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Destination: Tarján, Hungary (Pop. not very many)
Daily Cycle Distance: 53.1 km. (33.16 mi.)
Sunday After breakfast, we checked out of the Hyatt. The bill was originally
quoted in DM. It was presented in Hungarian Forints. For two nights, meals
and internet access, the total was nearly 175000HUF ($660). This was the
largest number that I have ever seen on a credit card charge slip.
When we picked up our bikes, I noticed that my rear tire was low. Since
it was not flat and the bike had not been ridden in two days, I added air.
My trusty pump failed and I used Bob’s. With less than 75lbs. of pressure
in the tire, we started out. We crossed the Duna (Danube) on Széchenyilánchíd
(Chain Bridge) located just a block from our hotel and then took a short
tunnel through Var. We were able to follow a designated bike path to our
road to Budakeszi. Just as we left the bike path, I had to stop at a 24hr.
Shell station for more air. The station could only provide about 60lb. The
next route segment involved climbing 200-300m. At the top of the climb I
decided to fix my rear tire. Not finding a hole in my tube, I changed
out tubes. With a reasonably full tire, I headed down through Budakeszi.
Along the way, just past Budakeszi, we saw several groups of cyclists.
It is Sunday and we are now following one of Hungary’s Bike Routes. On
to Páty, Zsámbek and Szomor. While checking our maps in the shade a bus stop
in Zsámbek, a man walked over and gave each of us a very tight bunch of grapes.
Another random act of kindness. Szomor is a very small village yet
it had 2 restaurants. We ate at the nicest one. There were lots of uphill
and downhill along the way today.
After lunch we opted to look up the Sancho Panzió (pension) in Tarján
to stay for the night. Today the temperature reached 92°, probably one of
the hottest cycle days we’ve had on the trip. Tarján
is a small village about 10km from Tatabánya. The Panzió is nice. It has
a restaurant and rooms up stairs. As usual, we are the only guests. It
appears to be run by a small family complete with ~14 y.o. daughter that
speaks German. This appears to be a second language with most of the family. We
are allowed to park our bikes in an open air covered pavilion at the rear
of the Panzió. At the very rear of the property is a shed
with pigeons. The owner keeps pigeons. Attending to us at the Panzió is
the employee. She apparently is the innkeeper, cook, waitress. Her
German is only a little better than ours. We negotiate our dinner and
the following mornings breakfast in German. It is an interesting communication
and very amusing to all concerned. We eventually got our supper and
breakfast ordered.
Later this afternoon, while on a walk around the village, I met a man
about my age on the village street. I had seen him earlier in the Sancho
Panzió 'etterem' (restaurant). He spoke German and had a German name (Mueller).
We introduced ourselves and he asked about the trip and where I was from.
He said that his family was from this village and that he was visiting. In
looking back, I realize the this entire conversation was in German. From
many of the names on mailboxes and grave markers, it appears that most
of the town is of German origin. This would explain the fluency in
German with the family that runs the Panzió.
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