The weather has been OK, but not brilliant since we have come into BP. The organ concert was fantastic. The instrument in the Bartok Bela Concert hall is superb and the two artists did themselves proud. I liked the second one especially, as he played some composers I have never heard before. The organ there has two consoles, one built into the pipes which works mechanically and is usually used for the baroque pieces and the large mobile console which works electronically down on the stage and is used for the more modern and the romantic pieces. It was also nice to reconnect with some of Klari's friends who were there, especially Bozsena, who is a darling.
Sometime during last week I have discovered through Facebook a fantastic chocolate shop and we went to visit it. Their web site got me really keen as they mentioned the healthy aspects of chocolate and assured all customers of personal attention and the use of a lot less unhealthy sort of sugar in their handmade chocolates. Well, that visit was a triumph. Both Sheila and myself bought lots of stuff and we will be going back there before she goes home on Thursday. I am very happy in my fairly strict diet as I am fond of fruits, nuts, pulses, vegetables, cereals etc, but the lack of sweet things have recently been getting to me. So these chocolates have been a lifesaver. My allowance is one piece a day at the moment and I am monitoring its affect closely!!
After the choc shop we went to the big multistory shopping centre to buy a few things in an electronics shop and had lunch in there. This is the first time we have ever ventured to eat in a place like this and it was a pleasant surprise. The prices were a bit high, that was to be expected, but the quality of both the service and the food was pretty good. (see Sheila with the bar behind her!)
On Saturday I stayed at home, but Roy and Sheila went out to lunch followed by a visit to the Transport Museum. About two thirds of the museum was accessible to wheelchair users, so Sheila saw most of the old trains and other interesting exhibits there.
On Sunday we decided that the weather, while not brilliant, was good enough to visit the Statue Park. This is a unique place where the statues of the old communist era are exhibited. (see piccies!) After some hassle getting charged the full rate for entrance, which was later refunded, we had a good time there. Roy and I have been before, but it was the first time we discovered that in a reconstructed hut from the Recsk labour camp they were showing old secret service training films, which were a revelation. Roy didn't realise that the spying on ordinary citizens was so widespread that everybody had to be careful all the time about what they said and to whom. Sinister, but fascinating.
Stalin's chopped off boots (see above!) were the centre of attraction in that hut along with the history of the 1956 revolution and the fall of the Stalinist regime in Hungary. The park itself is unfortunately getting very neglected. God knows what they do with all that money they take off the hundreds of thousands of visitors year in year out? My favourite is still the young worker with the flag (see above!) commemorating the 1919 commune. Impressive sculpture whatever you think of the message it conveys.
After leaving the Statue Park we intended to have lunch in a nice place that I have passed many times in the past, but didn't have time to drop into before. Unfortunately we got lost, due to the fact that our Tom Tom has been playing silly buggers with us for days now and the old paper map we had didn't have any of the new roads around Erd. As we were thinking of going for a little drive anyway, we enjoyed our perambulations in the countryside, although when the tarmac ran out in one place it was rather annoying to have to retrace our steps for about 5 miles. Finally we arrived at the Rokusfalvy Fogado in the village of Etyek (www.rokusfalvyfogado.hu) which was surely one of the most delightful restaurants we have seen for ages. The owner was in evidence on entrance, showing concern that we had to wait a bit for a table and assuring us of his best attentions. This is such a simple and easy thing to do, I am amazed how few bother. This set the tone and more and more lovely things followed. The service was attentive, the food glorious and beautifully presented and the environment just right. They have established this place about 8 years ago in an old long house which has been recently redecorated to luxury standards, but still retaining all the old features. They also own a wine cellar and extensive vineyards, so Sheila tried their Chardonnay which was pronounced to be very good. I was so busy stuffing my face that I have forgotten to take pictures, so when I go again (which I most certainly will) I'll have to make sure that I use my camera extensively. Oh, and they have many interesting entries in their Guest Book: you can read on their website comments by the likes of Jeremy Irons and lots of showbiz and political dignitaries. I suppose the fame of the Etyek Valley wines and the nearby film studios of Andy Vajna explain that, not only the justifiably excellent reputation of the place.
Now I have to go and have breakfast as it is getting late. Further reports later on in the week.
No comments:
Post a Comment