Monday, October 29, 2007
Sugar Pie, thanks a bunch! (October 29, 2007)
My good karma came back around only a few moments later too! In the confusion of paying the cashier and bagging our groceries, Caitlin and I neglected to get a small container of honey I’d bought. We were walking down the street when another guy walks up from behind us and hands it to me. I was quite thankful and glad to see such friendly people around, especially after the boarder control incident.
It takes two! (October 29, 2007)
I took Caitlin to Spar this evening so that we could purchase random food stuffs, including champagne which we are drinking tomorrow evening in celebration of my cousin’s engagement: congrats Chris and Dana! And also as Champagne Night, part of my I-want-to-be-intoxicated-all-week in celebration of finishing midterms.
Anyway, as we were squatting, looking at the bottom shelf examining types and costs, a fellow champagne purchaser asked me which prices corresponded to which, and I told him. After standing up straight we had a short convo and he asked where we were from, and after answering the US he said he’d just spent four years in New York, but was actually Hungarian. Which floored me because he didn’t look Hungarian at all nor did he have an accent, and I would think if anyone would be familiar with a Hungarian supermarket, it wouldn’t be the kid who’s been here for four months.
He couldn’t decide which kind to get, so try to be helpful, I recommended getting both—I mean really, together it would have been about $7 dollars, hardly a dent in your pocket. He stood there a moment longer as we looked over the juice section and then finally turned to us and said, “You know what, I’m going to take your advice and get both.” I was glad to have helped out.
Anyway, as we were squatting, looking at the bottom shelf examining types and costs, a fellow champagne purchaser asked me which prices corresponded to which, and I told him. After standing up straight we had a short convo and he asked where we were from, and after answering the US he said he’d just spent four years in New York, but was actually Hungarian. Which floored me because he didn’t look Hungarian at all nor did he have an accent, and I would think if anyone would be familiar with a Hungarian supermarket, it wouldn’t be the kid who’s been here for four months.
He couldn’t decide which kind to get, so try to be helpful, I recommended getting both—I mean really, together it would have been about $7 dollars, hardly a dent in your pocket. He stood there a moment longer as we looked over the juice section and then finally turned to us and said, “You know what, I’m going to take your advice and get both.” I was glad to have helped out.
Running on Parliament (October 28, 2007)
Filled with frustration from our social drama and midterm madness, Ali and I decided that the best way to get out our pent up energy was to go for a run—to parliament to be precise. So around 11:00 at night the three of us, because we made Caitlin come too, threw on suitable running attire, for me, that was just adding tennis shoes to my yoga pants and tee shirt and headed out the door. We took the elevator downstairs and once we were on the street set out running.
We made it about half way to Parliament before we ended up just walking (I held up surprisingly well however those two are cripples and I couldn’t leave them behind.) We made our way over to parliament where we admired the architecture, memorials and pansies before walking to the river. Afterwards we jogged back. It was quite refreshing and I began to understand why people run.
CC Company (October 22, 2007)
After a very hectic return trip, I decided to devote my Tuesday to some hardcore studying. Before heading to California Coffee Company, I rode down the 4-6 line to Octogon Ter to make sure my destination was open. Due to the national holiday, numerous businesses were closed, including the grocery store which I had tried to visit earlier. I saw people inside though and later returned with my computer.
I ordered a kave amerikai and although I had to wait for it to brew, I was quite content since I found a nearby table with an outlet so I could get on the internet and catch up on my online life. I really enjoyed the atmosphere since it was bright and energetic and there was music playing. And the waiter was rather cute and I feel like we bonded as I went back repeatedly to order more stuff so I could get another internet password.
I ordered a kave amerikai and although I had to wait for it to brew, I was quite content since I found a nearby table with an outlet so I could get on the internet and catch up on my online life. I really enjoyed the atmosphere since it was bright and energetic and there was music playing. And the waiter was rather cute and I feel like we bonded as I went back repeatedly to order more stuff so I could get another internet password.
Venice (October 18-21, 2007)
Will add to soon!
Departure
Good nights sleep?
Trains are seriously complicated
Day One
Water Taxi’s
Italian Coffee
Bells will be ringing
Venice=Life Size Maze
It’s never too early for Lunch
Day Two
Saint Mark’s Cathedral
The Doges Palace
A three hour cruise
Musee D’Academia
I really just went for the food
Quintessentially Wofford
Day Three
Museums!
Déjà vu?
To the train station!
Hanging Around
Second time around
Return
The worst trip ever.
Being locked out of my apartment=cherry on top.
Departure
Good nights sleep?
Trains are seriously complicated
Day One
Water Taxi’s
Italian Coffee
Bells will be ringing
Venice=Life Size Maze
It’s never too early for Lunch
Day Two
Saint Mark’s Cathedral
The Doges Palace
A three hour cruise
Musee D’Academia
I really just went for the food
Quintessentially Wofford
Day Three
Museums!
Déjà vu?
To the train station!
Hanging Around
Second time around
Return
The worst trip ever.
Being locked out of my apartment=cherry on top.
Living by Parliament Makes my Life Exciting! (October 17, 2007)
I grabbed the tram home after a long day at the university and was quite pleased when it proceeded past Roosevelt Ter, which generally indicates it's going to take me all the way home. However, as we rounded parliament and went past the second to last stop, we slowly came to a stop a few blocks away from the end of the line. I looked ahead to try and figure out what was going on and saw numerous police cars and flashing lights. I figured that there must have been some kind of traffic accident so I gathered up my things, thankful to have gotten as far as I had.
From there I proceeded down the street to Nagykorout, which I live off of. However, as I got closer to the police cars, I began to notice a lot of people walking in the street, and after a moment’s confusion, realized they were carrying torches! I realized that I had come across a massive demonstration in the form of a march on Parliament. I was astounded by how many people there where too! However, they all seemed to be peaceful and really I had known their purpose, I could have easily seen myself as one of them—I guess I just mean, they seemed like normal people, not crazy, radicals.
I called to warm my roommate of what was going on, telling her to take the tram home just so she could see it, but to not be surprised by delays.
After leaving my books in the apartment, I decided to run out to grab some Chinese food for dinner. Camera in hand, I was curious to see the demonstration again, and headed down Honved towards Parliament, which is how I get to my internship every Wednesday. Well, to my surprise and pleasure, they march didn’t follow the tram line, but had in fact was looping around, which made it go right down my street! I walked against the crowd and was intrigued to see all that was happening.
Only afterwards was I able to figure out that what I had seen was a student demonstration, which explained why I felt so at ease with its participants.
From there I proceeded down the street to Nagykorout, which I live off of. However, as I got closer to the police cars, I began to notice a lot of people walking in the street, and after a moment’s confusion, realized they were carrying torches! I realized that I had come across a massive demonstration in the form of a march on Parliament. I was astounded by how many people there where too! However, they all seemed to be peaceful and really I had known their purpose, I could have easily seen myself as one of them—I guess I just mean, they seemed like normal people, not crazy, radicals.
I called to warm my roommate of what was going on, telling her to take the tram home just so she could see it, but to not be surprised by delays.
After leaving my books in the apartment, I decided to run out to grab some Chinese food for dinner. Camera in hand, I was curious to see the demonstration again, and headed down Honved towards Parliament, which is how I get to my internship every Wednesday. Well, to my surprise and pleasure, they march didn’t follow the tram line, but had in fact was looping around, which made it go right down my street! I walked against the crowd and was intrigued to see all that was happening.
Only afterwards was I able to figure out that what I had seen was a student demonstration, which explained why I felt so at ease with its participants.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
New Zealander’s on the Tram (October 9, 2007)
After staying late at the university to do some internetting, I finally headed home around 8:30 or 9:00. The university is always depressing at night because most of the students are gone and its eerily quiet and rather dark. So I climbed on the tram in rather low spirits as a result.
Whenever I take the tram I always try to sit on which ever side I’m going in the direction of, so the front of the car, and I prefer to be facing ahead of me and I like to sit on the river side. Considering my very specific preferences, I took a seat that was relatively close to another man on the tram who was being rather loud, and singing, and whom I normally would have avoided, but I wanted that seat.
Eventually, he and his female companion began speaking and I realized that the weren’t Hungarian. Well, to be honest, their behavior and attire had given them away before that but I wasn’t sure what language they spoke.
I overheard them speaking about where the Gellert baths are and since I actually knew this one, I pointed it out to them. They remarked on its size and it explained it was a hotel too. From there we entered a very nice conversation as I told them about my study abroad project and they told me about their European travels. After mentioning that they were worried they couldn’t go to Romanian without a special visa since they were New Zealanders I suggested that they look up the Romanian consulate and see if there was anything they could do (I’d picked up on this due to Arnab’s travel restrictions). Hopefully I was able to help out! There were leaving Budapest in a few days and from Romania were set to go to Istanbul—sounds like a wonderful trip! I home they got home safely.
Whenever I take the tram I always try to sit on which ever side I’m going in the direction of, so the front of the car, and I prefer to be facing ahead of me and I like to sit on the river side. Considering my very specific preferences, I took a seat that was relatively close to another man on the tram who was being rather loud, and singing, and whom I normally would have avoided, but I wanted that seat.
Eventually, he and his female companion began speaking and I realized that the weren’t Hungarian. Well, to be honest, their behavior and attire had given them away before that but I wasn’t sure what language they spoke.
I overheard them speaking about where the Gellert baths are and since I actually knew this one, I pointed it out to them. They remarked on its size and it explained it was a hotel too. From there we entered a very nice conversation as I told them about my study abroad project and they told me about their European travels. After mentioning that they were worried they couldn’t go to Romanian without a special visa since they were New Zealanders I suggested that they look up the Romanian consulate and see if there was anything they could do (I’d picked up on this due to Arnab’s travel restrictions). Hopefully I was able to help out! There were leaving Budapest in a few days and from Romania were set to go to Istanbul—sounds like a wonderful trip! I home they got home safely.
Political Protests= Walking Home
One of the reasons I love the 2 Tram is because it is easily the most scenic transportation route in Budapest. It runs parallel to the river and provides great sights of the bridges, royal palace, Buda hills, the Vigado building and finally the Parliament.
However, as the nation’s capital, Parliament is a popular site of political protests and on numerous occasions I have had the misfortune of the tram stopping about three stops from the end of the line due to protestors and had to walk the rest of the way home—quite thrilling considering there were police at all the intersections and many of the roads to parliament were blocked off. As a result I kind of wandered in what I thought was the right direction by myself after dark not really sure what was going on.
The first time it happened was pretty exciting. I was confused of course, but once I got to Parliament there was a large gathering of people who held signs and were waving flags—plus there were vendors selling food and pins and other trinkets.
However, on most following occasions there have been no more than 30 people hanging around at most and I feel it’s quite unnecessary to stop the trams.
For a while I experimented with taking the blue line, metro, home but found that once I walked to the metro station and then from the train station it took just as long as it did to walk from Roosevelt ter.
However, as the nation’s capital, Parliament is a popular site of political protests and on numerous occasions I have had the misfortune of the tram stopping about three stops from the end of the line due to protestors and had to walk the rest of the way home—quite thrilling considering there were police at all the intersections and many of the roads to parliament were blocked off. As a result I kind of wandered in what I thought was the right direction by myself after dark not really sure what was going on.
