Another cold front (or not?), gout, cooking lecsó, visiting friends and geocaching (x2)

We eventually left BP on Sunday, as I couldn't get a bloody doctor to even just look at Roy's gouty foot in town. They were sending us here, there and everywhere, to avoid having to do something about it. En route to the village we popped in to the emergency service in a nearby village which was on our route and while there was no doctor there, the nurse gave us a prescription for the medication Roy had last time he had gout. On Monday morning I fetched it from the chemist's and we were hoping for the best.

Preparing lecsó

Still on the Sunday we made 5 bottles of lecsó from the cheap tomatoes and peppers we picked up from our favourite roadside veg shop. On Tuesday his foot was no better, but he still agreed to accompany me to do some geocaching in the Börzsöny mountains. The weather was pretty hot that day too, so this long awaited cool down was not happening. We managed to gather 4 caches, 1 at a ruined medieval watch tower, 1 at a ruined old monastery, then 1 at a spring and finally 1 at a nice little lake. The heat got so oppressive, that we decided to pack it up after just four and go to have lunch at our favourite restaurant in that district.

Roy's chopping onions with the mixer

Wednesday was the day that Hilary and John were due to visit and as I had to fetch them from Hatvan, I also did a bit of food shopping before their train arrived. As it was even hotter than before neither of us felt like cooking, so after a nice long chat and a drink, we took the two of them to Palotás to another favourite restaurant we occasionally visit. As it happens, there is a fast and convenient bus to BP that stops at Palotás, so after lunch we put them on it and said good bye to both of them.  It was nice to see Hilary, as we saw John as recently as February, but Hilary we have definitely not seen at all for at least 3 or 4 years. The bus also saved us from having to take them back all the way to Hatvan.

One of the views in the Börzsöny

On Thursday I took Roy to the village doctor, who has only started the week before and was therefore a bit lost. The nurse/assistant, who would have known where  everything was, was still on holiday, so he couldn't even give us a prescription or referral notes. Still, he was friendly and tried to be helpful and confirmed that Roy needs a  blood test to find out his uric acid levels. I by then decided that I'll take him back to the private clinic where he had been before in town when we are back there.

The beautiful Börzsöny

I was lucky that by Thursday the weather forecast confirmed that my second visit of the week to the Börzsöny mountains was on, as the forecast cold front was not due to arrive until Saturday afternoon, I rested up in readiness for my geocaching hike with my friend Zsuzsi. She was coming from BP, me from Bér, we met in Márianosztra, where one of the caches was and where we left the cars to catch the little narrow gauge train to the top of the mountain range, as I did the previous week.

A lake in the Börzsöny

This time we travelled to the very top at Nagyirtáspuszta, and the plan was to more or less follow a ridge all the way back to the car at the bottom.  This was thankfully level or downhill, but it also included some climbs to peaks that arose out of the ridge in 4 places. Our first cache was commemorating a nice gentleman who in the 1960's established a hiking route to the double top of our first mountain. This was a 3 parter cache, the first two parts on each of the two tops and the third part on the next mountaintop a bit further South.

John, Hilary and Roy waiting for the bus in Palotás

Márianosztra cathedral

After this came the second cache which was on top of the next mountain, called Bald Mountain.  It definitely was bald, all the trees were missing off its top, but only facing South.  The views all along that ridge, and especially at the tops, were magnificent. We could see for anything between 10 to 25 miles in all directions.

Zsuzsi on the narrow gauge railway

Finally, the last cache was in the village where we left our cars and for that, unfortunately, we had to make a 2km detour. I tried to find the first part early in the morning before Zsuzsi turned up in time for the departure of the train, but could not find it.  Thankfully, the owner of the cache, whom I rang up, told me what was on it, ie.: the co-ordinates of the second part.  However, when the cache was placed, the second part could easily be accessed from the first part by walking on the side of the prison, which has existed there in the former monastery for centuries.  Recently, however, they built a new fence and gate on the side of the building and the route thus got blocked.

