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!!!!
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