The first time it happened was pretty exciting. I was confused of course, but once I got to Parliament there was a large gathering of people who held signs and were waving flags—plus there were vendors selling food and pins and other trinkets.
However, on most following occasions there have been no more than 30 people hanging around at most and I feel it’s quite unnecessary to stop the trams.
For a while I experimented with taking the blue line, metro, home but found that once I walked to the metro station and then from the train station it took just as long as it did to walk from Roosevelt ter.
Party Foul 2x (October 8, 2007)
Morrison’s Mondays have really become popular with my group members and this time I decided to join them in going out. Really, I couldn’t justify staying home since it is so close and it would be quite easy for me to come back as late or as soon as I pleased.
Larissa, Leah and Jacque came up to the apartment for a bit and then we headed down to the bar. There was a 500 HUF cover charge, which is a little more than $2.50 and with entry you also get three free beer vouchers. I took my first ticket up to the bar and received my free beer. And as everyone reached about the halfway point of their second drink, I proudly finished my first beer ever!! I was so very proud of myself and went ahead to cash in ticket no. 2.
Now, getting back from that small victory, Jacque, Ali and I were discussing my triumph when somehow Jacque’s glass slips, falls into her lap, and then spills over. She caught it before it fell to the floor but still managed to get about half of her beer on her pants and shirts. Since there was the chance of meeting up with a classmate of hers, she got slightly anxious about looking, well, you know. So I suggest we go to the bathroom where she can try and dry off.
Moving like anyone on a mission, Jacque rushes to the bathroom and slams through the swinging salon-style doors with me on her heels. And those clever readers out there will have already detected the problem about to occur. Knowing the door is about to swing back towards me, I try to use my arm to brace it. The force of the impact then causes me beer to slosh out, and I get a nice showering too.
So then the two of us spent approximately the next ten minutes standing in the bathroom under the hand driers waiting for our cloths to dry out. I do wonder what the Hungarian’s think of us sometimes.
But after that all was fine and we went back to the party. I relinquished my third beer voucher to Larissa since there was no way I could drink that much. We then did some karaoke (Ironic, She F’ing Hates Me, and Kiss Me –I missed the last one which made me sad.) and also hung out in the room nearby that was playing tons of fifties rock with some occasional random songs thrown in (YMCA, Sugar sugar, the Macerina, Summer Loving, Twist and Shout, Let’s twist again, and so on.)
I headed back up to the room around 12:30 though in order to get some rest for my morning class and so I could call Claudia for her birthday. Sadly but luckily, she didn’t answer because right after leaving a message I got a text informing me that my phone balance is now down to 600 HUF, which concerns me because I just put 7000 on it at the beginning of the month.
Larissa, Leah and Jacque came up to the apartment for a bit and then we headed down to the bar. There was a 500 HUF cover charge, which is a little more than $2.50 and with entry you also get three free beer vouchers. I took my first ticket up to the bar and received my free beer. And as everyone reached about the halfway point of their second drink, I proudly finished my first beer ever!! I was so very proud of myself and went ahead to cash in ticket no. 2.
Now, getting back from that small victory, Jacque, Ali and I were discussing my triumph when somehow Jacque’s glass slips, falls into her lap, and then spills over. She caught it before it fell to the floor but still managed to get about half of her beer on her pants and shirts. Since there was the chance of meeting up with a classmate of hers, she got slightly anxious about looking, well, you know. So I suggest we go to the bathroom where she can try and dry off.
Moving like anyone on a mission, Jacque rushes to the bathroom and slams through the swinging salon-style doors with me on her heels. And those clever readers out there will have already detected the problem about to occur. Knowing the door is about to swing back towards me, I try to use my arm to brace it. The force of the impact then causes me beer to slosh out, and I get a nice showering too.
So then the two of us spent approximately the next ten minutes standing in the bathroom under the hand driers waiting for our cloths to dry out. I do wonder what the Hungarian’s think of us sometimes.
But after that all was fine and we went back to the party. I relinquished my third beer voucher to Larissa since there was no way I could drink that much. We then did some karaoke (Ironic, She F’ing Hates Me, and Kiss Me –I missed the last one which made me sad.) and also hung out in the room nearby that was playing tons of fifties rock with some occasional random songs thrown in (YMCA, Sugar sugar, the Macerina, Summer Loving, Twist and Shout, Let’s twist again, and so on.)
I headed back up to the room around 12:30 though in order to get some rest for my morning class and so I could call Claudia for her birthday. Sadly but luckily, she didn’t answer because right after leaving a message I got a text informing me that my phone balance is now down to 600 HUF, which concerns me because I just put 7000 on it at the beginning of the month.
Teat? (October 8, 2007)
I went to the grocery store this morning to pick up some things that would get me through the week. Since Ali bought peppermint tea, and I really enjoyed it, I decided to get my own box. Unfortunately, all of the labels were in Hungarian, so when it looked like no one was looking…I sniffed the boxes that looked promising. Hey, it worked.
Transylvania Itinerary (October 12-15, 2007)
EXCURSION TO TRANSYLVANIA
CIEE STUDY CENTER - BUDAPEST
October 12-15, 2007
This is our most significant excursion of the semester. Traveling to Transylvania will be a long trip, so please bring along your good cheer and patience.
Transylvania is 99 00 km2 out of Romania's 237 500 km2. (Hungary's territory is 93 000 km2; Transylvania is about the size of the state of Indiana.) Transylvania was awarded to Romania at the Trianon peace treaty in 1920, following World War I. Still today, over 1.5 million Hungarians live in Transylvania. We will be able to visit only a small portion of this former Hungarian territory - Kalotaszeg region - showing you representative historical monuments and sites, and more importantly, traditional way of rural life.
Excursions on this field trip will concentrate on the so-called Kalotaszeg region, which is one of the most famous ethnographic regions of Transylvania.
Kalotaszeg is a 50-km long region between Bánffyhunyad (Huedin) and Kolozsvár (Cluj), west of Kolozsvár, where some 40 Presbyterian (Calvinist) villages can be found. Mostly on the edges there are mixed Rumanian-Hungarian and Rumanian villages as well. The area has been one of the most famous ethnographic regions of Hungarian peasantry with rich distinctive folk traditions, which was discovered by high society at the end of the 19th century.
DEPARTURE: FRIDAY, 6:30 A.M. , Heroes’ Square PLEASE BE ON TIME!
(This is a very early departure, so ask for a wake-up call from a friend, if necessary.)
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Lodging and food: We will be staying with families where you will be given warm breakfasts and dinners each day. Bring cold food for 2 lunches, and snacks. You will be able to buy some food in Kolozsvár on Sunday, and in a small village store in Kalotaszentkiraly. Do not count on buying film while in Transylvania, with the exception of Kolozsvár (Cluj).
Profs. Attila Lengyel will be joining us for the excursion.
Please be tidy and neat on the bus.
Clothing: Weather has been relatively warm during the day, but nights have been cool. We will be near high mountains, therefore, nights will be cold there; temperatures can drop to freezing. In general, temperatures in Transylvania can be a bit cooler than here in Budapest, but dressing in layers always works. If it is raining, we will be “ankle-deep” in mud. Have an extra pair of shoes and jeans in case you get wet. Just plan on having trying weather, and this is camping in the wilderness. Anything less dramatic will make us very-very happy. (IT WAS COOOOLD)
Your personal care package: You will have the possibility of using a bathroom with limited warm running water. (Remember, we will have 4-6 people staying per family, with one bathroom.) Bring your own towel and whatever you use. In some houses you might need to use „romantically” cold outhouses. (THE OUTHOUSE...NOT SO ROMANTIC)
Small gifts: I would like to suggest you bring some small gifts that you can give to your host families: chocolate bars, bubble gum, candies, a bag of coffee or tea, or some souvenirs from home. Your host housewife, but especially children in the families will be happy to receive something. Also, plan on having small kids running around you when you get off the bus (a tour bus will be an attraction in most cases), and you will feel happy to be able to give small pieces of chocolate or candy to those children.
Money: Bring money (HUF, USD or EURO) in smaller denominations. The sky is the limit when buying gifts of embroidered linens, wooden toys, wool sweaters, traditional clothing, pottery, hand-made dolls, carved chess sets, etc. You do NOT need to get lei (RON - Romanian currency) in Budapest. You will be able to change forint (or dollars, or euro) in Transylvania, and we will organize it for you. At the border, you can only exchange western currency to lei. Forint cannot be exchanged to lei at the border.
Drinks: Water is safe to drink in all the places where we will be, but you might want to bring your favorite brand of bottled water. Please remember, responsible drinking is expected from all of you. If you are offered palinka, or anything else, it is also OK to decline it, but it is definitely imperative that you do not abuse it. This will be especially crucial in the local village bar.
Food: If you have dietary restrictions, or just do not feel like trying new flavors, bring extra food or snacks with you, especially for the long ride on Friday. Please keep the bus tidy, though. There is no smoking on the bus.
Extra life-saving items: Toilet paper -- by all means, do not forget it. There will be outhouses to use in the villages and, very likely, only nature while traveling. If you have a flash-light, it will come handy in the dark to find the outhouse. If you are taking medication, bring it with you. If you wear contact lenses at home, you might want to switch to your glasses. Johnson and Johnson's baby wipes are available in supermakets, and they are handy to wipe your hands when there is no water nearby. Imagine that we are going camping. Well, almost.
One last word. Try to be very practical when you pack so that you can carry your own bag. Have a smaller bag (book bag) to take along during the day, as you will be able to leave all your other belongings in the house.
You will receive a map on which you may mark our travel route. Please note, that this is an ambitious plan but, as always, we need to be flexible should weather and/or local road conditions warrant adjustments.
Below is a tentative plan of our excursion.
FRIDAY:
It will take us approximately 8 hours to drive to Transylvania.
Királyhágó: (King’s Crossing or Royal Pass) At 582 m (about 1800 feet), we will cross into Transylvania proper.
Körösfeketetó (Negreni): The biggest and most famous one-week long country fair of Transylvania is held here during the time of our visit, and we will stop to spend a few hours to explore. You will be in the middle of huge crowds, so watch your belongings (money, camera, purse, and passport). (IT WAS COLD AND RAINY AND MUDDY)
You are on your own for late lunch or snacks here.
Kalotaszentkirály
By the evening, we will arrive to Kalotaszentkirály (Sincraiu), a Hungarian reformed Presbyterian (Calvinist) village of about 1300 people, including 200 orthodox Rumanians.
Dinner in Kalotaszentkirály.
SATURDAY: breakfast with your host family
Panyik (Paniceni): Orthodox Rumanian wooden church from the 18th century with 19th century frescoes. (Vadu Crisului) On the way back to our home village, we will stop at one of the most famous folk-art market center along the main road of the Kalotaszeg region.
Magyarléta or Felsőléta (Litenii-de-Sus) If weather permits, we will try to hike to the Fortress of Léta. Built in the 13th century after the Mongol invasion; the ruins are a sight to behold. (WEATHER DIDN'T PERMIT. WE VISITED A MUSEUM INSTEAD. AND THEN WE DRANK BEER)
Kőrösfő (Crisului) A Hungarian village famous for its folk-art markets. There are several small shops on the main road of the village, and it will be a good opportunity to buy gifts. It also has a picturesque church on a hillside, which is often marked as a symbol of Kalotaszeg.
