Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree just wasn’t fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine’s actions he had him put to death.

Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailer‘s daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first ‘valentine’ himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it ‘Your Valentine’, words still used on cards today.

Perhaps we’ll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure…February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent.

Another valentine gentleman you may be wondering about is Cupid (Latin cupido, “desire”). In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is often said to be a mischievous boy who goes around wounding both gods and humans with his arrows, causing them to fall in love.

Chicken and Cheese Bites

Makes: 22-24
Serves: 4-6
Calories per bite: 100
Fat per bite: 6g 

·         400g minced chicken or turkey

·         150g fresh white breadcrumbs

·         100g mature Cheddar, grated

·         1 tablespoon mayonnaise

·         1 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

·         1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed, optional

·         Salt and freshly ground black pepper

·         1 medium egg

·         TO SERVE:

·         6 tablespoons mayonnaise

·         1 clove garlic, crushed

·         Juice of ½ lemon

·         A few oven chips and green salad

1. Put the chicken in a bowl with 100g of the breadcrumbs, the grated cheese, mayonnaise, thyme and garlic, if using. Season and mix together well.

2. Shape the mixture into golf-ball-size rounds. Beat the egg in a bowl, put the rest of the breadcrumbs on a plate. Dip the balls in the egg, then in the crumbs to coat them lightly. Put the balls on a greased baking sheet and chill while the oven heats up to 180 C. Cook for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.

To serve: mix the mayonnaise, garlic and lemon juice together and serve with the chicken and cheese bites – hot or cold, with a few chips and salad.

Not suitable for freezing, but can be prepared the day before serving and kept chilled before cooking.

minced – darált
breadcrumbs – morzsa
mature Cheddar – érett Cheddar sajt
thyme – kakukkfű
peeled – hámozott
crushed – zúzott
freshly ground – frissen őrölt
oven chips – sütőben sütött krumpli
to season – sózni-borsozni
to beat – kiveregetni (húst)
to dip – bemártani
greased – kizsírozott
baking sheet – tepsi
to chill – lehűteni
suitable – megfelelő, alkalmas

]]> https://www.5percangol.hu/nyelvvizsga_olvasmanyok/honnan-ered-a-het-napjainak-a-neve/ Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:06:17 +0000 https://cmsteszt.5percangol.hu/honnan-ered-a-het-napjainak-a-neve/ Tudjátok, honnan ered a napok neve angolul? A követező cikkből kiderül, hogy a napok neve mögött mi áll! 

In ancient times, the Babylonian day began with sunrise and with sunset among other people. The earliest method of measuring parts of the day used the sun’s shadow. Sundials, for example, divided the length of daylight into the same number of parts regardless of season. Later, an improvement was made when days were divided into equal parts by using the rate at which water or sand ran out of a container.

The seven days became the standard with the Babylonians. Each day of the week had a special meaning: Sunday (Sun’s day), Monday (Moon’s day), Tuesday (named for Mars), Wednesday (named for Mercury), Thursday (named for Jupiter), Friday (named for Venus), Saturday (named for Saturn).

Have you ever wondered how the names of the Days of the Week originated? The Roman peoples, as did other ancient civilizations, named the days of the week after the sun, moon and planets, which were gods.

Sunday:

• Meaning: The Sun’s day
• Order in Week: Sunday was traditionally viewed as the first day of the week by the ancient Hebrews and a day of rest and worship.
• Folklore: Sunday was believed to be a lucky day for babies born.

Monday:

• Meaning: The Moon’s day
• Order in Week: Monday was traditionally viewed as the second day of the week.
• Folklore: It was believed by ancients that there were three Mondays during the year that were considered to be unlucky: first Monday in April, second in August and last in December.

Tuesday:

• Meaning: Tiw’s day; the Old Norse’s equivalent to planet and god of Mars
• Order in Week: traditionally viewed as the third day of the week
• Folklore: Mars was the Roman god of war.

Wednesday:

• Meaning: Woden’s day: the Old Norse’s equivalent to Mercury
• Order in Week: Wednesday was traditionally viewed as the fourth day of the week.
• Folklore: Mercury was the messenger to the gods and the Roman god of commerce, travel, and science.

