Travels

Blanca & Ian's Travels

Hungary

Trip Report - 2007

Ega-shega-dra
(Or something thing that . . .)

Budapest, Eger, Győr, Sopron, Vienna(Austria)
with lunch in Warsaw

This trip was a homecoming for my Hungarian wife. She left as a child - hay wagon over the Austrian border - and her only trip back had been 33 years ago during the dark days of Communism. This trip was a combination of plain ole touristing mixed with family visits in various towns & villages sprinkled over northwestern Hungary.

June 13 - Depart Toronto via Frankfurt - Lufthansa
June 14 - Arrive Budapest
June 15 - 17 - Budapest
June 18 - Drive to Eger
June 19 - Eger
June 20 - Drive to Győr
June 21 - 22 - Győr
June 23 - Drive to Vienna
June 24 - 25 - Vienna
June 26 - 27 - Sopron
June 23 - Drive to Budapest
June 29 - Depart Budapest via Warsaw - Lot Airlines

We booked Aeroplan Reward flights with Star Alliance partners & used Hilton Honors Points for some of the hotel stays. Planning was started a year in advance with flights & hotels booked at that time. Our surprise trip to China in February (see China) had threatened to to derail this one, but we decided to follow through.

	Budapest The capital of Hungary
	Eger Wine & history
	Győr Family Time (And some nice things to see too!)
	Vienna A visit to the Hapsburgs
	Sopron More Family Time (And more sites!)
	Budapest Take 2 Last photo opps
	Lunch in Warsaw A frenzied stopover

Conclusion:

Wow. We loved it.

As I said in the preface, this was arranged as a family visit/return home for my wife & my expectations were not that high. I stand corrected. Hungary is a vibrant country with extremely hospitable people. It has literally been at the crossroads of so much of Europe's history. And it has so many incredible things to see & do that I feel that we have just scratched the surface.

Hungary is a country that is slowly rebuilding after the devastation of the World War & the deprivations of the repressive Communist regime that followed. Compared to Austria & its other wealthier neighbors, it's palaces, monuments & museums are all a bit faded right now. However, that is just short term. They are proud & determined & we can expect great things in the future. Buda Castle, for example, has been rebuilt 86 times. Now that is resolve.

Our relatives, embraced us with open arms. Babi & Béla, Erika & Feri & Etus & Imre welcomed us into their homes & showed us incredible generosity. We can't thank you enough.

And Hungarian food? Well, suffice it to say, that we ate well. The restaurants that we visited were great & we enjoyed every meal. In particular though, our hosts proved to us that a Hungarian kitchen can turn out delicious meals & it was a privilege to be your guests. I will be writing to you for recipes. We thank you.

Ian & Blanca