Good Morning Hungary

It's now 7.40am here and after a shit shower and a shave, I'm ready to face another gruelling day :-) ( I lied about the shower and the shave)
The household have all gone to work and I've left 'home alone.' What to do? That's not a hard one to answer. The two times we went swimming in the Danube there was a rather cute looking thirty something flaunting a rather delicate frame in front of us 'pricks for brains.' Well, I'm usually the first in line when comes to most things so with one eye on her whereabouts I headed for the water. Next thing I know she's following me in! Well not exactly like shes joined to me by the hip but you know what I mean. She was about 20 yards from me and I being a total show-off thought I'd swim underwater towards her. Unfortunately the current of the Danube had other ideas and I ended up like a beached whale having swam in a semi-circle! When I looked round she had swam off in a different dirction! Oh well, shit happens LOL. We put down our towels no more than ten feet from where she had setttled, so I made sure she heard I'd be there today, on my own ;-) Knowing my luck she won't even be there today!

Now, getting back to the back end of my journey. I parked up for the night and decided to have an early night as I was exhausted. I slept well enough but for some reason I woke up at 4.30am and decided to head for Aushwitze. I arrived at 6am only to find out things didn't open until 8am! So I headed for the centre to find a place for some breakfast. After breakfast I went for a scout around and drove into a petrol station to buy a bottle of water, only to be met by two police cars a coach full of children, most of whom were huddled together looking under the coach. Being a nosey git , wandered over to see what all the fuss was all about. I was amased to see a polcat cowering under the coach. Every now and again it wandered around in circles! It was obviosly disorientated and when it came closer I could see blood around it's mouth. It had obviously been hit by a passing vehicle. I quickly fetched my camera and took some pictures which I will load sometime today (As it looks like the Danube and the fair maiden will have to wait as a yet another thunderstorm is heading this way!)

After scoffing down a hearty breakfast consisting of salami, red peppers, tomatoes and bread, I washed it down with a large cup of coffee. I then headed off to the Aushwitze complex even though I had a wait of around 45 minutes before it opened. As the car park was open I drove through the gate and was met by a very muscular looking woman who demanded 5 euros just to park the van. I was not going to argue as see looked like she could crack nuts open with her tits and I was not about to give her the opportunity to come anywhere near my nuts! Now don't get me wrong I'm not that tight, as most will know, but approx £4.50 did seem a bit steep. I parked up and there was already a dozen cars and two coach loads of mostly childern waiting to see the legacy and horrors left behind by the German occupation all those years ago.

By the time 8pm came around the very large car park was already half full, mainly of coaches, of which there were plenty. Hoards of sweaty bodies milled around the entrance to the reception area so I waited and waited and waited! By 9.30am the horards became a trickle and I headed for the entrance. On looking inside, I decided to turn my attention to the various information boards and maps setting out the layout of the camp outside as the rather large reception area looked like a busy bee hive. The more I read, the more I started to feel my enthusiasm wain for what was waiting for me and all those hoards of people already inside! I shoved aside my negative thoughts and headed for the door. Once inside there were more boards and then instructions as to how to proceed with a tour, which could only be undertaken with a guide, which was another 15 euros! I decided to head for the museum which was free (I know, don't start!) Well, surprise surprise, after a couple of minuets I'd seen enough! I saw and read nothing which I had not already seen in documentaries or read about so I headed for the way out to relieve myself of the depression which came over me.

I felt very tired as I drove out of the gates but decided to head for Hungary; by this time it was around 11am. I have to mention that most of the roads in Poland were in very poor repair. In some places the road looked like a multi grey coloured patchwork quilt that overworked the suspension of my van to the point of destruction, so the going was slow to say the least. And I believe Poland has not heard of motorways yet, either that or perhaps yet again my sat-nav couldn't be bothered to look for one.

By the early afternoon I hit the Czech Republic border and the going was much improved. The landscape was much more interesting too. Very hilly with substancially better roads and even a motorway. Time marched on and in no time I was in Slovakia where the roads were fantastic. In the late afternoon a horrendous thunderstorm lasting no more than 15 minuets threatened to wipe the lighter vehicles off the road. The pace dropped almost to a standstill but from there on it was a breeze and the northern mountainous regions of Hungary appeared to jump into view as if someone waved a magic wand and in no time at all a sign appeared 'Welcome to Hungary.'

For over one thousand five hundred miles I restricted my speed to a around 80 kilometres per hour (Approx 55mph) Now the addrenalin flowed and where it was legal to do so my speed varied between 80 to 110 kilometres (90mph) per hour. Now here I sit in a small town called Baja, just over a hundred miles south of Budapest; a place I could call my own, if only cirmcumstances allowed.

I now have a month or so here and in Budapest (Where I've arranged to have lazer eye surgery) to enjoy the warm weather and my families kind hospitality. If I have anything of signifcance to say, it will be here in black and white for all to see.

P.S. Although it says this post was published at 07.25ish it lies as it's now 16.25 and I am just going to try and download all the photographs onto the relative blogs. I'm really looking forward to this, no really I am!  ;-)