A delicious fruit of the forest

The cross on Bald Mountain

The Danube from 20km away

The one-armed Jesus looking down on the village

We, fortunately, were coming from the top of the mountain, so at least we only had to do half of the detour, but we had other problems too with this one. Just where the GPS showed that we had to turn left, there were big signs saying: Keep out, area patrolled with guns and dogs! Needless to say we didn't go that way, but eventually found a way through a bit further up, so we got our final cache.

The spa hotel in the forest from a long way away

The prison cemetery up in the woods

On our  way through the village back to the cars, we fell upon a public drinking water pump and had lots of it, as well as a good wash in that heat as well. We said goodbye to each other with Zsuzsi and went our separate ways. I motored home in good speed, so including a stop for petrol I was at home before 6pm.

Another gorgeous view in the Börzsöny

We are off into town on Monday or Tuesday: we have an appointment with some friends from London, we have to meet up with Ian while he is in town, then visit the clinic with Roy's gout as well as getting some homeopathic medicine for his foot from Zsófi. Additionally, I might go back to the Börzsöny for a last time to pick up another 4, 5, 6 or 7 caches, depending on time, effort and the weather.

PS: We are still waiting for the current cold front and rain. The weather patterns have gone for a burton. Ahhhhh!!

Cold front (or not?), a visit to friends and lots of geocaching

On last Sunday the long expected cold front arrived with lot of rain and wind. It was so utterly refreshing that I didn't mind even feeling cold. On Monday we decided to return to town via visiting our friends Tibi and Klári in the Mátra, where they were spending a week on holiday. We have seen Tibi recently when we took Callum on the river and we had a trip in Tibi's boat. However, we haven't seen Klári in many a year as she works in Dublin and does not spend too much time at home.

Tibi leading the way

After packing up and putting on warm clothing (!!!) we set off for the Mátra and arrived around 11am. To our surprise there were 4 of them as Klári's mother and brother were there with them.  It was the first time we have seen them and they turned out a couple of lovely people, just as nice as Klári herself.

The sanatorium in the woods

Before lunch Tibi and I went to get a nearby cache, which was only about 15-20 minutes away, but that was a lovely walk. The view from the top, near the cache, was spectacular over one of the biggest sanatoria in the country. Wooded hills for as long as your eye can see, lovely environment! The weather, however, was disappointing. The cool breeze didn't last long and by the time we got back the cold front had fizzled out.

Blue rose in the garden of a neaby hotel

After lunch we visited two more caches, one in a lovely little park in the nearby town, the other by a spring which was reached after about a mile's walk. Roy suffered a bit on the way back, and we didn't find the cache, but it was still a lovely outing. About 4pm we took our leave and had an uneventful, if somewhat hot, trip back into town.

The rain shelter where the cache wasn't

On Tuesday I had my appointment with my homeopath and for the first time in a long while she was pleased with my results. Most things were either still OK or improved and she had only a few minor concerns, so I was happy too. As my liver seemed a bit under strees, I am back on spoonfuls of thistle seed oil and have to also eat a minimum of two brazil nuts daily for selenium, of which I am a bit depleted.  Other than that I'm fine!!!

The Rákos stream

One bit of fun and games this week included trying to open a new fixed rate bond online, which seems OK every time, but then fails to register.  Finally I had to accept defeat, so sent the form in, albeit about 6 weeks late, by post.  We'll see what happens!!

The St. Stephen's Church in Nagybörzsöny

After my appointment I went to a service place for ASUS to see if they can repair or replace the keyboard on my travelling laptop. No luck, unfortunately, so I am now awaiting a phone call, should they have been able to locate a replacement keyboard. Such is life! Serves me right trying to kill flies with a swat on the keyboard.

A cute little old Diesel engine

On Wednesday I had a nice little hike within the city, which was fascinating. Recently somebody put out a 3 parter geocache on a patch of greenery, fairly close to houses and old, abandoned industrial plants. The length of the walk was 5km and it was rather hot, but we managed to stay mostly in the shade. It is amazing how much wild life, both flora and fauna, remains in cities.

