Adventuring in Pécs

Szia!

With two number theory lessons completed yesterday, today we left the hotel at "an obscene and ungodly hour" (7:05am) to make our way to Pécs. Unfortunately, Salih was sick so only 26 of us made the 3 hour train ride southwest to the 5th largest city in Hungary. Brimming with quaint colored houses and statue filled squares, Pécs (pronounced Paych) was officially named on of the European capitals of culture in 2010. Our 3 main points of interest for the day were the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, Vasarely Museum, and the Zsolnay factory/museum.

The Cathedral of St. Peter was ornate like many of the churches we've seen so far. There were many areas to explore on the main level, in one of the steeples, and in the basement. Some of the more curious Oles found themselves in trouble when they entered restricted areas that were not clearly marked.

inside the cathedral

*fleeing from the authorities* (definitely a restricted area...)

view of Pécs from one of the steeples

2 of the other 4 steeples

the stairs were too much for lil' baby Peter 

"I'm telling you, yesterday was leg day!"

prof pic? (another restricted area...)

Victor Vasarely was a 20th century artist and a Pést native. His museum of abstract art holds some of his most famous works, including Zebra. His paintings are so complex and exact it's difficult to believe that they weren't created digitally. They inspire both awe and painful headaches.

Lunchtime left people to their own devices, and a group of us found a small Italian restaurant that streamed horse racing and served 48 cm pizzas (for an average of $7 no less). To wash down the large portions of cheese and sauce, we visited the chocolate shop next door and were allowed to sample a fresh batch of chocolate that was still warm to the touch.

Matthew finished before the others even started
(but Lucas still ate all of his! #cleanplateclub)

 Leaving with several types of truffles, we headed over to check out some famous Zsolnay porcelain. The factory was founded by the Zsolnay family and introduced and perfected the eosin technique. The results are breathtakingly beautiful. We got a peek at ceramics from past centuries, as well as ones in the making, since part of the factory is open for viewing the multi step process of creating these intricate pieces. Exhausted from sightseeing and our lack of Pécs metro passes, we straggled back to the train station. Some Oles used the long ride to finish the two homework assignments while others slept, but we are all glad to collapse into our familiar beds here in Budapest.

Until next post, the slightly less weak links (Sydney, Annika, and Brynna)

Sydney's favorite tile

Annika's favorite vase

the "pink room"

Sam is still trying to hold horse statues

the  Zsolnay Mausoleum 

look mom, I'm wearing the scarf you bought me
(and we're getting pretty good at this selfie thing!)