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Lake Balaton, the Hungarian paradise
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Lake Balaton
I am sitting on a rock next to a lake under the starry summer sky. A gentle breeze strokes my skin and suddenly a few unexpected waves broke the silence of the night. After many years, it is nice to listen to the melody of the water again. A fisherman’s tiny wooden boat approaches the pier paved with colorful stones. He rows slowly toward the dense reeds which in the daytime decorates perfectly the coast of the mostly peaceful lake. He can touch land there and finally go home in the middle of the night. In the distance people laugh hearty, the tasty wine of the locals cheers everybody up. I feel like walking, sense the atmosphere and discover one more time the beauty of the Lake Balaton.
I am really disappointed if for some reason I am not able to visit this gorgeous place each year, which I would call the paradise of my childhood. The more I visit the “ Hungarian Sea ” and its area, the more I am attached to it. I really believe that Hungary gives place to one of the most spectacular lakes of the world. It changes its characters and colors all the time. One day the water is silky green, the next day it looks blue. Most of the time it is tranquil and beautiful, but it happens that the gentle waves become angry green in just a few minutes. The Lake Balaton is the biggest freshwater lake of Central Europe located at the foot of an old volcanic mountain in Hungary . Some peaks are decorated by gigantic basal organ pipes. This panorama together with the view of vivid vineyards makes the area look scenic. The lake is surrounded by many historic, fine towns (Keszthely, Tihany) and tiny villages. Lot of them has legends to tell, and proud to have stone paved streets, reed covered peasant houses, museums, churches, windows decorated by red geranium, and beautiful wine cellars. Many outstanding wines, mostly dry ones are produced in this region of the country. Badacsony’s wines have a worldwide reputation. Locals here not only have world famous wine collections, but they are nice hosts and excellent cooks. They are happy to open a bottle of quality wine or prepare a tasty fish soup for those who like spicy foods. They use different kinds of fishes, powder paprika, and lots of onions.
I love this area all year round. In the fall, the spectacle of colorful leaves is really tempting. No wonder that the atmosphere and the colors inspire so many writers, painters, artists. In the winter lots of people can have fun by roller-skating on the thick surface of the ice. In the spring the music of birds and the smell of the linden-tree invite everyone outside. It is an ideal time to ride around the lake by bicycle and discover the wilderness of the area. For many people the Lake Balaton means summer time. During the warm days of summer vacation this is a place where everyone can collect unforgettable memories, find life-long friends or simply just relax and bath for fun. This time the water is the most suitable for bathing. In July and August, locals organize many festivals. I very much enjoy the sounds, colors and the scent of these folklore events. It is interesting to see the men’s boot slapping dance or the women’s circle dance on the stage. Of course, they all wear swirling, colorful national dresses. Their dance and the music are full of life, energy, and enthusiasm. I just like walking, seeing people tasting good wines, buying handmade souvenirs, and enjoy every aspect of an interesting folklore event. They are all here to sense a little bit the culture of the local Hungarians. They want to swim in the lake, try the carriage ride, participate in a horsemen’s show, and enjoy the flavors of the Hungarian cuisine or just rest.
The landscape of this region is picturesque. In the North it is bordered by unique shaped mountains. Spectacular monuments and medieval castles make the view even more stunning. The south bank is flat; the water here is really shallow and warms up quickly in the summer. Families with small kids love to spend time here. The northern shore is much deeper. The average depth is 3 meters. If someone likes to swim, surf, and sail, it is just a perfect place to visit. The water refreshes the body and the beauty of the nature relaxes the spirit. There are no palm trees here, but the leaves of giant oak trees make perfect shade on the grassy, sandy beaches. Everyone can find a refuge here. This is a place where in the morning one can enjoy the view of the rising sun and in the evening the beautiful sunset and white swans attracts lots of people to the bank.
The Lake Balaton has everything that a nice place can offer. It has a unique landscape, culture, monuments, warm summer days, deluxe hotels, and excellent culinary art. You can find all those elements in one of the most beautiful regions of Hungary which calls thousands of people back every year.
video presentation by Reka Reti-Peterdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rigNQVQM9p8
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