Dinner in Kalotaszentkirály.
SUNDAY: Breakfast with your host family
Magyarvista (Vistea) In Magyarvista we visit the home of a family which has a rich Kalotaszeg-style decorated room and lots of traditional costumes typical of the Kalotaszeg area. By visiting two communities of the Kalotaszeg region, we will see the different style of costumes of the Kalotaszeg region. The embroidery of this village is probably the richest and most spectacular of all of Kalotaszeg. A sweet old woman, Kati néni still deals with embroidery, doll-making, and bead-jewellery (You may purchase souvenirs from her.) The men in the village deal with stone-carving, and you will see many houses decorated with sculptures of naïve artists.
Kolozsvár (Cluj): The multiethnic historic capital of Transylvania with nice architecture and splendid churches. Some of the highlights:
Saint Michael Roman Catholic Church: possibly the most beautiful gothic style church from the 14th century, place of many important historic events.
Equastrian Statue of King Matthias: Janos Fadrusz’ masterpiece from 1902.
Birthplace of King Matthias: a simple house with a gothic gate where King Matthias was born.
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Farkas Street: King Matthias had the church construction started in 1486 as his gift to the city. It was finished only in the 16th century. In front of it stands the copy of the Kolozsvári brothers’ (sculptors) statue of „Saint George killing the dragon.” The original is in the castle of Prague.
Dinner in Kalotaszentkirály.
MONDAY: Breakfast with your hosts, and saying good-bye.
Magyarvalkó (Valeni): Medieval gothic fortified reformed Presbyterian church in a beautiful landscape. The church is surrounded by a cemetery with special wooden carved grave posts.
On the last day there is always a huge animal market at the famous fair of Kőrösfeketetó. We will stop to see it.
Sebesvár: (Bologa) Transylvania and the Kalotaszeg regions’s frontier fortress built in the 13th century. Stopping here will be a fitting place to say „good-bye” to the Kalotaszeg region.
Estimated arrival in Budapest is around 9 p.m.
You will receive a map on which you may mark our travel route. Please note that this is an ambitious plan, but as always, we need to be flexible should weather and/or local road conditions warrant adjustments.
One final note: Please be cognizant of the fact that we are staying with families and not in commercial lodging facilities. Everything you will find in their homes is the fruit of their hard work of a lifetime. Therefore, please be tidy, be careful with their belongings, pick up after yourself upon leaving, and leave your shoes outside the door. Your behavior will definitely reflect on their opinion about Americans.
DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSPORT!!!
CIEE STUDY CENTER - BUDAPEST
October 12-15, 2007
This is our most significant excursion of the semester. Traveling to Transylvania will be a long trip, so please bring along your good cheer and patience.
Transylvania is 99 00 km2 out of Romania's 237 500 km2. (Hungary's territory is 93 000 km2; Transylvania is about the size of the state of Indiana.) Transylvania was awarded to Romania at the Trianon peace treaty in 1920, following World War I. Still today, over 1.5 million Hungarians live in Transylvania. We will be able to visit only a small portion of this former Hungarian territory - Kalotaszeg region - showing you representative historical monuments and sites, and more importantly, traditional way of rural life.
Excursions on this field trip will concentrate on the so-called Kalotaszeg region, which is one of the most famous ethnographic regions of Transylvania.
Kalotaszeg is a 50-km long region between Bánffyhunyad (Huedin) and Kolozsvár (Cluj), west of Kolozsvár, where some 40 Presbyterian (Calvinist) villages can be found. Mostly on the edges there are mixed Rumanian-Hungarian and Rumanian villages as well. The area has been one of the most famous ethnographic regions of Hungarian peasantry with rich distinctive folk traditions, which was discovered by high society at the end of the 19th century.
DEPARTURE: FRIDAY, 6:30 A.M. , Heroes’ Square PLEASE BE ON TIME!
(This is a very early departure, so ask for a wake-up call from a friend, if necessary.)
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Lodging and food: We will be staying with families where you will be given warm breakfasts and dinners each day. Bring cold food for 2 lunches, and snacks. You will be able to buy some food in Kolozsvár on Sunday, and in a small village store in Kalotaszentkiraly. Do not count on buying film while in Transylvania, with the exception of Kolozsvár (Cluj).
Profs. Attila Lengyel will be joining us for the excursion.
Please be tidy and neat on the bus.
Clothing: Weather has been relatively warm during the day, but nights have been cool. We will be near high mountains, therefore, nights will be cold there; temperatures can drop to freezing. In general, temperatures in Transylvania can be a bit cooler than here in Budapest, but dressing in layers always works. If it is raining, we will be “ankle-deep” in mud. Have an extra pair of shoes and jeans in case you get wet. Just plan on having trying weather, and this is camping in the wilderness. Anything less dramatic will make us very-very happy. (IT WAS COOOOLD)
Your personal care package: You will have the possibility of using a bathroom with limited warm running water. (Remember, we will have 4-6 people staying per family, with one bathroom.) Bring your own towel and whatever you use. In some houses you might need to use „romantically” cold outhouses. (THE OUTHOUSE...NOT SO ROMANTIC)
Small gifts: I would like to suggest you bring some small gifts that you can give to your host families: chocolate bars, bubble gum, candies, a bag of coffee or tea, or some souvenirs from home. Your host housewife, but especially children in the families will be happy to receive something. Also, plan on having small kids running around you when you get off the bus (a tour bus will be an attraction in most cases), and you will feel happy to be able to give small pieces of chocolate or candy to those children.
Money: Bring money (HUF, USD or EURO) in smaller denominations. The sky is the limit when buying gifts of embroidered linens, wooden toys, wool sweaters, traditional clothing, pottery, hand-made dolls, carved chess sets, etc. You do NOT need to get lei (RON - Romanian currency) in Budapest. You will be able to change forint (or dollars, or euro) in Transylvania, and we will organize it for you. At the border, you can only exchange western currency to lei. Forint cannot be exchanged to lei at the border.
Drinks: Water is safe to drink in all the places where we will be, but you might want to bring your favorite brand of bottled water. Please remember, responsible drinking is expected from all of you. If you are offered palinka, or anything else, it is also OK to decline it, but it is definitely imperative that you do not abuse it. This will be especially crucial in the local village bar.
Food: If you have dietary restrictions, or just do not feel like trying new flavors, bring extra food or snacks with you, especially for the long ride on Friday. Please keep the bus tidy, though. There is no smoking on the bus.
Extra life-saving items: Toilet paper -- by all means, do not forget it. There will be outhouses to use in the villages and, very likely, only nature while traveling. If you have a flash-light, it will come handy in the dark to find the outhouse. If you are taking medication, bring it with you. If you wear contact lenses at home, you might want to switch to your glasses. Johnson and Johnson's baby wipes are available in supermakets, and they are handy to wipe your hands when there is no water nearby. Imagine that we are going camping. Well, almost.
One last word. Try to be very practical when you pack so that you can carry your own bag. Have a smaller bag (book bag) to take along during the day, as you will be able to leave all your other belongings in the house.
You will receive a map on which you may mark our travel route. Please note, that this is an ambitious plan but, as always, we need to be flexible should weather and/or local road conditions warrant adjustments.
Below is a tentative plan of our excursion.
FRIDAY:
It will take us approximately 8 hours to drive to Transylvania.
Királyhágó: (King’s Crossing or Royal Pass) At 582 m (about 1800 feet), we will cross into Transylvania proper.
Körösfeketetó (Negreni): The biggest and most famous one-week long country fair of Transylvania is held here during the time of our visit, and we will stop to spend a few hours to explore. You will be in the middle of huge crowds, so watch your belongings (money, camera, purse, and passport). (IT WAS COLD AND RAINY AND MUDDY)
You are on your own for late lunch or snacks here.
Kalotaszentkirály
By the evening, we will arrive to Kalotaszentkirály (Sincraiu), a Hungarian reformed Presbyterian (Calvinist) village of about 1300 people, including 200 orthodox Rumanians.
Dinner in Kalotaszentkirály.
SATURDAY: breakfast with your host family
Panyik (Paniceni): Orthodox Rumanian wooden church from the 18th century with 19th century frescoes. (Vadu Crisului) On the way back to our home village, we will stop at one of the most famous folk-art market center along the main road of the Kalotaszeg region.
Magyarléta or Felsőléta (Litenii-de-Sus) If weather permits, we will try to hike to the Fortress of Léta. Built in the 13th century after the Mongol invasion; the ruins are a sight to behold. (WEATHER DIDN'T PERMIT. WE VISITED A MUSEUM INSTEAD. AND THEN WE DRANK BEER)
Kőrösfő (Crisului) A Hungarian village famous for its folk-art markets. There are several small shops on the main road of the village, and it will be a good opportunity to buy gifts. It also has a picturesque church on a hillside, which is often marked as a symbol of Kalotaszeg.
Dinner in Kalotaszentkirály.
SUNDAY: Breakfast with your host family
Magyarvista (Vistea) In Magyarvista we visit the home of a family which has a rich Kalotaszeg-style decorated room and lots of traditional costumes typical of the Kalotaszeg area. By visiting two communities of the Kalotaszeg region, we will see the different style of costumes of the Kalotaszeg region. The embroidery of this village is probably the richest and most spectacular of all of Kalotaszeg. A sweet old woman, Kati néni still deals with embroidery, doll-making, and bead-jewellery (You may purchase souvenirs from her.) The men in the village deal with stone-carving, and you will see many houses decorated with sculptures of naïve artists.
Kolozsvár (Cluj): The multiethnic historic capital of Transylvania with nice architecture and splendid churches. Some of the highlights:
Saint Michael Roman Catholic Church: possibly the most beautiful gothic style church from the 14th century, place of many important historic events.
Equastrian Statue of King Matthias: Janos Fadrusz’ masterpiece from 1902.
Birthplace of King Matthias: a simple house with a gothic gate where King Matthias was born.
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Farkas Street: King Matthias had the church construction started in 1486 as his gift to the city. It was finished only in the 16th century. In front of it stands the copy of the Kolozsvári brothers’ (sculptors) statue of „Saint George killing the dragon.” The original is in the castle of Prague.
Dinner in Kalotaszentkirály.
MONDAY: Breakfast with your hosts, and saying good-bye.
Magyarvalkó (Valeni): Medieval gothic fortified reformed Presbyterian church in a beautiful landscape. The church is surrounded by a cemetery with special wooden carved grave posts.
On the last day there is always a huge animal market at the famous fair of Kőrösfeketetó. We will stop to see it.
Sebesvár: (Bologa) Transylvania and the Kalotaszeg regions’s frontier fortress built in the 13th century. Stopping here will be a fitting place to say „good-bye” to the Kalotaszeg region.
Estimated arrival in Budapest is around 9 p.m.
You will receive a map on which you may mark our travel route. Please note that this is an ambitious plan, but as always, we need to be flexible should weather and/or local road conditions warrant adjustments.
One final note: Please be cognizant of the fact that we are staying with families and not in commercial lodging facilities. Everything you will find in their homes is the fruit of their hard work of a lifetime. Therefore, please be tidy, be careful with their belongings, pick up after yourself upon leaving, and leave your shoes outside the door. Your behavior will definitely reflect on their opinion about Americans.
DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSPORT!!!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Interim's coming up! (October 9, 2007)
I'm quite disappointed by wofford's lack of a description for their interim projects this year. Maybe I just haven't fount it...I'll click around a bit more. Here's a list of my current considerations.
1. Quilting: Folk Art and Narrative Expression
2. Functional Beauty: The Art and Craft of Pottery
3. Buon Appetito! The Culinary Culture of Italy
4. Knit One Purl Two
5. "A Stitch in Time Saves Nine": From Sewing a Button to Making Your Own Creation
6. Dance, Dance, Dance
Really, I'll probably just try and take the sewing one. And then make Emily teach me to knitt better and Alice to quilt and Libby to cook. And pottery's probably my second choice. I pretty much decided this all last year.
1. Quilting: Folk Art and Narrative Expression
2. Functional Beauty: The Art and Craft of Pottery
3. Buon Appetito! The Culinary Culture of Italy
4. Knit One Purl Two
5. "A Stitch in Time Saves Nine": From Sewing a Button to Making Your Own Creation
6. Dance, Dance, Dance
Really, I'll probably just try and take the sewing one. And then make Emily teach me to knitt better and Alice to quilt and Libby to cook. And pottery's probably my second choice. I pretty much decided this all last year.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Kolbász and Palinka Festival (October 6, 2007)
After returning from our excursion, pretty much everyone was planning to go the Sausage and Palinka festival. Ali, Jacque and I ran back to the apartment to grab dinner, gyros, and get ready. Around 8:15 we planned on meeting with the Hegedus apartment to head to the Castle Hill, or at least with Arnab and Chris.
Chris led the way, and while it was good to learn a new route to the castle, it was definitely a lot longer than the way Jacque and I normally go. Still, it was a fun trip and I got a few pictures across the Chain Bridge in Buda.
It cost 1500 HUF to get into the festival, which was really a pretty fair deal since we got a 500 HUF tasting voucher and a tasting glass. Yet despite trying a variety of palinka’s and having a glass of hot wine, I didn’t feel even slightly tipsy. However, I did find that palinka with honey is by far the best; the other kinds just taste like flavored vodka. Over the course of the evening I tried: Sour cherry, pear with honey (my favorite), plum with honey, and peach with honey.
Arnab didn’t stay out for long since he was tired but the rest of us had a good time. And we met up with Dustin and Larissa a little later. I was kind of surprised that no one else made it that night—I guess the decided to go Sunday. But it was wonderful—there was a chill in the air and we were at a very Hungarian festival at Castle Hill with a great view of the river, the chain bridge, the parliament, and St. Istvan’s Basilica. I really enjoyed the experience.
Afterwards we walked back down the hill and were pleased to find the 4 tram still running even though it was after midnight! While riding back across the river the group decided to rally instead of going back home so we went to Octogon to hopefully find a bar. We actually ended up going to a pizza place and then heading back home.
Chris led the way, and while it was good to learn a new route to the castle, it was definitely a lot longer than the way Jacque and I normally go. Still, it was a fun trip and I got a few pictures across the Chain Bridge in Buda.
It cost 1500 HUF to get into the festival, which was really a pretty fair deal since we got a 500 HUF tasting voucher and a tasting glass. Yet despite trying a variety of palinka’s and having a glass of hot wine, I didn’t feel even slightly tipsy. However, I did find that palinka with honey is by far the best; the other kinds just taste like flavored vodka. Over the course of the evening I tried: Sour cherry, pear with honey (my favorite), plum with honey, and peach with honey.
Arnab didn’t stay out for long since he was tired but the rest of us had a good time. And we met up with Dustin and Larissa a little later. I was kind of surprised that no one else made it that night—I guess the decided to go Sunday. But it was wonderful—there was a chill in the air and we were at a very Hungarian festival at Castle Hill with a great view of the river, the chain bridge, the parliament, and St. Istvan’s Basilica. I really enjoyed the experience.
Afterwards we walked back down the hill and were pleased to find the 4 tram still running even though it was after midnight! While riding back across the river the group decided to rally instead of going back home so we went to Octogon to hopefully find a bar. We actually ended up going to a pizza place and then heading back home.
Excursion No. Three: Northern Hungary (October 5-6, 2007)
Another early morning! I got up at 5:05 in order to get ready and make sure I had everything thrown together before our trip. Around 6:10 we left the apartment headed to Hero Square. We got there so early we beat our director, assistant director, and even our bus. None of us were pleased when our bus got there either—it was half the size of the last one, so almost all of us ended up sharing a seat. I was by Vin, we managed a good conversation for about half an hour and then pulled out the Ipods.
Enya: The first place we went to were some caves on the Slovakian border. They were really wonderful, and none of my pictures do them justice, mostly because they’re blurry. I was quite surprised when our tour guide led us into a concert hall in the cave. She explained that classical concerts and weddings are held there. She then proceeded to play music for us so we could hear the acoustics. The first song: Enya! Complete with a light show!
Enya: The first place we went to were some caves on the Slovakian border. They were really wonderful, and none of my pictures do them justice, mostly because they’re blurry. I was quite surprised when our tour guide led us into a concert hall in the cave. She explained that classical concerts and weddings are held there. She then proceeded to play music for us so we could hear the acoustics. The first song: Enya! Complete with a light show!
The Valley of Beautiful Women (I Guess Because of the Wine Goggles?): Our last stop of the evening was in Eger Valley for wine tasting. Lots of families grow grapes on the hillside and in the valley there are tons of wine cellers lined up next to one another. The whole group decided to stick with Elizabeth, which worked out great because first of all CIEE decided to pick up the check, and secondly because the lady at Celler no. 2 was so excited to see us all come in, she basically threw us our own little party. She brought out a number of different wines and pretty soo she was so into it that she started serving us directly out of the siphon! I think everyone had a turn, including our resident director (who sadly wouldn't allow us to take pictures). It was such a blast!
We Want to Pass It On: The lady in the celler decided the atmosphere wasn't decorative enough so she brought us a white candle stick so we could light the candles on and by our table. Adrianne was holding it and playing with the flame and I mentioned that I'd always been to scared to do that. Jacque explained that if you put your finger throught it quickly enough then you don't feel a thing. So a drink or so later I decided it was time to get over my fear of fire, even though I still have one of bees and spiders and tons of other things. And, to my surprise and pleasure, she was totally right. I was acting like a pro by the end of the night. Next I'm going to work on the spitting on your fingers and putting the flame out.
Light Table: You'll have to check the inentary post to find out exactly what this thing was and how it worked, but seeing the light table was totally one of the coolest things we've done yet. Before we even went up Elizabeth explained that you can use it to see what everyone in the town is doing, even Chris and Larissa. I love her for making sly little comments like that. It's amazing how she always knows everything that's going on even if you think she doesn't. We all had a good laugh over that.
When we actually got up to the ninth floor in the tower (no elevator) we went in and our guide played a lot of games like lifting the cars up off the street using a piece of paper and then using one of the clock towers as a watch. It was soo cool. It amazes me that they came up with that sort of thing way back when when I couldn't even do it now.
The Fortress: Next we walked over to the old fortress where the people of Eger fought off the Ottoman's basically saving all of Europe's ass for a while. Although I never thought too much about castles other than how cool they are and that I'd like to live in one, I realized how much planning they actually take. The best feature by far was the tunnels under the castle walls. Enemy's would try and dig under the walls, set off gunpowder and thus collapse them. So to conteract this they would set drums with peas or barrles of water along these underground corridors and whenever they saw movement, they knew someone was digging above them. They would then dig towards their attacker and make their own little bomb which if ignited before they invadors would force the explosion back out instead of towards the walls. So incredible.
Forced Labor Camp: This was a truly awakening part of the trip for me. It was eerie being somewhere where the Soviets took dissappeared, political prisoners. The place really could have been a summer camp it was so nice, it's scary that such horrible things happened there. I was really shocked when I went into the prisoner barracks and worst of all was the punishment center. They had a small hut dug in the ground that often filled with water that they made people stand in if they didn't meet production quotas. But often times the guards wouldn't let them sit down so they were stuck in waist high water in a weird crouching position. It's so upsetting that people could and still do treat one another like that.
Short Hike!: This one actually was a short hike. The group decided to rally and instead of going back to Budapest decided to visit the highest spot in Hungary. We all feared a hike to the top of some small mountain but instead the bus drove us most of the way and what was left was nothing at all. We got to the top, I looked over and saw the rock marking the spot and was like, "Is that is? Are you serious?" I was actually kind of diappointed...well, not really.
New Favorite Drink?: I've very much been missing my apple cider but while on our excursion I found something that is a fairly decent replacement:hot wine. I think it's mixed with apple juice, but it's pretty much what it sounds like and is oh-so-wonderful. Esp. on a cold day (or night as I ordered another cup later that evening).
Excursion No. Three: Northern Hungary Itinerary (October 5-6, 2007)
Our second overnight excursion will take us to north-east of Budapest, to Hungary's northern mountain range. We will travel by rented bus, will have one overnight stay, and be back in Budapest on Saturday evening.
The northern mountain range (Börzsöny, Cserhát, Mátra, Bükk, Zemplén) is Hungary's highland terrritory, a picturesque part of the country. The highest peak of Hungary is Mount Kékestetö (1015 meters - ~3000 feet) in the Mátra range. We will travel around the Mátra and the Bükk mountains.
DEPARTURE: 6:45 a.m., Heroes’ Square (south of Műcsarnok, in the parking lot).
As we will have a long ride to our first destination, we need to leave early. Please be on time so that we can beat the morning traffic in Budapest.
Friday, October 5
AGGTELEK: Situated right at the border with Slovakia, Aggtelek is famous for its
caves caused by a mixture of water and carbon dioxide dissolving the limestone. No
description can do justice to the variety of stalagmites and stalactites glittering with
calcite crystals or stained by iron oxides. The caves of Aggtelek are Europe’s longest
underground networks which continue under Slovakia as well. In 1995, Aggtelek
was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Site. We will have a guided tour of the
caves.
SZILVÁSVÁRAD: We will stop to see the famous Lippizaner horsefarm and museum. These beautiful white or grey horses are descendants of Spanish, Arabian or Berber stocks. They are also bred for riding and show at Lipica, Slovenia, at Piber, Austria, and in the State of Illinois. At the Szilvásvárad stud farms they are also raised as carriage horses. The original stud farm was founded in Trieste in 1580 by the Habsburg Archduke Karl, but was moved to southern Hungary for safekeeping when Napoleon’s troops invaded. Like their counterparts at the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, the Lippizaners in Szilvásvárad are also trained to perform and compete in dressage competition.
EGER: Located between the Mátra and the Bükk, Eger is known for its wine, its castle and its heroic defenders, and its Baroque glory.
Overnight stay in Eger
Our overnight lodging will be in a small hotel in the middle of Eger (3-4 persons/room). Bring your personal care package. Breakfast will be served in the hotel.
Bring your lunch for Friday.
On Friday evening we will visit the wine cellars of Eger in the Szépasszony völgye (Valley of Beautiful Women), home of the famous red wine, Bull’s Blood. Group dinner in a local restaurant.
