tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127148792024-03-13T01:44:49.862+01:00The Hungary YearsA blog from Budapest, Hungary.Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-20763808045493123192007-02-12T08:45:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:50.620+01:00My Mate Marmite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RdAiAjIG4pI/AAAAAAAAAL4/tgCQY4HBHdE/s1600-h/DSC00978.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RdAiAjIG4pI/AAAAAAAAAL4/tgCQY4HBHdE/s200/DSC00978.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030558176597435026" /></a><br />I've been living in Hungary for quite a long time now. But while I've got my favourite foods and snacks from Hungary (turo rudi for instance), I still get a craving every now and then for a taste of home.<br /><br />I weaned myself off the standard English expat fare mainly by not knowing a lot of other English expats when I first came here and also not going back and forth between the two countries that often. <br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/02/my-mate-marmite.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost">For some reason, I've been getting the odd pang of hunger for some <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quintessential" target="_blank">quintessential</a> British culinary items. I think the blame can be placed squarely on the heads of two people at my work who now visit the UK every few weeks and always ask if I want something brought back. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RdAhrjIG4nI/AAAAAAAAALo/k7x2VO5sWg8/s1600-h/DSC00979.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RdAhrjIG4nI/AAAAAAAAALo/k7x2VO5sWg8/s200/DSC00979.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030557815820182130" /></a>This means that I'm stocked up on <a href="http://www.marmite.com/" target="_blank">Marmite</a> and <a href="http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/brandsandproducts/brand_view.asp?b_ID=1" target="_blank">Cheddar cheese</a> along with <a href="http://www.computershopper.co.uk/" target="_blank">Computer Shopper</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/" target="_blank">Top Gear</a> magazines. Sadly I don't think I could get away with asking for several barrels of <a href="http://www.johnsmiths.co.uk/age.cfm?url=/Home_Site.htm" target="_blank">John Smiths</a>.<br /><br />For those that have an even stronger slavering for a slice of home food there's always some small specialty shops that deal in these rare goods. The downside is of course the price you pay.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RdAhsDIG4oI/AAAAAAAAALw/mmMPaEpJ5ec/s1600-h/DSC00976.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RdAhsDIG4oI/AAAAAAAAALw/mmMPaEpJ5ec/s200/DSC00976.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030557824410116738" /></a><br />The most well known of the shops in Budapest I think has to be <a href="http://www.culinaris.hu/index_uk.html" target="_blank">Culinaris</a>. There's one in the 6th district on Hunyadi tér and another in Buda's 3rd district at Perc utca, though strangely, I've never been in either of them. Although the shops have been at the back of my mind for a while, they were brought to my attention recently by the lovely lady who surprised me with a packet of my coveted salt and vinegar Walkers crisps.<br /><br />There's a few other shops where the trade in these UK treasures can be found. Quite often, shops that deal with special spices will have a small section dedicated to the expat community. I popped into an Indian shop the other week on Wesselenyi utca, where upstairs was full of Indian furnishings while downstairs was a small supermarket, which as well as normal Indian flavourful food, also had PG Tips, ginger beer and export strength Guinness. <br /><br />Then again, sometimes you don't have to wander far at all to find these things. Just the other day at my local, standard yet tin <a href="http://webshop.cba.hu/index.php" target="_blank">CBA shop</a> I noticed that they were selling promotional packets of <a href="http://www.tetley.co.uk/UK/" target="_blank">Tetley Tea</a>. 100 bags + a "free" mug for just under 1,000 Forints. A bit pricey but if you're desperate for decent tea, you might just pay it. It's all a matter of taste.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-17257394233977700942007-02-08T08:59:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:50.751+01:00Tags<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcrcLjIG4mI/AAAAAAAAALc/PaBtJD5IyM8/s1600-h/DSC00969.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcrcLjIG4mI/AAAAAAAAALc/PaBtJD5IyM8/s200/DSC00969.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029074024878498402" /></a>Unfortunately, I'm not writing about the tag labels that categorise blog posts and news stories. Some little git (I find it hard to believe it was done by anyone over the age of <s>6</s> <s>9</s> <s>13</s> 17) has tagged our building with crappy graffiti scrawl.<br /><br />I'd still be annoyed if it was the decent, <a href="http://www.greatbates.com/" target="_blank">creative and colourful art</a> that adorns a lot of underpasses but this is an especially unimaginative, untalented 5 second spray that stands out a mile on the blank yellow canvas that is our house.