We have had such a good experiences last year, so we have decided that we will return in the summer. I have started to organize the trip, travelling and accomodation and so on. When the time had come, and on the long-awaited morning three of us from the original team met at the "Nyugati" Railway Station. There was a train service, which had been going to Chop (ukrainian border) and have taken us to the east. So have taken off to the train, took our seats, expanded our beer and the malt slided down in our throat. That was going on the next 3-4 hours. Until we have stopped at Záhony, where Hungary ended. We bought the tickets to Chop, which is one stop from Záhony, the Hungarian Customs officers didn't care about us, after passport control we took off to the train again which have passed the border with only one wagon and a diesel machinery hauled over to Ukraine. After the whistle the train left the station slowly. The field ended in an embankment and we have glimpsed the river Tisza. Above the railway bridge there was an old overpass where were going on patrol a border guard whith a german shepherd dog. I have seen another guards on the shore of the Tisza, who prevented the illegal border crossing. We have passed by the blue-yellow striped border pillar, which means: we have entered into Ukraine. Then followed another overpass with another soldiers which wore "service cap" and German Shepherd dogs supervised the border. Just like we stepped back in time 20 years. Rusty iron recycle ranch, poor-quality tracks, and houses in ruin. we arrived slowly to the station of Chop, where the reception committee were 4-5 uniformed border guards, and two not such a friendly dogs. They showed the direction, which way to go. We got in a small hall with banners which provide information to newly arrived at the border crossing points.
After completing forms and showing documents we have shown our bags, and we could enter the country. When we exited from the waiting room, we were attacked by a group of people. Do we need Grivnya (ukranian money)? Do we have a train ticket to return? Essentially the retour ticket wich was bought in the Hungarian station is so cheap but it's valid only for the next 5 days. If you will return more then five days, or you won't return, you also can buy the retuor ticket in Hungary, and you can sell on a good price at the ukrainian border. Everyone wins, because the one-way ticket is very expensive to Záhony at station Chop. If you want to go back, you can do the same thing (trying to buy retour ticket from the arrivals). After leaving the station we haven't got further plan, because there isn't any information about ukranian bus timetables on the internet. So we looked around whether wich bus goes towards Mezővári (Вари). The taxi driver immediately said, nope, still don't go to the near of it. Let's take a taxi, it's the most practical. If we had been dull tourists we would have been deceived, but it was not that case. A nice old lady informed me that we can reach Mezővári via Munkacs and Beregszász where we have to change buses. We had to wait for the bus, so I've expanded a barrel of beer (5 litre). Although there wasn't written departure time, but when the bus was fully filled by people, and you can't move on the bus, that was the real departure time.
2010.06.29. 23:22 speti43
Big Return (2007)
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2010.06.11. 01:48 speti43
We also visited Huszt
The ruins of Castle in Huszt (Хуст) is located in this route, and Kölcsey Ferenc has written a poem about this. Of course, it's not the hungarian national anthem! Anyway, we has gone up to the top of the hill with the bus and we have seen a small social realist house, which was maybe used for restaurant. In addition, a small ski lift is located in the hill side, and after that starts a forest. We climbed the hill to the forest and glimpsed the ruins. In some places it was covered by the earth, but somewhere it was as high as a man. Unfortunately, the wall was covered a several kind of weed, so it didn't show itself so much. There is a small ledge next to the ruins and we can find an ukranian flag in the middle of it, and there is a fireplace, and also a nice landscape. After we walked around the ruins, and have eaten our lunch we has gone toward new adventures.
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2010.06.06. 21:30 speti43
The trip to Рахів via center of Europe
We went to Рахів via Виноградів, Хуст, and Тячів and stopped at the middle of Europe. On the right bank of River Tisza there is a long, black, rectangular marble. This obelisk represents the geodetic center of Europe.
We can read a Latin text on the obelisk :
Locus Perennis
Dilicentissime cum libella
librationis quae est in Austria
et Hungaria confecta cum
mensura gradum meridionalium et
paralleloumerium Europeum.
MDCCCLXXXVII.
We can read a Latin text on the obelisk :
Locus Perennis
Dilicentissime cum libella
librationis quae est in Austria
et Hungaria confecta cum
mensura gradum meridionalium et
paralleloumerium Europeum.
MDCCCLXXXVII.
English translation: This is a permanent, accurate and eternal place, which was made by Austria and Hungary with a very accurate, specific longitude and latitude measuring apparatus in 1887.
