There Must be Something in the Water - Eger & Balatonlelle, Hungary

Jenn's In There Somewhere!

Our daytrips in Hungary led us to a small city rich with history and a summer tourist destination that had passed into sleepy offseason serenity.

Eger’s great square juxtaposed ancient buildings against a modern water installation that provided fountain and steam features. The steam created the October-appropriate illusion of phantoms passing through a foggy graveyard as people sought its cooling mist.

After a short walk, we arrived at another water installation, one which provides a glimpse into the areas grand history. Eger’s Turkish Baths have been in use for 400 years and offer the therapeutic healing and relaxation we longed for. We soaked in warm sulfur water, sat in herbal steam rooms, swam in modern pools, and explored age-old grottos. We let the stress of foreign language mistakes and tight travel schedules melt away and left with feelings of peace and calm.

We were surprised to witness just how quiet the Lake Balaton area is during offseason; it seemed that we were the only visitors to the small waterfront community of Balatonlelle. We used this to our advantage by slowly strolling, hand-in-hand, along lakeside paths, watching locals fish for the catch of the day, and chatting casually over fulfilling meals in one the few open restaurants.

We’ve learned to adjust our pace to match the tempo of our surroundings. Like Hungary’s many lakes and rivers, we have found satisfaction in going with the flow to see where it takes us.