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/02/tags.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><br /><span class="fullpost">Worse still, now that we've been tagged the likelihood of it happening again has greatly increased. If the offending mark is painted over, it challenges the original ratboy (or ratgirl) to do it again. They've marked their territory and they have to reclaim it. On the other hand, if we leave it there, it's a sign to other taggers to go ahead and try to outdo each other with bigger and better aerosol autographs. <br /><br />I can't help thinking that it has something to do with the <a href="http://thehungaryyears.blogspot.com/2007/01/other-side-of-square.html" target="_blank">renovated park</a> close by and the increase in skateboarding activity. Oh and they love those flat wooden benches to catch a bit of air and end in a slide (<a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/slides-skateboarding" target="_blank">slides</a> being different from <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/grinds" target="_blank">grinds</a>). Won't be long before the seats are just a table of splinters.<br /><br />I sound like a mean, old man, I know. To be honest, I have nothing against the skaterrats in the park. They seem reasonably well behaved and don't really get in the way or make people feel threatened. But I hope they stick to the skateboards and leave the scrawl alone.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-61861799187372234802007-02-07T09:03:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:51.011+01:00Historical Flags<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcmIClQTpeI/AAAAAAAAALE/FzDmB2mAypw/s1600-h/319403_DSC_8062.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcmIClQTpeI/AAAAAAAAALE/FzDmB2mAypw/s200/319403_DSC_8062.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028700036877493730" /></a>Staying on the subject of protests from the last post, I thought I'd write a few words on the Arpad flag. Although the flags with the "Arpad stripes" <a href="http://www.geocities.com/zaszlok/hazateres/tortenel.html" target="_blank">date back 700-1000 </a>years they are fairly new to me. Even after living in Hungary for over a decade this is something I had never seen until last year. It was only when protestors started gathering at parliament and waving them around did I start to notice the different flags. <br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/02/historical-flags.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost">Of course there was also the now standard <a href="http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/hu_1956.html">Hungarian flag with the center torn out</a> that turns up at almost every rally. The same used in the 1956 uprising when the communist symbol was ripped out. People use this flag today to express their feelings that something is wrong at the core of the country, namely the government.<br /><br />The Arpad flag is somehow different. This one isn't waved by small children or little old ladies as the holey flag is. The Arpad stripes have more sinister connotations. Unless I'm very much mistaken, it has become the de facto flag for very right-wing protests, and it's slightly scary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcmIC1QTpfI/AAAAAAAAALM/W6YwS-2cjo4/s1600-h/319402_DSC_8056.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcmIC1QTpfI/AAAAAAAAALM/W6YwS-2cjo4/s200/319402_DSC_8056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028700041172461042" /></a>This is the flag that was picked up by the definitely scary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow_Cross_Party" target="_blank">Arrow Cross</a> , a political party based pretty much on the incredibly scary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Party" target="_blank">German Nazi party</a>. The Arrow Cross killed thousands of Jews with a lot of the victims being shot and dumped into the Danube river. For a sad reminder of this, just take a stroll by the water next to the parliament building to see a statue comprised of lots of iron shoes set into the ground to commemorate those that died there.<br /><br />While displaying the Nazi's swastika and the Arrow Cross' arrows are forbidden, flags with the Arpad stripes are still okay to wave around in public. So with it's background and the fact that a lot of the flag bearers are bomber-jacketed skinheads with the odd SS tattoo, I think it's quite healthy for me to be wary of these groups. <br /><br />I intend to stay healthy, which is why, if I see a bunch of people with Arpad flags, I'll walk the other way.<br /><br />-- You can read a perhaps more balanced view at <a href="http://www.portfolio.hu/en/cikkek.tdp?k=6&i=10081" target="_blank">Portfolio</a>.<br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-6093541069463006542007-02-05T08:58:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:51.507+01:00Breaking Down Barriers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcboyVQTpaI/AAAAAAAAAKU/34mRQc7UN0A/s1600-h/324417_DSC_0003.