12 years in an ox wagon: A young man on the roads of Hungary

He doesn’t give interviews, he’s not interested in politics, doesn’t read newspapers or watch TV. Instead, he meets a lot of people, and has lots of great conversations. Balázs Gergő Gecse has been travelling the country since he was 18, sokszinuvidek.24.hu writes.

In 2004, after graduating from secondary school, he could have gone to university, but instead, he chose the road.

The world is too big for me to stay in one place, said the wandering young man, who has always loved nature and being outdoors.

He travels with a covered ox wagon he built himself. His initial companions were Bürök of the Hungarian grey cattle breed, Mici and Lőrinc, the two goats, and Titkár, the shepherd dog. Nowadays, the group consists of Bürök and Borsó, the two cattle, Pirike, the cow, Titkár and Buksi, the dogs. The goats are not with him anymore, Lőrinc has died.

He did not regret his journeys for a second. As he previously said, he has met many kind of people and seen many beautiful places. He has never been driven away or robbed, and wherever he camps – on fields or by the side of forests – the locals usually offer him food and drinks. He often tells stories to the gathered audience.

He is self-sufficient, his wagon has an oven where he bakes his bread, and he stores his vegetables on the side of the cart. During his travels, he also finds work. He has experience in wood carving, carpentry, shoeing, leather crafting, and working with animals.

Sometimes, in the winter, he wakes to minus 17 degrees in the wagon. In the warmer seasons he cleans himself in streams and lakes, and washes his clothes with ash lye.

His life is very different from what most people lead, but he doesn’t plan to give up travelling anytime soon.

“It might happen that one day I will find a place that I like so much that I decide to settle, but that’s a long time away,” he said.

You can watch a Hungarian short film about Balázs Gergő Gecse here.

Photos: vimeo, zaol.hu

Copy editor: bm

Source: sokszinuvidek.24.hu