Thursday July 24:

The time is going quickly; but still much to do and see. Breakfast was the usual large one.

There was some problem with the telephone but it got ironed out somehow.

We were then off to Egervar... I thought it was near Eger and said that would be too far... but it wasn't there.

We travelled North and West past Zalaegerszeg. We stopped at a little town in the middle of nowhere. There was a large white fort...in the Renaissance style. There was a museum in which you were encouraged to touch, feel and sit. Very unusual for any museum.

After espresso we entered the museum taking a Schindler lift to the second floor.

The first display was a touch-screen which took you back in history to about 1250 and came up to 2013. This was an excellent idea and very well done.

BTW signs were in 3 languages...Hungarian, German and English ! Nice !

There were other touch-screens and pictures of the many forts built in the Renaissance era in Hungary and vicinity (more than 20).

There was also an art display and you could purchase a painting for as little as 160 000 HUF...$800. However, they were too big for my suitcase and budget.

There was one room where all of the important people would sit around a large table. We sat at it as well and on the other chairs around the room.

It is interesting to see what can be done with a tactile museum.

I purchased some gifts in the gift-shop before we left. (surprises).

Ebed or lunch was at the “rozsakerte etterem” - rose garden restaurant. We ate outside amongst the flowers. The weather was sunny and the temperate about 22-25 C.

Gyongyi ordered a fried cutlet with fries while Tamas and I split a big dish with many types of food – steak and egg, a fried potato pancake, another fried item which was chicken and peppers. There were also lots of fried vegetables (zucchini, mushroom, onion) and some cold vegetables...cucumber and red onion. We managed to eat most of it but there was some left over pancake. Of course a cold beer helped the food down.

After lunch we walked across the road to visit a very old church... it was built around the time Columbus sailed the seas. The inside was very ornate but we were prevented by heavy iron gates from getting too close.

Into the car and off to Sarvar (Mudville in English). It was another hour North and East through some very forested roads.

A VAR is a fortress and we went in to visit. It was much larger than the previous fortress. There of course was yet another museum. You were NOT to touch anything and no photos (unless you paid a premium... we did not). To make sure this happened, each area had a person watching.

Much Hungarian history here from about 1400's to the 1940's. Signage was in Hungarian and German only ! This type of museum was of the “old school”.

Lots of pictures and interesting furniture and dishes and cutlery.

The best part was in the basement or dungeon area. This was in Hungarian and English so it was easy to follow. Much of this exhibition was of treasure and gold artifacts. Some Aztec, some Roman, Greek etc.

Off to the restaurant for a cold beer before we left. The driver, remember, never drinks alcohol. Tamas in this case.

We must be back by about 6 pm so Tamas spares nothing in getting there. We did stop for bread and some cold meat at Tesco.

I watched the speedometer hit 140 kph at times. Tamas car is a very nice VW with a diesel engine and great tires. The road is quite windy in spots and it felt at times like we were in an auto race. Good fun though.

We got back just in time to start a cold beer and welcome Violetta, Szabolcs and the kids. They are off to Majorca by plain tomorrow. Szabolcs' parents are going as well as the children.

Just when I thought the eating was over, we had a “small” supper. Bacon with garlic on top and sauteed in a bit of lard and wine. Very tasty on bread. I will make this when I get home. Finish it off with a large slice of watermelon and yet a little more beer and you can see that sleeping will not be a problem.

I am off to Laci and Agy's tomorrow for some fishing and halaszle (fish soup) no doubt; whether we catch anything or not.

I have stayed up late typing and uploading because it seems there is no other time.