TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Monday, November 21, 2005

8:34 PM
Posted by jodi rose

there's snow on that there bridge...

monday 21st november 20:25
first snow today
well last night to be exact
started as robert, andrea and i left gyuri & sofie's after dinner
lovely evening, delicious food, excellent company
chatted on phone to karol, who told me the river froze in 1961
and he spent hours on the remaining arch of the bridge, listening to the ice - we hope it will freeze again this year

this morning all the trees, grass, lights were dusted with snow
the basilica and the bridge had a layer of white on their curved arches
men digging a ditch or tunnel, the river subdued a murky green grey

visited the primary school for a lunchtime concert, that turned out to be the birthday of the schools namesake, a hungarian poet - didn't ever catch his name, but think he would have been 101 years old today. very diverse program, zither and singing to start, then aerobic demonstration, lovely guitar playing with two poems set to original music, and a modern dance that involved some thigh slapping and foot stompin' - mooted my plan for dancers under the bridge, well received. treated as one of the honoured guests, which was lovely and incredibly generous as I had just turned up - although invited - along with various local dignitaries, policitician, head border guard, director of vadas baths, chief of the museum, and all the teachers. had a great lunchtime party after the show, toasted the school and the poet with cognac, chatted to the english teachers, who encourage me to come and talk with their classes - loved that I am a native speaker; well it's good to be valued for something that comes naturally - although sadly it is still my only language. really do need to get multi-lingual one of these days, most people here speak hungarian, slovakian, german or english and possibly one or two others.

indulged in a trip to the vadas pool this afternoon, enjoyed the snow falling while in the steaming hot outdoor bath. gorgeous.