Kalocsa, Hungary

August 4, 2015

33C today.  Hot and humid. Again.

Image credit http://www.hotels-europe.com/hungary/images/index-map-large.jpg

We have entered the Schengen Area.  This is 26 European countries that have abolished passport and immigration controls.  You can be part of the Schengen Area but not part of the European Union ie Switzerland.  

Because we entered the Schengen Area, there were announcements just before 7 am that we had to stay in our cabins until we were called, and when we were called we had to go to the main desk to have a "face check".  Immigration wanted to check our faces and stamp our passports.  Except that when we handed them our passport, they just stamped it and didn't even look at our face.  We had all been warned that this immigration check would happen, so we didn't see anyone in their pj's, and we all went straight to breakfast afterwards.

We cruised for the morning into Hungary. We relaxed and read; it was too hot to read on the sundeck so we went to the lounge where we heard Leonard's talk on the European Union. The idea was begun in the late 1940's, hoping to avoid more wars.  It also reduces barriers to trade.  There are 28 countries in the EU, they have their own flag, and an anthem (Ode to Joy).  Countries must pay membership dues, vote on laws (shared standards), and citizens are free to work and live in any of the member countries.

After lunch they took us to the town of Kalocsa, 142 km south of Budapest. Kalocsa is famous for their paprika production and has a paprika museum.

We were treated to an organ concert at St. Joseph church.  We love organ music.

They used the college for an "emergency" restroom break, and by this time Frankie was waiting for one, BUT no one told her that there would be a 50 cent euro charge, and we hadn't brought any money along today.  So she scooted in without looking the money girl in the eye, and happened to come out at the same time as some other guy from the ship.  He put in a full euro, so she pretended to be with him and sailed on. When you're desperate......

We are in the Puszta area of Hungary.  Puszta is a Great Hungarian Plain and it means bare or bleak. The area used to be covered with forests which were continually flooded. The trees were cut down to build ships, and the area became a wasteland.  This is a paprika field.

They took us to a traditional Puszta horsemanship performance at the Bakodpuszta Equestrian Center. This was the BEST excursion of the whole trip!  There was a horse parade with the Hungarian cowboys and various tricks performed by the horses. One cowboy rode standing up with ten horses. Apparently the world record is 16 horses, held by another Hungarian, of course. Afterwards we were given a ride on a wagon, and visited the animals in the barn.

Some of our group that are continuing after Budapest may have to switch boats where the water is too shallow. A few years ago they had to do that because of flooding (the ships were too high to fit under the bridges).

Tonight back on the ship there was the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner.  We will miss our new friends so much.  We wish we were going to Amsterdam with them, but Anton can't take over 4 weeks holidays like these retired folks can!  There have been 9 couples in particular that have grouped together since our pre-extension in Transylvania.

There didn't seem to be any graffiti in the Puszta Plains of Hungary, so we are including a cute one we found back in Bulgaria: