“If the purpose of human existence is to accomplish a noble mission, then Lajos Thuróczy not only accomplished, but even surpassed it,” Mr Orbán wrote.
“From the age of nine, the forest was his second home, and already at the age of twenty, he rambled through his favourite parts of the countryside as a scout leader, offering an example to follow and teaching young ones to respect the created world. As he often mentioned, from 1958 he worked as a professional rambler who didn’t go to places where he wanted to, but to places where he had to. Yet, he never complained on that score. Admiring our country’s natural treasures gave him joy, while protecting them gave him a purpose in life,” the Prime Minister wrote in his message.
He added that Mr Thuróczy did not have great ambitions or world-changing plans; instead, each and every day he did something to make our country, our home a better place. “He was a stalwart member of the Hungarian rambling movement right from the beginning; we have mostly his untiring efforts to thank for the designation of the National Blue Trail and the development of a system for training guides. I believe we will all sorely miss Uncle Lajos’s vigorous character, intellectual fortitude that didn’t abandon him even after he turned ninety, his physical stamina and excellent sense of humour. I will always fondly remember our shared experiences, our conversations in Dobogókő, Galyatető or Som Hill,” Mr Orbán recalled.