Saturday, October 6
EGER: More sightseeing in Eger, trying to see as much as possible from the following:
Eger Castle, the neo-Classical Cathedral (1831-1836, József Hild), since 1970 a Basilica, the Lyceum (1765-85, József Gerl and Jakab Fellner), the observatory and the camera obscura, the main square, the Minorites Church, and the minaret, a standing relic from the Turkish occupation.
RECSK: The site of the infamous death camp during the communist regime. Since 1991 a monument stands there symbolizing repression and tyranny.
KÉKESTETÖ (time permitting)
This is the highest peak of Hungary. We literarily will stand on the top of Hungary.
Returning to Budapest around 7 p.m.
Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes.
Please prepare a small presentation:
Cathedral of Eger - Adrienne Burk
Gyula Illyés: “A Sentence for Tyranny” – Christopher Viemeister
The northern mountain range (Börzsöny, Cserhát, Mátra, Bükk, Zemplén) is Hungary's highland terrritory, a picturesque part of the country. The highest peak of Hungary is Mount Kékestetö (1015 meters - ~3000 feet) in the Mátra range. We will travel around the Mátra and the Bükk mountains.
DEPARTURE: 6:45 a.m., Heroes’ Square (south of Műcsarnok, in the parking lot).
As we will have a long ride to our first destination, we need to leave early. Please be on time so that we can beat the morning traffic in Budapest.
Friday, October 5
AGGTELEK: Situated right at the border with Slovakia, Aggtelek is famous for its
caves caused by a mixture of water and carbon dioxide dissolving the limestone. No
description can do justice to the variety of stalagmites and stalactites glittering with
calcite crystals or stained by iron oxides. The caves of Aggtelek are Europe’s longest
underground networks which continue under Slovakia as well. In 1995, Aggtelek
was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Site. We will have a guided tour of the
caves.
SZILVÁSVÁRAD: We will stop to see the famous Lippizaner horsefarm and museum. These beautiful white or grey horses are descendants of Spanish, Arabian or Berber stocks. They are also bred for riding and show at Lipica, Slovenia, at Piber, Austria, and in the State of Illinois. At the Szilvásvárad stud farms they are also raised as carriage horses. The original stud farm was founded in Trieste in 1580 by the Habsburg Archduke Karl, but was moved to southern Hungary for safekeeping when Napoleon’s troops invaded. Like their counterparts at the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, the Lippizaners in Szilvásvárad are also trained to perform and compete in dressage competition.
EGER: Located between the Mátra and the Bükk, Eger is known for its wine, its castle and its heroic defenders, and its Baroque glory.
Overnight stay in Eger
Our overnight lodging will be in a small hotel in the middle of Eger (3-4 persons/room). Bring your personal care package. Breakfast will be served in the hotel.
Bring your lunch for Friday.
On Friday evening we will visit the wine cellars of Eger in the Szépasszony völgye (Valley of Beautiful Women), home of the famous red wine, Bull’s Blood. Group dinner in a local restaurant.
Saturday, October 6
EGER: More sightseeing in Eger, trying to see as much as possible from the following:
Eger Castle, the neo-Classical Cathedral (1831-1836, József Hild), since 1970 a Basilica, the Lyceum (1765-85, József Gerl and Jakab Fellner), the observatory and the camera obscura, the main square, the Minorites Church, and the minaret, a standing relic from the Turkish occupation.
RECSK: The site of the infamous death camp during the communist regime. Since 1991 a monument stands there symbolizing repression and tyranny.
KÉKESTETÖ (time permitting)
This is the highest peak of Hungary. We literarily will stand on the top of Hungary.
Returning to Budapest around 7 p.m.
Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes.
Please prepare a small presentation:
Cathedral of Eger - Adrienne Burk
Gyula Illyés: “A Sentence for Tyranny” – Christopher Viemeister
Getting In With the High and Mighty...ish (September 24, 2007)
At 9:45 this morning Ryan and I had the honor of touring the Parliamentary Library with our internship advisor, Yvonne Schumann. I was kind of nervous going through security since we had to be checked in with our passports and various security guards stopped us along the way and then there were what looked like intense conversations in Hungarian, but we got through fine.
Parliament was pretty amazing—we didn’t get the see the most glorious parts of it, but the reading room was pretty great. We got to look through the various libraries including the UN and the EU rooms.
Before leaving Ryan and I registered with the library so we’d be able to come back and do research there. Soo amazing.
Parliament was pretty amazing—we didn’t get the see the most glorious parts of it, but the reading room was pretty great. We got to look through the various libraries including the UN and the EU rooms.
Before leaving Ryan and I registered with the library so we’d be able to come back and do research there. Soo amazing.
Excursion No. Two: Danube Bend Itinerary (September 23, 2007)
DEPARTURE: Meeting time: 7.45 a.m., Nyugati Railway Station (by the big table showing arrival and departure of trains). Please be on time.
Our second group excursion of this semester will take us to the Danube Bend.
We are going by train. Our first destination is Esztergom.
Here is what we are planning to do and see:
ESZTERGOM: After the Celts, the Romans took possession of the area and, similarly to many places along the Danube, built a military post. Esztergom’s Roman name was Solva Mansio. It was here, that the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius wrote a part of his most famous philosophical treatise, “The Meditations” while fighting against Germanic people.
Prince Géza chose the area as his residence, and Saint István, the first king of Hungary was born and crowned here. St. István completed the conversion of Hungarians to Christianity and founded the Hungarian State. The first palace belonging to the kings of Hungary as well as the first basilica were constructed here. In the 12th century, the King of Hungary received western European knights here on their way to the Holy Land. Among them were Godefroi de Bouillon, the French King Louis VII, and the German-Roman Emperor, Friedrich Barbarossa. The Royal residence was moved to Buda after the Mongol invasion (1241-42), but the head of the Catholic Church in Hungary, the Archbishop of Esztergom, remained. During the time of the archbishops Janos Vitéz and Tamás Bakócz (early 16th century), the city still continued to flourish where leading European artists and scholars lived in the households of the archbishops. During the Turkish occupation, however, almost the entire city was destroyed (1543-1683). The first “modern” Hungarian lyrical poet, Bálint Balassi, died a hero’s death beneath the walls of the castle of Esztergom. Monteverdi, the court musician of the Prince of Mantua was also in Esztergom at about that time.
We will try to see the following: the Cathedral, its crypt and its dome, and the Esztergom Royal Palace. Students who will enroll in Art History should take note of the Cathedral. The Museum of Christian Art is the most notable art collection outside Budapest. Among its exhibits are valuable paintings and woodcarvings dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries of artists representing the entire Danube region. Should you have the occasion at another time, please make sure to visit there.
After sightseeing, we can walk over to Slovakia across the Maria Valeria Bridge if time permits it.
Lunch on your own.
From Esztergom we are going to take a bus to Visegrád. It is not a rented bus. The bus goes every hour from Esztergom to Visegrád.
VISEGRÁD: In the 4th century the Romans built a fortress here and, following the Magyar Conquest, a monastery was erected in the 11th century. After the Mongol invasion (1241), as part of the general fortification project of King Béla IV and his wife Queen Maria, the construction of the lower fortress was begun in 1250, followed by that of the citadel high above on the mountain. Less than a century later, King Charles Robert of Anjou, moved the royal household to Visegrád and had the lower castle converted to a palace.
For almost 200 years, Visegrád was considered Hungary’s capital and an important diplomatic center. In 1335 King Charles Robert met the Polish and Czech kings as well as princes from Saxony and Bavaria, to discuss territorial disputes and an east-west trade route that would bypass Vienna.
New constructions were ordered by Louis I the Great of Anjou (1342-1382) and his wife Maria and then by their daughter, Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Sigismund of Luxemburg (1387- 1437). Visegrád retained the title as the capital city until 1405-08 when the royal court was moved to Buda. However, Visegrád remained a favorite royal residence, and the completed palace of Sigismund in Visegrád was splendid.
Visegrád’s next and most magnificent period fell under the reign of Matthias I Corvinus (1458-1490). An envoy of the Pope visiting Visegrád began his letter: “Ex Visegrado paradiso terrestri” (“from Visegrád, a paradise on earth”). King Matthias and his Italian wife, Queen Beatrice, had the Gothic palace rebuilt by Italian Renaissance masters. The sheer size of the residence, its stonework, fountains and hanging gardens were the talk of the 15th century.
During Turkish rule, the palace and the citadel fell into ruin and the village was deserted. Later, settlers used the stones to build homes. Finally, landslides covered the area hiding for centuries any trace of evidence of the once magnificent palace. Archeologists stumbled over the first find in 1934. What we can see today are the partially reconstructed elements of the palace. We will climb to the citadel if you have not done it already.
We are going to come back to Budapest by ship. We will be back in Budapest on Sunday around 19.00 p.m.
Our second group excursion of this semester will take us to the Danube Bend.
We are going by train. Our first destination is Esztergom.
Here is what we are planning to do and see:
ESZTERGOM: After the Celts, the Romans took possession of the area and, similarly to many places along the Danube, built a military post. Esztergom’s Roman name was Solva Mansio. It was here, that the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius wrote a part of his most famous philosophical treatise, “The Meditations” while fighting against Germanic people.
Prince Géza chose the area as his residence, and Saint István, the first king of Hungary was born and crowned here. St. István completed the conversion of Hungarians to Christianity and founded the Hungarian State. The first palace belonging to the kings of Hungary as well as the first basilica were constructed here. In the 12th century, the King of Hungary received western European knights here on their way to the Holy Land. Among them were Godefroi de Bouillon, the French King Louis VII, and the German-Roman Emperor, Friedrich Barbarossa. The Royal residence was moved to Buda after the Mongol invasion (1241-42), but the head of the Catholic Church in Hungary, the Archbishop of Esztergom, remained. During the time of the archbishops Janos Vitéz and Tamás Bakócz (early 16th century), the city still continued to flourish where leading European artists and scholars lived in the households of the archbishops. During the Turkish occupation, however, almost the entire city was destroyed (1543-1683). The first “modern” Hungarian lyrical poet, Bálint Balassi, died a hero’s death beneath the walls of the castle of Esztergom. Monteverdi, the court musician of the Prince of Mantua was also in Esztergom at about that time.
We will try to see the following: the Cathedral, its crypt and its dome, and the Esztergom Royal Palace. Students who will enroll in Art History should take note of the Cathedral. The Museum of Christian Art is the most notable art collection outside Budapest. Among its exhibits are valuable paintings and woodcarvings dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries of artists representing the entire Danube region. Should you have the occasion at another time, please make sure to visit there.
After sightseeing, we can walk over to Slovakia across the Maria Valeria Bridge if time permits it.
Lunch on your own.
From Esztergom we are going to take a bus to Visegrád. It is not a rented bus. The bus goes every hour from Esztergom to Visegrád.
VISEGRÁD: In the 4th century the Romans built a fortress here and, following the Magyar Conquest, a monastery was erected in the 11th century. After the Mongol invasion (1241), as part of the general fortification project of King Béla IV and his wife Queen Maria, the construction of the lower fortress was begun in 1250, followed by that of the citadel high above on the mountain. Less than a century later, King Charles Robert of Anjou, moved the royal household to Visegrád and had the lower castle converted to a palace.