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcboyVQTpaI/AAAAAAAAAKU/34mRQc7UN0A/s200/324417_DSC_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027961985402381730" /></a>There was another bout of political poo-pooing on Friday and over the weekend. Since the riots last September, Kossuth tér - the square where parliament is situated - has been closed to the public. There were protestors camped outside for a while but I think they all got moved on a couple of weeks ago. Some people would come to the barriers and mope around a bit and shout but it seemed to be dying down.<br /><br />Whether the barriers are a good thing or not is hard to say. On the one hand, it would be good to keep an angry mob away from the nation's big house. On the other hand, the barriers also serve to remind people that there's a restriction of freedom in place.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/02/breaking-down-barriers.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rcboy1QTpbI/AAAAAAAAAKc/TNX60tbC4uY/s1600-h/324410_DSC_0200.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rcboy1QTpbI/AAAAAAAAAKc/TNX60tbC4uY/s200/324410_DSC_0200.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027961993992316338" /></a>On Friday, the opposition party thought it would be a good idea to remove the barriers themselves. So complete with their leader they set about <a href="http://www.interfax.com/5/237496/news.aspx" target="_blank">dismantling the cordon</a>. Bemused and unsure, the police that were on watch, just watched. It all made for a good bit of media and so the cameras were out and the speeches were made. Later, there was a lot of huffing and puffing about whether the action was legal or illegal. Or better still, was it right or wrong? <br /><br />Of course, with the increase in media interest, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=arI1uqYFB.Qc" target="_blank">the protestors came back</a>. With their flags and megaphones they were enthusiastic in exercising their freedom of speech. <br /><br />All this is fine, but I can't help thinking that the leader of the opposition holding a meeting in front of the parliament and then (perhaps illegally) removing the barriers in front of an eager camera crew is not good for business. Surely you're going to keep or gain credibility with a good debate about why the current government is making a big mistake by keeping the railings up. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rcboy1QTpdI/AAAAAAAAAKs/r3sNAv35mSA/s1600-h/319402_DSC_8056.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rcboy1QTpdI/AAAAAAAAAKs/r3sNAv35mSA/s200/319402_DSC_8056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027961993992316370" /></a>By going ahead and getting stuck in without debate, without warning, surely the message to the people believing in you is that the only option available is direct action and forget about the legalities. <br /><br />People learn from example and this wasn't a good one.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">* <a href="http://vg.hu/index.php?apps=cikk&cikk=160247&fr=hk" target="_blank">Images taken from VG.hu</a></span><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-90090513506897477482007-02-01T23:43:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:51.862+01:00Car and a Half<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcBLnj20gDI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/3d42X3rkwcw/s1600-h/DSC00678.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcBLnj20gDI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/3d42X3rkwcw/s200/DSC00678.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026100327157628978" /></a>Somehow I don't think I can do this post justice. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant" target="_blank">Trabant</a> is such an iconic car that it is loved and loathed in equal measure often both by the same person. <br /><br />Coming from the UK, it's easy for me to think of this as a "<a href="http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861697514/quaint.html" target="_blank">quaint</a>" car that fits into the stereotype of Eastern Europe. Yes, I know we're more Central Europe than Eastern Europe but this is the car that's associated with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_bloc" target="_blank">Eastern bloc</a> and was on shown on everyone's TVs in the West as everyone tried to get out of the East when the wall came down.<br /><br />For some people, it's a symbol of the crap they had to put up with. For others, it's freedom on four wheels and a bit of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duroplast" target="_blank">plastic-wrapped plywood</a>*. For me, while I know they're not that comfortable or good to drive, I absolutely love the design of the body and think it's a classic to be awed and adored. Right up there with other simple but clever designs such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini" target="_blank">Mini</a>.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/car-and-half.