Lively June - the YES month

A couple of weeks before we threw ourselves (body and soul) into the summer and so created a really sparkling start of our favourite season.

MAY was ended with a really sporty, childproof weekend when I decided to try yoga again and find out if I’ve already come to like it or not. So not, but the idea of the location was quite out of the common. It was held on the surface of City Lake with a gorgeous view of Vajdahunyad Castle.

Another outdoor activity came next on the following day: Tour de Velencei-tó, cycling around Lake Velence. The distance of 34 km was fulfilled in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Although, I did not managed to be the fastest but at least I managed to be the fastest female participant.

Double back to the end of May. Child's Day was spent in the so called Family Park of the neighbouring Austria. It is excellent outdoor program possibility, so much fun. Funfair, fairy tales, and swimming custome is definitely a must if you want to make the most of it. Approaching the park along the Neusiedler See, an idea got into shape in my mind... Realization will be in August.

The school came to an end with a correct report in hand in mid June. I proudly present that Dominik’s rates met my expectation. The gratitude towards the teachers was expressed with two home-made Eszterházi cakes (made of own-growned, own-collected, own-cracked, own-ground walnuts) placed in lovely cake carriers with recipes. 

Staying at the theme of school, we had the chance to congratulate for the first family member who finished his studies in the elementary school and said goodbye to the institute he attended for 8 years. Botond grew into a tall, handsome, ambitious young man with nice results in Fudokan Karate. He also won the title of the national championship. 

The month of June was sorely steeped with the fever of football. Namely, we could be witnesses of several historical moments for everyone’s big surprise. We started to enjoy the game again and got back the belief in the Hungarian football that it seems came to its turning point after 30 years. The Hungary National Football Team could get into winner position and so was able to take part in the UEFA European Championship and even got into Europe’s best eight teams. What’s more, the Hungarians had a drawn match (3:3) with the title defender and final winner team of Portugal, which is I think not bad at all…

Two books were also essential part of my June. The Woman and The Man from Dr. Imre Csernus. He is a very cool, free-spoken psychiatrist, author and his writings represents the same very free-tongued style, too. Those books gave me some inspiration and made me realize, think of and about some things. Not agreed with every point but both were undoubtedly enjoyable, readable and recommendable. 

I'm engaged with learning a new language. On Thursdays I attend an 11-week sign language course that is used by deaf people. Why? It was on my wishlist. Verbal and written exam will be due at the end of July. 

One of June's determinate experiences surely was Denmark, a short vacation at Zoli (see previous post) and another short vacation is also memorable that was spent with Emil & Dominik in the countryside. Our first stop was Poroszló. Here can be found the Lake Tisza Ecocenter where Europe's largest freshwater aquarium system can be found. It shows the natural wonders and wildlife of Lake Tisza, Hungary's second largest lake. It offers a whole day programme with its leisure park with zoo, playgrounds, rafting on wooden boats, 3D cinema, playroom, lookout tower, etc... A small pier drove us to the boats where we could take a tour on the water path and promenade. This was absolutely a natural way of entertainment that all of us enjoyed despite the terrible heat. Swelter, 40°C in the shade, no zephyr at all. It's summer time! 

Our trip was continued in Füzesgyarmat. Our base in such heat could be not else than the local open-air bath. Two lovely little girls Dorina & Bianka (Pisti's 'daughters') - at the same age like my 'sons' - coloured our stay there. The Füzes Festival was held during our stay and so we could meet some celebrities like Béres Alexandra and Péter-Szabó Szilvia. Pisti still works hard to start his own life and renew his house (I'm very proud of him), Sanci still does not want to come off the high horse, my female cousin still appears occasionally, my godmother still fries tasty flat bread and my godfather still wakes up early, is engaged with sheep and has the best appetite. Some things seem to be never changing.

Girl in a flip-flop around Lake Balaton (Spirit of Balaton 2.)

How to grow in your own estimation extremely big within a day? I've got an idea that definitely works. Ride around lake Balaton by bike fully within a day! And it is guaranteed that you will be absolutely not only more than satisfied with your accomplishment but also very proud of yourself, of the appr. 45 cities you will touch and of the 220 km you will have in your km counter (there is no denying that others, too). 

In my opinion, people can be cathegorized into three goups: group #1 does not dare to undertake such distance within such a short period (go for it, you won't regret it, the experience will be yours and if you never try it you never know that you are able to do it); group #2 is ready for this kind of adventure and moves out of their comfort zone pretty much because they know well that miracle can happen only there (outside the comfort zone); group #3 is approaching even Balaton by bike and basically finds such event too crowdy and slowly, so they rather organize private tours instead.

This year at least two things changed for me: one is my bicycle (KTM instead of the stolen Genesis), other is the place of departure (Alsóörs instead of Balatonkenese - many thanks for Andi & Laci for the accomodation and the hospitality).

I got up something before 4 AM and sprang into saddle at 4:15 AM. I headed for the meeting point at Balatonkenese where I met with the couple at 5:30 with whom I usually ride a bike. Among the stops I need to highlight the public strand of Balatonboglár which gave us real refreshment. The bank was girdled with ancient big trees and their contiguous gratifying shadow was highly appreciated. The water was awesome as well! Very clear and aptly cool. No crowd was found there. The day was passed away quickly, the remaining kilometers decreased fast. Other opportunity for having a dip arose upon arrival in Alsóörs just before sunset. I would not have missed to splash into the water after such a day! It was growing dark, forks of lighting was drawn on the sky and the storm lamp moderately indicated that it was high time to go home. Bum, thigh and palm - these parts reminded me even on the following day what I did on the previous day. Everyone who performed the Spirit of Balaton must be very grateful to his/her body after such an accomplishment and then it should not be forgotten to spoil it (the body).

Undoubtedly, such event attracts much more male participants than female. This fact is not a problem for me at all. The helmet, the sunglasses make the guys handsome wheelmen. Actually, the smile on my face was indelible. When I accidently forget to reflect my happiness with my mouth, I was still laughing inside. I was doing those things exactly moreover at the same time what I really like: moving, sightseeing, sunbathing, cycling, proving. All these made me to speak to the people on the road passed by: asked the fishing little boy on the beach "Is there any catch?" or shouted to the man having lunch on the balcon "Enjoy your meal!" or encouraged the participants approaching from the opposite direction with a battle-cry "Go, go!" or initiated conversations at the checkpoints or just exchanged glances with the morning/evening runners. 

And of course, I accepted the honourable compliments, wondering glances due to my footwear which was a flip-flop this year again. I think I make it to my trademark. So still nothing special equipment. Fine feathers do not make fine birds. I've just bought a cycling bag (girlish one, of course) and filled with some useful things and plentiful heat-proof, healthy, tasty foodstuff rich in vitamins and energy. Actually, he portion would had been enough for another Balaton round... 

Just a simple day. The sun rose and set on the same way as it always does. But how many people were met, how much of everything happened and were seen from sunrise to sunset. This is the siprit of Balaton.