Week 5: The flooding of the Danube and my return to Vác.

While I was in Bratislava, news came from Germany that the Danube was in flood. It was calculated that it would reach the Hungarian stretch by Monday - Week 6. As the end of the week approached even more serious news came and the Hungarians started to build massive sandbag walls to prevent the expected flood waters from damaging homes and establishments.
Now I was very eager to meet with the Váci Marafkos, some of whom lived in Nagymaros, both towns built on the banks of the river. I got a call from Marafko-Toth Dora who was my main contact and I was informed that they couldn't receive me on the expected day because they were assisting any relief efforts and making and building the 'gát' or wall. I understood perfectly as here in Australia similar emergencies occur with regular frequency, including massive fires.
Still, I was assured by Magdus and Toni that I can still go back to Vác and another 3 days of sight-seeing and travelling. So on Friday of week 5, and while Louis and Ica went to Davod and then to Turkey, I went back to Vác.
By this time I was very sore and I asked Magdus to be easy with me.
I arrived by train and they picked me up from the station around mid-day. After an interesting lunch, we took a trip to the botanical gardens with Marti and Magdus. A glorious beautiful sunny day and everyone is waiting for the flood waters to peak!

A truck full of sand driving to Nagymaros for the wall.

The beautiful botanical gardens in Vác.

Marti and Magdus at the Botanical gardens.

A real spread! Savoury pancakes with horses doovers!

Saturday, we visited the centre of Vác and saw the sandbag walls protecting the town. Another glorious day!

The local Spar supermarket closed.

Rabbit soup for dinner! Thanks Toni!

Sunday was a big suprise. I was assured that I wouldn't have to walk too far, but that was not the case. We went to Holloko and then to Balasgyarmat on the Slovak border - all in a single day. Lots of driving, ending in a delicious dinner at the Svajk Restaurant.

Hollókő a lady in traditional Hungarian costume.
 

The Doll museum was excellent!

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Thanks again to Magdus and Toni for a great weekend!

Next post: Back to Erd and my Birthday.

Week 5: Buda Var and the Hungarian Archives - Magyar Őrszag Levéltár (MOL)

After returning from Evike's place, I meet up with Louis and Ica and we made our way to the Var as Louis knews where to go for my research on Georgius Mraffko (yes, that's how his name was spelled) who applied or was recommended for noble status in 1792 and then again in 1797. I needed to look at the original documents and for that I had to go to MOL.

Here we go again! Another walk to Érd station, a train trip to Keleti Pálya, more trams and metros to the bus stop and a final trip to the Bastion. There I find MOL and enter, show my passport and was interviewed by an official. Soon I got my research licence that made me a member of MOL for a year.
Even though I had the exact reference number for the documents that I required, I was informed that it would take 3 days to get the folio. As they knew that I was short of time - visiting from far away, I was soon called back and told that I can view the documents in about 30 minutes!
So we went out to have an enormously expensive coffee and relax in the sunshine.

Finally a win! Outside the MOL after gaining access.

Ica and me waiting for some horrendously expensive, but good coffee!

Louis taking a pic of us. I felt sooo good!

After the coffee - I went back, paid for photo rights, collected the folio and found my relative!

Second word: Mraffko - I'll decode the Latin later.

House of Parliament - Evidently the 2nd oldest parliament after England.

Ica, myself and Louis captured in this image by some friendly French girls.

I was really overjoyed and somewhat proud of myself. Even though it may not much to some, holding the original documents in my hand was a real treat. Also this 'win' was a contrast to the lack of progress in Hidaskurt.

Next post: The flooding of the Danube and back to Vác.

Week 5: We meet Ica from Davod.

The next day we were to meet with Ica who was travelling up from Davod by bus. Still pretty much the same going - train from Erd to Keleti Palya, then a series of trams and metros to where we were to meet.
Then, after pickup - back to Buda Var and the Magyar Őrszagos Leveltar.
With Ica, that strange perception of having Budapest in the background was even more strange for me as I was so used to seeing them in Sydney. It was a good feeling and I enjoyed their company immensely.

Well after we found Ica, we just decided to roam around and take an early return back to Eva's in Erd, leaving the visit to Buda for the next day. We did however go visit their friends who had an amazing collection of Hollókő porcelain and other interesting bits and pieces.

Wow! What can I say? Unbeknowst to me, I will visit Hollókő the next week.
A few days later, they take Louis and Ica back to Davod for the night before their trip to Turkey.
I'm sort of hanging out for that as I'll get my office back (and my bed). In the meantime I spent a night at Evike's a few doors up in Akos's bedroom. There's video about that which I'll include later.

