Heviz

The town of Heviz is located on the northern shore of Lake Balaton.

The Heviz Lake is a geological curiosity, Europe's largest thermal lake - a warm water lake situated in a peat-bed. The 4.44 ha water-surface lake is surrounded by a 60.5 ha nature conservation area. Springs of different temperatures diffuse in a narrow cave, and became a constant (38,5 °C) temperature stream when entering the lake. Beautiful water lilies, brought to Hungary at the end of the 19th century, dot the lake, supporting the eco-life, with leaves slowing down evaporation, and creepers protecting the medicinal mud on the bottom of the lake.

The water's and the lake bed's specific composition leads to unique micro organisms, which contribute to the thermal water's healing power - especially good for preventing and treating various types of locomotion disease. The thermal water is rich in dissolved gas components, such as of carbonate, sulphur, calcium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonate. Complex balneotherapy or drinking cure may favourably affect and heal rheuma, osteoporosis, degenerative spinal/joint diseases, Bechterew syndrome, inflammation diseases of the joint in their chronic phase, tender tissue rheum, secondary diseases of the joints, as well as chronic, peripheral, nervous, and mechanical-related complaints. It may be used for post treatment of injuries and locomotion operations.

This diagram describes from where this water originates.

One of the inside pools where we took the waters.

Rezi

Miklos and Iren have a "holiday" home in Rezi and we dropped in on our way to Hévíz.  It's too early to stay there as the winter cold takes some weeks to leave the house.  

On the way down we came across this sign.  It advertises that people should strap in the kids for safety in the car.

It's such a long way from Budapest, 200 Km, that we had to stop for a snack.

Anyway we dropped in at the Rezi residence and took some pictures of the spring flowers.

Many of these plants are protected in Hungary so it's nice to see them popping up around the house.

Day Trip Into Budapest - The Markets (Piac)

Piac (pronounced peeatz) is the Hungarian name for market.

We took the tram into Budapest to see the sights.   

This is one of the older trams that rattles and shakes as you'd expect; the new ones are whisper quiet and give a very smooth ride.

At a dollar a ticket it is a great way to travel into town.   Parking is expensive if you can find any at all.




Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame) designed the building that houses the Central Markets.   An impressive building that has recently been refurbished and restored.   It is still the most important fruit, vegetable, meat, poultry and fish vendor in Budapest and is very well attended.

As many 19th century buildings, no expense was spared on materials and decoration.   The hand made tiles on the roof originate from a factory in Hungary that continues to make bespoke tiles and replica replacements.

Close up of the roof tiles.

It isn't possible to  show you the ambiance of this place as you need to hear the sounds and smell the smells to appreciate it.   However, pictures I've got:

That's Ruth standing in the middle of one of one of the many branches of the building.   Today, along with daily needs, there are also the usual tourist shops (especially waiting for Ruth to come along) where you can get anything from handbags to trinkets made in China.







Beautiful wrought iron work everywhere and lighting.














This place specializes in salami, calbas and other preserved/smoked meats.   You could try something new every day for 10 yeas and not get though all of them.

Ubiquitous Hungarian paprika.  This is to be found everywhere.   The bell pepper that we use mostly in Australia isn't from Europe at all but comes from America.   Here it is known as California Paprika.

Day Trip to Budapest - Town Centre

Remember that these buildings were designed for a population who either walked from place to place or rode the occasional horse.  All these lamps, throughout the city were powered by gas originally.   Miklos tells a story of, when he was a young boy, they would follow the gas lighting man and turn off the lights as they passed.

Aw!  Ain't love grand?

Many of these buildings suffered damage during the war but have, largely, been restored to their original grandeur.   Amazing stonework and carvings adorn these buildings.

These are just ordinary business office or residential buildings yet they have the most beautiful frescoes drawn on them.

Belvarosi Templom.  Inner City Parish Church.  This church dates back to at least the 13th century but may be of earlier construction.   It has been rebuilt a number of times on the same site.   The church contains relics from St Ladislase and St Elizabeth.

Vigado Building Budapest

This building was "the" place to be for Hungarian upper crust.   Bombed in the second world war, the building has only just now been restored.   In fact, it opened the day before we went through it.   It's interesting to know that the Soviets removed all of the busts from the facade and placed a Soviet pilot memorial out in front.   They didn't however, repair the building in any way after the war.

You can imagine the amazing functions and balls held in this building.   Now, it is still available for conferences and functions.  Miklos' son worked on this restoration.

These lights are either original or faithful reproductions.   The building dates from the 19th century.   I'll bet that my Grandmother and Grandfather attended this venue on many an occasion.

Grand staircase (every grand building needs one of these).

Us on the viewing platform looking over the Danube and, on the other side of the river, the Citadel.

On the sixth floor is the design model of a the Bania Templom (Bania Church) that is to be built (when money becomes available).  

Szentendre

Just outside of Budapest, this town is full of churches, galleries, museums and cafes. Szentendre was settled by Serbians fleeing from the Turkish occupation in the 17th century. Because of the Serbian influence the town has the Mediterranean feel.

Two of Miklos' sons live there and we were invited to lunch. As you can see, lunch was so good that I forgot to take photos.   After lunch we took a walk around the town and down to the river.   A little chilly and a little windy but the town is quite beautiful and I remembered my camera.

Streets and cobbled and narrow (but cars still drive up and down them).   The town wasn't designed for cars but for foot traffic and the occasional horse.

I just liked this.   Consider it my contribution to your next bathroom renovation ideas.

A street might be a number of flights of stairs with people living both sides.

Walking along side the Danube.

From left, Iren, Natalie, Miklos Junior, Miklos and me :)

Over the roof tops of Szentendre