Szeged
Well last night didn't quite end as I expected. Got back from my lone walk at 8:30 and was talking to Jim by the gate. Henry and Daniel walked by and invited us along. I accepted. First open business was that great nemesis of the world - McDonalds. We continued on searching for city center but were waylaid by gelatoshop with 20+ flavors. Add blackberry, currant, plum(I think) to my list.
One of Kecskemet’s favorite sons was Zoltan Kodaly, Hungary's most famous classical composer. Still feels like summer but those brown crops and leaves on the ground makes me realize fall is soon on the way. Last night heard amplified sounds from a distance. Reminded me HS football and band(it was for us) probably starting this weekend. This morning a lot of us suffering from lack of sleep. Turns out there were other amplified sounds of a rock band or group of bands coming from the north direction - until 4:15AM was the last I heard.
Nevertheless we packed up, ate the usual breakfast and headed out early – that is Brian, Chuck, Daniel, and I. More Ohio today. Small towns and farming country - corn, hay, wheat fields, cabbage, sweet potatoes, peppers - this is favorite paprika country, the Hatch, NM of Hungary. In fact you may be able to get Pride of Szeged paprika at your local grocery. Saw a lot of the weed we call "milkweed" in Ohio - Monarch butterfly food. Not butterfly season though.
We also went through some nice forested areas. Wasn't as dense as Germany but was cooler riding. Had just taken a photo of the boys riding and was in back fumbling with the camera - riding with one or one and a half hands when I saw Brian's head bouncing toward me along the road. That gave me a start for sure. I'm only sorry I didn't get a picture of it. Of course it was just his helmet - he'd forgotten to buckle up at the rest stop. Saw a guy cultivating his field by actual horsepower. Also before lunch we got to pass a tractor pulled manure wagon - not a good appetizer.
Made it to lunch by 10:45 for half hour lunch - sandwich and another of the 3-4 inch diameter peaches Jenny picked up yesterday. Barely kept up with B and C as we road hard afterwards getting to camp about 1:15 after stopping for gelato and a delicious Cappy sour cherry juice drink Brian discovered. I think he had 4 himself. Arrived at camp to find the area swarming with cars and people. It seems that Szeged this weekend is celebrating the (take your pick of these I've heard) end of summer, Paprika festival, fish festival. How to we do this - another festival!! It's a good thing we have a hotel the next two nights because this thing may go on for awhile. The group in the set of cabins nearest to us has hired a polka band that's been playing all afternoon. Across the river from us there are food and craft booths and some live music.
The campsite here is going to be another mosquito haven. The place where we are camped has obviously been flooded recently. Since most of the area has been taken over by the festival we were put at the back of the campground. Otherwise its an OK place with warm showers but no shower heads. Last night one of the stalls had a shower head. Getting ready for Romania. After setting up and cleanup we walked over and perused the food booths. Ended up with some good fish soup - lots of paprika but not very hot. Chuck went back for his beauty rest and to listen to the polka band. I opted to walk into town and check out the booths over there. Not much I liked even though I have $60 in forint that won't be any good to me after tomorrow morning. We may try to spend it tonight yet.
Tired legs today. May ride tomorrow with the touring group. We'll see.
|
Posted September 03, 2005 by Tour Participant
Hungary |
|
