Lake Balaton and Tihany

On Saturday we went to Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe.  At its widest, it's about 50 miles long and 8-9 miles wide.  What's interesting, though, is its average depth is only about 10 feet, reaching a maximum of 40 feet in places.  That tells me that it must be a pretty warm lake in summer when everyone comes to swim in it.  Apparently the water is so clean that you can drink from it, and this is something that Hungarians are very proud of.  Also, it used to be THE tourist spot for East Germans during WWII because it was the only place they could really go (since going West was off-limits).

Balaton aside, what we really went to see was Tihany (pronounced Ti-Hoin kind of). Tihany is a little town on a north-to-south facing peninsula in Lake Balaton.  Map here:

It was about a 200km drive, and it took nearly 4 hours due to the traffic, the 50km speed limit through small towns and villages, slow Sunday drivers, etc.  However the Fall weather could NOT have been better, and I mean COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER!!

Amazing view of the Hungarian Plain.

These next 3 picture were actually taken on the way back, but I figured they fit in with the "perfect weather" theme.

Once we got there, we saw the abbey on top of the hill overlooking Lake Balaton.  The abbey was founded in 1055, and the founding charter of this abbey is the first existing record of the Hungarian language.  It was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1754, and even though much of the old seems to be lost, it still has that ancient feeling when you walk up to it and look down the lake from the base of its walls.

Off the side of the abbey, we looked down the hillside towards the water.  I was told that Tihany is famous for its echo, which was written about by several famous Hungarian poets since the 1700s.  These days, there is no echo anymore because of the noise created by civilization and the changed landscape due to development, but the legacy remains. 

The shore in the background over there is where you used to be able to echo.

Me at the Abbey and Echo Spot overlooking the lake.

Walking along the edge of the hillside with the lake on the right and the abbey to the back.

Crucifix statues.

It was so amazingly beautiful, like something you might see in a magazine about travel to the Mediterranean or something.  That's when I discovered that Tihany has the highest housing prices in all of Hungary and that the people who live there are of the highest income bracket.  I mean, how can they NOT be when they live in places like this?

These homes have a view of the smaller interior lake by Lake Balaton

Chili Pepper House--The entire thing was covered in dried chilis

AMAZING little restaurant pathway.  I want to eat there no matter how much it costs!

The most PERFECT restaurant ever.

Roof made from plants found in the lake.  Such roofs were everywhere there.

After seeing the town on top of the hill, we went down and got some food.  I got my favorite food, Lángos.  It's like fried dough with garlic oil, sour cream, and cheese put on top, and I have to tell you, it's so good that I feel like I almost died from happiness the first time I ate it.  I've since eaten it every weekend since I've been here, and my thighs are paying the price.  It's a HUGE, unhealthy meal but it lasts you all day, and for 500 forint (about $2.50) I can't complain.  It's the best food I've ever eaten.

My recent Lángos purchase.

I took a few pictures of the lake since we were there, and I got a picture of the ferry boats that take cars and people across.  They run all the time and they run FAST.

To summarize= Lake Balaton and Tihany are amazing and I really  hope I can go back in the spring when all the flowers are out.  I mean, with all the fall colors and summer-like weather, I couldn't have asked for more, but I still want to go back.  It was the most amazing place I've been so far here.