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><br /><span class="fullpost">Because they're <a href="http://www.hasznaltauto.hu/kereso1.auto?start=0&command=keres&rendezes=1&data=YToxODp7czo3OiJyZXN1bHRzIjtzOjM6IjEwMCI7czoxMToic2NyZWVud2lkdGgiO3M6NDoiMTI4MCI7czo5OiJrYXRlZ29yaWEiO3M6MTE6InN6ZW1lbHlhdXRvIjtzOjQ6ImtfaGEiO2k6MTtzOjU6Imtfc3phIjtpOjE7czo2OiJleHRyYTEiO047czo2OiJleHRyYTIiO047czo2OiJleHRyYTMiO047czo2OiJleHRyYTQiO047czo2OiJleHRyYTUiO047czo2OiJleHRyYTYiO047czo2OiJleHRyYTciO047czo2OiJleHRyYTgiO047czo2OiJleHRyYTkiO047czo3OiJleHRyYTEwIjtOO3M6MjoicTEiO3M6MzoiOTkwIjtzOjEzOiJvcnN6YWdfa2VyZXNvIjtzOjE6IkgiO3M6NjoidGVsamVzIjtOO30=" target="_blank">so cheap</a> and there's quite a few floating around, they can often be seen pimped above and beyond their normal duty. I've seen bright purple ones with alloys and spoilers. I've seen them chopped up in to cabriolets. I've also seen them covered in moulded plastic to make it into a auto-dog (or maybe that was a Rover). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcBLnD20gCI/AAAAAAAAAJw/6C7mYjd0r0U/s1600-h/DSC00677.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcBLnD20gCI/AAAAAAAAAJw/6C7mYjd0r0U/s200/DSC00677.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026100318567694370" /></a>I saw this a while ago on Andrassy and couldn't resist taking a pic. Someone had used half a Trabant to create a trailer for another Trabant. It looked like a loving conversion with a quality finish. The tired Trabant has been written a death warrant many a time with newer, trendier cars coming onto the market and environmental regulations damning its 2-stroke engine, but with affectionate Trabbie lovers like this out there, I think we'll be seeing them around for a little while yet.<br /><br /><br />* From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duroplast" target="_blank">that link</a> - <i>Duroplast cannot be further recycled, and burning it produces toxic fumes, so disposing of the bodies of old Trabants is a problem. However, Duroplast's components are edible, and there are stories of pigs, sheep or other domestic farm animals consuming duroplast.</i><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-67175125680224527882007-01-31T23:51:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:52.058+01:00PedestrianitisFor my area it started with the building, or rather digging, of the underground garage in front of the Basilica. Before that, the space was just a plain car park with doggy doo lurking around every tyre. <br /><br />Once the funky, robot, underground garage was created, the surface was turned into a very pleasant cobble-stoned square. <br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/pedestrianitis.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcEnSFQTpZI/AAAAAAAAAKI/vRCLlb2GD8s/s1600-h/DSC00962.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RcEnSFQTpZI/AAAAAAAAAKI/vRCLlb2GD8s/s200/DSC00962.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026341850723886482" /></a>From this little acorn of an area, the pedestrian zones have spread. At first they claimed a small section of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Budapest,+Hungary&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=47.500069,19.052128&spn=0.005001,0.013561&t=h&om=1" target="_blank">Hercegprimas utca</a>. Then a smidgen of Sas utca. Now the powers that be are expanding the Hercegprimas stretch and zooming down Zrinyi to complete a walkway from the dome of the temple to the banks of the Danube.<br /><br />It may have something to do with linking up the ultra-posh <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/budapest/" target="_blank">Four Seasons</a> located in the old Gresham Palace at the end of Zrinyi, but I think the whole project will improve the 5th district and get people wandering up and down. Of course, it'll bring life to those streets as well as shops and cafes brighten themselves up to take advantage of the new thoroughfare. <br /><br />So here's to pedestrianitis, the uncontrollable growth of pedestrianized streets, and may there be a cafe on every corner to sip a hosszu kave (<a href="http://thehungaryyears.blogspot.com/2005/06/cuppas-and-glassas.html" target="_blank">in a glass</a>) and watch the world go by.<br /><br /><br />* If this post contains mistakes or is generally crappy, I apologize and rest the blame on the beers and <a href="http://www.yak.net/fqa/336.html" target="_blank">unicum</a> consumed just a few hours before. At least the were good. However, this must be one of the freshest pics on the blog as it was taken just a few minutes before arriving home and writing this article.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-58049153076056748122007-01-30T21:14:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:52.258+01:00Avenue Activists<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rb7-1T20gAI/AAAAAAAAAJY/dJTzYAxey_U/s1600-h/DSC00954.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rb7-1T20gAI/AAAAAAAAAJY/dJTzYAxey_U/s200/DSC00954.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025734426008780802" /></a>It looks like not everyone is happy with the work being done to Nagymező. The signs advertise a meeting to be held on the Saturday of last weekend at the church on the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Budapest,+Hungary&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=47.501199,19.062588&spn=0.010002,0.027122&t=h&iwloc=addr" target="_blank">corner of Nagymező and Király</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rb7-1j20gBI/AAAAAAAAAJg/17YT3lN_8ow/s1600-h/DSC00955.