Bratislava, Slovakia > Gyor, Hungary 90km

[Originally posted Aug 27, 2014]

I guess our suspicions were correct, I told Katy as she had another gigantic spoonful of Fisherman’s Stew with Catfish.  We were having dinner at Martoz, a small restaurant near the city center of Gyor, Hungary.  It was obvious that we were the only English speakers around and that the amount of English speaking in town was limited to Yes and No.  But that’s okay.  The complete lack of English assured us that the Hungary we were seeing was authentic.  Earlier in the day, as we followed the levee and saw fields and fields of agriculture, we talked about the comparisons between south west Slovakia and Eudora, Arkansas.  They look very similar (although I am sure there are other differences).  And so as Katy was enjoying her catfish soup it was confirmed, the Pannonian Basin has more in common with the Delta than I would have thought (they are the only restaurants I’ve been to where the first thing on the menu was Catfish).  And the meal was delicious.  It only cost 4,480 Hungarian Forints.  Which I think is around $20.  We paid with a 20,000 Forint bill, and so counting our change was a bit challenging.

It's been awhile since I took 100,000 out of the ATM.

Our ride today crossed another border:  Slovakia > Hungary.

Entering Hungary, I think.

The ride started out okay, but then 572 East out of Bratislava was not ideal.  A new road with little grooves/bumps every 10 meters on the road meant a rhythmic bump, bump, bump, bump for the first 30 km or so of the ride.  But then up and over the Danube and into Hungary.  We had been warned that “I cannot recommend for you to cycle in Hungary”.  These were the words of our WS hosts in Maribor, Slovenia.  They told us that roads lacked decent shoulders, traffic moved fast and often roads were accompanied with signs with a picture that translates to: No Tractors, No Horse Drawn Buggeys, No Bicycles.  And it’s true.  The first road we were on (for the short 10km or so from the border to Gyor) was accompanied with this sign.  No bikes allowed.  But these WS hosts told us that they just rode on all these roads because most of the times there isn’t an alternative road.  One time they got pulled over by police and were told they couldn’t cycle here, but when they told the police they were headed to Istanbul (they did a trip similar to ours) the police thought they were so crazy they were allowed to just continue on our way.  And so, I guess we will have a similar go at it.

The Sign

Gyor is an awesome town.  Another situation where you expect nothing and get everything.  A great town center, very clean, good food, delicious ice cream (they give Italy a run for it’s money) and a river running through town.  All necessary requirements of a great town.

Hungarian Ice Cream might be better than Italian Gelato.

Gyor.

Gyor Town Hall.

Gyor, River.