Magic of Hungary #1

12 October 2018

Picture me, running through a busy city because smarty pants over here planned to be an eager beaver and gym between classes (yes I hate gym but I’ve been eating a lot of pastries, damn delicious pastries, and with winter setting in, I need to force myself to exercise). 
So because I originally planned to go home to shower after gyming, I left my course reader on my bed. This meant that before the GIS class (that I initially wasn't going to go to) I needed to go fetch it as we had a IPCC committee member speak about the newest report during lunch so I had no other time. But instead, of immediately speed-walking back home, I ended up chatting to class mates (well ranting about the immigration office AGAIN taking forever with my permanent residence card while they plan a Croatia trip). So at 10:20am I was running back and forth between home and uni to be on time for the GIS class. Huffing and puffing and beautifully red in the face I made it just in time. Well maybe 1-2min late, but in Africa time that's about half an hour early!

**update on immigration office - got an email from the University saying that the office had an issue processing my visa because the office where I had apply in good ol SA had problems transferring my photo to Budapest. Makes sense right?!? So now I have to go to the immigration office on Wednesday. Thank goodness the Uni is arranging it for us as there are a few of us unfortunate souls. 

Had another potluck dinner - best veggie burger I've had in a while, thanks Jens! Obviously got lost on my walk while sending a voice note (so I wasn't able to use Google Maps, and for once I thought I might have my direction correct. Clearly not!)



Lullarford's beauty
13 October 2018: Miskolc

Slowly starting to find Hungary's "magic" - day trip to Miskolc (NE of Budapest).

After what felt like the longest train ride, we were finally in Miskolc! After not coming right at the ticket office by the train stop, we made our way to the center of town in search of the tourism center to buy a day pass. Pass in hand we were off the the first castle in Diosgyor!

Lullafurd was the cutest town out of the whole trip, especially with all the autumn colours and its tranquil feel.

Castle Diosgyor
18:47 - After faffing at the changing lockers, someone pointing out that my skirt was tucked into my stockings (lekker man), we realise that the bus we were supposed to be on was about to leave. If we didn't catch this bus we would miss the early train back to Budapest. We attempted at sprinting the 50m or so, but of course we were treated to watching the bus pull away just before we got there! Debating whether to call a taxi, wait for the next bus, try catch our train even though it might be pointless or just las it, get some food (we were all pretty starving by now, especially after that sprint ;)) and catch the last train at 20:34. We patiently waited for the bus to arrive, even though it got to the stop at least 10min before departure time but because Hungary is so organised (??) the bus didn't move until the specified time. 19:15 - got on the bus,19:30 - switched to the tram (painfully watching the clock), tram literally crawls around the corner by the train station. 19:34 - we run like mad chickens, first to the wrong entrance, then finally to the correct one, another guy races passed us, basically flying down the stairs, and again we're treated with the noise of the train pulling away! We consoled ourselves that if flying-man couldn't reach the train there was no way we could have. So back to the city center we go in search of food. Long story short - the queue was too long at our first choice of take aways so being the veggie I tried looking for another spot, only to be given a pizza slice thingy with bacon on! = too hungry to care. Sorry piggy.

Photo: Alicia Morry
What a trip! But at least it was nice to get out of the city to be surrounded but nature's beautiful colours. I even saw a robin (probably wasn't a robin, was I'm pretending I'm great at id'ing birds). And we took an adorable train from Lullaford back to Miskolc which winded through the forest of Lullarford.


xxx



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