The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1985 (12. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1985-08-01 / 8. szám
I (continued) WEEKEND IN HUNGARY —by— Dr. Victor IV. Molnár PART 6 — Helluva Good Time As we left the capital and headed into farmland, we noticed numerous small summer homes, really like large huts with a little bit of land around each one, usually used as a garden. As we passed the sign indicating the city limits of Budapest, Zsuzsi pointed to the right and said: that is Szentendre Island, and our supper is on that island. After ten minutes of driving, some one asks: Where’s the bridge to get over there? And Zsuzsi says: Oh about ten minutes more. As it turns out, there is just one bridge to Szentendre Island and it is at the village of Tahitotfalu, which is one of the 4 small villages actually located on the island. After we travel thru the small village we ride about 5 kilometers on a country road that cuts across to the opposite side of the island to a ferry boat landing. A ferry boat here can take one across the main stream of the Danube to the city of Vac. It is at the site of the ferry boat landing that the Pokol Csarda was built approx. 6 years ago. When we arrived, there are already 5 busses in the parking lot. This is no small place, out of the way, maybe! -They have a wonderful terrace restaurant which operates during the sumer months. When our group arrives, we go immediately to the entrance and through the foyer and are greeted by a lot of waiters, a lady chef, four people in folk costumes and a gypsy orchestra. They are singing Jo estet kívánok, I bid you a good evening. As we enter each one is given a little black mug, the size of a shot glass, shaped in the form of a devil’s head, including two red horns. If you don’t turn the mug around, the two red horns dig into your nose when you drink. And what is in the devil’s mug as they call it? Why...the devil’s favorite drink: Barack palinka-apricot brandy. No sooner are we seated at our long picnic type table, we are served soup. We had been the last bus to arrive and the other guests had to wait for us. As it turns out, everybody there that evening is German, we are the only English speaking tourists. The orchestra plays operetta tunes, then some halgatos and finally a few peppy csardases. Several of the ladies in our group start to applaud and the orchestra finally finds people appreciative of their efforts. The primas comes over to Zsuzsi, who explains that although this group is listed as coming from Czechoslovakia, we are all American citizens of Slovak background except for those three and she points to Mr. Toth at the other end of the table, and then to my father and me. The primas plays a medley of csardases well known to the Slovak people and our group really relaxes. During the playing of the csardases, the primas inches his way down to us and greets my Dad who is sitting on the end: Jo estet, and my father answers in Hungarian and begins to sing the words of the csárdás, he is playing. The ice has been broken and for the rest of the evening, whenever the primas turns toward us on this side of the rectangularly shaped restaurant, he always nods to my Dad, who always holds up his little devil’s mug in acknowledgement. Later I learned the primas name; László Lakatos; no relation to the Lakatos in Budapest. After everybody has finished their soup, the lights are shut off and the waiters march in with a flaming platter, ATTENTION With a gift subscription we will mail you or the person you designate any one book from the list below. Please enclose $1.50 for postage and handling. 1. —TEXT BOOKS SERIES NO. I. and II. designed for children from age six to eight in English and Hungarian 2. -OUR HUNGARIAN HERITAGE—Albert Wass, 3. —MAGYAR ÖRÖKSÉGÜNK—Albert Wass, $2.00 plus 4. -LOUIS KOSSUTH "THE NATION’S GUEST’’Bibliography of Kossuth’s visit to U.S.A.: Joseph Széplaki -5. —"ACACIAS’’—HUNGARIANS IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY- Leslie Könnyű, 6. -CONDENSED GEOGRAPHY OF HUNGARY:Leslie Könnyű, Soft cover. 7. - FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH-HIVEN MINDHALÁLIG: Life history of Col. Michael Kovats. This book is single bound two language edition:—László L. Eszenyi, 8. —TRANSYLVANIA: THE HUNGARIAN MINORITY IN RUMANIA—Julia Nanay, THE EIGHTH TRIBE as a Gift Subscription to your Friends! HERITAGE TOURS to HUNGARY 1985 New York Departures • AIRFARE • 1st CLASS HOTELS • 34 MEALS • ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE • SIGHTSEEING IN 15 CITIES A tour which received high praise by all past participants! I June 13th “Springtime becomes Summer” DEPARTURE II July 11th “A Hungarian Summer” III August 15th “Late Summertime” DATES IV Sept. 12th “Wine Harvest Season” Call or write today for FULL COLOR brochure F U G A Z Y INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL 770 U.S. Highway #1 North Brusnwick N.J. 08902 Call o'- Write 1-800-828-4488 (Out of State) 201-828-4488 (New Jersey) Page 10 Eignth Hungarian Tribe
