Castle Anyone?

CSEZNEK CASTLE

Cseznek Hungary

Records first mention Csesznek as early as 1234, with it's castle having been built by the Csák Clan soon after the Mongol Invasion. Added to and changed by several families over the years, including the Garai and Török families during the mid and latter 1400s, the castle last served in a military manner in the early 1700s housing Habsburg troops. By the latter 18th century it was considered the district seat, having served as a fortress throughout centuries of conflict, including those with the Turkish/Ottoman Empire. It is said that an earthquake in 1810 damaged the castle, which has been under excavation and restoration since 1967.

We first saw this castle on  the cover of a map of Hungary.  As you know from one of our previous blogs, these things absolutely fascinate us.  So we met up with the Heaths, from Budapest, and drove from Papa up to Csesznek.

It cost us a 500 forints ($2.18) each to go in, but we had access to most of the ruins.  

Each place we went  to we tried to visualize which room it was. (judge for yourself),

After finding the bedroom Shauna was ready for a nap.

This is Prince Heath. (Rod) from Bountiful,

and his lovely princess, Ann.  

This is the hired help trying to find the kitchen!

 Imagine cleaning these walls and windows, wait they didn't have glass. 

It's not bad to look out the window at the scenery either.

We were united in our guess that this was the family room.  Notice the stone for chairs. We wondered  what show they would be watching probably Shrek.

We were free to wander anywhere we wanted to and we didn't even get lost.

This part of the castle was where they put the unwelcome guests!

Rupunzel, Rupunzel, let down your hair. What, I need to wait 50 more years for it to reach me. 

There were some great views from every window,

and some cool looking sheep with pointed horns.

Now if I can just find MY castle!

Getting the Tires Changed

Each Summer and Fall we need to take our car to Budapest and have the tires changed from summer to winter, or visa versa.  Yesterday was the day for us.  While we were there we took the opportunity to have lunch with three of the other couples in Budapest.

The couple from the top right is the Wiggins, the first Humanitarian Missionaries to serve in Hungary, they are great finding many ways to help. Next to them are the Heaths, the auditors for parts of  Eastern Europe.  They go to several Eastern European Countries helping branches and wards with money issues, plus they are in charge of the audits for all the wards and branches in the countries they serve Each district (consisting of branches), or stake, (consisting of wards) have to do an audit twice each year.  High councilmen or others are assigned to do the audits.  I was assigned to do them in our district, which consists of Sopron, Szombathely, and Papa.   That gives you an idea of how desperate they are for help.  Then across the table from the Heaths are the Carpenters.  They are the mission secretaries, a job that only the very best can do.    

These statues you will see were at one time in various places in Budapest.  After the revolution in 1956 these statues, which depict various communist "dignitaries" were torn down and placed here.  The one above is a pair of boots.  These were on the statue of Stalin, which was torn down after the revolution.  His body is elsewhere.  

The is the entrance to the "final resting place of the statues" of various Soviet sympathizers after the Soviet take over.  

This is a statue of Lenin, considered by the Communists to be a very great (evil) man.  He was the man responsible for millions of deaths.

This was once attached of a Soviet statue, and it depicts solidarity.  I took the picture from the end so that I could get it all in.

Everything in these statues depict solidarity and nationalism. 

This gives you a sense of the size of this statue.

This again depicts solidarity.

This statue above is described on the plate note above. He is a Hungarian who was great during the occupation, meaning he was a communist and helped murder his own people.

Another Hungarian hero, as far as the communist were concerned. 

This one speaks for itself.  He was the one who brought communism to Russia.  He was responsible for millions of deaths among his own countrymen.

Notice how all the statues depict pride and determination.  

This is a car that was available to be purchased during the years of communism.  If you ordered one

 you had to wait 6 to 8 years for delivery and you had to pay half up front. It had a "two stroke engine" meaning that you had to mix oil with the gas.  Even today we can see a few of those old cars on the road.  They were produced in Zwickow in East Germany.

What a great opportunity to see this with the Heaths.

Some signs that spring is here!

How do you know that it is spring in Hungary?

The farmers are finally able to get on their fields.

The leaves are coming out on the trees.

Everywhere we look it is green.

Beautiful sunset.

And the storks are back!

We love the storks!

Zone Training in Gyor

Once every transfer we get together with all the missionaries in the zone for some great training. This time we were in Gyor which is about 1 1/2 hours away from Sopron. We did have some fine instruction from the zone leaders and when we were done several of them wanted to go to lunch at the Hajo Etterm (Ship Restaurant).

It is on the Mosoni-Duna (Danube) River which is always beautiful to see.

We always love to see the bridges, they are all a little different. Sometimes I don't know the camera is on video so I get a lot of feet shots!

This is inside the restaurant. There were some pretty funny sayings posted on the wall in English.

This is part of the group we were with.

One can never be around too many young elders!

They are such a positive group to hang out with.

I think he thought if he closed his eyes I would go away!

This is a picture taken from inside the hajot looking out!

The food was delicious and it was worth it to walk the mile to get there and the mile to get back to the branch house even though I did get blisters on both heels from my (still not comfortable) shoes!

And no one got seasick!

A good time was had by all!