On 14 March, I boarded the plane bound for Budapest. Of course, I was pretty excited and anxious. I had never been to Hungary before. What will the people be like there, and what will my new hometown look like? What will await me in the Bükk-Region Geopark? Questions upon questions...
Fortunately, I was met by Balázs at the airport, and my excitement subsided somewhat after the warm welcome. On the way to the flat, we even stopped at Aldi, as 15 March is a public holiday in Hungary (commemorating the 1848-49 revolution), and the shops were closed.
I used the day off to explore the city centre. There I saw Dobó István Square, the town hall and the basilica. First impression? It's a good place to live!
On Saturday, Balázs and his father invited me to hike in the nearby Aggtelek National Park. We marched 15 km in the forest along the Slovakian border from Aggtelek towards Gömörszőlős. Shortly before our destination, we were rewarded with a beautiful sweeping view. There we could see all the way to the Mátra Mountains!
In Gömörszőlős, where there is an ecological training centre, we had dinner together (Hungarian goulash soup) and ended the evening with a card game (not so easy in Hungarian ;) ).
It was a very nice day, especially because I was warmly welcomed by all the participants and immediately accepted into the community. :)
On Sunday, I visited Eger Castle. From there you have a beautiful view of the city. In the castle's basement is an exhibition of one of Hungary's most extensive collections of weapons, and the former dungeon can be visited. Very interesting for those interested in history!
