William Penn Life, 2008 (43. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2008-11-01 / 11. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán Among the wonderful experiences the WPA tour group shared was a visit to the Varga Tanya Horse Farm in Kerekegyháza, Hungary. Journey to the homeland A look back at the WPA-sponsored tour to Hungary (Part One) One of my greatest ambitions in the past eight years (since being employed with the William Penn Association) has been to visit the Verhovay Monument in Battonya, Hungary. That dream was realized when the Board of Directors approved a WPA-sponsored pilgrimage to the land of my birthplace and the land of our ancestors. On Sept. 18,2008,44 of us boarded the "big bird" at Kennedy Airport in New York to fly to our destination—Budapest, Hungary. For some, it was their first visit; others in our group had been to Hungary previously. Regardless, we were all thrilled and excited. After just a little more than eight hours of flying over the "big water," we landed at Ferihegyi Airport in Budapest. We were greeted by our Hungarian tour guides, Andrea and Márta. Soon, we boarded the busz to our first stop at Gödöllö where we were greeted with a light luncheon and welcome drinks at the beautiful Kiskastély Restaurant. After the welcome drink, we continued our journey to my favorite Baroque city—Eger (Heves County)—and in the late afternoon checked into the Hotel Park for a much needed rest. During the next two days, we viewed Eger and vicinity, the center of a famous grape-growing region. Here I also had a chance to visit with most of my relatives. The group enjoyed the walking tour of Eger, the castle, the cathedral, the Lyceum, the Minaret and, mostly, the Dobótér. Later in the day, we traveled to Egerszalók in our air-conditioned, first-class busz, which was at our disposal during the entire trip. In Egerszalók we relaxed in the newest and one of the most modern thermal spa resorts in Europe, surrounded by a natural, unmatched environment. Later that evening, we dined at the Fehér Szarvas (White Elk) Restaurant, which specializes in game dishes. We tastered several wines from the Eger region. By the way, every member of our group had a Hungarian connection, whether it be parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. Some had come hoping to connect with their relatives or at least visit the area where their ancestors started from. It was truly a journey of monumental discoveries. Next issue, we will continue with the tour as we travel to.... [wh] 4 William Penn Life, November 2008