Thursday:

• Meaning: Thor’s day: Old Norse’s equivalent to Jupiter
• Order in Week: Thursday was traditionally viewed as the fifth day of the week.
• Folklore: In the Roman calendar, the fifth day was called in Latin dies Jovis, meaning “Jove’s day,” for Jove, or Jupiter, the god of thunder and rain.

Friday:

• Meaning: Frigg’s/ Frica’s day: Old Norse’s equivalent to Venus
• Order in Week: Friday was traditionally viewed as the sixth day of the week.
• Folklore: Friday was held sacred to Venus, the goddess of love, by the Romans.

Saturday:

• Meaning: Saturn’s day
• Order in Week: Saturday was traditionally viewed as the seventh day of the week.
• Folklore: Saturday was named in honor of the Roman god, Saturn. The Hebrew called Saturday the “Sabbath”, meaning, day of rest. The Bible identifies Saturday a s the last day of the week.

Gyakoroljuk a napok nevét angolul egy régi slágerrel is ITT

1.Szőlőcukor Pasztilla

With its name meaning “grape-sugar (dextrose) pastilles” in Hungarian, this is one of the healthiest sweets on offer – the package states that “regular consumption of grape sugar tablets is good for children, athletes and heart patients.” That’s all well and good, but do these slightly chalky pellets satisfy sweet tooth? The answer is yes, with the mint variety offering a quite refreshing taste after a meal, while fruit-flavored szőlőcukor options like lemon and strawberry provide a pleasant guilt-free treat.

2. Negro

Hungary is not a very politically correct country; were these soothing lozenges marketed in Great Britain or the USA, protests would surely follow at retail locations within a few days. However, this widely popular Hungarian-made hard candy – infused with honey, mint, or fruit – is actually named after Italian confectioner Pietro Negro, who invented it in Hungary while living here during the 1920s; meanwhile, the suspiciously dark-tinted figure on every package is supposed to represent “the chimney sweep of the throat.”

3. Tejkaramella

“Milky caramel” is pretty much what it sounds like – a creamy type of fudge that tastes like soft toffee, which may be a little dry when first chewed, but soon the sugary goodness melts across the palate and smiles follow. While a few Hungarian confectioneries create cubes of this crowd-pleasing treat for mass consumption, the best tejkaramella is prepared at the homes of Hungarian grandmas nationwide; considering that the recipe only calls for sugar, milk, and butter, it’s not a difficultdo-it-yourself sweet.

4. Téli Fagyi

Hungarians aged over five years old generally react with revulsion when offered this strange confection – with its name translating to “winter ice cream”, this unrefrigerated sugar bomb mainly consists of cocoa-flavoured mousse topped with a thin layer of chocolate within a typically stale cone, creating a cloyingly unpalatable texture and taste that often inspires expectoration soon after the first bite. Nonetheless, this Hungarian-made specialty is still found by the checkout counter at many supermarkets.

5. Balaton

The biggest lake in Hungary (and Central Europe) is honoured with this namesake candy bar that is simple yet scrumptious, made of wafers pressed together with cocoa-cream layers and then coated in milk chocolate or dark chocolate. With its sunshiny wrapper imagery showing bright beams illuminating shimmering water, one bite of this omnipresent delight evokes memories for Hungarians who grew up going to Lake Balaton every summer, buying one of these candy bars anytime they could cadge a few coins from their parents.

6. Maci

With its charmingly retro wrapper emblazoned with a drawing of a cute little bear (“maci” is Hungarian for “teddy bear”), along with Budapest’s name proudly added at the top, this peanut-infused milk-chocolate bar is not only a fairly tasty goody, but it also makes a great cheap gift for visitors to bring home to family and friends after a trip to Hungary’s capital. The chocolate itself is nothing special, but since each bar weighs in at a hefty 100 grams, a single Maci is perfect for splitting among friends.

7. Vadász

“If you want something really good!” says the label of every Vadász bar, and considering that every Vadász bar is made with a generous portion of alcohol, the manufacturers can’t be accused of false advertising. With its name meaning “hunter” in Hungarian, this tasty tidbit is available in either the “sweet and bitter” flavour with dark chocolate or the “black forest” variety with milk chocolate, and both options are filled with cherry cream and a noticeable splash of booze, making it an excellent wintertime treat.

