go back by train from half way. Actually, we still remained three of us: the road, the bike and me. As for me, there was no doubt to continue, I was so determined. We decoupled at 4 PM after 108 km and then I rode through the rolling North bank alone, putting even the boys to shame with my speed and steadiness. Incredible view welcomed me on the North. Hungarian grey cattles grazed next to the path, I spiralled among vines, found number of cosy vineries, wine-growings, wine terraces, wine houses, wine gardens, wine cellars and the sun started to go down slowly, goldenly. I finished by 11 PM! What a joy and what a proud! Thanks God, everything went so smooth although I had neither map, nor professional equipments (like eg.  spongy underwear). My flip-flop was the most extreme belonging. :-)

Cycling fully round Lake Balaton within a day gives the spirit to move on with the greatest energy ever in the everydays.