A week in two places, with geocaching, a small op, a crap operetta, an O event, a hike and some visitors

Don't remind me that we are trying to slow down, cos it doesn't work! This week proves it. Admittedly, we are in need of afternoon naps and have acquired many old people's habits, but our days and weeks are still full of activities.

The Teleki Chateau in Solt

In the last post I did mention that I might go geocaching this week and I did manage to have two lots of it. First a full day down the river in a southerly direction, the other en route home to the village.  The first lot took me to a neglected small chateau, then  to a variety of small villages, followed by a larger town and its airport. All of it was done in gorgeous weather and included a few adventures and walks. Final total was 8, which included two moving caches as well.

Kalocsa Cathedral

Then on Tuesday Roy had his op on an ever growing mole behind his left ear. The surgeon was a really chatty, friendly, nice chap and it all went off well.  Roy still managed to go rather green and nearly fainted when he had to sit up afterwards, but finally was OK. The stitches are coming out tomorrow and all has been quite uneventful since. The biopsy results are due in about a couple of weeks.

A lovely fishing lake near the study trail

On Wednesday we have returned to the village via the A2 again, where I managed to leave some caches undone the last time. The total this time was only 4, but it took me to a few interesting places: starting with the remnants of a Roman fort/port along the river, then to a small island, then an interesting study trail in a swamp and finally the stages of the cross where I have been the week before, except this time I found it.

The women's mass start at the O event

Thursday was quite uneventful, but on Friday things got a bit more hectic. Roy had to stay in the village as large numbers of people were expected to stay a couple of nights, due to an orienteering championship taking place locally.  I always offer accommodation to the organising team and they started arriving on Friday.

Glorious spring flower near the Start of the O event

I, on the other hand, had an opera performance in town that evening, so I left by bus in the morning and did a few errands in the afternoon as well. One of them was buying a new print cartridge for the laser printer and the other - ordering a new pair of computer glasses for Roy, based on his current one. Having done both I changed and walked to the Erkel Theatre for a performance of the Gypsy Baron. I haven't seen this operetta for at least 50 years and vaguely remembered that it does have jingoistic undertones, but as it was one of the performances included in my subscription ticket I went.

The Gypsy Baron

Well, it was interesting, but eventually I decided it was actually pretty bad. First of all the entire staging, direction and dramaturgy was boring, unimaginative and flat. However, what bothered me more was the low quality of singing from the men. The women were fine, but all the men, including the major leads, were not good enough. I stuck it out to the bitter end, but to  be quite honest, I did feel like leaving in both intervals. Additionally, my friend Kati, managed to forget to come, so I was all alone. Robert and Volker, whom we saw yesterday, had a ticket for Saturday and they were so disgusted that they indeed left in the first interval.

On Saturday I was saved the very early rising and 2 and half hour bus trip by managing to cadge a lift with a fellow orienteer who was taking the race doctor down in the morning.  I managed to get picked up from a street corner not very far from the flat. That was a lovely, comfortable ride with good chat helping to pass the time.

Saturday night's dinner at the Mill

Upon arrival I found that there were about 13 or 14 people staying the night before, instead of the expected 8. Some slept on camp beds, others on the settee as well as on the floor. By the time I arrived they have all got up and started working at the event site, but later I visited the assembly area for a while to see friends and take some pictures.

Sheep at Virágos where orienteers ran around on Saturday

This event was the first I have attended, albeit only in an observatory capacity, rather than actually competing, for well over 6 months. The sun shone, everybody was really nice and chatty and the forest lovely. The only thing I forgot was to get some maps, but hopefully I should be able to get my hands on some from the mapper later.

The hikers with the paps in the background

Interesting bit of sculpture at Csobánkapuszta

In the evening we had dinner at the Mill, which was fortunate, as the night before they were not open, so Roy used up every bit of food in the house to cook something up for the big crowd. On Sunday, we have all gone up to the hills, walking to another part of it, which most of them have not yet seen.  There was also a new guy, whom I have never met before, and he wanted to see the andesite as well, but as that was towards the end of the hike I let them go up there, while I walked home on my own. 
The weather was absolutely gorgeous again, although a bit windy, but as they forecast a serious deterioration of it, perhaps even rain, we were lucky again.

The lake at Csobánkapuszta

We left for town just after 2 and got to Robert and Volker's place spot on at 5pm. The purpose of the visit was to have a look at their new flat and what a brilliant place that turned out to be. Unfortunately, this brilliant first impression was slightly marred by Oscar, their Schnauzer, biting my wrist, but hopefully I caught no distemper or rabies in the process.

They told us the history of the building, which was put up back in 1888. It was apparently only 3 floors high and the then top floor was only built on the street half of the block. So the current building, which is now 5 floors high, has two new floors, plus a new half floor to finish off the old top floor.  Robert and Volker's flat is in that new bit of the 3rd floor. It looks out towards the back within sight of the Opera House and it also has a balcony. They have a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen/diner and two small bathrooms. It is perfect as a town pad and they decorated and furnished it with their usual excellent taste and flair.

The early spring forest in the brilliant sunshine

Tonight I have a theatre visit with Jutka, on Tuesday Roy is having his stitches out, Wednesday I probably go out to do some geocaching and on Thursday Alan and Steph are arriving for 5 days.  So, no peace for the wicked, but we wouldn't have it any other way!