Plattensee

Plattensee is the German name for Lake Balaton in Hungary. At almost 50 miles long, it is the largest lake in Central Europe. Although it is a freshwater lake, it’s size gets it the nickname, “Hungarian Sea”. Plattensee translates into English as “flat lake”. But that’s better than the Hungarian name, which basically means “swamp” or “sink hole”.

The north shore is wine country, and the deeper part of the lake, and the southern shore is where the bulk of the resort towns are. The shallower water makes it a better location for families with small children. And my favorite fact about the lake, and especially since today’s word is the Lake’s German name, is that during the Cold War, East Germans and West Germans could both visit, allowing families separated by the Berlin Wall to visit together. How cool is that?

My own experience with a house on a lake was a mixed bag. Our property was very steep, which usually means that the water is deep. But 150 steps down to the water means 150 steps back up from the water. So don’t forget your towel or fishing rod. But a little relaxing on the dock, swimming on a hot day, or an easy kayak trip makes it hard to remember all those steps. It also works better for visiting with friends. “Come visit us” is a nice invitation, but gets a boost when you add “at the lake”.

I think our record number of overnight guests was over 30. When it’s 90 degrees out, it’s easy to talk all the kids into sleeping on the basement carpet, leaving the beds for the adults. But you do have to be sure the couples know where they’re all sleeping, and you can’t change the plan after anyone goes to bed. Just putting that out there because it might have happened…

Deep or not, there is a special attraction that most of us have toward the water. So many vacations center around bodies of water. I’m not trying to downplay the joy of having a desert house (I’m talking to you, Las Vegas), I’m just saying that a lake house, a beach house, or a cabin by the river just has a certain magic that is peaceful even to just think about. It might even be better if it’s on the shores of Central Europe’s biggest sink hole.