Next post: Back to the Var

Week 5: Back to Érd

So late that night I wound up back at Kapus Feri's home and was warmly welcomed by his family.
I spent a night there and early the next morning I met up with my mother's side of the family outside Budapest University.
Not only was Eva and husband Arkad met me but also my Uncle Louis! Uncle Louis was my relative from Australia that I spent my penultimate night playing darts. He and his wife Ica came to Hungary for a holiday, arriving on the 27th May and travelling directly to Davod to visit the in-laws. Louis can't stand the slow pace of rural Davod and he immediately came back to Budapest, leaving his wife with her parents.
So now I get this really strange perception of seeing Louis, not with the backdrop of Sydney, but with the backdrop of Budapest. Later, this became even stronger when his wife Ica joined us in a few days when we travelled Buda, dealt with the Hungarian Archives and went sight-seeing all over the city.

Me at 88 kg - Arkad, Uncle Louis and my aunt Eva. All that is missing is my mum.

Uncle Louis was in his element. He left Budapest with wife and 2 children in 1991 and is now an Australian citizen and expat Hungarian. He visits yearly, unlike me who makes a trip once more after 35 years.
3 days after this meeting, he and his wife with friend Harmori Feri travelled to Turkey for a holiday. Harmori Feri is rather rich and is responsible for a lot of information technology on screens in the public transport system in Budapest. He even wired up that great big ball fountain outside the Slovak Presidential palace!
Small world eh?

So with the bags packed in Eva's car. Louis and Kapus Feri take me for a taxi ride to some sort of official building so I could validate my Hungarian citizenship. Something I've always wanted to do.
We don't get there immediately as I have a hunger for more Hurka and after a quick stop at a butchery, were on the road again.

Me eating a nice Hurka. I wish there were more experiences like this.

When we arrive, we said our goodbyes to Feri and quickly find that were at the wrong place and had to go to the other end of Budapest to get the process started.

So off we go! Busses, Trams, Metros and we travers Budapest and begin my application. The information I needed to provide included some weird stuff like where and when my grandfather married and to who etc. When I got to my wife's section, I couldn't fill it in as I just didn't have the data. As I realised that I couldn't fill it out there and then, we left it and went to find some lunch! As Louis knew his way around,we again took the tortuous routes of public transport back into the Bel Varos (the centre of Budapest) and found a nice, though touristy 'piac' or market.

This is what happens when your eyes are bigger than your stomach. Krumpli Fozelek and Tolted Kaposzta. I didn't finish it.

Uncle Louis toasting with a delicious Peach palinka.

The view from upstairs.

The Hungarians are still celebrating the visit of Queen Elizabeth to this place many years ago!

Tourist road. Many Germans, English, Americans and Japanese.

I really don't know why Louis took me there, but the food was good, the beers welcome and all I needed was a coffee. But no, Louis decided we were in the wrong place for that. More trams, metros and we're at the Praga Cafe. Here I had an ice-cream from a stall that was reasonably horrible, but the coffee was good and I could rest my tired legs once more.

A few 'Csajok' at the Praga Cafe. Nice coffee at a reasonable price.

It became apparent that Louis, although carrying my rather heavy bag, was oblivious to the fact that I found it difficult to walk long distances and I must have walked quite a few kilometres that morning/ My day wasn't finished though as we found our way to Buda Var for some sight-seeing.

Cultural Building and ministry in Buda Var.

A cog rail tram going up to the Var.

View from Buda Var: The flood is coming in a few days.

Louis in one of the many trams in Budapest.

After a long, long day we finally get back to Érd. Louis knows a short-cut from the station but it's uphill. Louis walks fast and I can barely keep up, but we make it back. I'm exhausted and still have to remove my baggage from Eva's car. Louis and I share my old office room for a few nights, but at least I can unpack and get some rest.

Just before we get back to Eva's, Louis takes a pic on the street corner - Peter Utca - Peter Street.

Next post: More Buda Var and the Magyar Őrszag Levéltár

Week 5: Back to Budapest - Marafko Lazslo

Well Kapus Feri (my cousin and taxi driver) turned up late on Monday 3rd June and I've got 3 weeks left in my trip. I'm counting the days, not because I was tired, but because I still had too much to do.
I had previously set up a 2nd meeting with Marafko Laci at his home overlooking Budapest. I was eager to meet with him again, bought flowers, chocolates and wine for him and his wife and late evening, we turned up after a long trip back from Slovakia.

As I had said before, he was an editor and reporter for a major newspaper and we hit it off well on the first meeting way back in week 1.

Here are some of his archived pics in the field. His mission was to go to North Vietnam during the war and report back to the newspaper. Just as a reminder - the North Vietnamese were Soviet friends at the time:

City scape - North Vietnam - Marafko Lazslo

North Vietnamese girls training with semi-auto rifles.

Jane Fonda signed this for him when he met her in North Vietnam.

North Vietnamese woman - his translator - Marafko Lazslo.

Bombed out building - North Vietnam - Marafko Lazslo.

All Images Copyright by Marafko Lazlo 2013 - Please contact me to seek permission to use.

After some delicious cake and other nibbles, some nice wine and palinka, we began talking about my Hidaskurti visit. He produced the following photo:

The Marafko Clan 1904 - my line of the family. At least 2 brothers here - one is my grandfather Karoly.

This was taken at the Marafko workshop in Hidaskurt. There must be lots of photos like this - but I didn't find them.

Next Post: Back to Érd