Sat.,July 26;

Agy makes breakfast for us, she does not eat anything apparently for breakfast...Nancy knows that I think breakfast is important.

After breakfast Laci drives me to Peter's a friend's place in the “out-back”. The road is small then smaller then 2 ruts and finally we are there. There is a fence, more like a wall; a double locked gate leads to over 100 beehives. A dachshund 'guards' the place and makes a lot of noise. Peter only does this for a living, and I guess it is enough. Peter, who was not there is in his late 40's or 50's.

We put on protective hats with screens, but as usual it is not necessary. The 'house' or cabin is triple locked. Laci has all the keys since he helps Peter occasionally. The sound of the bees is quite calming, surprisingly. After everything is locked up we head out...but less than a km down the road I realize that my camera bag is still there...back we go down the worst part of the road. This place is several km from the main road and it is surprising that they would need a large fence. Laci says that the noise of the bees usually is enough to discourage people.

I ask Laci if we could go to Nagybakonak to see the cemetery where our relatives are buried. Lacy says it is only 5 km but it is more like 10 from the beehives.

It is now quite warm (hot is over 30 C) and sunny. The cemetery is not as I had remembered it from 1996 or 8. It is larger and has a nice gate and entrance.

We look for the graves and first find Janos and Ibi's grave. It is quite new (2005). I am surprised that Ibi is buried there, since there was such an unhappy situation when Janos died. We also find the grave of Imre Jakabfy who was Gyongyi's great grandfather, Irma's grandfather. We also found Laci's and Gyongyi's father's grave very close to the others.

I was actually looking for an older stone left by my grandfather for Eva Deli, my grandmother's mother. When we can't find it, Lacy phones Irma to see if she knows where it is. But as is common, old markers are destroyed since there is no one to keep up the plot... 75 years is common. So I am fortunate to have pictures from 1996 or 8 and the words on the stone. I now have new info on Imre who was one of my grandfather's brothers.

We are off to Laci's house. He shows me the GE factory where he works, only a 5 minute walk from his house.

We sit down in his garden and enjoy a cool one. Christian, Agy's son drops by and I meet him. He is tall like Agy. I did not meet his girl friend.

. Near 12, Gyongyi and Tamas arrive. Ebed or lunch is upcoming. Soup is the first thing, there is halaszle (fish soup) and chicken soup. I have the halaszle. I like it but it does not like my digestive system. After the soup there are meat dishes (can't remember at this moment), then desert, the same great desert as yesterday – rolled cake in chestnut(gesztenye) jam (not like the chestnut we have in Canada) and chocolate covered cake with cherries in it. The latter is my favourite already. I forgot to mention that we start meals with the usual palinka and have wine or beer with the food. Does it sound like we drink a lot....maybe different drinks but usually not a lot of each. Palinka is usually in a shot glass. Palinka is stronger than whiskey more like vodka.

Tamas and Gyongyi both drink, which is unusual, but it is a long time before we leave anyway.

There is much talking in the afternoon inside since it has gotten quite hot.

Laci and I go for a swim in the pool; it is not large but very refreshing.

About 7:30 we head back to Garabonc. You guessed it... more to eat.

About 9:30 we call it a night and head back to bed. I tell them that I would like to take some pictures of the “hedgyon kerte” the hill garden in the morning.