We can find there a nice restaurant, which was built from wood, it's worth to visit it for 1-1 drinks for a tired traveler. We arrived to Рахів to watch the White and Black Tisza confluence and we have got the following instructions: About mendicants, and romas. Do not even talk to them, because there could be trouble. We haven't spoken with them, nevertheless, there had been some troubles. We had left the bus at a gas station and walked about 300 meters, when we saw the Tisza. And when I looked up to right to a little ridge on the hill, there were some points in moving. As it came true later, have arrived our long-awaited guests, the mendicants. we didn't speak to them just have been taking pictures from the Tisza. Interesting thing is that the brighter is the Black Tisza, while the darkest is the white Tisza. And there was the confluence in front of us. After a half an hour staying, it could be felt that isn't everyone in calm, because the number of gipsy children have doubled and they became increasingly insolent. We tried to reach the bus and quickly leave this place. They followed us, and when the last man have taken off the bus, they also tried. We managed to keep down them with a small fight until closing the door of the bus. When we was surrounded by them and each children grasped a "small rock", and they swang menacingly the stones toward the bus. We Could not start because they were before us. Our driver's (Józsi) brain works very well in crisis. He conceived to throw out some candy for them, which was a wonderful idea. They sprang to the decoy like the ants. And we have started by a big acceleration and set off home.
We can find there a nice restaurant, which was built from wood, it's worth to visit it for 1-1 drinks for a tired traveler. We arrived to Рахів to watch the White and Black Tisza confluence and we have got the following instructions: About mendicants, and romas. Do not even talk to them, because there could be trouble. We haven't spoken with them, nevertheless, there had been some troubles. We had left the bus at a gas station and walked about 300 meters, when we saw the Tisza. And when I looked up to right to a little ridge on the hill, there were some points in moving. As it came true later, have arrived our long-awaited guests, the mendicants. we didn't speak to them just have been taking pictures from the Tisza. Interesting thing is that the brighter is the Black Tisza, while the darkest is the white Tisza. And there was the confluence in front of us. After a half an hour staying, it could be felt that isn't everyone in calm, because the number of gipsy children have doubled and they became increasingly insolent. We tried to reach the bus and quickly leave this place. They followed us, and when the last man have taken off the bus, they also tried. We managed to keep down them with a small fight until closing the door of the bus. When we was surrounded by them and each children grasped a "small rock", and they swang menacingly the stones toward the bus. We Could not start because they were before us. Our driver's (Józsi) brain works very well in crisis. He conceived to throw out some candy for them, which was a wonderful idea. They sprang to the decoy like the ants. And we have started by a big acceleration and set off home.
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2010.05.10. 12:07 speti43
Relaxing after the trip
We arrived to a white gate, where aunt Erzsébet was waiting for us with his daughter: Anikó. We was orientated into the house, where was filled half deciliter of vodka for all of us. I said to myself, it started well. We have drunk the fine beverage, but we hadn't got time to doze off, the cup mysteriously was filled with vodka again. It's not a secret, it was filled by aunt Erzsébet. As the first was drank for the joy of arrival, then the next was for the joy of the first. We couldn't stay sober ateach nightwhich based on this previous simple formula.
After the dinner (which was made for 16 persons rather than 4), our company was waiting for us at the school, which also was a community center. We were very gleeful after drinking many vodka and beer, even we arrived after 20 minutes late to the local poet's (Váry Fábián László) perform. After the perform was an opportunity to talk with local students, and finally we looked around the school. I can't tell the reason, but the whole party ended up in the Rio bar. After two girls were accompanied home by us, and somehow we have gone back to our quarters, where waiting for us the great combination of cooked corn and snaps. We tried to eat up this glorious dishes, but we had no power to another thing, so we went to sleep.
After the dinner (which was made for 16 persons rather than 4), our company was waiting for us at the school, which also was a community center. We were very gleeful after drinking many vodka and beer, even we arrived after 20 minutes late to the local poet's (Váry Fábián László) perform. After the perform was an opportunity to talk with local students, and finally we looked around the school. I can't tell the reason, but the whole party ended up in the Rio bar. After two girls were accompanied home by us, and somehow we have gone back to our quarters, where waiting for us the great combination of cooked corn and snaps. We tried to eat up this glorious dishes, but we had no power to another thing, so we went to sleep.
The next day, unfortunately, had to get up early, because the bus started at 7 am usually to get us to a new trip. Needless to say, we had drunk a lot previous night, so we didn't want to drink anymore for a long time. But it doesn't work in this way in Subcarpathia unlickily or maybe luckily. When we crawled out to the kitchen, there were three full cup of vodka on the table and they grinned to us. What do you get, must be accepted, so we have just got this over. This kick of horse have started the day, there wasn't any complaint at the remaining part of the day. Less than 20 minutes late we reached the meeting place,and was already considered the possibility of leaving us. As we arrived, we could start the trip anyway.