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rb7-1j20gBI/AAAAAAAAAJg/17YT3lN_8ow/s200/DSC00955.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025734430303748114" /></a>The posters from protesters are warning people that the trees on the avenue shouldn't be turned into toilet paper and they should be left alone so that they can be seen in real life and not just in photos. <br /><br />I'm not sure if the meeting took place or not last weekend but it seems that maybe it wasn't necessary anyway. <a href="http://www.portfolio.hu/cikkek.tdp?hn=1&k=14&i=78802" target="_blank">According to the news</a>, it's unlikely that the underground garage that was planned will go ahead. <br /><br />As I've said <a href="http://thehungaryyears.blogspot.com/2007/01/nagymez-news.html" target="_blank">before</a>, I'm all for underground parking spots but I also like my trees. Hopefully we can have both without building projects being turned into <a href="http://thehungaryyears.blogspot.com/2006/03/spring-sprung.html" target="_blank">petty political spats</a>.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-89687423746766456352007-01-29T08:27:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:52.445+01:00First Snow of the Season<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rb2lfD20f-I/AAAAAAAAAJA/bScuVu8NwXk/s1600-h/DSC00956.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rb2lfD20f-I/AAAAAAAAAJA/bScuVu8NwXk/s200/DSC00956.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025354712245108706" /></a>The title isn't strictly true as I saw snow back in November in Komló in the south of Hungary back in November, but this was the first snow I saw in Budapest this winter. It was literally freezing on Saturday and the bitter winds brought in a light sprinkling of snow. It dusted the cobbles in front of the basilica for a few hours and then was gone.<br /><br />I keep telling people who ask me about the summers and winters in Budapest that summer gets very hot and winter very cold. When they ask about snow, (the questions are usually coming from people living in the south of England), I reply yes, without fail there is snow. Even in the capital there tends to be quite a bit of snow that looks great at first but is then churned into grey slush by the people and cars.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/first-snow-of-season.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost">This year, I foolishly promised my niece that she is bound to see snow when she pops over in February. Then it turns out that this winter has been the hottest for the last 1,000 years. What are the odds? A thousand to one perhaps. <br /><br />The "hottest year in 1,000 years" line sounds <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s14098.htm" target="_blank">faintly familiar</a>, but I guess if it is getting hotter each year then they can trot out that line all the time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rb2lfj20f_I/AAAAAAAAAJI/3fsF9mup53o/s1600-h/DSC00957.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rb2lfj20f_I/AAAAAAAAAJI/3fsF9mup53o/s200/DSC00957.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025354720835043314" /></a>I was glad to see the snow at the weekend, even if it did only hang around for a few hours. It means there's a small glimmer of hope that I won't break my promise. This morning the temperature is about 5C at my window, the wind is howling but the sun is shining. As my bosses would say, "ratfarts".<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-32283717626272855222007-01-26T08:42:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:52.742+01:00An Apple A Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rbm1-D20f8I/AAAAAAAAAIo/lSG1IBOyvXM/s1600-h/DSC00939.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rbm1-D20f8I/AAAAAAAAAIo/lSG1IBOyvXM/s200/DSC00939.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024246937100255170" /></a>I'm not sure it they are <a href="http://www.motts.com/articles/news_05052003.asp" target="_blank">keeping the doctors away</a> but one of our neighbours (probably not the one with the cat) has laid out a selection of apples on top of the kitchen appliances <s>stored</s> abandoned in our corridor.<br /><br />A phrase I often hear from people in this city is that Budapest is a village. That's not meant to be a slur on the size or sophistication of the capital. The fact is that as I live my day to day life in Budapest I'm continually bumping into people I know. Or if I meet someone new, it's quite likely that I'll find out that they're connected to some other people I know from a completely different part of my life. <br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/apple-day.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost">It's been said that there is six degrees of separation in the world. Meaning, any person in the world can find a connection to any other person in the world by hopping through 6 people. I have a feeling that in Budapest it gets pared down to 3. It really can be freaky sometimes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rbm1_D20f9I/AAAAAAAAAIw/vSbT4wNzAI4/s1600-h/DSC00940.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Rbm1_D20f9I/AAAAAAAAAIw/vSbT4wNzAI4/s200/DSC00940.