For almost 200 years, Visegrád was considered Hungary’s capital and an important diplomatic center. In 1335 King Charles Robert met the Polish and Czech kings as well as princes from Saxony and Bavaria, to discuss territorial disputes and an east-west trade route that would bypass Vienna.
New constructions were ordered by Louis I the Great of Anjou (1342-1382) and his wife Maria and then by their daughter, Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Sigismund of Luxemburg (1387- 1437). Visegrád retained the title as the capital city until 1405-08 when the royal court was moved to Buda. However, Visegrád remained a favorite royal residence, and the completed palace of Sigismund in Visegrád was splendid.
Visegrád’s next and most magnificent period fell under the reign of Matthias I Corvinus (1458-1490). An envoy of the Pope visiting Visegrád began his letter: “Ex Visegrado paradiso terrestri” (“from Visegrád, a paradise on earth”). King Matthias and his Italian wife, Queen Beatrice, had the Gothic palace rebuilt by Italian Renaissance masters. The sheer size of the residence, its stonework, fountains and hanging gardens were the talk of the 15th century.
During Turkish rule, the palace and the citadel fell into ruin and the village was deserted. Later, settlers used the stones to build homes. Finally, landslides covered the area hiding for centuries any trace of evidence of the once magnificent palace. Archeologists stumbled over the first find in 1934. What we can see today are the partially reconstructed elements of the palace. We will climb to the citadel if you have not done it already.
We are going to come back to Budapest by ship. We will be back in Budapest on Sunday around 19.00 p.m.
Excursion No. One: Western Hungary Itinerary (September 21-22, 2007)
DEPARTURE: 7.00 a.m., Heroes’ Square (south of Műcsarnok, in the parking lot).
Our first overnight group excursion of this semester will take us to the western part of Hungary, to Transdanubia. We will travel by rented bus. Here is what we are planning to do and see:
Friday, September 21
PANNONHALMA: (9.40 a.m.) The 1000-year-old Benedictine Archabbey has been the stronghold of Hungarian Catholicism and organized education. The Archabbey stands like a fortress on a hill in the middle of lovely countryside where Kisalföld (Small Plains) meets the Bakony hills. The Abbey was founded in 996 by Prince Géza, King Saint István's father. Pannonhalma is the center of the Benedictine order in Hungary. Perhaps one of the most precious treasures of the Archabbey is the Foundation Deed of the Tihany Abbey, issued by King Andrew I in 1055. This invaluable document is the earliest known written material of the Hungarian language, which includes some 100 Hungarian words among the Latin text. We will have a guide from the Archabbey to show us around.
(Pannonhalma is also famous for its lavender grown around its gardens.)
VESZPRÉM: County seat with population of over 60 000. Queen Gizella, wife of St. István, was crowned here, hence the title, "Queen's Town". The bishopric of Veszprem was founded in 1001, and the establishment of the cathedral is linked to Queen Gizella. The cathedral is referred to in charters as the first and oldest bishopric cathedral of Hungary.
Lunch on your own.
NAGYVÁZSONY: Kinizsi Castle - This castle originating from the 14th century was extended in the 15th century in a Gothic style and refurbished in the 16th-17th century. Today the castle is a stage for Renaissance games and festivals. Go through the gate of the outer round bastion into the castle, then cross the bridge across the 'wolf pit' pit full of water and pass through the inner gate tower into the courtyard. This courtyard is surrounded by the buildings of the palace. Here stands the 29-metre high keep or 'old-tower' which is today a museum. From the courtyard steps lead to the chapel in which the most important sight is the red marble lid and its remnants of Pál Kinizsi's sarcophagus. The gravestone originally safeguarded the earthly remnants of the forceful commander in the church of the Pauline monastery he had founded. However, after the crumbling walls had collapsed onto the gravestone the sarcophagus was dug out and then broken open by treasure hunters in 1708. Pieces of the broken gravestone were placed in the castle.
Evening: NAGYVÁZSONY (lodging and group dinner)
Saturday, September 22
Breakfast in the hotel.
HEREND (10:00 a.m.): We will have a guided tour of the world famous porcelain factory of Herend, and a visit in the factory’s museum. The porcelain here is still formed and painted by hand. You will also have a chance to try your hands in making a porcelain figure.
Lunch on your own.
TIHANY: Remember the Foundation Deed? This Benedictine Abbey was founded in 1055, and King Andrew I is buried here. Tihany is a favorite tourist destination, and you will understand the reason once we are there. We will visit the Baroque Abbey Church and the Monastery. You will have free time to explore Tihany.
Our first overnight group excursion of this semester will take us to the western part of Hungary, to Transdanubia. We will travel by rented bus. Here is what we are planning to do and see:
Friday, September 21
PANNONHALMA: (9.40 a.m.) The 1000-year-old Benedictine Archabbey has been the stronghold of Hungarian Catholicism and organized education. The Archabbey stands like a fortress on a hill in the middle of lovely countryside where Kisalföld (Small Plains) meets the Bakony hills. The Abbey was founded in 996 by Prince Géza, King Saint István's father. Pannonhalma is the center of the Benedictine order in Hungary. Perhaps one of the most precious treasures of the Archabbey is the Foundation Deed of the Tihany Abbey, issued by King Andrew I in 1055. This invaluable document is the earliest known written material of the Hungarian language, which includes some 100 Hungarian words among the Latin text. We will have a guide from the Archabbey to show us around.
(Pannonhalma is also famous for its lavender grown around its gardens.)
VESZPRÉM: County seat with population of over 60 000. Queen Gizella, wife of St. István, was crowned here, hence the title, "Queen's Town". The bishopric of Veszprem was founded in 1001, and the establishment of the cathedral is linked to Queen Gizella. The cathedral is referred to in charters as the first and oldest bishopric cathedral of Hungary.
Lunch on your own.
NAGYVÁZSONY: Kinizsi Castle - This castle originating from the 14th century was extended in the 15th century in a Gothic style and refurbished in the 16th-17th century. Today the castle is a stage for Renaissance games and festivals. Go through the gate of the outer round bastion into the castle, then cross the bridge across the 'wolf pit' pit full of water and pass through the inner gate tower into the courtyard. This courtyard is surrounded by the buildings of the palace. Here stands the 29-metre high keep or 'old-tower' which is today a museum. From the courtyard steps lead to the chapel in which the most important sight is the red marble lid and its remnants of Pál Kinizsi's sarcophagus. The gravestone originally safeguarded the earthly remnants of the forceful commander in the church of the Pauline monastery he had founded. However, after the crumbling walls had collapsed onto the gravestone the sarcophagus was dug out and then broken open by treasure hunters in 1708. Pieces of the broken gravestone were placed in the castle.
Evening: NAGYVÁZSONY (lodging and group dinner)
Saturday, September 22
Breakfast in the hotel.
HEREND (10:00 a.m.): We will have a guided tour of the world famous porcelain factory of Herend, and a visit in the factory’s museum. The porcelain here is still formed and painted by hand. You will also have a chance to try your hands in making a porcelain figure.
Lunch on your own.
TIHANY: Remember the Foundation Deed? This Benedictine Abbey was founded in 1055, and King Andrew I is buried here. Tihany is a favorite tourist destination, and you will understand the reason once we are there. We will visit the Baroque Abbey Church and the Monastery. You will have free time to explore Tihany.
East and West (September 19, 2007)
Last night a group of us went to a bar to hang out for the evening. And I soon started chatting with this german guy. But then his girlfriend sent him a text message and I quickly became bored with the evening. Unfortunately, my roommate had already left and my pseudo roommate was flirting with some spanish guy, so I was like, screw it, I'm leaving, it's not too far, I can make it myself.
Now I really wasn't too far from my apt, in fact, I could have walked. Which I actually attempted to do. But then there was this potentially sketchy guy walking behind me and in fear that he was following me, I sort of missed my turn. And ended up at the east train station where I finally decided to call Jacque and well, then it was about 10 minutes of slight panic as I backtracked. But since I stayed on the same road the whole time getting back was fine and before I knew it I was back at Blaha and Jacque and Chris met up with me and took me home.
But it was scary and I'll be sure to never make that mistake again. Guess I'm not at wofford anymore.
Now I really wasn't too far from my apt, in fact, I could have walked. Which I actually attempted to do. But then there was this potentially sketchy guy walking behind me and in fear that he was following me, I sort of missed my turn. And ended up at the east train station where I finally decided to call Jacque and well, then it was about 10 minutes of slight panic as I backtracked. But since I stayed on the same road the whole time getting back was fine and before I knew it I was back at Blaha and Jacque and Chris met up with me and took me home.
But it was scary and I'll be sure to never make that mistake again. Guess I'm not at wofford anymore.
That’s Our Bus! (September 18, 2007)
After we got out of the labyrinths we were standing on the sidewalk discussing how everyone was to get home and Jacque and I figured we'd just take bus 16 to Deak Ter, which is how we got to the castle for art class last friday.
As we were standing there we see bus 16 driving by on the road ahead of us and since the busses only run every 15 minutes Jacque was like go! So she took off running and I followed shortly after (two of the girls were taking a picture and I couldn't get in the middle of it) and then after me everyone else who lived in that direction came running along too. We got to the bus stop and all jumped on the back. The good think about busses is that the driver can see people so I guess he waited until we all had gotten on. The metro in contrast will slam wether your in out or between.
So then we took the bus to the metro and at the metro jacque had to go the other way so vin and I took our line to nugati. Vin had to follow me because as directionless as I am, he doesn't even know where he lives. It's rather sad. But luckily I knew this one so all was good.
As we were standing there we see bus 16 driving by on the road ahead of us and since the busses only run every 15 minutes Jacque was like go! So she took off running and I followed shortly after (two of the girls were taking a picture and I couldn't get in the middle of it) and then after me everyone else who lived in that direction came running along too. We got to the bus stop and all jumped on the back. The good think about busses is that the driver can see people so I guess he waited until we all had gotten on. The metro in contrast will slam wether your in out or between.
So then we took the bus to the metro and at the metro jacque had to go the other way so vin and I took our line to nugati. Vin had to follow me because as directionless as I am, he doesn't even know where he lives. It's rather sad. But luckily I knew this one so all was good.
Caves and Buddies (September 18, 2007)
For our second buddy program event everyone met to go up to castle hill to explore the laberiniths. We went at night and did the oil lantern tour. About every fourth person got a lantern and we headed out.
Since there was a set path our small groups ended up converging or running into one another often.
Parts of it were a little hokey, like the background music and random wall paintings/statues. It may have been better with nothing at all—but maybe they were trying to tone it down so people didn’t get too freaked.
They had a really cool wine room (even though the wine was gross.)
Since there was a set path our small groups ended up converging or running into one another often.
Parts of it were a little hokey, like the background music and random wall paintings/statues. It may have been better with nothing at all—but maybe they were trying to tone it down so people didn’t get too freaked.
They had a really cool wine room (even though the wine was gross.)
Kerek ket csirket (September 17, 2007)
I ran to the market this morning to get food for the week before class. I decided to get the things I needed from the upstairs market first and then whatever else I needed at the grocery store downstairs.
I walked to the far end to get my chicken first. Most of the stands weren’t open yet so I went to one that was. The butcher working there looked to be in his mid-20’s and was rather attractive. I walked over and asked “Beselk angoulo?” He nodded with this really stern but cool expression so I fumbeled through my order in Hungarian and he verified it in English. It was rather exciting.
