Beautiful Views, Tasty Fare, and Interesting Conversation

After work on Friday, I accompanied my coworker Imre, a history teacher at the technical school, to Lake Velence. I’d visited Lake Velence once before – I hopped on a train after hearing about the lake and all its beauty. I got off a few stops earlier than the stop listed on my ticket (per an acquaintance’s suggestion) and did not end up seeing the most beautiful part of the lake. Instead I enjoyed reading a novel and watching the windsurfers from a blanket on the shore.

This time Imre and I drove to Velence, stopping first at a lookout point far above Budapest and Székesfehérvar. Thatched roofs dotted the landscape, and from my perch atop a bench, I could see farmland to my left and lake homes to my right. The view rivaled that of Italy and Ireland – absolutely breathtaking. I didn’t know that people still had thatched roofs! What a quaint surprise.

We descended the hill, my hair blowing in the breeze, and chatted about Hungarian history as we completed a round about the lake. I was so excited to see wake boarders and skiers riding a cable around the lake. I’d thought that the law barring motorboats would make me unable to ski, so this cable was a thrilling find – I can’t wait to try it, but at the same time, I’m a little worried that coming up out of the water by boat is totally different that jumping off a pier with a cable!

Our grumbling tummies brought us to a local lake café that served the traditional Hungarian dish langós, a fried bread similar to a funnel cake (but savory) and topped with cheese and sour cream. I also ordered my favorite Hungarian pancakes (more like American crepes, known as palacsinta, filled with turos (yummy cheese curd) – this crepe wasn’t as good as the famous Budapest all-nighter crepes, but delicious none-the-less. And I was incredibly proud of my self – I ordered in Hungarian! “Kérek egy langós!”

The night was a good one – beautiful views, tasty fare, and interesting conversation.

PS: The photo was taken in Székesfehérvar – I could have kicked myself for not having my camera at Lake Velence – but it was rainy!