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024246954280124370" /></a>The apples seemed to me to be a more literal aspect of the village theme. I live smack-bang in the centre of the capital city that is Budapest, yet someone has been harvesting apples and setting them out in the cool corridor until they need them. <br /><br />Incidentally, the apples are disappearing one by one, so the theory of the neighbour making one large batch of <a href="http://www.sulinet.hu/tart/cikk/Rbb/0/10501/1" target="_blank">almakompót</a> (apple sauce) or <a href="http://chiliesvanilia.blogspot.com/2005/11/birsalmasajt-21szzad-konyhjban.html" target="_blank">almasajt</a> (erm... apple cheese) has been scratched. But the remaining apples must be scared out of their <s>pips</s> wits thinking about who's going to go next.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-62773716539403549852007-01-25T08:27:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:53.035+01:00Vörös és Fehér is Klassz<a href="http://www.vorosesfeher.com/" target="_blank">Vörös és Fehér</a> was a great little restaurant in the 6th district on Andrassy. It served tasty meals with an emphasis on quality wine. The menu was a bit pricey so I had only been when someone else was paying. <br /><br />It was here that our group from the office gatecrashed a wine tasting evening (turned out pretty good) and also saw a naked woman with painted on clothes strolling down Andrassy on a weekday lunchtime while we were entertaining visitors from out of town. Needless to say, they were entertained.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/vrs-s-fehr-is-klassz.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbhpvD20f6I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Z6uWI8lYt-w/s1600-h/DSC00952.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbhpvD20f6I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Z6uWI8lYt-w/s200/DSC00952.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5023881641541795746" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">Hello Everybody my name is Klassz. I will be a restaurant and a winery one day when I will be ready. I offer you beautiful, tasty food and nice wine. Please feel free to come in! R.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbhpvT20f7I/AAAAAAAAAIY/AbUQCStZheg/s1600-h/DSC00953.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbhpvT20f7I/AAAAAAAAAIY/AbUQCStZheg/s200/DSC00953.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5023881645836763058" /></a>Sziasztok! az én nevem Klassz. Etterem és Borozo leszek ha egzsyer kész leszek! Már megnyitottam finomat főzök és jó borokat szolgálok. Gyertek be! R.</span><br /><br />So it seems that Vörös és Fehér is dead and in it's place is Klassz. Though peeking into the place shows no real difference to the interior and according to the writing on the <s>wall</s> windows, the aim is the same. Premium food with a leaning towards the wine rack.<br /><br />I'll take a look at the menu if they pop one out onto the street and perhaps suggest it for a bit of experimentation but other than that I'll probably leave it to <a href="http://www.chew.hu/" target="_blank">chew</a> to review.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-22391833027144407092007-01-24T23:46:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:53.164+01:00A Crappy Quickie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbflvD20f5I/AAAAAAAAAIE/_-FG3hGFsXA/s1600-h/251237_discovery_f.gif" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbflvD20f5I/AAAAAAAAAIE/_-FG3hGFsXA/s200/251237_discovery_f.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5023736506006929298" /></a>Just a crappy quickie to keep my daily postings record. I find that setting aside 30 minutes in the morning around breakfast time means I push out a post no problem. Until I don't have 30 minutes in the morning, then it all turns <a href="http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/p.htm" target="_blank">pear-shaped</a>.<br /><br />Seeing as I'm running out of time for this Wednesday, I thought I'd share something that I hope isn't becoming a trend. There's quite a bit of feces involved. Basically in the span of less than a week, I've trodden in a huge pile of doggy doo, been shat on by a pigeon and a neighbour's cat left a little pungent package for us on our doormat.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/crappy-quickie.html">Read more</a></span><br /><span class="fullpost">Out of all the above, the doggy doo must have been the worst. It was just after a hike of several hours over the Buda hills. We'd reached civilization and as I took my first steps on the pavement, I almost slipped head over heels in something that must have been left by Dogzilla. As I was wearing my walking boots with chunky grip, it took me ages to get the damn things clean and sweet smelling.<br /><br />I consider the pigeon dropping droppings fairly lucky. There's always the "could have been worse" thought that crosses my mind. I was lucky it wasn't a few centimetres to the left where it would have hit me smack on the head instead of on my sleeve. I was also lucky that I noticed it just before I went to wipe my forehead with said sleeve. It washed off easily and didn't smell. Definitely lucky that dogs don't fly.