An embarrassment of choice in hiking routes

And finally, the big event of this week was the big  geocaching hike in the Börzsöny mountains. There was a promise of yet another cold front, but this one is still to arrive, so we set off very early to avoid the worst of the heat. We went by car to a village which has a narrow gauge railway up into the hills, and having caught that to its first station, we saved about 2 miles in distance and 100m of climb.

A weird little silver coloured mushroom in the forest

There were 7 caches we were after and as the day progressed it got hotter and hotter. I reckon that this mass of hot air and no wind that has now been stuck here for about 2 months on and off, will take a very massive quantity of cold air, strong wind and low pressure to shift and until that happens, we will carry on sweating.

Saw many of these pretty butterflies

The first cache was a 3 parter, introducing the village first, followed by a climb to a top to get the co-ordinates of the box at the end.  That turned out to be situated near the mountain switchback of the railway track about 2 miles away.  Then we took off for a place up in the hills which commemorates a writer who liked to hunt snipe there, followed by a 4 parter which took us to 4 springs from the old days. The next challenge was to get to the top of the next mountain where there was a beautiful view, but the cache itself was a couple hundred yards away amongst some rocks.

One of the prettier views on the hike

We got lost en route to the next one, because we wanted to short cut and then took the wrong path.  Never mind, we turned back and had an exciting, very steep descent to another set of rocks by a stream and path.  The last cache was on the next ridge after which we returned to the car.  Parched and quite hot we fell onto the first shop we spotted and bought copious bottles of cold water.  It was so nice just to cuddle the bottles for their coolness.

Most of our hike used these rough, forestry roads

En route home we picked up one more cache by a spring, very close to another narrow gauge railway line and then off home. I stood under the shower for about half an hour to cool down and get clean. Needless to say I was in bed and in the land of nod by 9.15pm and as the cold front has still not hit, we are hiding indoors waiting for rain today. Return to the village is planned for Monday.

Lunch was taken sitting on this log, with the cache behind me

Bardonecchia (second half) and the heatwave at home

The half day last Friday started quite well and we were all looking forward to a small amount of sight seeing again, as hiking was rather out of the question, because we were all totally knackered and both Rob and Alex had to spend some time preparing for their lead-offs on the Saturday.

Rob at the pub on top of the ski lift

So we went up in the ski lift to a bar where some of us sat down to drink and read, others went on a hike to the next level, where the upper ski lift usually takes people in the winter, but not in the summer. When they got back later, they told us that the bar is really lovely at the top there and that it also has a hot tub, which they couldn't try as they had too little time to spend there if they wanted to catch the last ski lift before it closed for the day.

Panoramic at the top of the ski lift

After a nice rest in the bar and the boys having done their preparations for the day after, we awaited the return of the hiking group to take the last ski lift with them.  They didn't seem to arrive on time, so we went, not wanting to walk down instead of the already paid for ride down. As it happens, the guys at the ski lift waited for them and they made it down in one piece.

Alex and Rob on the way down

Canadians coming down on the ski lift

At the bottom everybody went in different directions, with Rob, Alex and me walking slowly up the valley to the pizza restaurant we saw a few days before. The village of Les Arnaud was really gorgeous. This time the light was better for photography and both the buildings and the peaks were very photogenic.

Alex in the Pizzeria Da Amadi with a glass of dry white

We ordered red and white wines by the glass, antipasti and then pizzas. Needless to say none of us could finish the pizzas, but we took them home for later.  The service, the environment, the family atmosphere and especially the food was absolutely gorgeous. It was such a lovely wind down after the exhausting World School that far.

After dinner we walked further up the valley, through Melezet, another interesting and picturesque village to the French border. We walked back partly by the river which was also very pretty.

On Saturday Alex spoke on the 10 worst lies about the Russian Revolution in the morning and Rob led off on the Civil War in the afternoon. Both were excellent, although I knew full well what Alex was going to say due to having proofread his lead-off a couple of times for him. Still, his confidence, his humour and his common touch was much appreciated by his audience.

Rob's topic was a very weighty subject which he did excellent justice to. Hopefully, the Canadian section will publish it as a pamphlet, and then I will definitely buy one. Also, for me, this was a real treat, as I don't really know much about the Civil War in all its theatres of operation, so it was useful as well as enjoyable to listen to Rob.