8. Krumplicukor

Generally reviled as the country’s least-desirable candy, the name of krumplicukor is Hungarian for “potato sugar”, and things don’t get much better from there. Like szőlőcukor, krumplicukor is marketed as a relatively healthy indulgence, but most people that watch their weight would probably prefer to skip sweets altogether rather than bite into this odd-smelling concoction left over from Communist times. If it’s really fresh, krumplicukor is in fact edible – but if it’s gone stale, it becomes a flat jawbreaker.

9. Dunakavics and Francia drazsé

As the Hungarian answer to M&M’s, this duo of palatable pellets encased in a candy shell remains beloved here ever since its creation in Budapest 50 years ago. However, these two types of candies appear and taste dramatically different; Francia drazsé are simple spheres of chocolate, while Dunakavics are roasted peanuts with a lumpy sugar coating that, at a quick glance, can kind of resemble a hardened piece of already-chewed gum. Regardless, both of these multicoloured confections are popular with very good reason.

10. Eredeti Szerencsi

Anyone allergic to nuts should steer clear of Eredeti Szerencsi candy bars – their primary ingredients include hazelnut cream, chopped almonds, honey-flavoured cashews, and peanuts. However, folks who enjoy these hearty kernels will definitely savour this old-school delight that also contains a thin crispy wafer and is liberally covered in dark chocolate, and still wrapped in golden foil like some delicacy delivered from Willy Wonka’s factory. Its easy-to-hold contoured shape is especially appreciated.

11. Sport

Although it’s not as strong as Vadász, this alcohol-flavoured chocolate bar is a major presence in candy aisles at shops all across Hungary. A layer of dark chocolate envelops a light cocoa-fondant filling enhanced with the essence of rum, making it a pleasant pick-me-up… but contrary to its name, this doesn’t seem like the most beneficial snack that athletes could possibly nibble on. Nonetheless, the compact-yet-satisfying size of Sport bars can be perfect for assuaging a passing craving for something sweet.

12. Medvecukor

People who really like licorice might just become fans of Medvecukor – meaning “bear sugar” (don’t worry, no ursine beasts are involved in the creation of this candy) – but even people with a predilection for this root-based flavour will probably find the texture off-putting, to say the least. Sold in long semi-gelatinous strands, the first couple of bites are agreeably chewy, but soon it dissolves into slippery shreds of rubbery treacle, until the process of actually swallowing it presents a test of endurance.

13. Kojak

Named in honour of the iconic TV detective with an affinity for Tootsie Pops played by Telly Savalas in the 1970s, this cocoa-coated vanilla sucker has continually been a cherished sweet among Hungarians for decades. The chocolate tastes somewhat artificial, and the dense vanilla centre has a tendency to get stuck between teeth, but for those patient enough to let the entire glob literally melt in the mouth, Kojak pops present an easy way to sate a sweet tooth without purchasing an entire candy bar.

source: welovebudapest.com

And now back to international brands. Can you match the sweets and their description?

Key:

1. d

2. a.

3. e.

4. b.

5. c.

We eat them, we enjoy them but we don’t know who we can thank them for. Listed below are some of our most famous desserts and the stories behind them.

Dobos Cake

József Dobos was already a well-known confectioner when, in 1884, he came up with a brand new idea and created the dessert named after him. He wanted something that could be consumed after a longer period of time despite the undeveloped refrigerating techniques of his era. It started out with a mistake when his man accidentally added sugar to the butter instead of salt. Master Dobos liked how it tasted and created the butter cream, which is now very popular around the world. The cake quickly became famous, but the recipe remained secret until 1906 when he gave out the original recipe to the public. He retired the same year, but was always proud to have created such a cake.

Gundel Pancake

Not many people know that the famous pancake actually wasn’t created by the historic Gundel family. The recipe belongs to the wife of Sándor Márai, Lola. She introduced Károly Gundel to the recipe at a banquet held in the restaurant after one of the premiers of his husband. Károly Gundel liked it so much that he put it on his menu under the name Márai pancake. It became Gundel pancake during the communist regime when the Márai family had to emigrate and the use of his name was prohibited.

Rigó Jancsi Cake

János Rigó was born in 1858 in Pákozd with a great talent of playing the violin, which brought him to Pest and later travelled all around the world. In 1896 he performed in Restaurant Payard when he met Clara Ward and the fell in love. They both got divorced so that they could remarry. One time he wanted to impress her woman with a creamy chocolate cake. While watching the couple, the confectioner who created the cake named it after him with a great sense for marketing. His hopes were right; the cake became popular and spread quickly.

