Just to back up a bit ...
We had a highly enjoyable and educational week in Hungary. Monday included lectures at Central European University on the European Union and Hungary's role in it. This was followed by a visit to the famous Szichenyi Spa, which is heated by natural thermal energy.
On Tuesday we boarded the bus for the 1 1/2 hour ride to Kesckemet, where we visited the Zwack distillery and learned how 'palinka' is made. Palinka is a fruit-based liquor and is highly popular in Hungary. It was less popular among our students ... most of the reviews included variations of 'blah!', 'yuck!' and 'ugh!'. After a refreshing tasting of palinka, we headed to a horse farm about 20 minutes from Kesckemet, where we were treated to a show performed by Hungarian cowboys, complete with whip cracking and incredible horse riding ... one guy rode five horses at once ... at full gallop. Later we had lunch, serenaded by a gypsy band playing traditional Hungarian folk music.
Wednesday was incredibly busy. In the morning we took another bus ride to Szechkesvehervar, which is the location of a large Alcoa plant as well as the European computer data center. Unfortunately, the manager of the data center, Duquesne graduate Bill Dorfner, was out of the country and not able to meet with us -- but the students were still able to tour through the production facility, dressed in hard hats, goggles and steel-toed shoes (photos below!). After leaving Alcoa we went to lunch, and later visited the famous Herend porcelain 'manufactory', where HIGHLY expensive porcelain is formed and painted by hand. Most of us politely walked through the gift shop without pulling out our wallets. Some of us decided that we would rather buy a car than a porcelain figurine. ;^) Next it was on to Lake Balaton, which is a resort lake that was highly popular during the communist era and is still popular today. Because our bus driver operated the bus ver-r-r-r-ry carefully (read: slowly), we didn't have much time at the lake -- just enough to get a taste of it. From the lake we drove directly to our 'farewell dinner' at a restaurant called Ladikcsarda, where we once again had a terrific dinner of Hungarian goulash and other menu items. We also were entertained by musicians and folk dancers. As you will see below, some of our students actually danced as well.
On Thursday we toured the Dreher beer facility, enjoyed a little free time, and then boarded the plane for Dublin. We spent Thursday night at the Bewley's hotel near the airport (a fantastic hotel, by the way, and only 89 euros per night ... the best deal of the entire trip).
On Friday morning we flew to London, checked into our 'hotel', ate a quick lunch, and then headed off to the studios of the BBC. The BBC was a big hit -- the students loved it. Later we just strolled around London, at ice cream, and some of us had dinner at the (original) Hard Rock Cafe.
The rest of the weekend is essentially free time. Individual plans include: the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, seeing a play/musical, doing some shopping, and ... well, the list is endless. We plan to reconvene on Sunday evening for a 'farewell dinner', then arise on Monday morning to head for the airport for our return to Pittsburgh. I'll try to post one more blog before we leave!
Okay ... pictures! Here are several from Hungary (Horse farm, Alcoa, Herend, & Ladikscarda) and London (BBC and River Thames). Enjoy!
