And You Thought You Had Trouble Getting Parts

I am in Hajduboszormeny, Hungary for a week. While many of my trips lately have been motorcycle related, this one is not.  Instead I am traveling with a group of seven others working with Habitat for Humanity to help build a new house for a family in this country.

I was very tempted to rent a motorcycle in country and do some exploring on my own, but that really was not practical at this point. I resolved that I would take this trip sans motorcycle related activity.

However, when I stepped out of the shuttle and saw this little delight I was all over Google as soon as I could boot up my computer.

It is a Simson motorcycle manufactured sometime between 1948 and 1960(ish) in East Germany. At that time the Communist governments decided that the company would be more profitable, (maybe not the correct word for a communist economy) if it switched to mopeds. And that was that. East German company MZ took up the slack,  and these old bikes have been rolling along the East European countryside ever since.

I wish I knew how they did it. Whether they have slowly been parting bikes out to keep some running, or re-building them on their own, they have been very successful at this.

Mo-peds and other two-strokes are very popular modes of travels, (I am going to regret saying this, but I miss the heavy drone of a big-bore cruiser, but this constant ring-a-ding-ding sound of a chainsaw with wheels is starting to annoy me) in this small rural town in the Eastern farmlands of Hungary.  They are obviously newer, but I have now seen several other Simson bikes rides in among these bike gangs. In fact, it had me questioning my own facts. Surely these freshly painted, sound running machines were not all over 50 years old. ( Maybe because I am a tad over 50 and I don't look, nor run as good).

I had to find out. Our construction supervisor for this build has been helping us with understanding the culture, and interpreting. He is also a fellow biker, (he rides the Honda Hornet, our state side Honda CB600) so I had a feeling he's know the back story. He confirmed my findings. They rebuild, repaint, and keep these vintage metals going. Not for show, but for good old school riding and commuting to work.

What a concept! I still feel like I fell into the The Land of the Lost.

Famous Last Words

Usually when I head out the door for a little adventure, my wife has a few words for my. Yea, the usual, be careful, watch yourself, as well as the mushy, I love you. But on this trip Pam added another phrase to this ritual. "Don't be afraid to try new things. (to eat).

Today I sit at a table with the rest of my Global Village team and we all stare at a large clear glass bowl being set in front of us.  It is filled with some milky brown fluid and chunks of something is floating to the top.  Someone braves a sniff. Smells like cinnamon, and....maybe apples. Our best guess is that this is apple soup. 

Next come the main dish. Looks like potatoes, some sort of small chunk meat in sauce, and pink stained cucumbers and lettuce on top. I sit there with my fork hovering for just a second as my team looks on. Pam's words come back to me, and I dig in.  What do you know, I may not be able to pronounce it, but I can eat it. Not bad, not bad at all. Serving size more than enough as well. Ok, more than enough for some of the gals on the team. Another college boy and myself make sure there there no waste.

The place we are eating at has a different special each day. We don't have to read off a menu, we just have to have a great sense of adventure.

Care for a bowl of Slambuc

No it is not a gourmet meal, but is is one created by hungarian sheperds as they brewed up thjs concoction to cook over an open fire. We were invited to a traditional cook out where the owner of one the of houses we are building cooked for us.

  No I am definarly not in Kansas, but the countryside looks similar. The strange road signs to unpronouchable cities gives that up.

By the end of the week this house will be wee bit closer to completion.

Walking Tour

Walking around a city can sure make your feet sore, but you sure can see the place in greater detail. That was the mission of the day. Up early I walked the banks of the Danube River and discovered you can fish the Danube. Maybe not catch anything, because I didn't see that this guy had anything.

After walking for couple hours, I was glad to head out again when the team needed an escort, but this time we took the bus and the metro train. Funny thing about the modern worlds fears, they get nervous about people taking pictures. The metro securty told me no photos, after I took this one. Seems I always get in trouble for this crime. Sure hope this doesn't put me on the watch list.

What I found most interesting was above ground. The artwork found on the sides of buildings was great.

 

My favorite picture of the day I call, "Dandelion on the Danube".  I know these are Morning Glories, but there is Dandelion in the frame, and it sounds better. nuff said.

What will I do tomorrow? The team will head over to the work site in Hadju. What will I find there, I am not sure, let me think about it....

Hello Hungary

After chasing the flight gates for the past day, I am beat. I am using the wifi at the Budapest airport before I track down the taxi to the hotel.  There were some complications in my well organized flight schedule, but I made it. (i thinki that is saying something)  The connection in Chicago was probably too close with my delayed flight from Denver to get my luggage transferred.  I ran, but doubt the baggage handlers were as motivgated. If it shows up, they will deliver it to the hotel.  crossing fingers here.

Hey Taxi, over here....