Rákóczi’s cake with cottage cheese

The name can be deceiving, because it was not named after the monarch, but a confectioner named János Rákóczi. He was a unique master chef who worked all around Europe’s best restaurants. His dessert debuted in 1956 at the world exhibition in Brussels. It brought the Hungarian pies to a whole new level. What made it so special is that Rákóczi covered the cottage cheese layer with meringue instead of pastry. The dessert instantly became popular and still remains one of Hungary’s specialties.

Kossuth’s cake

The dessert, named after Lajos Kossuth, started its way towards recognition from Bratislava in the beginning of the 1840s. A restaurant called Vasforrás was the favourite place of the representatives of the Parliament to dine in. The owner, Jakab Palugyai, was the one who created the famous dessert and named it after the revolutionary. Different versions exist, for instance with walnut or poppy seeds, but it is said that the one made with almonds was Kossuth’s favourite.

source: Daily News Hungary

érvényes: 2025. január 31. 

to summer and winter
definition: to monitor one’s behaviour or abilities for a sufficiently long period of time
magyarul: hosszú időn át követni, odafigyelni rá, árgus szemekkel követni
example: Someone will summer and winter her during the probationary period to determine if she is the right person for the job. –  Valaki árgus szemekkel fogja követni a próbaidő alatt, hogy lássuk, vajon megfelel-e erre a munkára.

A summer body is earned in the winter.
definition: you should start working on your perfect shape long before you want to show it off
magyarul: a tökéletes alakért hamar el kell kezdeni dolgozni
example: You should have started to work out earlier than June. A summer body is earned in the winter – you know.  –  Júniusnál hamarabb kellett volna elkezdened edzeni.Tudod, hogy a tökéletes nyári alakért már télen el kell kezdeni dolgozni.

midsummer madness
definition: foolish, reckless behaviour which seems to escalate at the height of summer
magyarul: nyári/nyárközépi őrület
example:  Her appearance is getting more and more extravagant. It must be the midsummer madness that happens to her every year.  –  Egyre vadabbul néz ki. Biztosan rátört a szokásos nyárközépi őrület, ami minden nyáron eléri.

summer complaint
definition: diarrhea, especially that experienced in the summer
magyarul: nyári hasmenés
example: I’ve got a touch of the summer complaint. I’d rather stay at home.  –  Van egy kis nyári hasmenésem. Inkább otthon maradnék.

the dog days of summer
definition: the hottest days of the summer
magyarul: kánikula, a nyár legmelegebb napjai, kutya meleg
example: I wish I could go home from work early today. It’s impossible to get any work done during these dog days of summer! –  Bárcsak ma hamarabb hazamehetnék a munkahelyemről! Egyszerűen képtelenség bármit is dolgozni ebben a kutya melegben.

a summer fling
definition: a short romance or dating relationship during the summer period; a romance that isn’t meant to be serious or long-term
magyarul: nyári szerelem, nyári kaland
example: Kate had a summer fling with a boy from summer camp but I don’t think it will last. –  Kate-nek volt egy nyári kalandja egy fiúval a táborban, de szerintem a dolog nem lesz tartós.

Indian summer
definition: a period of unexpected hot and dry weather, often in the autumn months
magyarul: vénasszonyok nyara
example: I love Indian summer. I wish it would last until the middle of October.   –  Nagyon szeretem a vénasszonyok nyarát. Bárcsak kitartana október közepéig!

to soak up some sun
definition: to lie in the sun and enjoy the rays of sun on your skin
magyarul: napfürdőzni, magába szívni a napot
example:  I’m going to the beach to soak up some sun. The weather is beautiful today.  –  Lemegyek a strandra napfürdőzni. Gyönyörű idő van ma.

a touch of the sun
definition: a slight sunstroke
magyarul: megcsípte a nap, enyhe napszúrása van
example:  I have a slight headache. I think it’s a touch of the sun. I spent a lot of time outdoors today.       –  Kicsit fáj a fejem. Szerintem enyhe napszúrásom van. Sokat voltam ma kinn.

Can you match the two parts of the idioms?

