(Click hre for the photogallery.)
I have to be honest, I have always been a bit averse to adventure parks, and I had no particular reason to be. So it was with a certain amount of reluctance that I was given the opportunity to visit the "Mecsextrém Park" with some visually impaired students and a disabled colleague. We could not complain about the weather, the skies were kind to us and the team set off in general good humour. We arrived early in the morning and stayed until closing time. Despite initial uncertainties, the students were so adventurous that we only mapped two sites, skipping the Alpine Ropes Course and the Tirolean Slide altogether.
Right from the start, I have to commend the adventure park website, which provides full information about the games and the various activities. (Perhaps more information could be found about the "Tepsifüles" restaurant.)
The starting point of our team was the main entrance - quite understandably - where we were very kindly welcomed. We were given the obligatory armbands and headed to the courtyard, which used to be a playground. Here you will find, among other things, the X Jump, the Rodeo Bull, the 3D Hoop, the Go-Kart Track and the Snowdrop Slide, to name but a few of the many attractions that have captivated us.
Each game has at least one helper (depending on the game), who are young people with an operational qualification. All members of our team emphasised that they were all competent, nice, open-minded girls and guys who did their best to help.
The 3D hoop did its bit, even though it was the equivalent of a small astronaut training course. There, a very nice young girl helped, even adding a touch of metal music to the atmosphere, as Attila had requested. Máté was practically boiling in the chair, he had to be convinced that there was a time limit. For me it was interesting what he said, that "not being able to see is even a little better, because you don't experience the visual spin".
As we were talking about visually impaired people, I was interested in the possible presence of a guide dog and how this would be dealt with in the park. I was informed that pets are not allowed, but guide or assistance dogs are accepted.
The real success, at least in our case, was undoubtedly the Forest Bobsleigh.
The woodland atmosphere is really impressive. The logging road that leads through the pine forest to the Forest Bobsleigh is like walking on a path built by the Ewoks on the planet Endor. Despite its speed, or perhaps because of it, the bob was where we spent most of our time. You can use it as often as your stomach can hold. Watch out! It's particularly distressing for adrenaline junkies.
We headed back home exhilarated, having had a wealth of experiences. For my part, I was sorry we didn't make it to the Alpine Ropes Course and the Tirolean Slide. Maybe in next September.
- András Olessák -