Thermal Baths

Lately, I have been stinking a lot!  Not because I have not taken a bath for a long time.  On the contrary, I believe I have taken too much dipping in the thermal baths.

The first we visited is the Thermal Lake in Heviz in Hungary  It is Europe´s largest thermal lake.  The water at our May visit was at 28 degrees C.  It still felt chilly. The lake has different water lilies floating around the lake.  The lily is the symbol of this little town.  There are two entrances to the lake, and there are lots of grassy surface to relax after dipping for some 20 mins.  There are lots of `handles`to hold yourself as it is not popular to swim in the lake.  One floats with a lifesaver.  They are being sold all throughout the village or one can rent them at the premises.  In the middle of the lake is the spa which is built on stilts.  It is also possible to enter the water from the spa building itself.  A lot of people come here who are under `cure`.  Children were scarce and naturally they are not advised to enter the water at all.  There is a separate pool for kids which unfortunately was still not filled during our stay.  The experience was great.  

 
The other spa was the elegant spa in Piestany.  They call it a Spa Island.  It is however at one part connected by land to the mainland.  The Spa Island of Piestany dates back over a 100 years.  With its renovated Thermia Palace Hotel at the entrance to the island, it reminds you of its glorious days.  Still, the hotel stands out well preserved.  It is connected to the IRMA Spa where all of our booked services were done.  We had mud pack wherein the back, joints in the legs and shoulders are covered with Piestany mud with a temperature of 40°C for 15 minutes.  Another healing treatment was soaking yourself into the mud pool for 20 mins.  And a massage.  The Spa also has a mud pool where you can cover yourself with the mud while in the water.  There is also a outside thermal pool. I had not seen a single child in the hotel nor the spa.

Extra notes about the island: One can walk around the island in 30 minutes.  There are bicycle and jogger paths. There are peacocks in the park.  This is the symbol of the hotel and could be seen on the garden at the main entrance, the windows and the floors.  The island is just a few minutes walk to the pedestrian zone.  The pedestrian zone offers lots of restaurants with the water fountain highlighting you meal.  The trees and plants are so green and healthy which we believe is due to the springs. There are two tennis courts (how can I not observe), a nine hole golf course, and other hotels.

Well then would like to stink?

Happy stinking!!!!

Balatonfüred, Lake Balaton, Hungary

I dedicate this Post to my Hungarian friend, Kati.  She comes from the beautiful city of Györ, which I have never visited myself, unfortunately.  But with this new love I have for Hungary, it looks like we will be there soon.


Lake Balaton is very famous and interesting for the Germans.  I just heard that is is stunning until I found it out myself.   From Bratislava, we took a part of the highway then exited on D82.  It was a picturesque drive on a winding road passing by Pannonhalma and the Csezsnek Castle Ruin. As we arrive in Veszprem, I felt the holiday feeling as one gets into Hawaii.  I do not know why but the wide elevated roads with a view on the lake probably welcomed me.  We turn off to get to Balatonfüred and after a few minutes we are there.  I did not book any room and believe me, everything we asked were fully booked.  We could have stayed at the Hotel Annabella which is right infront of the promenade but it was nothing for us.  After running around three more hotels, we settled in at the Anna Grand Hotel Wine and Vital.  We chose their classic room with high ceilings and looking over the main square.  The Ipoly Residence might have been a better choice (also from Anna Grand) but perhaps walking from the Ipoly to Anna to use the pool is a bit inconvenient.


At the main square is the well where one can sample and get the sour water of Balatonfüred.  It tastes strange but still I brought a plastic bottle full of it.  When you walk down towards the lake, beautiful landscaped garden with black and pink tulips kissing the sun graces the path.  And as you get on to the Tagore Promenade lined with trees posing as umbrellas for the pedestrian and bicycle lanes, you start to belong.  The lake is very turquoise, so shallow that its deepest is at 3 meters thereby it gets warm so fast.  It just feels also like a mystery why this lake, so vast and beautiful, was quiet.  Motorboats and motor sports are definitely a no on this lake apart from the cruise ships and the police boats.  My photos depicts the quietness and tranquility of it as I have experienced it.  Just the tourists like me were there to disturb it.


At the end of the Tagore Promenade is the Eszterhazy beach.  A public beach with payment where one can rent beach chairs or as we did, we brought a sulu and sat and admired the whole atmosphere.  Alongside are restaurants and bars with two "faces": one fronting the beach and one to the promenade.  We ate langos, sült hal and sweetcorn.  We drank good Hungarian draught beers and mojito-s!


The next day we went towards the other end of the Promenade is the Marina.  Another round of beer.  One can also have go onto a one-hour cruise at 1500 forints (ca. 5 Euros). But we had no time and had to still go to the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany.  Such marvelous views (again) on the lake.  We ate cakes and lemonade (too hot for coffee) and you will not really be disappointed with what you eat nor see!


I so much love it, as I finish writing this I  plan to go again to Hungary this weekend!!  Heviz??


Happy Balatoning!!!!