1. a touch of
2. one swallow
3. Indian
4. the dog
5. to summer
6. to soak up
7. A summer body
8. a summer
9. midsummer
10. summer

1. days of summer
2. and winter
3. the sun
4. is earned in the winter
5. fling
6. complaint
7. doesn’t make a summer
8. madness
9. some sun
10. summer

Key:

1. c. 2. g. 3. j. 4. a. 5. b. 6. i. 7. d. 8. e. 9. h. 10. f.

to be in love (with) – szerelmesnek lenni valakibe
They are so much in love. – Annyira szerelmesek egymásba.

lovebirds – szerelmespár
The lovebirds were kissing each other all day long. – A szerelmespár egész nap csókolózott.

unconditional love – feltételek nélküli szerelem
Unconditional love is known as affection without any limitations. – A feltételek nélküli szerelem olyan érzelem, amely nem ismer határokat.

unrequited love – viszonzatlan szerelem
Unrequited love or one-sided love is love that is not openly reciprocated. – A viszonzatlan szerelem vagy egyoldalú szerelem olyan érzés, amelyet nyíltan nem viszonoznak.

love at first sight – szerelem első látásra
It was definitely love at first sight. – Egyértelműen szerelem volt első látásra.

love triangle – szerelmi háromszög
The football player found himself in a strange love triangle. – A focista egy furcsa szerelmi háromszögben találta magát.

to make love – szerelmeskedni
The secret lovers made love in a hotel room. – A titkos pár egy szállodai szobában szerelmeskedett.

to send one’s love to somebody – (szeretetteljes) üdvözletet küldeni valakinek
Aunt Julie is sending her love to you. – Julie néni üdvözletét küldi neked.

love child – szerelemgyerek
After they had a love child they decided to get married. – Miután lett egy szerelemgyerekük, úgy döntöttek, hogy összeházasodnak.

love letter – szerelmeslevél
My friend got a love letter but she doesn’t know who the sender is. – A barátnőm kapott egy szerelmeslevelet, de nem tudja ki a feladó.

love nest – szerelmi fészek
The young couple moved into their first love nest last month. – A fiatal pár múlt hónapban költözött be az első szerelmi fészkébe.

love-hate relationship – se veled se nélküled kapcsolat
They have a love-hate relationship, as soon as they spend more than a day together they start arguing. – Se veled se nélküled kapcsolatban élnek, amint több, mint egy napot együtt töltenek, azonnal veszekedni kezdenek.

puppy love – gyerekszerelem
Little Susie and Tommy are in love, but nobody takes them seriously. It’s just puppy love. – A kis Susie és Tommy szerelmesek egymásba, de senki nem veszi őket komolyan. Ez csak gyerekszerelem.

Long-Lasting

Over a fourteen year period, Associated Equipment Company built 2,876 Routemaster buses. As stated above, they proved to be incredibly resilient and long-lived, and today there are 1,280 still in existence (though some survive more as museum pieces).

Replacement

The Routemaster was designed to replace the old trolley buses, which had served London for over 30 years along 68 routes that were powered by overhead electrical wires. The original diesel buses were ordered in 1935, but with the onset of the war, production did not pick up again until 1947. The first prototype came out in 1954 and the first Routemaster saw service in 1956. The Routemaster itself was not replaced until the New Routemaster in 2012.

Wrong Colour?

If you see a Green Routemaster, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. It’s still owned by London Transport and serves their country division.

Seeing Red

Prior to 1907, the colour of a bus actually determined which route it followed. London General Omnibus Company wanted to make their buses stand out against the fierce competition for service, so they painted their entire fleet red. Some predictable confusion led the Metropolitan Police to suggest that LGOC add numbers to its buses to identify their routes. The Underground Group purchased LGOC in 1912, which later became part of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, shortened later to “London Transport”.

Silver and Gold

In keeping with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s silver and golden jubilees, some Routemasters were repainted in those colours in 1977 and 2002, respectively.

Phantom Bus

Allegedly, a ghostly Routemaster Number 7 drives up the middle of the street in Cambridge Gardens with no lights, no passengers, and no driver! It was last spotted in 1990.

All Aboard!

One of the most popular features of the original Routemaster was its rear platform that made it easy to board and alight the bus, even while it was moving. A rear conductor would stand on the platform to help people on board and take their tickets or fees, but eventually the job was phased out. However, the convenience of the rear platform wasn’t without some danger, and in 2013, former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone revealed to ITV that approximately twelve people per year died from falling off the platform during his time in office.