Afterwards I rushed through the rest of my shopping list and took everything home before class.
I walked to the far end to get my chicken first. Most of the stands weren’t open yet so I went to one that was. The butcher working there looked to be in his mid-20’s and was rather attractive. I walked over and asked “Beselk angoulo?” He nodded with this really stern but cool expression so I fumbeled through my order in Hungarian and he verified it in English. It was rather exciting.
Afterwards I rushed through the rest of my shopping list and took everything home before class.
Dinner Party (September 16, 2007)
As I was starting to feel better I got a call from Garrett inviting Ali and I to dinner at seven. We decided to go and picked up a small bouquette of flowers at a stand on the way.
Once we got there we saw that Rebecca and Jacque has also come—apparently Dave and Ryan were also invited but had other plans.
Tila made a wonderful dinner and it was great spending the evening with them. It really helped me get out of my funk too.
Once we got there we saw that Rebecca and Jacque has also come—apparently Dave and Ryan were also invited but had other plans.
Tila made a wonderful dinner and it was great spending the evening with them. It really helped me get out of my funk too.
Oww! (September 15-16, 2007)
I had to use my first migraine pills today. My headache came on as I was going to bed Saturday night and lasted most of Sunday. I spend most of the day in bed in the apartment by myself feeling rather crummy.
Obuda? Bus? (September 13, 2007)
For art history today our instructor told us to meet at the national gallery at 10:00. As my roommate who was going to take that class with me wet home today, I was on my own.
Around 9:30 I set off down St. Isztvan’s towards the Nugyati metro stop. From there I took the blue line to Deak Ter. I climbed the steps up to the street and found myself between two lanes of traffic on the ledge where you board the trams. Realizing this wasn’t what I wanted to do, I glanced around for the no. 16 bus before going back down. I found it to my right and took off that way.
The bus was still there waiting when I got over and I got on praying it was going the right direction. Just as I took a seat I looked to the front of the bus and saw Jacque! “Thank god!” I breathed as I called her to join me.
From there things were smooth sailing and pretty soon the bus was full of my classmates.
Around 9:30 I set off down St. Isztvan’s towards the Nugyati metro stop. From there I took the blue line to Deak Ter. I climbed the steps up to the street and found myself between two lanes of traffic on the ledge where you board the trams. Realizing this wasn’t what I wanted to do, I glanced around for the no. 16 bus before going back down. I found it to my right and took off that way.
The bus was still there waiting when I got over and I got on praying it was going the right direction. Just as I took a seat I looked to the front of the bus and saw Jacque! “Thank god!” I breathed as I called her to join me.
From there things were smooth sailing and pretty soon the bus was full of my classmates.
Ratatouille (September 12, 2007)
So I decided it was time to start learning to cook. I went to the market and bought a chicken breast, two potatoes, an onion, two cloves of garlic, and spices among other things.
That night I diced up my potatoes, halved the onion and some garlic, no problems despite using the big, scary knife. Next it was time to cut the chicken which was rather difficult as it was raw and slimy and it kind of smelled. I managed to get trough that right as everyone came up to the apartment for the second round going away party.
Having an audience wasn’t exactly what I wanted seeing as I had little idea what I was doing. Luckily everyone was rather supportive and the mostly hung out in the living room. Really, the only person who teased me at all was Vin, which was sort of okay as he also told me how to do stuff. For example, I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the stove because it’s gas, not electric. So I stood there like five minutes waiting and wondering why the burner wasn’t heating up when I turned the knob. That was sad.
Anyway, it took a while but my dinner ended up being quite excellent, especially for a first attempt!
That night I diced up my potatoes, halved the onion and some garlic, no problems despite using the big, scary knife. Next it was time to cut the chicken which was rather difficult as it was raw and slimy and it kind of smelled. I managed to get trough that right as everyone came up to the apartment for the second round going away party.
Having an audience wasn’t exactly what I wanted seeing as I had little idea what I was doing. Luckily everyone was rather supportive and the mostly hung out in the living room. Really, the only person who teased me at all was Vin, which was sort of okay as he also told me how to do stuff. For example, I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the stove because it’s gas, not electric. So I stood there like five minutes waiting and wondering why the burner wasn’t heating up when I turned the knob. That was sad.
Anyway, it took a while but my dinner ended up being quite excellent, especially for a first attempt!
It’s Never Too Early For Halloween (September 10, 2007)
As part of our farewell party for Korina, Jacque, Ali, Arnab, Vin, and I had dinner at the Darkness restaurant near the guys’ apartment. We’d walked by it a few times before and each time I was intrigued by it’s decorations. The bar has a very hallloween-ish feel with cobwebs and skulls and skeletons adorning the walls, tables, and chairs.
It’s usually pretty empty and we immediately seated at a large table in the back. While waiting to place our orders we took random pictures and realized that the menu had an astonishing variety. I ordered a beer, which I couldn’t finish and Arnab ordered a shot that it took him 30 minutes to work up the nerve to drink.
Overall it was quite the experience and soo good!
It’s usually pretty empty and we immediately seated at a large table in the back. While waiting to place our orders we took random pictures and realized that the menu had an astonishing variety. I ordered a beer, which I couldn’t finish and Arnab ordered a shot that it took him 30 minutes to work up the nerve to drink.
Overall it was quite the experience and soo good!
British Invasion ( September 7, 2007)
As a going away party for Korina, a group of us decided to go out drinking at the bar under our apartment. But first we pre-gamed in the apartment where I had quite a sufficient amount to drink.
Well, once I got down to the bar I ended up agreeing to have a drink with Chris. A moment later Ali showed up with a British guy to my left. Suddenly there was also one to my right and as I looked back at Ali I realized there were even more behind her. I was quite literally surrounded by them and ended up talking with a few of them the rest of the night.
As the night went on I ended up dancing with the obnoxious one. However, once I was ready to go, I excused myself to look for my roommates. I then pretended to go to the back of the bar, looped around and headed back up the stairs and then home. Haha.
Well, once I got down to the bar I ended up agreeing to have a drink with Chris. A moment later Ali showed up with a British guy to my left. Suddenly there was also one to my right and as I looked back at Ali I realized there were even more behind her. I was quite literally surrounded by them and ended up talking with a few of them the rest of the night.
As the night went on I ended up dancing with the obnoxious one. However, once I was ready to go, I excused myself to look for my roommates. I then pretended to go to the back of the bar, looped around and headed back up the stairs and then home. Haha.
B.Y.O.B—Bring Your Own Bags (September 6-7, 2007)
Whenever you go shopping for grocery’s you have to bring your own bags to carry them home. This morning my roommates and I decided to go shopping and figured we’d buy bags to bring our things home in after we got there.
However, the woman who checked us out was rather bitchy. First she didn’t want to take Ali’s 10,000 HUF bill and then she refused to sell me my oranges saying the sticker-price was wrong yet Ali’s were the exact same as mine and she checked hers out. It pretty much made no sense.
So then we were standing there watching everyone bag their own things and wondering what to do. I ended up walking back through the store looking for some place to find bags.
Finally I went through another check out line and asked if they sold bags. At first the check out lad didn’t understand me and I tried to get the guy behind me to translate, but he ended up speaking only English too so that didn’t work, but just then she pulled out a bag! “Igen, yes!” I said and bought two.
I think culture shock is starting to set in.
However, the woman who checked us out was rather bitchy. First she didn’t want to take Ali’s 10,000 HUF bill and then she refused to sell me my oranges saying the sticker-price was wrong yet Ali’s were the exact same as mine and she checked hers out. It pretty much made no sense.
So then we were standing there watching everyone bag their own things and wondering what to do. I ended up walking back through the store looking for some place to find bags.
Finally I went through another check out line and asked if they sold bags. At first the check out lad didn’t understand me and I tried to get the guy behind me to translate, but he ended up speaking only English too so that didn’t work, but just then she pulled out a bag! “Igen, yes!” I said and bought two.
I think culture shock is starting to set in.
Would You Light My Candle (September 4, 2007)
After a dramatic day Rebecca decided to try and bury the hatched by throwing a strudel party for everyone. She bought candles and requested that everyone blow theirs out and make a wish for the semester.
It was truly a kind gesture and I hope things improve for her and everyone else.
It was truly a kind gesture and I hope things improve for her and everyone else.
Tuesday Afternoon’s Alright for Fighting (September 4, 2007)
An air of tension clearly filled the air when it came time to discuss housing.
After over an hour of arguing we finally decided to use a lottery. First we drew numbers by groups to decide what order we would draw apartments in, which we naturally did next.
While I didn’t get my first choice, my group had the good fortune of getting our second! I’m quite thrilled. It’s a wonderful apartment.
Had I been in charge of the process, I suppose I would have had groupd or individuals meet with me one on one and list their preferences. From there I would ask for any other concerns (i.e. why you can’t live somewhere and also if there is anyone you can’t live with.)
Then I’d list all the apartments and who ranked them highest. If those groups could not make an agreement, then I’d do a lottery.
Perhaps this is just as complicated and inefficient as what actually happened but it still seems that it could protect people’s feelings.
After over an hour of arguing we finally decided to use a lottery. First we drew numbers by groups to decide what order we would draw apartments in, which we naturally did next.
While I didn’t get my first choice, my group had the good fortune of getting our second! I’m quite thrilled. It’s a wonderful apartment.
Had I been in charge of the process, I suppose I would have had groupd or individuals meet with me one on one and list their preferences. From there I would ask for any other concerns (i.e. why you can’t live somewhere and also if there is anyone you can’t live with.)
Then I’d list all the apartments and who ranked them highest. If those groups could not make an agreement, then I’d do a lottery.
Perhaps this is just as complicated and inefficient as what actually happened but it still seems that it could protect people’s feelings.
Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired (September 4, 2007)
Not even a week after getting here I’ve already come down with something. It’s just a sore throat, most likely viral but the timing sucks.
I called home yesterday in tears—I guess because it’s scary being sick away from home—especially after my strep throat incident last year.
But my advil is being pretty reliable, my fever hasn’t come back, so hopefully it’ll clear up soon!
I called home yesterday in tears—I guess because it’s scary being sick away from home—especially after my strep throat incident last year.
But my advil is being pretty reliable, my fever hasn’t come back, so hopefully it’ll clear up soon!
Location, Location, Location Isn’t Even the Beginning (September 3, 2007)
The group went out apartment hunting today.
Over the last few days everyone has been trying ot feel each other out as far as roommates go so a good many of us had plans on who we’d be living with. The only thing left to be resolved was where.
Thus arises the greatest conflict yet. Two groups of four arose while the rest of us merely argued over the nicer three person apartments. Last night someone called a group meeting to discuss who was living where. Basically, a lot of people lost interest indicating a much larger confrontation the next day.
Over the last few days everyone has been trying ot feel each other out as far as roommates go so a good many of us had plans on who we’d be living with. The only thing left to be resolved was where.
Thus arises the greatest conflict yet. Two groups of four arose while the rest of us merely argued over the nicer three person apartments. Last night someone called a group meeting to discuss who was living where. Basically, a lot of people lost interest indicating a much larger confrontation the next day.
