Hot Time, In the [Hungarian] Summertime!
Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe and a prime holiday destination for many in and around Hungary. Located Southwest of Budapest, in the Transdanubian region of Hungary, it boasts of a 48 mile (80 km) shoreline. While visiting Budapest, my husband happened to glance at a map and found this enormous body of water about an hour's drive from our hotel. Neither of us had heard of it, so we quickly did a google search and decided that it was worth the journey.
The next day our family headed down the motorway, which soon became clogged with fully packed cars of rather pale vacationers heading for the lake. This just had to be good.
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I guess everyone in Hungary wants to go to
Lake Balaton during the warm weather and who can blame them! The other nearest, largest body of water is the Adriatic Sea or the Black Sea. Apparently before World War II, only the elite of Royals had access to this lake and its numerous large villas which dot the shoreline. It was a favorite meeting place for families separated during the Soviet occupation of Hungary and the Eastern Bloc countries.
Once there, I observed an odd and fascinating leisure activity, that of encapsulating oneself in a large, colorful, and translucent rubber sphere. Mind you, the temperatures were very warm, hovering well above 90ºF and the humidity rivaled a Turkish steam room. Yet people stood in line to take a turn in one these fun balls. How they're able to breathe is beyond me. Call me crazy, but that would be sheer torture for a claustrophobe like me.
Here you see a woman leading her globed honey around with an attached rope and giggling all the way. He seems content to pretend he's surfing. It was sheer entertainment that money can't buy!
The next day our family headed down the motorway, which soon became clogged with fully packed cars of rather pale vacationers heading for the lake. This just had to be good.
.
My daughter couldn't get over the "banana hammocks", as she fondly referred to them, which were prominently displayed.
Once there, I observed an odd and fascinating leisure activity, that of encapsulating oneself in a large, colorful, and translucent rubber sphere. Mind you, the temperatures were very warm, hovering well above 90ºF and the humidity rivaled a Turkish steam room. Yet people stood in line to take a turn in one these fun balls. How they're able to breathe is beyond me. Call me crazy, but that would be sheer torture for a claustrophobe like me.
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