Everytime I come back from the village, back into Budapest, I pass by the Vidam Park (amusement park) and think I should make a visit. I celebrated a birthday there several years ago, the highlight of which was 20 people on the merry-go-round horses singing the theme from Bonanza (see below for lyrics). Yesterday I was at the Hunyadi ter market when I got a desperate phone call from Bottlehugger Ben. He and Gergely had taken the kids to the Vidam Park, but they were not being allowed on any rides because there is a 1 child 1 parent rule - in order to go on any rides, they needed an extra adult. Ditching my responsibilities, I met up with them and had a great time with the kids. It is always good for the ego when kids argue over who gets to go on the rides with Dan Bacsi. At 4400 huf per person it seemed a bit steep, and there are a few rides that they charge you extra for. I do not understand this at all. The park was opened in the 19th century as the Angol Park (English Park). Probably the two most famous rides in the park are the wooden roller coaster ("hullamvasut" or "amerikai hegy") built in 1922. This is the only example of a wood4en roller coaster in Europe, Its highest point is 17 meters, and reaches speeds up to 40 km/h.

The other famous ride is is "Szelemvasut," or Ghost Train, recently renamed the "Gate to the Other World." Bacso Peter's 1969 great film "A Tanu" (The Witness) is responsible for several catch phrases such as "magyar narancs." In the film, the Ghost Train is renamed the "Train of Socialist Ghosts."

On such a scorching day, I really appreciated the "parakapuk," or water-spray gates to cool off. Bring sun cream, there is not much shade.

As I left, I got a big vanilla icecream kiss from Abi on my left cheek, a big chocolate ice cream kiss from Noah on my right, and a big wetwipe from Ben.

Bonanza Theme Song

We chased lady luck till we finally struck - Bonanza
With a gun and a rope and a hatful of hope
We planted our family tree
We got ahold of a potful of gold - Bonanza
With a horse and a saddle and a rig full of cattle
How rich can a fella be?

On this land we put our brand
Cartwright is the name
Fortune smiled the day we filed
The Ponderosa claim

Here in the west we're livin' in the best - Bonanza
If anyone fights any one of us
He's gonna fight with me

Hoss and Joe and Adam know
Every rock and pine
No one works, fights, or eats
Like those boys of mine

Here we stand in the middle of a grand - Bonanza
With a gun and a rope and a hatful of hope
We planted our family tree
We got ahold of a potful of gold - Bonanza
With a houseful of friends where the rainbow ends
How rich can a fella be?

On this land we put our brand
Cartwright is the name
Fortune smiled the day we filed
The Ponderosa claim

Here in the west we're livin' in the best - Bonanza
With the friendliest, fightenist, lovingest band
That ever set foot in the promised land
And we're happier than them all
That's why we call it - Bonanza -
- Bonanza -
- Bonanza -
by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans