Sunday July 20 arrives and it is still quite hot. However, a nice breeze kicks up in the morning so that it is wonderful in the shade.

The usual large breakfast is served but I was still full from last night.

Tamas and Gyongyi are preparing a large ebed for the family for noon hour. Tamas and I go up to the hill farm to gather fresh vegetables and the large pot for the bogracs; but the pot is not there. Back to the house and Tamas finds it.

I watch Gyongyi cook the beef in the bogracs. It is done differently from what I do. There are only peppers added to the beef along with the usual things. I will put my version of bogracs on my web-site (tomikaj.com) later in August.

About 10 am I am dressed and ready for church which is in Zalakaros (3-4 km), Szent Laszlo's church is new and not very big; however, by 10 am it is almost packed. What is unusual for many is the projector at the left side. It shows appropriate prayers but mainly the words (in Hungarian) for the hymns. I saw this used about 20 years before but instead of a computer they used a slide projector. There is no ornate statues but everything is modern and well done.

The priest (pap :pron. Pop as in popcorn in Hungarian) is in his 40's. He has an unusual 'tic', his eyes look left or right for no apparent reason; like someone is there that he knows; There are a few changes in the standing and sitting but most are the same. I had a Hungarian mass book from Canada so I could see some of the responses. Everything is in Hungarian. After communion a man came to the front to speak... very fast. I caught some words about television. He handed the priest a booklet in which there was a picture. I comprehended that Szent Laszlo's church was on TV recently and the book was a remembrance of that occasion. The priest thanked the man and there was some applause (clapping). Finally, there was a final hymn but no one left till the Blessed Virgin's picture appeared on the screen. At home, people are scrambling to get out before the hymn finishes like there is no tomorrow.

I looked around for Tamas who said he would pick me up after mass. I followed the crowd and saw a very familiar face waving to me... Attila (who is very tall and easy to spot) was waiting form me. After warm greetings we drove back to Garabonc.

Almost everyone was there getting ready for ebed (lunch).

- chicken soup

- fried pork like schnitzel

- nokedli (dumplings)

- rice

- beef guylas (bogracs)

- chocolate and strawberry topped desserts (home baked by Agy and Bea respectively)

- beer, wine, coffee (espresso, capochino)

After ebed we sat around and chatted about life in general and the cost of this and that in Hungary and Canada,family. Everyone wishes Nancy well and wishes she was here.

Before the first person left I took some photos (I will include one here)

Everyone helped clear the table of all of the various items and there seemed to be enough for everyone to do. Gyongyi had a large pile of dishes. The dish washer was kept busy the rest of the afternoon. I had a nap to help digest all of the food and drink. It was a hot day but there was a very good breeze that kept everything bearable.

I took a few hours in the afternoon to take a nap.

Supper was some of the food left from ebed. Tamas was not hungry but I had a good amount. One of my favourites is the pickles made from sitting in a jar with some bread, dill weed, salt, and garlic. They are very mild and tasty. The cucumbers are not the same as you might grow for a salad. They have a softer skin.

We went for a “setanyi” a short walk in the evening and then came back to the house...it does hasten you digestive tract as only Nancy can attest to. Enough said.