Our Hungarian campsite at Lake Balaton

 

Puszta steak and shark tail soup

I remember when a Hungarian footballer called Nagy played in our national competition. The thing was that you had to pronounce this as 'notzj' or something similar. Before leaving for our campsite in Hungary we bought a phrase book and the surprise was that this guy's name appeared to be 'Biggs'.’.

When you go for a holiday at a Hungarian campsite it may be a good idea to get a phrase book. This country is officially called Magyar Köztársaság (Hungarian Republic) which is only recognized by post stamp collectors, for that's where it is printed on. Another familiar word is Puszta. Your first thought is a barbecue stick, but in fact it's the large lowland without the Hungarian campsites covering the majority of the country. It used to be an extended prairie with dry moorfields and dark swamps. From the original Puszta only a few nature areas are protected.

Puszta

The large Lowland (Nagy Alföld) plays a major part outside campsites in Hungary. Most tourists stay at Hungarian campsites near Budapest or Lake Balaton, but you'll find the real Hungary with its characteristic villages in this lowland. Oh, that Puszta... before Hungary went into a country full of Hungarian campsites , the country was especially known by its gipsy orchestras singing about their country in a melancholic way. I remember an interview with one of these musicians on TV when I was on one of the campsites in Hungary . The Puszta was his home, but due to the political situation he could not stay there. He smashed his hand for his eyes in desperation. I knew that gesture. It was the same thing football player Nagy did when he missed a goal. From that moment, to me this act of desperation is equal to Puszta.

 

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Shallow

 

Today, around Lake Balaton there are many Hungarian campsites , but few acts of desperation. There is absolutely no need for it. It's a tourist's attraction, especially the beautiful north coast. There are 130 beaches along the borders of this 77km long lake (the largest in west and middle Europe), that go down slowly in the water. Very slowly indeed, because after a few hundred metres you can still stand as its that shallow! Only in the middle does the lake become deeper. The best thing is that the water temperature is already warm in the spring. The whole climate is warm, and with over 2000 sun hours a year the campsites in Hungary have a good score as a holiday destination. Very good for a summer barbecue. With a spicy puszta stick which smells great on the fire I know worse places than a campsite in Hungary.

 

Sharks

In a large lake like Lake Balaton there will be plenty of fish. Sometimes the variety of species is subject to discuss. Like in the restaurant on our Hungarian campsite , where someone at a table behind us ordered shark tail soup for his supper. I noticed my youngest son reacting very surprised. Sharks? Are there sharks in this lake? He shivered by the thought that he had been playing all day in a lake full of sharks. When the waiter came to our table he immediately asked about this subject. “Sharks?” the waiter responded with surprise. After he noticed me giving him a wink he got the joke. “Oh, you mean sharks,” he answered my son with a big smile. “No, there are no sharks swimming in this lake.” Just when my son had a big sigh of relief he continued: “... that is to say: not anymore. The gentleman at the table behind you just ordered the last one.”

 

campsites in Hungary »