Not a Routemaster

The famous Night Bus from Harry Potter, which was first seen on film in the adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, was not actually made from a Routemaster. Instead, it was constructed out of three Regent III RT buses. The Regent III was the immediate predecessor to the Routemaster and ran from 1939 to 1979.

Ride an Original

While many of the original Routemasters have been taken out of service, there are still a couple operating on heritage routes that are still available to passengers. Route 9 travels from Kensington High Street to Aldwych while Route 15 travels from Trafalgar Square to Tower Hill.

Ladies Who Bus

In 2009, three ladies named Linda, Mary, and Jo opted to use their Freedom Pass (available to people over 60 years old) to ride every route in numerical order. They completed their task nearly five years later and since March, 2014, have set their attention to visiting every single museum in London.

source: londontopia.net

Other iconic London sights. Which one is which?

Key

1. e.

2. a.

3. d.

4. b.

5. c.

Man: I’d like a ticket to London, please.
Railway Station Clerk: Which station?
Man: Liverpool Street Station.
Railway Station Clerk: A one-way ticket or a return ticket?
Man: A return ticket.
Railway Station Clerk: When do you want to return?
Man: I’m not sure. I would prefer an open-return ticket.
Railway Station Clerk: All right, first or second class?
Man: First class. How much is it?
Railway Station Clerk: First class is £80.
Man: Where does the train leave from?
Railway Station Clerk: From platform 9.
Man: … and when exactly?
Railway Station Clerk: At 10.35 am.
Man: Excuse me, just one more question. When does it arrive in London?
Railway Station Clerk: At 13.34 pm.

IMPORTANT PHRASES

I’d like a ticket to …, please. – Szeretnék egy jegyet …-ba/-be.
A one-way ticket or a return ticket? – Egyirányú vagy oda-vissza jegyet?
When do you want to return? – Mikor szeretne visszajönni?
I’m not sure. – Nem vagyok biztos benne.
I would prefer an open-return ticket. – Jobb lenne egy nyitott végű retúrjegy.
How much is it? – Mennyibe kerül?
Where does the train leave from? – Honnan indul a vonat?
From platform 9. – A 9-es vágányról.
When exactly? – Mikor pontosan?
Just one more question. – Csak még egy kérdés.
When does it arrive in …? – Mikor érkezik …-ba/-be?

IMPORTANT WORDS

ticket – jegy
station – állomás
one-way ticket – egyirányú jegy
return ticket – retúrjegy, oda-vissza jegy
to return – visszatér
to be sure – biztosnak lenni
to prefer – előnyben részesít, jobban kedvel
to leave – elindul
platform – vágány
exactly – pontosan
question – kérdés

The two shores of the lake are quite different. The northern shore is a mountainous region famous for its historical sights and wine, while the southern shore is ratherflat and is known about its holiday resorts like Siófok or Zamárdi. Balaton is not only the largest but also the deepest lake of Hungary. The average depth is 3-4 metres and it’s 13 metres deep near the Tihany Peninsula. The water is the deepest between the Siófok and Szemes basins. The water along the southern shore is shallower than along the northern shore. The shallow water along the southern shore warms rather quickly during summer reaching around 26-28 °C. In the evening the water feels warmer than the air providing an unforgettable experience for late night swimmers.The southern shores are ideal for small children because of the shallow water, but on the north shore the water gets deeper instantaneously.

The length of the lake is 77 kilometres between Keszthely and Balatonakarattya. Its width varies between 3 and 14 km, the nearest is between Tihany and Szántód where the only ferry service on the lake operates during summer.

On the northern shore, the volcanic mountain of Badacsony is one of the most famous wine-growing regions of Hungary. Fiery white wines are produced from the white varieties of grapes grown in the Balaton Highland like the Badacsony Pinot Gris which is called Szürkebarát (grey monk) by the locals, Italian riesling (olaszrizling) and a local white variety, Kéknyelű. Badacsony is also a perfect spot for hiking. You can enjoy the beautiful view from the slopes of the mountain. According to a local myth if you and your loved one sit on the Rose Stone with your backs to the lake you’ll be married within a year.

The Tihany Peninsula is a historical district. The two-towered Abbey can be seen from far away. It is a Benedictine Abbey, founded in 1055 AD by Andrew I, who is buried here in the crypt. Thefounding charter of the abbey is the first existing record of the Hungarian language, preserved in Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey. The abbey has the best view of Lake Balaton.