Garlic toast with tomatoes, herbs and olive oil

Proscutto with fresh buffalo mozzarella

Happy trio on the restaurant's patio

Finally on Sunday the last day of the  World School arrived and it was areal treat, with Jordi's Organisational Report and at the end Alan's wrapping up speech. His style of speaking has been described as dry and academic, but that is totally unfair.  Yes, he is not your traditional rebel-rouser, but he can get a crowd going just as well as any other comrade, and occasionally a lot better.

We sang the Internationale and Bandiera Rossa, as we always do and happily trudged off to dinner, followed by preparations for the evening party.

The party went on all night, but we retired long before that. I enjoyed the singing of revolutionary songs by most sections present and joined the Canadians for a rousing rendition of I'm a Liberal! It was a great culmination of a fantastic week, during which I heard some amazing speeches, made a lot of new friends from all over the world and refreshed my enthusiasm for revolutionary work.  It looks as if the world is approaching some really interesting times (fully in the Chinese sense of the word!) and I will be there to take advantage of it as much as anybody in the IMT.

On Monday morning Rob, Alex and I caught the 8:21 train to Turin and then a taxi from the station, which was barely more for the three of us than the bus fare would have been, to the Airport. My plane left before the boys' and I was very close to tears while saying good-bye, which is quite unusual for me, but getting old does that to you unfortunately.

Alex doing his lead-off

On the plane I sat next to the window for once and took some interesting photos from high up as well as in the airports I travelled through. One final fright of this trip was a totally missing Roy on my arrival, but thankfully, in spite of the heat and being very tired my brain cells - or at least some of them - were still functioning and after a while I worked out that he must be waiting for me in the other terminal.  I was right and we were both very happy and relieved to lay eyes on each other.

I have spent the nearly one week since my return in the village, hiding from the nastiest heatwave I have ever experienced in my life. The temperature records have all been broken and we can't leave the house between 8am and 8pm. The top temperature in the courtyard in the sun has been nearly 50 degrees Celsius so far, but a bigger problem is that the heat is cumulative from day to day, and not even in the countryside does it really cool down at night. No wind adds to the oppressing feeling that makes me completely dizzy and surprisingly achy in my joints.  Still, at least I can sleep both in the afternoon and in the night pretty well, if not for too long. I hope it breaks soon and then I can get back to town where I have a few things to do (like having my poor little travelling laptop repaired, as when I hit it with a fly swat two of its keys flew away!!), a few friends to see, visit my homeopath for a checkup and finally do some geocaching which I have been missing terribly. Next post probably next week, but who knows?

Rob by the microphone

The Canadian delegation singing a French revolutionary song

Over Italy somewhere

A Thomson plane in Brussels

The Southern tip of Szentendre island from the air

One of the many high rise housing estates in Bp

A lovely purple WizzAir plane on the tarmac

My own Ryanair plane after it landed

Alex and I very happy at the party

The rest of Nevache and the first half of Bardonecchia

On Thursday afternoon Ginny, Richard, Alison and Cory have departed to their 3 days of hiking up into the glaciers of the nearby High Alps. While they were away I didn’t do much, partly because I wanted a rest and partly because I wasn’t feeling very good. As it happens, the malaise that hit me then was probably the same bug that most of them were suffering from. I had headaches, shakes and was occasionally near tears with no good reason. I also did do some shopping and cooking in those days, but more of that later.

3 large chickens in bits in the pans

Foolishly I offered to cook a Hungarian meal for them, just as a gesture of thanks for putting us up. It seemed a very good way of returning some of the compliment that they pay me by giving us bed and board of the highest quality. So, on Saturday I went and fetched the chickens, bought some more paprika and the rest of the ingredients and started cooking.  I had a feeling that it won’t turn out very good, but persevered anyway. There were a lot of handicaps in producing a good chicken paprikash there, namely the paprika being inferior to what I am used to at home, the chickens being far too large and the fact that day after day it kept being put off because of Alison and her friends kept changing their activities.

