Helpful staffmembers showed us the right platform at Kosice station. Our train was going all the way to Budapest, but we only had to go to Miskolc. Compared to Slowakia, Hungary is low. Thus we left the mountains, and entered the plains, although the land in the northeast of Hungary is still hilly.
Nevertheless, today I saw my first commericial grown field of sunflowers. I was so excited, it looked so nice! How was I disappointed when I took a picture and my camera was on the wrong settings. Grrrrrr!
Within half an hour of this first field the excitement faded a bit, there were so many fields; bright yellow ones - in full bloom, a mixture of yellow and green ones - starting to bloom, and green ones - still buds.
Lots of agricultural fields, and at the far distance the mountains, it was so different from Slowakia, and yet gorgeous.

Stations were different too. We thought the stations in Slowakia looked like they were situated in the middle of nowhere, but at least they had something which looked like a platform. Some of the the ones we passed now did not have even that, people just got of the train and walked away through the fields to where they needed to go.
One thing was the same as in Slowakia: Sometimes traintracks were almost running through the villages, that we saw in Hungary as well.

"Drinking in" all the beautiful scenery, we finally came to Miskolc. The struggle with our luggage is not much of a struggle anymore, we grow muscles, and we are getting really fast in and out the trains.
We planned to take a taxi because we needed to go to Miskolctapolca, a suburban village southwest of the town.
Outside the station we noticed a family hanging around a brick wall, mother and some bored looking kids. When we walked on towards the taxi stand a guy jumped up almost in front of us, asking if we needed a taxi.
We know how to look for a taxi, and also how to not look for a taxi. That guy was definitely in our second category, so no deal for us. We walked on to the parked taxis, with drivers who have a license in plain view in their cars.
The driver we asked for a ride was very helpful, I showed him the address we need to go, and yuck, there was that other guy again, trying to peek at the address. Now the taxidriver got a bit mad at him and shooed him away, even yelling him to go. He helped us with our luggage, it did not fit in his car, he asked for another taxidriver with a bigger car, our luggage went in the trunk, and on our way we were to Miskolctapolca.

Dragon told me they could be pretty annoying if not cause personal danger, and if I had any romantic idea of gypsies still left - you know, the music groups, and the wagontravelling and camping in familygroups with much laughter and happiness - the last trace of that is definitely gone by now.
So it is good-bye to you Mr. Gypsie.

Jo reggelt!
This morning it is time for a swim, so after breakfast (reggeli) we grabbed a towel and our swimming suits, and off we went to the barlangfürdo, the main attraction of Miskolctapolca. (This Hungarian word I know, barlang is cave and fürdo is pool, so it means a pool in a cave or cavepool).

Over here in the Netherlands we have been several times to the so-called "subtropical swimmingparadises", and the kids really like these kind of pools.
We browsed the internet for some pictures of this particular pool and what we saw looked very nice, so the kids were pleased we planned this event.
The fürdo was only a short walk from our hotel, we were early so we could enter right away. At 10.00 we were ready for a dive. Well, we did not dive but just stepped in. It was colder than I expected... (I hate to swim in cold water - below 32 Celsius I call it cold).
We were inside the cave complex and entered the tunnels, it was a bit dark, but that contributed to the excitement. And the water was getting warmer. There were several pools and smaller sections inside the caves, and we came upon a part where large streams of warm water came out of the wall, it was very nice to let the water splash on you. We came across a warm water pool, and into a cave with a starlitted ceiling, with cuddle benches in the water. And we could go outside where there were also several pools.
We intended to be in the water for about 30-40 minutes, then go out and let the kids go on with their swim, while we would take some pictures. But this place makes you feel like a kid again, we saw people ranging in age from 3 months to about 80 years, all having great fun.
Before we knew it was time to go. And we did not had any pictures.

After we go dressed, I took the opportunity to make some from the balcony, which is only a  poor view compared to what is inside the caves. But at least we got some pictures now.
This was a well spent morning, and the kids got their so needed exercise.

Now it is time to go on again, Hungary has more to offer, we will be continue our way, to the puszta!

In 1992 I visited Miskolc, the second biggest city of Hungary. The country had a long way to go to join EU and had still big Easteuropean influence. There were hardly any tourists in Miskolc, so the choice in hotels was poor. In the car free street Széchenyi István út I came across Hotel Hámor. I was glad to have found a hotel! Luckily there was still a room available. The price was about 4 euro and it was ensuite. Sold! When I entered my room - after kicking away some rubbish - I had soon regrets. The musty room was just big enough for two beds (behind each other), the smelling curtains were about to fall down, mould had a big party on the ceiling and in the corners and the shower... well I decided not to take one. I wonder if the hotel still exists today. If so, it must have drasticly adapted its standards. By all means, it was perfectly located in the city center...