1589:  Castle and a Different Waterfall!

Sunday 12th July 2020

So long, rather than goodbye ,to Danny and Lisa … Danny has a new job to go to on 3rd August, via family in Italy, so they cannot linger any more.  But we will see them in the summer when we head up to Scotland.  We were a bit slower leaving the campsite: showers and I cooked a soup.

Up country towards a castle and basalt waterfall; Danny had reminded me of Atlasobscura – a great website of more unusual tourist attractions.  The rolling hills and mixed flora reminded us, at times, of the lush and green Britain, except for the number of sunflower fields.  

We parked up at Somosko Castle and paid our few HUFs to go in the castle and walk around the base to see the volcanic waterfall … much of this rock was used to make the castle – you can see the hexagonal extruded rock in walls and steps.

Walking CO2, I passed a closed zoo of local animals … Danny and James had had boar stew the previous night … rather meet one on a plate that in the wild!

Could be England – from a viewing platform.

Somosko Castle: nothing special, but fab views.

Basalt waterfall.

We decided to stay in the car park.  They had kindly provided seating for us to have a pre-dinner drink soaking up the last rays of the sun. 

Life is good.

Can just make another castle on the distant peak.

Corrie made a grass nest.

1590:  Accidental Slovakia Tourist!

Monday 13th July 2020

The castle is the border with Slovakia … no road access, but when I looked at maps.me, I realised we had walked into Slovakia. There was an info board showing a walk into the woods … so into Slovakia we went … no border controls or Covid questions!  Not what we’d planned to do, but this was one of those occasions where going with the flow really pays off.  And we’d got up and at ‘em, we were breakfasted and out the door by 8.50!  And that is another country we’ve visited!!!

Scree from weathered basalt waterfall and surplus castle building materials.

A really lovely walk with beeches and then holm oak.

Oscar does like a stick.

View off another platform of Somosko Castle.

After lunch we headed for our planned destination – Holloko.   A small village with a population of 380.  Unesco since 1987 to preserve the village of low and long white houses with verandas.  Quite a lot are owned by crafts people or wealthy from Budapest.  I looked at the crafts, but felt the prices were inflated.  We did stop for a snack and heard English spoken – another English lady and Irish husband.  He works for EuropCar in Budapest and had just driven back from the UK to avoid airports.  They agreed that Hunagry has a lot to offer and is a surprise. 

There was another castle above it, which gave CO2 (and us!) another leg stretch.

Holloko.

Typical house with veranda.

Very pretty but a bit soulless, and must be mobbed in summer, judging by the size of the car park.

We could have stayed in the large car park overnight, but headed off instead for Vac on the Danube Bend, north of Budapest.  Despite the walking we’d done, we set off for an evening preamble after our supper.  A lovely town with a good vibe.  James needed the toilet, so we HAD to stop for a drink or two!  So much for a day evening!!!!