More pictures in the gallery!
Day 1: Excursion to Bratislava
On July 12, the Jászberény 4 and Szeged 3 groups joined forces in Budapest and from there continued their journey to the former Hungarian capital, Bratislava. After picking up our tour guide, our first stop was Bratislava Castle, where we could catch a glimpse behind the castle’s old, now fully renovated walls. Inside the rooms, we could admire historical monuments, artifacts, everyday utensils, clothing, and medals. Following this, we set off from the castle’s defensive walls and headed towards the city. Walking through the city, we saw various buildings with rich historical backgrounds, such as the Grassalkovich Palace, the Mirbach Palace, and a Hungarian church. As our final stop, we targeted St. Michael’s Gate, climbing up its tower to scan the city from a bird’s-eye view—taking in its pedestrian streets, the buildings we had previously viewed, and catching sight of other tall towers. We closed the day with some ice cream and free time, and then settled into our accommodation.
Ráchel Rebeka Juhász, Tünde Sztancsik – Szeged Group 3
Day 2: Nitra and Nové Zámky
Today we visited Nitra, where we saw many beautiful old buildings and historical monuments. We walked up to Nitra Castle, where we also viewed the St. Emmeram’s Cathedral. At the castle gate, we listened to a local legend. We saw plenty of buildings and houses, but what made a truly spectacular impression on us was a statue: the statue of Atlas. We also stopped at the ornate plague column, which our tour guide explained was erected by Imre Esterházy, whose family coat of arms was also found on it. During our journey, we also visited Nové Zámky (Érsekújvár), where we viewed a church; here, our tour guide mentioned at the end that in the Middle Ages, women expressed their affection by picking lice and fleas out of men’s hair. We then also stopped at the plague column standing in the town’s main square.
Lili Burkus – Jászság Group 4
Day 3:
We started today at 7:00 AM with breakfast, then we set off for Modra. First, we visited a traditional ceramics workshop, where we could observe how the beautiful, colorful ceramic bowls and other vessels are made. It was very interesting to watch the creation process, and the hand-decorated pieces were truly stunning.
Afterward, we traveled to the Driny Dripstone Cave, which we approached with a short hike. In the cave, we were able to admire the unique dripstone formations while our guide told us about the discovery and history of the cave. The sight provided a truly unforgettable experience.
At the end of the day, we visited Červený Kameň Castle (Red Stone Castle), and then the town of Svätý Jur, where we viewed several historical sights. Having gained many experiences once again, we returned to our accommodation, from where we will move on tomorrow to visit the eastern side of Upper Hungary (Felvidék).
Anna Ágnes Oláh, Angelika Pege – Jászság 4
Day 4:
Today started early because many programs were scheduled. After packing up, we left for Banská Štiavnica, where we could admire the old town. Then, we went to a developed mine museum, where we could explore a real tunnel with lamps. Mine cars and excavations were exhibited here. After the long underground tour, we headed toward Banská Bystrica, where we got to know the downtown during our short trip. After a long but exciting day, we occupied our accommodation for the last two nights.
Hanna Faragó – Szeged 3
Day 5:
Today we started the day early again; we departed at 8:30 for the venue of the most anticipated program at the group level. After a short bus ride, we arrived, and in groups, we boarded the cabins, arriving first at Skalnaté pleso (Rock-brook Lake) and then, with another cable car, at Lomnický štít (Lomnica Peak). Here, everyone had approximately an hour to marvel at the landscape and admire nature at an altitude of over 2,600 meters. After the hour was up, we returned to Skalnaté pleso, where we took a light walk around the lake. After the program, the team had lunch, and then by bus, we were given 2 hours of free time in a larger mall, where we had the opportunity to shop. Afterward, returning to the accommodation, everyone rested a bit, and finally, at the end of the day after dinner, we shared our best experiences with each other while playing board games.
Márk Török – Szeged 3
Day 6:
On the final day of our camp, we said goodbye to the Tatras and visited one of the most significant cities in Upper Hungary, Prešov. Here, we started our sightseeing tour in the center of the city. During the walk, our tour guide explained the curiosity and origin of the city’s naming, and we could see the inside of the region’s most beautiful Gothic building, the Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, and the former Evangelical Lyceum. During the walk, we also looked at the Sóváry Palace and the Rákóczi House. The final stop of our journey was Košice, which everyone had been highly anticipating. This beautiful city is not lacking in significant historical buildings either; we had the chance to view the St. Elisabeth Cathedral, the Rákóczi Crypt, and the Miklós Bastion. At the crypt, we laid a wreath at Rákóczi’s grave and recited the National Anthem. After our content-rich morning and early afternoon, we started our journey back to Hungary, recalling our favorite experiences from the camp on the bus ride.
Zsolt Kovács – Jászberény 4