The lovely stone bridge between the two forts

I decided to take the chickens off the bone, partly because they wouldn’t have fitted into the two frying pans with bones and partly because this way I hoped the sauce would get into them easier. The cucumber salad had a serious handicap as the rice vinegar was very weak, but finally that was almost 100% OK. While deboning the chickens I managed to chop off a nice big chunk of my left middle finger, but I carried on regardless. I couldn’t find any plasters anywhere, so kept wrapping paper serviettes round the profusely bleeding wound. Finally they were cooked and I managed to squeeze all of it into a dish and into the fridge.

Briancon Old Town

When they all came home, they looked rather done in, except Alison, who has ants in her pants and is hyperactive with inexhaustible energy. More and more visitors kept arriving, until I was concerned about where they all would be sleeping. Sunday arrived and the main event was a concert in Briancon which finally Richard had opted out of. In the morning, however, while Richard was doing some DIY and the others have gone off to do something else, Ginny took me into Briancon for walking to the nearest fort and for a walk through the Old Town down to the 18th century bridge over the gorge.  That was really lovely and relaxing.

The fact that Richard didn't come to the concert gave Ginny the idea to get him to warm up the chicken as we are coming home from the concert to save time. That seemed like a good idea, except he dried it out so much that it wasn’t very good.  Everybody said they liked it, but I knew it was crap. Still, the concert was very good with 2 Brazilians, 1 Spaniard and 1 Frenchman, all on chellos, playing some amazing pieces.

On the other hand, the making of the dumplings was great fun. Kayllagh and I made a fantastic pair of co-operation in that little kitchen and it was done in no time at all. Obviously, there was a lot left, so I decided that I would feed Alex & co. with it on Monday evening. This also gave me a chance to make some more sauce, which was badly needed after Richard dried most of it off and what was left, we ate.

The 'Boys'

On Monday morning Ginny went and fetched the boys and Alex, Rob, Joel and me sat outside chatting so that the boys could de-stress. After a couple of hours of that we walked up to the Haute Ville for a cake and a drink in the boulangerie. It started raining on the way back, but we managed to get under shelter and after a long wait caught the free bus home. My extra sauce made the leftover chicken superbly tasty and the boys stuffed themselves silly. Ginny made a lovely gazpaccio soup to start with, and served Kayllagh’s cheesecake for afters, so that was a lovely feast.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t so lucky. While still cooking I started having serious pains in my gut. Probably it was a new version of the lurgy of the week and I felt so queezy that I had to miss my soup, which I absolutely adore and only ever get in Nevache. :-( Once I fully packed, we got going and this time it was Richard who gave us all a lift to Bardonecchia.

Alex making a few salient points

The World School was (and still is) tremendous fun, which always gives me a lift, no matter how tiring it is and how much I am feeling shitty. The Canadians, who have adopted me again, number 20 this time, which is an all-time high and they are smashing youngsters, as usual. I bought a copy of the Stalin book, which I helped proof-read and a lovely Italian cloth flag, which took my fancy.

My lurgy started getting better by Wednesday, but in the afternoon I had a relapse. Alex and Rob looked after me while I recuperated and by today I seem OK. The food, unfortunately, is not very safe for me, although their salads and vegetables are lovely. Bread is only white and is mostly made of air, but the special pizza place, where we are planning to go to on Friday should be good. Alex and Rob are again dealing with problems in the section, but looks as if it will be sorted soon. The upshot of all the hassle, however, is good.  Namely, that they only want to spend the free afternoon with me, nobody else, for peace and quiet.  We are off to the top of the ski lift for a little walk and a beer in the bar up there, followed by a return to the valley floor and pizza!

Must go now as the afternoon session is starting in half an hour and I might have 40 winks before that.

PS.: The 40 winks became an hour and a half and I missed the afternoon session. Oops! Never mind! Now I am sitting in the cafe uploading pictures, which if they would be slow, that would be a great improvement. It takes approximately 5 minutes per photo or more. Aaaghhhhh!! In the meantime I bought a Marx poster which cost 5 Euros and the money will go to the Pakistan section, so it will have been very well spent.