You’ve Got to Pay (September 11, 2007)
During our scavenger hunt yesterday Dustin and Larissa decided to stop at the below-street-level bathrooms.
Dustin headed down the men’s side and Larissa, the women’s. However Dustin came back up a moment later explaining that you had to pay 100 HUF. He borrowed it from Andrew and went back down.
Afterwards Larissa came back up asking “Was there a person sitting across from the stalls?”
“Yeah.”
“Did they yell at you? What’s you do?? I ran away.”
“Umm….you’re supposed to pay them.”
Dustin headed down the men’s side and Larissa, the women’s. However Dustin came back up a moment later explaining that you had to pay 100 HUF. He borrowed it from Andrew and went back down.
Afterwards Larissa came back up asking “Was there a person sitting across from the stalls?”
“Yeah.”
“Did they yell at you? What’s you do?? I ran away.”
“Umm….you’re supposed to pay them.”
Fire! (September 2, 2007)
Jacque, Vin, Ali, Korina and myself were sitting in the room talking when suddenly we heard a loud noice that wasn’t the club across the street. Thanks to my Wofford training though I quickly deduced that it was a fire alarm.
We all headed won the stairs and out the door. No one else came outside though and less than a minute later the alarm turned off. Oh well, we though and headed back in.
We all headed won the stairs and out the door. No one else came outside though and less than a minute later the alarm turned off. Oh well, we though and headed back in.
Frogger (August 31, 2007)
Emily told me about how in London cars have to yield to pedestrians at the cross walk. In Budapest it’s the opposite. You are risking your life if you venture into the road when the crosswalk signal is red. Even if one car stops for you, this doesn’t mean that those in any other lanes will. Oftentimes these cars fly up out of nowhere and on more than one occasion I have heard drivers shouting profanities at walkers. Our director warned us that sometimes cars even speed up when they see walkers! I feel must like a 3rd grader again learning to cross the road by myself.
Budapest or Paris? (August & September 30-1, 2007)
Without my bags containing my soap, deodorant, and razor in combination with my appetite for only bread, cheese, and Nutella, I’ve begun wondering if I’m in Budapest or Paris.
Yet as I now have my things and am starting to get my appetite back in order, I’m hoping to transition into a Hungarian state-of-mind.
Yet as I now have my things and am starting to get my appetite back in order, I’m hoping to transition into a Hungarian state-of-mind.
It’s Kind of Like that Traveling Garden Elf (August & September 29-1, 2007)
My bags didn’t arrive the next day, or the one after that either. Everyone was cool about it and some of the girls even offered to loan me clothes! Thanks again to Ashley and Jacque!
Elizabeth Simmon, the resident director, called the lost baggage people and told me there weren’t tracking my bags locations. Wonderful.
Although they arrived late Saturday night (with Vin telling me they’d come, then that he was joking, and then that they really had) I’d like to think my things did some traveling on their own—hopefully to some place exciting!
I hear I earned myself the reputation as the girl who handled not having her bags well. This pleases me even thought I really didn’t have much choice in the matter.
Elizabeth Simmon, the resident director, called the lost baggage people and told me there weren’t tracking my bags locations. Wonderful.
Although they arrived late Saturday night (with Vin telling me they’d come, then that he was joking, and then that they really had) I’d like to think my things did some traveling on their own—hopefully to some place exciting!
I hear I earned myself the reputation as the girl who handled not having her bags well. This pleases me even thought I really didn’t have much choice in the matter.
Freshman Year All Over Again (August & September 29-4, 2007)
During orientation the group is being housed in a local dorm. All of a sudden I’ve got a roommate, am making trips to the hall bathroom, and am brushing my teeth with me neighbors. So strange! But a nice reminder of Green and Shipp!
However, the showers…It’s a co-ed floor and there are no curtains! Scandalous! I don’t really care to get to know anyone that well, especially not on the first days.
Luckily, we’ve found a lock on the door making the situation bearable.
However, the showers…It’s a co-ed floor and there are no curtains! Scandalous! I don’t really care to get to know anyone that well, especially not on the first days.
Luckily, we’ve found a lock on the door making the situation bearable.
Life’s No Fun Packing By The Rules (August 29, 2007)
The Budapest airport was strangely calm when I arrived. Passport control was far more relaxed here than in London despite my staying here for four months while I was just catching a connecting flight in London.
Yet my trip took its first downward turn when the conver belt of luggage proved to not have my bags on board.
I guess because I wasn’t about to fly to Iquitos and then boat three-hours down the Amazon, I handled it well. It would only be a day or so until my stuff was delivered to the dorms after all.
Still, I found myself wishing I had put extra clothes in my carry-on.
Yet my trip took its first downward turn when the conver belt of luggage proved to not have my bags on board.
I guess because I wasn’t about to fly to Iquitos and then boat three-hours down the Amazon, I handled it well. It would only be a day or so until my stuff was delivered to the dorms after all.
Still, I found myself wishing I had put extra clothes in my carry-on.
Communist Influences (August 28, 2007)
Almost everyone had arrived today and in an effort to get to know each other we all decided to go to eat together. Not listening to our director’s recommendation to go down the street, we decided to follow Garrett and Tila to a pizza place.
They explained that they’d been on public transportation all week and hadn’t been asked to see their tickets more than once and before we know it a tram was pulling up and we were all hoping on ticketless. (Luckily we weren’t caught! Since then we’ve been asked for our tickets regularly though.)
Our navigators ended up proving unreliable and we got off at a very sketchy truck stop area to turn around. Nothing like being in a big group of people who are obviously lost and foreign.
We finally found our way though, crossed the Danube and entered the pizza shop—and sight in and of itself.
The walls were decorated with a communist theme (chicken wire, barbed wire, red stars and an angry woman on the wall behind us!). Needless to say it was a strange first dinner even before the food arrived.
Still, the waiter was very helpful and even asked another party to move so we could all sit at the same table. That was a pretty good way to get to know everyone.
They explained that they’d been on public transportation all week and hadn’t been asked to see their tickets more than once and before we know it a tram was pulling up and we were all hoping on ticketless. (Luckily we weren’t caught! Since then we’ve been asked for our tickets regularly though.)
Our navigators ended up proving unreliable and we got off at a very sketchy truck stop area to turn around. Nothing like being in a big group of people who are obviously lost and foreign.
We finally found our way though, crossed the Danube and entered the pizza shop—and sight in and of itself.
The walls were decorated with a communist theme (chicken wire, barbed wire, red stars and an angry woman on the wall behind us!). Needless to say it was a strange first dinner even before the food arrived.
Still, the waiter was very helpful and even asked another party to move so we could all sit at the same table. That was a pretty good way to get to know everyone.
Travel Buddies (August 28-29, 2007)
Unlike when I visited Hawaii this summer by myself, I had regular company on my voyage across the atlantic.
My mom first arranged for Tweety, an army-wife traveling to Germany to help me find my international flight in Atlanta ( I felt this was unnecessary as I most certainly could find it myself, but I went along with it anyway.)
Once on the plane I befriended a charming South African woman who was sitting on my row. She was quite sweet and amusing, telling me that her sister-in-law was going to spend the day with her in London during her 12+ hour layover. This was a good thing, she confided, as she might otherwise amuse herself with her credit card!
Of course the two of us grew excited as the plane filled and yet no one arrived to sit between us. Naturally, after we spoke of this good fortune a curly-haired, middle aged woman arrived. We exchanged glances and reluctantly bid farewell our extra room.
Still, the most exciting encounter I had had by this point began as I waited in the long coach boarding line. I looked across the room to economy plus only to find Leland Wood checking in with the flight attendant. I didn’t manage to catch his eye and as screaming “Leland!” seemed inappropriate, I resolved to looking for him on the plane. At first I was doubtful that I’d come across my friend, but as it ends up I almost ran right into him!
“Hey Leland!”
“Oh my God! Stephanie! I didn’t know you were on this flight!”
We were only able to speak briefly on the plane though but it was a great comfort to know someone else on board.
Continuing the small world encounters, I discovered my late-arrival seatmate was traveling to Budapest as well! She was going to work as a high school English teacher. I even found that our flight to Budapest was the same. What a relief to have an experienced travel companion! Or so I thought before I realized she was perhaps as clueless as me. Still, not facing British Airways securite in Gatwick alone made it worth it.
Finally, as I went to the flight information counter to ask why my ticket said my plane was boarding yet the gate-display board told me “Please wait” (there were three monitors of “Please wait” and four flights with announced departure locations), I met up with a fellow CIEE participant—Andrew.
It was kind of awkward and yet very exciting to finally know someone in physical form in my group.
My mom first arranged for Tweety, an army-wife traveling to Germany to help me find my international flight in Atlanta ( I felt this was unnecessary as I most certainly could find it myself, but I went along with it anyway.)
Once on the plane I befriended a charming South African woman who was sitting on my row. She was quite sweet and amusing, telling me that her sister-in-law was going to spend the day with her in London during her 12+ hour layover. This was a good thing, she confided, as she might otherwise amuse herself with her credit card!
Of course the two of us grew excited as the plane filled and yet no one arrived to sit between us. Naturally, after we spoke of this good fortune a curly-haired, middle aged woman arrived. We exchanged glances and reluctantly bid farewell our extra room.
Still, the most exciting encounter I had had by this point began as I waited in the long coach boarding line. I looked across the room to economy plus only to find Leland Wood checking in with the flight attendant. I didn’t manage to catch his eye and as screaming “Leland!” seemed inappropriate, I resolved to looking for him on the plane. At first I was doubtful that I’d come across my friend, but as it ends up I almost ran right into him!
“Hey Leland!”
“Oh my God! Stephanie! I didn’t know you were on this flight!”
We were only able to speak briefly on the plane though but it was a great comfort to know someone else on board.
Continuing the small world encounters, I discovered my late-arrival seatmate was traveling to Budapest as well! She was going to work as a high school English teacher. I even found that our flight to Budapest was the same. What a relief to have an experienced travel companion! Or so I thought before I realized she was perhaps as clueless as me. Still, not facing British Airways securite in Gatwick alone made it worth it.
Finally, as I went to the flight information counter to ask why my ticket said my plane was boarding yet the gate-display board told me “Please wait” (there were three monitors of “Please wait” and four flights with announced departure locations), I met up with a fellow CIEE participant—Andrew.
It was kind of awkward and yet very exciting to finally know someone in physical form in my group.
Fight or Flight (August 22-28, 2007)
In efforts to learn from my last travel mistakes, I decided to start packing my suitcase approximately a week in advance. This is what Prashant did and he reported having time to kill before leaving. This sounded nice to me as I figured I could be calm and collected just before leaving.
Unfortunately, this did not come to pass as I ended up throwing last minute additions into my bookbag as late as two hours before my plane left. I even resorted to asking my mom to help me organize everything.
By the time I was ready to go, I was so anxious and into flight mode it was hard to be emotional or sentimental. Considering I’d passed the point of no return some time ago, I suppose this was for the best.
Unfortunately, this did not come to pass as I ended up throwing last minute additions into my bookbag as late as two hours before my plane left. I even resorted to asking my mom to help me organize everything.
By the time I was ready to go, I was so anxious and into flight mode it was hard to be emotional or sentimental. Considering I’d passed the point of no return some time ago, I suppose this was for the best.
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