Incest and folk-dancing

---

Now staying at a vast 1920s spa hotel at Lillafured, complete with turrets and landscaped grounds. In the dining room yesterday evening we were treated to a selection of light classical 'favourites' by an organist. And at breakfast this morning there is a very competent guitarist whose set includes two taken from the Jazz Traitors repertoire (Black Orpheus and Mercy Mercy Mercy). I squint carefully to see whether it is Zoltan, but it doesn't look like him (no grey fleece).

After our walk, during which we get hopelessly lost - again - we arrive back at the hotel in time to see a big wedding party motorcade turn up, complete with three police motorcyle outriders and a police car, all with sirens whooping and the other cars all honking their horns. This is unusual behaviour hereabouts: most Hungarians are polite, careful and courteous drivers. But hey, it's a wedding. The bride, with a train about 17 miles long, and the groom, venture out on to the lake in a tiny rowing boat to have their picture taken by a gesticulating photographer who follows in another boat.

In the lobby we sit half-watching the interminable opening ceremony to the Beijing Olympics and chatting to some fellow Brits. One of them is drinking the local schapps: 'I'll try anything once', he comments. I can't resist quoting Sir Thomas Beecham: 'One should try everything once except incest and folk dancing.' Immediately the temperature in the room drops by a good 15 degrees. 'We rather enjoy morris-dancing actually', he huffs...

Later the wedding party gets going in earnest. The band for the night are dressed like Billingsgate fish porters and make a fearful row until 4.00am. Unfortunately our room is next to the lift-shaft, so we are kept awake for quite a while until I can stand no more and go down to reception to complain. They don't offer to cut the power, but do offer us an alternative room in a remote part of the hotel.

Once installed, I quaff a couple of martinis from the mini-bar and carefully refill the bottles with water. Vengeance is mine ...

---

Photos

Hotel Palota
Our room was on the third floor, next to the lift-shaft

Ornate or wot?
Ceiling of the dining room at the Palota

Wedding band
Fishmongers also can play music