Random issue

[namaste]

So after two years of canceled or postponed vacations for multiple reasons, I've finally booked one for the fall of this year, which will also be my 45th birthday present for myself.

Quick question ... anyone know how to say: "Help, I'm lost" in Polish, Slovakian or Hungarian? I could be in trouble here.

http://www.experienceplus.com/bicycling/pob006_fun.html

Comments

[roga.livejournal.com]

Wow, this trip looks amazing! Hungary and Slovakia are both supposed to have breathtaking scenery - my parents have just returned from Budapest and they said it was as enchanting as Prague (which I found enchanting, in a snowy, colorful, beautifully preserved Slavic kind of way.)

And go you for the biking! I could never do a trip like that in the shape I'm in, although it looks a lot more satisfying and a lot more fun than a normal trip.

Of the places you'll be in I've been to Krakow and Dobczyce, both of which were extremely interesting; my trip was more Holocaust oriented, which you can learn a lot about over there if you're interested and don't mind the depressing subject matter, but the locations are interesting regardless.

The only phrase I know in Polish is "Dzien dobry" (pronounced 'jin-dov-re'), which means "good morning". I'm actually excited for you :-) I'm sure you're going to have a great time. And would love to read about it when you get back.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Dzien dobry. I'll have to practice that.

The cycling thing is a fun way to see an area. I've done cycling trips in England, Ireland, Italy, Costa Rica, France and all over the US. As a matter of fact I cycled across the U.S. ten years ago -- Seattle to New Jersey. That averaged 80 miles a day, so 40 or so is a nice pace for me. One of the best parts of bicycle touring, is you get to eat what you want because you work it off in the saddle.

It feels weird getting out of my comfort zone of languages, though. I speak enough German, French, Italian and Spanish to get along. Polish, Slovakia and Hungarian? Not a clue.

[roga.livejournal.com]

Hee! There was this restaurant in Poland which was was the only place I've ever been to where I had to resort to randomly choosing items off the menu. There was no English translation, so the owner asked if anyone in the restaurant knew English and a woman sitting at the bar said she did, which is like saying I know french because I watched a Goddard film once. So she attempted to translate, using as much body language as she could, which turns out not to be very useful if you're trying to describe vegetables. Finally we just chose one item from each section of the menu in a thoroughly random way. We got a tomato soup and this weird buttery-porky-fatty-spread and toasts, and hot cocoa. Much fun was had :-)

Anyway, though, you'll have a guide. Will the other members of the group be American, other tourists, or you don't know?

Your cycling history continues to impress me. That is just - wow.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

Heh. Reminds me of the day I ended up with creamed eel in Germany: "Is local fish, is very good." A general travel tip? Do not order the creamed eel in Germany.

I've traveled with this company before. Most of the folks will be Americans. One of the nice things about bicycle touring is that you go at your own pace. Stop, go, lounge, have a beer, whatever. You're not on anyone's timetable. Just follow the map and get to your destination at the end of the day. At the worst, there's a van with all your gear that travels the route and you can flag them down for a ride.

[asynca.livejournal.com]

Uh. Sorry to crash your LJ... But I lived in Hungary for a year, in Somosko, on the edge of Slovakia. Let me know if there's any way I can use my experience to assist you.

[namasteyoga.livejournal.com]

I'll take advantage of that offer. Thanks. Once I get my complete info packet I may have a better handle on things. I'm guessing that English is good in the cities, but less useful in the rural areas. Since I'll be in three different countries in just two weeks, I don't think I'll bother trying to take a language course, just try to pick up a few basics use English (and I've got some decent survival German, which may be useful) and wing it.

So what's "Hello" in Hungarian? I know is dzin dobry in Polish and dobry den in Slovak (Yeah, that won't be confusing at all).

[asynca.livejournal.com]

You can just say "Hallo" (Emphasis: HAH-lo) for hello AND goodbye, or "Szia" (pron "see-ya") in the same circumstances. You might have trouble getting used to people saying "Hello" to you when you leave a shop or a ticket booth, and "See ya" when you walk into a shop ;)

Another useful phrase is "Hol van (place name)..." (pron. Hohl vohn...) It means, "Where is....". Keep in mind that "S" in Hungarian is "Sh" in English, so Budapest is Budapesht in Hungarian.

German is very useful in Hungary. So if you speak it, you should be fine.