Tihany is famous for the echo, which unfortunately has abated due to changes in the landscape since the 18th century. Another famous legend is about the “goats’ nails“, washed ashore from Balaton. They actually are corners of prehistoric clams but the legend has it otherwise. According to the story, there was a princess with golden-haired goats, but she was too proud and hard of heart and was cursed by the king of the lake for it: her goats were lost in Balaton, only their nails remained, and she was obliged to answer every passers-by. A stone, in memory of the Shouting Girl, can still be seen near the village.

On the south side of the lake there are sandy beaches, which are perfect for bathing, swimming and sunbathing. The largest tourist attraction is Siófok, known as the “party capital of Hungary”, which attracts many partygoers in the summer. Most of the beaches are grassy and have playgrounds, showers, sun beds and lockers for rent. Many offer water activities ranging from kayaking and paddle boating to surfing.

Cross-Balaton Swim Contestis organized every year for those who feel fit enough to swim across the lake. The length is 5.2 km and the race goes from Révfülöp on the north shore to Balatonboglár on the south shore. You can get a free ride on the ferry back. The organisers transport your clothes across, so you can change when you arrive.

The peak tourist season usually starts in June and lasts until the end of August. Although it’s summertime when the lake and its surroundings swarm with tourists, winter isn’t a dead season either.

When the temperature falls below zero for a longer period of time and the lake is frozen, ice skaters use the enormous surface of ice, and a new winter sport, ice sailing has become more and more popular.

You can explore the lake-side towns and villages on one of the best cycle paths in the country, with a total length of approximately 200 km. The route is punctuated by several beauty spots and winds past reed banks that attract large numbers of water birds such as herons and swans. If you want to see something extraordinary go and see buffalos in the Kápolnapuszta buffalo reserve, which gives home to a herd of 200 buffalos, or you can even ride a camel in the Africa Museum and Safari Park at Balatonederics.

If you are interested you can also get a bird’s eye view of the lake and its surroundings.Sightseeing flights depart from the airport between Zalakaros and Zalakomár.

Lake Balaton is a spectacular sight from the air and also from the ground. It’s a must-see not only for tourists but also for Hungarians. Enjoy its beauties this summer, too.

Here is a collection of the most unusual stories and the truth lying behind them. So, let us immerse ourselves in history. The history of Budapest dates back to long centuries during which a handful of legends came to life. As it usually happens, it was particular people who started to spread them, but the rumour started to live its own life. From this article, you can figure out what gave basis to the legends about some of the sights in the capital and what the truth is behind them.

Thököly Street and the mysterious woman

If you walk with open eyes in Thököly Street and admire the buildings, you can see a figure of a woman looking into the distance from the balcony. According to locals, during World War I, a young couple lived in the building who were separated by the war. The man went to the front to fight while his wife waited for him in their home, every day. She was looking out of the balcony leaning on her elbows waiting for her husband to arrive.

However, at that time, the Spanish flu infected millions of people in Hungary and the young woman was no exception to the deadly epidemic. She became seriously ill; still, despite her illness, she was on the balcony every day hoping to see her beloved one. According to the legend, it is here that she died.

It is the irony of fate that the husband arrived from the front right on the next day, but he only found his dead wife on the balcony. He set up a statue to honour his lady for her loyalty and walled up the door of the balcony so that nobody could even step into that place.

The Chain Bridge and its lions

Many legends are circulating about the lions sitting on both sides of the Chain Bridge. The most well-known legend holds that the lions have no tongue due to which the sculptor, János Marschalkó, was humiliated and being much ashamed, he eventually committed suicide by jumping into the Duna.

In fact, this is not true at all, since the lions have their tongues, but they were deliberately made invisible to the passers-by from the level of the pavement. The sculptor, also known for working on the sculptures of the Vigadó and the MTA, confirmed this news. For those who made fun of him, he responded ironically: “Would that your wife had such a tongue as my lions!” 

source: Dailynewshungary 

Do you know the top 10 things that women invented? Check out our selection of 10 things that women invented and that changed the world.

Monopoly

One of the most famous board games of all time, responsible for endless hours of fun and also arguments, was invented by Elizbeth Magie in 1904. The original name of the game was The Landlord’s Game. Magie patented the board game and self-published it in 1906. Nearly 30 years later, a man named Charles Darrow rejiggered the board design and message and sold it to Parker Brothers as Monopoly. The company bought Magie’s patent for the original game for $500 and no royalties.

