From Budapest to Guca on Bicycle: Introduction

Hello, Zsia, Bok, Zdravo, we are Olivier and Carlos, and this page is nothing but our experiences and experiences on a bicycle by Hungary, Croatia and Serbia. After my first and fascinating experience traveling by bicycle (from Bukhara to Tashkent, 2007), by 2008 I had intended to continue using the same means of transport. The new goal was simple, go from Budapest to Guca to discover the crazy and funny Balkans sounds. If you still curious about what we can offer, please you are welcome.

Map of the Route

Index
Stage 01: Budapest - Szalkentmarfon
Stage 02: Szalkentmarfon - Kalocsa
Stage 03: Kalocsa - Mohacs
Stage 04: Mohacs - Osijek
Stage 05: Osijek - Slavonski Brod
Stage 06: Slavonski Brod - Vinkovci
Stage 07: Vinkovci - Backa Palanka
Stage 08: Backa Palanka - Novi Sad
Stage 09: Novi Sad - Belgrado
Stage 10: Belgrado - Mionica
Stage 11: Mionica - Pozega
Stage 12: Pozega - Guca
Guca Festival
The end

> History

Hungary: Tribes were part of a It is believed that the origin of the name "Hungary" does not come from the Central Asian nomadic invaders called the Huns, but rather originated from 7th century, when MagyarBulgar alliance called On-Ogour, which in Old Turkish meant "(the) Ten Arrows". +Info

Croatia: The Croatians settled on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea and the Pannonian lands in early 7th century, forming two principalities, Dalmatia and Pannonia. The establishment of the Trpimirović dynasty ca. 850 brought strengthening to the Dalmatian Croat duchy, which became a kingdom in 925. +Info

Serbia: The gesture with three fingers is a salute with the fingers thumb, index, middle fingers and habitually used by the Serbs. The greeting is associated with the Christian Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a statement often used by Serbs: Nema krsta bez tri prsta (English: There is no cross without three fingers).
The greeting is represented first by Straw Jovanovic in the paint takové Uprising. The image depicts the Prince Milos Obrenović saying the legendary words: Here I am and here they are: war on the Turks!. The painting is Milos saluting the Serbs with three fingers. This event started the second Serbian uprising against the Ottomans.

> Gastronomy

Goulash (Hungary): It´s a (sometimes) spicy dish, originally from Hungary, usually made of beef, onions, red peppers, vegetables, and paprika powder. Its name comes from Hungarian gulyás (pronounced goo-yash), the word for a cattle stockman or herdsman. +Info

Lángos (Hungary): It´s a Hungarian food speciality, a deep fried flat bread made of potato-based dough. It is sometimes rubbed with garlic or doused with garlic water or garlic butter, but can also be eaten with sour cream, grated cheese, ham, or other toppings, like lecsó. It may be cooked at home or bought from street vendors. +Info

Börek (Croatia & Serbia): It´s a type of pie popular throughout the former Ottoman Empire. They are made of a thin flaky dough known as phyllo or yufka, and are filled with salty cheese (often feta), minced meat, potatoes or other vegetables. +Info

Ajvar (Croatia & Serbia): It´s a relish made principally from red bell peppers, with eggplant, garlic and chili pepper. It is predominantly popular in the Balkans. +Info

Rakia or Rakija (Croatia & Serbia): It´s similar to brandy, made by distillation of fermented fruits, popular throughout the Balkans. Its alcohol content is normally 40%, but home-produced rakia can be stronger, typically 50 to 60%. Prepečenica is double-distilled rakia, with alcohol content sometimes exceeding 60%. +Info

> Music

Franz Liszt (Hungary):Virtuoso of the nineteenth century, founder of the modern technique pianist, writer of symphonic works (Tasso, Orpheus, Dante, Faust, Legend of Santa Elisabeta, Oratory of Christ ...).

Video on Youtube:
Ferenc Liszt - Transcendental etudes

Goran Bregović: Composer and guitarist Goran Bregović has been a household name in the Balkans for over three decades. Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (then Yugoslavia), Bregović has composed for such varied artists as Iggy Pop and Cesaria Evora. He earned his fame wielding a guitar with his rock band Bijelo dugme, a group that rose to stardom and set the groundwork for the Yugoslav rock scene. Known internationally for his scores for Emir Kusturica’s films (Time of the Gypsies, Arizona Dream, Underground)

Videos on Youtube:
Goran Bregovic - Ederlezi
Goran Bregovic - Gas Gas
Goran Bregovic - Eurovision 2008

Turbo-Folk (Serbia): The term turbo folk itself was coined by Rambo Amadeus, who used it jokingly during the late 1980s in order to describe his own strange smorgasbord sound combining various styles and influences. At the time, the term was nothing more than a soundbite, the phrase being intentionally humorous for combining two contradictory concepts - "turbo," evoking an image of modern industrial progress and "folk," a symbol of tradition and rural conservatism.

> Films

Mephisto (Hungary): Mephisto was awarded the 1981Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; the film was submitted to the Academy by Hungary. Trailer

John Malkovich (Croatia): This acclaimed actor was born in Christopher, Illinois albeit with Croatian ancestry.

Emir Kusturica (Serbia): He is a filmmaker and musician Serbian born on November 24, 1954 in Sarajevo in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzegovina). With an impressive number of internationally acclaimed feature films, Kusturica became one of the most creative filmmakers during the decades of'80 and'90 with films like Time Gypsies, white cat or black cat Underground among others. +Info

Guca (Serbia): Documentary on the festival of Trumpets each year takes place in the small village of Guca. Trailer

> Curiosities

Trabant (Hungary): Still one can see quite often this little car through the streets and roads of Hungary. + Info

In Budapest you can rent a Trabant to visit the city. http://www.rentatrabantbudapest.com

Summer Blue (former Yugoslavia): The popular Spanish series also was broadcast in the former Yugoslav state television.

The 600 (Serbia): In the streets and highways of this country you can see the mythical 600 but if you look closer it´s not Seat or even Fiat, but as Zastava 750 or 850.

Yugoslavia: The term means, the South Slavs.

From Budapest to Guca on Bicycle

Introduction

> Choice Languaje

> Contact

> All the Pictures

> History

> Gastronomy

> Music

> Films

> Basic Words

> Curiosities

> My trips on bicycle