Some volunteers of Alumni Network Hungary embarked on a memorable day trip on the last Saturday of May to discover two hidden gems on the Buda side. A report by Talha, ANH-Volunteer.
Our first stop, quite literally hidden from view, was Hungary’s longest cave system, the Pál-völgyi Cave. Or rather, just the 500-metre tourist route of it (the whole length is over 30 kms!), which is a cool, 11°C underground wonderland filled with stunning stalactites dripping from above, dramatic stone formations, and steep stairs that kept everyone on their toes. At one point, our guide demonstrated just how dark it can get by switching off all the lights. In short: very dark indeed.
Back in the daylight, we rested up before the second part: a hike to the Guckler Lookout, which promised to be more strenuous than the cave tour. At the top of Hármashatár-hegy, or "Three-Border Hill", we tried to identify Budapest's famous landmarks from a spectacular bird's-eye view, wandered through abandoned bunkers, and enjoyed a picnic under the open sky.
Chilled enough to play Rush Hour, we also proved to be an unbeatable team when it came to tackling increasingly complicated situations and finding solutions together: a deeply cooperative game with highly cooperative ANH members. We look forward to the next trip!
Photos by Dénes Horváth-Hegyi