Fövenystrand
An idea, a birthday idea. Instead of crawling north on Pest to Aquaworld, a place filled with slidey delights (I know, I’ve spun backwards, clipped my hip and shoulder, and nearly shat myself), the notion was floated of hitting Lake Balaton for a day. We’d tried before and flirted again with the idea of Velence-tó, and while being damned close to Budapest, it just doesn’t have the depth. Am I a cultural snob? Probably! But what I mean here is simple… When the kids were really kiddie kids then knee deep sufficed but now they are swimmers and swimmers need danger to develop, and when the water threatens above the neckline, even I, the more experienced swimmer in the family, get existential doubt. Asthma doesn’t help. But, hey, I digress. So, alternatives explored, the idea of heading to Balaton for the day was floated and that fucker sailed, and almightily. We got down on an early train because I’m Jewish in that respect, (if I had said Scottish would it have been acceptable?). Landing we broached the strand, my spirit tentative, searching for older, misspent alternatives, but my children and their friends prevailed and we arrived at the strand, and we entered, and we indulged.
Firstly, it’s cheaper than everything Budapest had to offer. Secondly, it’s Balaton, and only 90 guaranteed minutes away, unless the train meets a real shit show, then that’s just unfortunate, and not Hungarian public transport as the Budapesti are wont to say. Budapest public transport is great and if you think otherwise you’re either Budapesti or insane. I say this without hesitation because everybody else has experienced an awful lot worse.
Woah, and here I am again, a long way off topic. And we’re back. So, Balaton for the day, and because it’s not insanity South side and because it’s not one of the bigger, “better”, strands, you don’t leave feeling so empty of pocket, and do you know what, there’s still place for homeborne… So if you really want to get on my rankles about prices, go on, there’s a short pier with your name signed up for that big walk. Swearing aside, Good God, it’s great.
Winding down time at the lake comes around 7. Officially the strand is closed but of course now the locals arrive for a swim and the Cimbora burger place becomes more the pub it promises all the time on the edges. There is even Guinness here out of hot season. The other places also open from the outside. It seems that life goes on, but for us, and at least for this evening, a 9 o’ clock back to Déli is on the cards… And hey, let’s not forget the kindness of strangers: from the station attendant and friend, to the ticket inspector, we were shown a part of humanity I last remember experiencing on my way to Banka Bystrica, before I let cynicism rule the roost. What a day! Apeople