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2010.05.04. 16:34 speti43
First adventure
We have started the trip from Érd at dawn, after we had been together and everybody had taken their place on the bus. The first few hours wasn’t exciting, because we crossed the well-known countryside in Hungary. After then we arrived at the border crossing point: Beregsurány.
This border crossing point has a relatively small traffic. Everyone was preparing, we received the documents for completing and the supporting instructions. First, prepare a valid passport. If you haven’t got, your trip is ended. Of course, this doesn’t occur with us, owing to the good organization. The Hungarian border crossing and the customs clearance, followed by a more difficult part: the Ukrainian border.
This border crossing point has a relatively small traffic. Everyone was preparing, we received the documents for completing and the supporting instructions. First, prepare a valid passport. If you haven’t got, your trip is ended. Of course, this doesn’t occur with us, owing to the good organization. The Hungarian border crossing and the customs clearance, followed by a more difficult part: the Ukrainian border.
Initially, we was set aside. Why did they it? Do not look for reasons, we have time, so there is no problem. The border guard officer has got in the bus and distributed to all passengers two pieces of A6 sized small sheet of paper. Which has explained in two languages (Ukrainian, English) what they want from the people who crosses the border. We have read these kind of questions: "Who are you?" This includes all of your personal data. "Where are you going?" "Why are you going there?" "How long will you stay?" "Who is going to host you?" (Exact address!). If travel by your own vehicle, you have to write your car's registration number!
When you have filled succesfully in 2 copies, both will be stamped, and one of them is feeded into the central database, the other must be preserved, when you leave the country.
When you have filled succesfully in 2 copies, both will be stamped, and one of them is feeded into the central database, the other must be preserved, when you leave the country.
After a small 3 ½-hours waiting we entered the territory of Ukraine succesfully. At first glance, we discover that it is not Hungary, when we are inside Asztély, the first settlement after the border in Subcarpathia. We didn’t stop her, just passing to the following city: Beregszász, the capital of the administrative unit of Beregszász.
Here we stopped for an obligatory break, when everyone can go to the toilet or something like that. Please be careful, because there are a lot of gipsy beggars, talking to them is not a clever thing, because they know that you understand them, and they are increasingly violent. This apart, there wasn’t any particular problem with them. Our real destination was Mezővári (Вари), which is 12 km from Beregszász; over the direction of Nagymuzsaly, Borzsava.
Here we stopped for an obligatory break, when everyone can go to the toilet or something like that. Please be careful, because there are a lot of gipsy beggars, talking to them is not a clever thing, because they know that you understand them, and they are increasingly violent. This apart, there wasn’t any particular problem with them. Our real destination was Mezővári (Вари), which is 12 km from Beregszász; over the direction of Nagymuzsaly, Borzsava.
After Arriving to the center of Mezővári to the front of the Reformed Church, we were waited by our hosts. The post, where can sleep the guests was random, it was revealed there and then, without any particular selection. With two other classmates I had the honor to share the hostel with my friend: Bence. Marton Erzsébet and his family were our hosts, and we have spent some very pleasant days. Our host, didn’t come out for us personally, but She have sent her friend called Bertalan with his car (Lada 1200) and we travelled with him to the other side of the village. It’s common, that they don’t take seriously any traffic rule than we do. In the village they drive within a 80 km /h speed not sparing any creature on the road. However, there are many animals on the cobblestone, from the goose to the cow all kinds of creatures. We managed to pass the 3 km distance without any trouble.
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2010.05.04. 11:30 speti43
How did I come first here?
In autumn of 2006, when I was graduating, due to the school leaving exams the excursion of class was in October. Then the Hungarian language and literature teachers have been here many times, and he requested to go. Well, we adopted the proposal with mixed feelings, although I hadn't got argument against this. The main objections are the Ukrainian mafia and others, it was a little bit over-reacted. It is true that this land is an ot other world, but I have found more positive than negative. After all, in the end, the three-quarters of the class have come.
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2010.05.04. 00:36 speti43
Mapping of location
Subcarpathia, or Carpatho-Ukraine (Ukrainian: Закарпатська область, meaning "Transcarpathian area) west region of Ukraine, its neighbours: Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and a small section of Poland. The region is quite different from the other side of Ukraine. The main cause of that the large proportion of the population of ethnic Ruthenian (Carpatho-Ukraine) are improved independently from Transcarpathia Ukraine till the II. World War, about one thousand years in Hungary, and after the Treaty of Trianon in the former Czechoslovakia, and from 1945 until 1991, in the Soviet Union as part of Ukraine. Subcarpathian is Divided into 13 administrative unit with 11 cities, 19 Settlements of urban type and 579 communities. There are Five capital cities of the administrative units. Now, we have a small picture of the place. Let's prepare for the adventure!