Residential solar heating

Maria Telkes (yes, she was Hungarian) was one of the first scientists to discover practical uses for the sun’s energy. She invented a device that allowed downed airmen and sailors to distil salt water during WWII, and in 1947 she created the first house utilizing solar energy, a wedge-shaped structure she conceived with architect Eleanor Raymond. Telkes used Glauber’s salt, the sodium salt of sulfuric acid, to store heat in preparation for sunless days. Dover House survived nearly three Massachusetts winters before the system failed.

Medical syringe

Nowadays, living without a medical syringe is simply not possible. It is widely and excessively used by doctors and nurses. This wonderful creation fist came into being in 1899 when Letitia Geer created a medical syringe that could be operated with only one hand. The combination of a cylinder, a piston and an operating-rod which is bent upon itself to form a smooth and rigid arm terminating in a handle, in extreme positions it is located within reach of the fingers of the hand which holds the cylinder, thus permitting one hand to hold and operate the syringe.

The ice cream freezer

The ice cream freezer was invented by Nancy Johnson, who patented a design which is still used today, even after the invention of electric ice cream makers. She created an invention which made lots of people’s lives more enjoyable. To use her device, she put a container of liquid ice cream mixture into another larger container packed with ice and salt, and cranked by hand until the ice cream was frozen. Thank you, Nancy Johnson. Thank you.

The computer algorithm

Ada Lovelace, the daughter of Lord Byron, was encouraged by her scientist mother to become a mathematician. Lovelace was a brilliant expert, thanks in part to opportunities that were denied most women of the time.  Lovelace worked with Charles Babbage at the University of London on his plans for an “analytic engine” (i.e. old-timey computer) to develop ways to program the machine with mathematical algorithms, essentially making her “the first computer programmer”. Ada became a baroness in 1835 when she married William King, 8th Baron King; the two had three children. In 1838, she became Countess of Lovelace when her husband was elevated to Earl of Lovelace. Her pedigree and peerage alone would have landed Lovelace in the history books, but her accomplishments in mathematics made her a pioneer of not only computing, but of women in science.

Wireless Transmission (Hedy Lamarr)

The world-famous Australian actress become a pioneer in the field of wireless communications following her emigration to the United States.  She, along with co-inventor George Anthiel, developed a “secret communications system” to help combat the Nazis during World War II. They received a patent in 1941 and later used it in naval ships and even today in cellular phones, fax machines and other wireless operations. Her invention laid the technological foundations for everything from Wi-Fi to GPS.

Kevlar

Stephanie Kwolek started working as a chemist in 1946 just to earn enough money to go to medical school, to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. She soon fell in love with the work, though, which combined her interests in science and textiles. She invented the super-strong Kevlar fibre, used to make bulletproof vests. Kwolek’s invention is five times stronger than steel, and also has about 200 other uses.

Disposable Diapers

Marion Donovan was a young mother in the post-war baby boom era. Unhappy with leaky, cloth diapers that had to be washed, she first invented the „Boater”, a plastic covering for cloth diapers in 1951. A year later she carried her ideas further. Using disposable absorbent material and combining it with her Boater design, Marion Donovan created the first convenient disposable diaper. As manufacturers thought her product would be too expensive to produce, so she left unable to sell or licence her diaper patent. A few years later Donovan sold the patent to the Keko Corporation for $1 million.

Foot-pedal trash can

Lillian Gilbreth was an American psychologist and industrial engineer, described in the 1940s as “a genius in the art of living”.  She was also one of the first working female engineers holding a Ph.S.  Gilbreth is most famous for her pioneering work in efficiency management and ergonomics with her husband, Frank. Lillian Gilbreth improved existing inventions with small, but ingenious, tweaks. In the early 1900s, she designed the shelves inside refrigerator doors, made the can opener easier to use, and tidied up cleaning with a foot pedal trash can.

Dishwasher

Josephine Cochrane believed that if you want something done right you better do it yourself.  But when it came time to doing the dishes, she really didn’t want to, so she invented a machine to wash them for her in 1887. She marketed her invention to hotel owners, scandalously going to meetings without a husband, brother, or father to escort her, and eventually opened her own factory.