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What Does Summer Still Have in Store for You? – August Bucket List with 5 Adventures
As we have reached the last month of summer, it’s a good time to reflect on the experiences we've had so far and consider what we still want to accomplish and try before the end of August.
Today's blog post from our student union is a bucket list created with the hope that it will help you make the last weeks of summer memorable. Let's embark on an adventure!
1. Active Bucket List Item: Cycle Around Lake Balaton!
A dip in Lake Balaton might not be the most extreme bucket list item, but cycling around the lake is quite a challenge. If you decide to take on this trip, keep in mind that the full 206 km route is only about one-third true bike path, and much of it is in poor condition. It’s worth dividing the distance into segments, possibly deviating from the traditional route, to enjoy more experiences and explore more of the Balaton landscape. Swim at the Gumirádli free beach in Akarattya, visit the sculpture park in Almádi, rest in Paloznak, roll down the Tagore Promenade in Füred, and marvel at the view in Tihany – just to name a few memorable sights.
Learn more about the bike route here.
2. Travel to a New Place
For this bucket list item, we guide you to the Babás-szerkövek in the Mecsek mountains: the hike starts in Magyarürögd, at the entrance to the Éger Valley park forest, and spans 16 km, which can be comfortably completed in about 5 hours. Contrary to their name, the Babás-szerkövek are not dolls but pillar-like rocks standing in the dense forest. Their unusual shape and origin story make them unique.
According to legend, two wealthy families lived long ago at the foot of Jakab Hill, constantly competing with each other. One day, a beggar visited them, but both families drove him away. The beggar cursed them: “May you turn to stone when you wish to be the happiest!” Later, both fathers married off their daughters on the same day and wanted to return home via the mountain road with their wedding parties. When they met, neither was willing to make way for the other, declaring, “I’d rather turn to stone than give way to you.” And so they did, and the two fathers and their entourages still stand there as stone.
3. Watch a Movie and Sleep Under the Open Sky
If you’re lucky enough to live in a house with a garden, you have the perfect location for outdoor movie nights. Depending on the size of your tent, invite one or two friends and create the coziest nook possible. Bring pillows, mattresses, and plenty of blankets. Be prepared for ants and mosquitoes, and use natural insect repellents like scented candles with appropriate essential oils. Bring snacks, fruits, and drinks! For movie choices, it’s time to revisit the summer classics: Mamma Mia 1-2, Under the Tuscan Sun, Roman Holiday, Eat Pray Love, What a Girl Wants, Adventureland, and the well-known Dirty Dancing.
4. Make Your Own Ice Cream
Since it’s the season, here’s a recipe for a watermelon version that can be a refreshing and tasty bucket list item:
Ingredients:
- 300g watermelon
- 4 tablespoons honey (or sugar)
- 250ml heavy cream
- Juice of half a lemon
Preparation: Remove the rind and seeds from the watermelon and chop the fruit. Mix the honey or sugar into the cream, add the lemon juice, and heat while stirring. Once the mixture has cooled, blend it with the watermelon pieces. Pour into a lidded plastic container and freeze for at least 6 hours, stirring every hour. You’ll know it’s ready when it reaches a creamy consistency – that’s when your homemade ice cream is done!
5. Photograph a Double Rainbow
This summer has brought plenty of rain, so it might not be too difficult to catch this rare natural phenomenon. But what is a rainbow? It's an optical phenomenon caused by rain or mist droplets that refract light prismatically and split it into colors. This happens when sunlight hits water droplets at a low angle. A double rainbow occurs when light is refracted twice within the water droplets, exiting at a 50-53° angle. You may not have noticed, but the colors of the outer rainbow appear reversed, with violet on the outside and red on the inside.
Rainbows are often mentioned in folklore and mythology. The most well-known legend might be from Ireland: in the land of fairies, it's believed that a real treasure can be found at the end of a rainbow – the leprechaun’s gold.
