Eger
Leaving Krakow and now onto Eger...
Rainy day leaving Krakow. Saw the Wawel castle from the highway. Very cool to see the castle from a distance and its fortress like surroundings. We drove along the freeway until we turned off onto rural back roads. Went through mountains of Poland. Very fun to see so many ski pensions and guest houses. Runs didn’t look difficult, nor were many at high altitude. There were so many "ski resorts." It seemed every farm had a chair lift going through it. This area of Poland just seems to be a fun place where people can easily travel to and enjoy winter sports. September/October is shoulder season and the towns were gearing up for the upcoming winter season.
Seeing the juxtaposition between the changing leaf colors against the snow capped Tatra mountains announced winter was on its way. We had lunch at a US Western ranch inspired restaurant and summer campground. Though the food and drink are very much local. We are having fun during these well timed breaks to enjoy the company of our fellow group members. We crossed the border into Hungary. We took a rest break at a Unesco site, the Aggtelek National Park. It was nearly empty at this time, everything but the cafe was closed.
Continuing on, we saw Roma camps along the way. Many people picking mushrooms-walking in the fields along the road with buckets harvesting their bounty. The Roma had mushrooms for sale along the road at impromptu stands they created with only buckets of mushrooms. Arrived to Eger and experienced first hand Oliver's incredible driving skills backing into a very narrow street with cars parked on both sides. I thought for sure someone's mirror was going to be toast. No-Oliver is a pro. All cars remained unscathed.
We are at a cozy hotel situated near a road full of wine bars, music and fun. The road led to a square of wine bars and restuarants. This amazing array of wine bars is in what is called the Szépasszony Valley. Cafe lights adorning many of the outdoor patios beckoned to us like moths to a flame. Jim and I discover a family run wine bar—Kuve. After enjoying a well deserved glass of wine after a day in the bus, it was time to meet the group for a traditional Hungarian dinner. I felt like I was at Grandma's in Lorain Ohio. We enjoyed dinner with the group and then dashed back to the square to enjoy the vibrant evening drinking another glass of wine at Kuve and living like a local in this vibrant cafe scene.
Eger-most of the day spent here
We had two options this morning, stay at the hotel and relax for a few hours or go to Eger. Of course Jim and I opted for having free time in Eger. We loaded on the bus with most of the other tour members and then we were let loose in Eger. A rainy day greeted us in Eger. Wonderful little town. We were on our own for nearly 3 hours. Jim and I went to the castle. Scene of a battle with Turks. It was fun just to roam around and discover little places on our own. It's a small town, but jammed packed with so many local things to do and see. Just walking around is so much fun. Not much was open when we arrived, so it was fun to have the town essentially to ourselves.
Free time over, it was time to gather in front of the Catholic Church, our designated meeting spot. There we met up with our guide, Anita. It is Saturday and not very many kids want to be at school, but four young volunteers greeted us in a class room. Our table was very fun--we asked our student questions about Hungary, and he asked us questions about America. From there we compared our countries and learned about his hopes and dreams. The United States shines strong in so much of the world as a beacon where many people believe they can be free to pursue their own professional and personal path. When visiting countries like Hungary, we learn how lucky we are and what we take for granted as American citizens. We all gathered for lunch in the cafeteria. It was so sweet to be on the receiving end of such gracious hospitality from this school on a Saturday.
Then onto the winery. Wow. We get off the bus and are greeted by a gyspsy violin player, Tony. He serenaded us with a wide repetoir of music from classical to modern day. We had great wine to taste. Singing, Dancing, very fun. Jim bought some wine. Prices are great. Back on the bus heading to Budapest. Arrived to Budapest around 6 pm.
