A disco ball, memories of family trips, metal sheets rusted thin, and a bouquet of roses in the bow. The Beloiannisz, 'known to everyone who spent a summer at Lake Balaton in the last 50 years'', has shipped out. We were there to say goodbye to the legendary ship.
The Beloiannisz left the Balatonfüred Shipyard in 1952 and has become a legend in its "life". The ship named after a Greek partizan used to be the "flagship" of the Balaton. She was the largest and most famous; a ship for cruising, events, and parties; a recurring figure on postcards, in brochures and family photo albums.
Rust, however, could not be deterred by her popularity. The Beloiannisz was withdrawn in 2003. Until today, she awaited resurrection in the form of renovation in Siófok. The price of salvation, however, is that she has to leave the Balaton behind, to spend her future as a museum ship on the Danube.
We have seen ships rise from death: the Helka, for one, returned to the waters after a stint spent on the land as a disco. Whether or not Beloiannisz will return, noone knows. Until then, the Balaton has to settle for retro disco ships and pretenders, like Szent Miklós and Szigliget.
