Hungary 2020

After our last trip to Hungary in August 2019, Richard and I were convinced that this was where we would like to live permanently.

Our Apartment in Kesthely

Loving It Here

It seemed like one of those pipe dreams but the more chatted about it the more we realized that it could become a reality for us.

 We have spent so many hours searching houses and areas. Searching for information about residency permits. Trying to learn a little of the language to come by in daily meetings with Hungarian folk in the supermarkets or on the street.

Not a day went by that we did not plan or learn more about Hungary.

Balatonfüred Harbour

Then started the plans to spend a month here and get the ball rolling. Flights and accommodation were booked. Arrangements were made with the Estate Agents and then all that was left was to pack and board the plane.

Tagore Promenade at Balatonfüred

So here we are at the end of our first week in Hungary and we are ready to make an offer on the house in Varászló which is a village in Somogy county.

We loved the house the last time we were here but the owners took it off the market.

 This time it was the only house that we really wanted to buy after spending ages looking at other properties.


Now the paperwork starts.


In the mean time this past week we have made Kesthely our home base for this trip. We have been busy sight seeing and meeting up with some expats from Klerksdorp.

Richard with Gróf Festetics György

On our first day of arriving we drove straight down to Keszthely where we have a fabulous little apartment and will be our base for the most part of our trip.

On Saturday 29-02-20, we met up with Bruce Fonteine and

Keszthely

his wife Anna Maria in Balatonfüred which is a Hungarian spa town on Lake Balaton’s north shore. We had lunch there and they had loads of information to share with us about life here in Hungary.

Balatonfüred is a town in Veszprém county , the seat of the Balatonfüred district. The

Tapolca Lake Cave

settlement originally belonged to the county of Zala from the time of King St Stephen to 1946 . The capital of the northern shore of Lake Balaton the oldest resort on the shore of Lake Balaton. It is the sixth most popular settlement in Hungary in terms of overnight stays at commercial accommodations. Its proximity to Lake Balaton is mainly due to its carbonated springs and its Mediterranean climate.

Sunday 01-03-20 found us in Tapolca, which is also on the northern side of the Balaton. We had the opportunity to go into the caves that the town is famous for. A guide first took us on a tour of the info center - all in Hungarian - then we went down into the caves and onto a small paddle boat through the caves. A special experience.