To - Gyor
Distance - 79km
Time - 5 hours
Total - 3016km
Last night wasn't such a big night out. The Aussies were a builder called Dave and an Insurance Agent who worked in Manchester called Tristan. The Yank was Dawson, an engineering student. It was a strange combination as he ages in reverse order were 21, 31 and 41. I was the old man of the group. We had just got chatting sitting at the bar in the hostel and decided to go out together for a drink. Dave was keen to find somewhere lively but it was a bit of a challenge on a Monday night. We went to the bar that I didn't go to last night and it was actually a pleasant cellar bar playing a mix of soul and hip hop music. One rap track was being played and I asked Dawson what it was and he told me it was a rap artist called Ice Cube and looked at me as if everyone should know. So, every time a rap song came on I said 'this is Ice Cube' of course i was totally wrong and they all fell around laughing. I left them as they went in search of somewhere busier. I got to bed by midnight and was surprised to find that no-one in my room was asleep. The room now had five occupants. At least I didn't have to worry about disturbing people.
I was still up and ready to go by 8am. I had to nip into a supermarket for some breakfast breads and fruit. It was a nice sunny day again with a light breeze. I motored on into Hungary. They call themselves Magyars which takes me back to being a young boy collecting stamps. I liked my Hungary stand and they always had the word Magyar on them. There were lots f hem and he had all sorts of bright pictures on them. Talking of stamps, I know so much about Hungary that you could probably fit it on the back of a postage stamp! My brother Peter told me that it was a good country for tanks! At least the Russians thought so! I think it is a reference to the fact that most of the country is fairly flat.
At one of the first villages I went through there was a little bank with a cash machine. I took the opportunity to get some Forints, the local currency. I think it is the only country that I am travelling through that doesn't use the euro. Anyway the best way I can calculate the exchange rate is that its about £3 for 1000 forints. I could easily be a millionaire! I also quickly checked out a supermarket and things seem nice and cheap. I bought a few things for lunch, including two bread rolls, one tomato, sliced cheese and salami style meat. I was conscious that a nice tin of sardines in tomato sauce would be very nutritious and would go nicely on a bread bun. I checked the tins of fish and the ones in olive oil had the ring pull openers, I found the ones in tomato sauce and they were in a cardboard wrapping. Of course when I got it out at lunchtime I needed a tin opener that I hadn't got! I managed very nicely with the cheese and salami on bread with the tomato. I think I spent about £4 on what I bought, not bad. I could probably afford a tin opener but I don't want to carry the extra weight!! I have the essential bottle opener already.
I went through small towns of Mosonmagyarovar. It isn't yet twinned with any British town so if any town has room on their signs for the long name they could consider twinning! Also Hedervar had a nice Castle. It's been converted to a Hotel so I didn't ask for a look around although I could have posed as a prospective customer. A little bit upmarket for me I think.
The signage and the cycle tracks probably weren't as good as the German and Austian sections of the Eurovelo route. There were some crumbling sections and a few potholes. I think I have been spoilt over recent days. I didn't get lost anywhere though so the signs were sufficient.
The 3000km kilometre stone had completely slipped my mind till I arrived at Gyor. That's quite an achievement even if I say so myself. I think the routes will start to get tougher after Budapest i.e. hillier and possibly no cycle routes at all.
I was at Gyor in good time and had a look around. I climbed the Bishops Tower and got a great view of the city. The Cathedral is lovely inside and out. The Main Square, (it has a name but like all Hungarian words they are very difficult to spell!) is good with another church and some public buildings looking good. It has one of those modern floor level pulsing fountains that I think are great fun.
I found the Hundari Panzio, which is where I am staying. It's a small hotel but very nice inside. They wanted me to pay in Euros but gave me change in Forints. That tells me something! I suspect that is going to happen everywhere I go. My accommodation is now sorted till after Budapest. That's when it will get tricky because I will be off the tourist track. I could nip back over to Slovakia tomorrow to get more euros if I think I need them!
I haven't got a lot of Hungarian themed songs up my sleeve but I think you will all know today's song....Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. We are in the right part of the world I think! Quiet night tonight. A walk around town, I nice meal and I may finish the Jack Reacher book. About time too, I hear you say. I'll let you know what happens. I will also let you know if I can get into my tin of sardines!
Photo 1, Hungarian entering Hungary!
Photo 2, Flat countryside, not a tank in sight!
Photo 3, Ovar Castle at Mosonmagyarovar. Quite a mouth full! It's now part of an Agricultural University.
Photo 4, It seemed a bit rural. I saw a couple of horse and carts.
Photo 5, Hedervar Castle. The oak tree on the left is reputed to be 1000 years old.
Photo 6, Kilometres on the clock.
Photo 7, Cathedral in Gyor.
Photo 8, Main Square in Gyor.
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