BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

My first 2 days in Hungary were a bit uneventful and I was feeling bad about it. Why did I not visit the Mohacs carnaval mask maker's workshop? And should I have made a detour to see Hajos village with its 1200 wine cellars? And why did I not search out the best goulash restaurant in southern Hungary? It has been a long and hot day on the bike when I am thinking those thoughts and it is getting late, just 30 minutes til sunset.

I still have no clue where I am going to sleep when I see a left turn to the Danube beach with a eat/sleep sign. What follows is a flurry of setting up my tent outside the fully booked pension (3 rooms, wedding in nearby Harta village), having a drink at the simple beach side bar with a group of locals, being invited to a backyard ham cookout, going back to break down the tent and decide to sleep at family's house, after-ham party with shots of palinka (fruit brandy), dancing to folk music, crashing into bed.

When I wake up the next morning there is a message that the Saturday morning party at the beach side bar is underway, already. Homebrewed palinka and homemade spicy sausage are waiting. A true Breakfast of Champions! Next is the making of a gigantic pot of goulash bean soup. I help pinching dough into tiny dumplings for the soup while drinking a glass of Froccs (wine with mineral water). The entire riverside community shows up for a bowl of filling soup and all 40 of them wave me goodbye as I ride away, a bit wobbly.