Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, and today I went on a special adventure with Rob to explore the villages where his ancestors lived in Hungary. With the help of our guide Julia and our driver Andros, we visited small towns, old cemeteries, and even a beautiful lake. It was an amazing day of discovery, and I learned so much about Hungary’s history and traditions. Let’s go!
Heading Out of Budapest
We started the day by meeting Julia, a genealogist and tour guide who had been helping Rob trace his family history, and Andros, our driver. As we drove out of Budapest, Julia explained what she’d found about Rob’s family and why we were visiting certain villages.
First Stop: Vaszar
Our first stop was the village of Vaszar, where Rob’s great-grandfather, Mihaly (Michael) Hujter, was born. We visited the village cemetery to look for the names Hujter and Farkas, which are part of Rob’s family tree.
Cemeteries hold lots of clues about the past, and Julia explained how we can use the names and dates on gravestones to learn more about Rob’s ancestors.
Lovászpatona: Walking in Family Footsteps
Next, we went to Lovászpatona, where Mihaly and his wife, Julianna Nagy, lived and raised their family. This is where Rob’s grandmother, Mary Hujter, was born!
We explored the village cemetery and then visited Heitermajor, an old estate where Mihaly and Julianna worked as servants in the 1800s. Their children were born there, and walking around the buildings felt like stepping back in time. Rob imagined what life might have been like for his family more than 100 years ago.
Csót and Ugod: Searching for More Clues
After Lovászpatona, we went to Csót, the village where Rob’s great-grandmother, Julianna Nagy, was born. Then we traveled to Ugod to learn more about Rob’s Vargo side of the family.
Julia explained that Varga (or Vargo) is a common name in Hungary and means “shoemaker.” In Ugod, we found gravestones with the name Piszker, which isn’t as common. Julia thinks one of the stones might belong to Rob’s great-grand-uncle.
A Visit to Veszprém
After visiting the villages and cemeteries, we drove to Veszprém, a city with lots of old architecture and a lively Christmas market. We were excited to explore, but the main road into the old city was closed for construction! Since we couldn’t get to the market, we stopped at a cozy café for snacks and coffee instead.
Lake Balaton: A Magical Sunset
Our last stops were around Lake Balaton, Hungary’s largest lake and a favorite vacation spot. In the village of Tihany, we saw a beautiful church and watched the sun set over the lake.
As the moon rose, Julia taught us about the "silver bridge"—the moon’s reflection on the water. During the day, the sun’s reflection is called the "golden bridge". Isn’t that a fun way to think about light on the lake?
A Ferry Surprise
Julia and Andros surprised us with a ferry ride across Lake Balaton! We drove the van onto the ferry just in time for the last crossing of the day. It was a smooth 15-minute ride and a fun way to end the day.
Back to Budapest
The drive back to Budapest was quicker because we took the highway instead of winding country roads. Along the way, we talked about Hungarian Christmas traditions, like St. Nicholas Day on December 6th and Lucy Day, which is tomorrow.
When Julia and Andros dropped us off at the hotel, we said, “Good night, not goodbye,” since they’ll be taking us on a tour of Budapest tomorrow!
What I Learned Today
- What is a Genealogist?
A genealogist is someone who helps people trace their family history by looking at old records, visiting places, and finding clues like names on gravestones. - What is Lake Balaton?
Lake Balaton is the biggest lake in Hungary and a favorite place for people to go on vacation. The "silver bridge" and "golden bridge" reflections on the lake are so magical! - What Does Varga Mean?
The name Varga means “shoemaker” in Hungarian. It’s a very common name in Hungary!
I had such an amazing day learning about Rob’s family and exploring Hungary’s beautiful countryside. What do you think, kids? Would you like to visit the villages where your ancestors came from? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to hear about!
This blog post was created collaboratively with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, to help tell my story.
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