<br /><br />Then there was the cat from a few doors down our corridor. Cute little playful kitten that meows outside our door when it feels like playing. Perhaps because I wasn't at home and able to play that it took offence and left a little message for me for when I got back. Oh well, at least it was solid.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-2882497493768080812007-01-23T08:37:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:53.310+01:00Filming in Budapest (V)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbW_NT20f4I/AAAAAAAAAH4/nuyTsoBPcc4/s1600-h/hellboy1.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbW_NT20f4I/AAAAAAAAAH4/nuyTsoBPcc4/s200/hellboy1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5023131194791067522" /></a>It seems that Budapest is Hell to some people. Perhaps that explains the warm weather we've been having. Mexican director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868219/" target="_blank">Guillermo Del Toro</a> and crew are said to be filming the sequel to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167190/" target="_blank">Hellboy</a> in Budapest, cunningly titled <a href="http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1240451.php/Hellboy_2_keys_are_assembled_off_to_Budapest" target="_blank">Hellboy 2</a>.<br /><br />Now I thought Hellboy was one of the worst films I've ever watched. For me, it was so bad it was fascinating and I had to watch right to the end to see if there were any redeeming features and to test my endurance. But I'll admit, I never heard about the <a href="http://www.hellboy.com/" target="_blank">Hellboy comic character</a> until the film so if people tell me I'm missing the point, then I'll probably agree.<br /><br />There's not a lot of info about the second film and I'm not sure if they're really shooting in Budapest or out in the sticks at <a href="http://www.sternfilm.com/" target="_blank">Etyek</a>. However, if you see some mutant creatures running down the streets like all Hell has broke loose, it probably has. That or the <a href="http://www.stagrepublic.co.uk/" target="_blank">stag & hen</a> season has started early.<br /><br /><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-27554532752205642362007-01-22T08:28:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:53.547+01:00The Scottish Pub<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbR02z20f2I/AAAAAAAAAHg/J3e5J-Xw6eM/s1600-h/pints-and-pumps.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbR02z20f2I/AAAAAAAAAHg/J3e5J-Xw6eM/s200/pints-and-pumps.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022767969406844770" /></a>It's not the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scottish_play" target="_blank">Scottish Play</a> so I think that I can mention its name, Caledonia. The pub opened up at the tail end of 2006 and has already built up a good reputation and a lively crowd of regulars.<br /><br />Situated <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Budapest,+Hungary&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=17&ll=47.504193,19.061848&spn=0.004798,0.013561&t=h" target="_blank">just off Jokai tér on Mozsar utca</a>, the bar is very central and easy to get to. You just need to know it's there as most people forget that the tiny Mozsar utca even exists.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/scottish-pub.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost">I wouldn't say I'm a local there but I've popped in for the occasional pint and chat with friends. Yes, they really do sell some of the beer in pints, which probably violates some EU law but seeing as a pint is 0.568 litres I don't think anyone will be complaining. Oh, and I'm talking about the good old fashioned Imperial Pint as opposed to that new fangled US pint which equates to a mere 0.473 litres.<br /><br />The staff are warm and welcoming but the best thing about the whole place is that they sell <a href="http://www.belhaven.co.uk/index01.html" target="_blank">Belhaven Best Bitter</a> (in pints!) which tastes utterly delicious and reminds me of the great bitters back in Blighty. The best bit about the Best is that instead of charging some rip-off price (like Birdland charging 380ft for a 0.25 bottle of water but that's another story), a pint of this lovely liquid will set you back 600ft. Which, although more expensive than most beers, is not that far off from a watered down Dreher from Mediterran in Liszt Ferenc tér on the other side of Andrassy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbR03D20f3I/AAAAAAAAAHo/wjZwZvgrhUc/s1600-h/thumbnail_2d.php.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbR03D20f3I/AAAAAAAAAHo/wjZwZvgrhUc/s200/thumbnail_2d.php.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022767973701812082" /></a>While I've been going on about the beer, I've neglected to mention the fact that they also do great food (so people tell me). I can't find a proper Caledonia website but their menu does appear on <a href="http://www.xpatloop.com/news.php?id=8927" target="_blank">an xpatloop page</a>. The steaks, burgers and all-day Scottish breakfasts have all been recommended to me.<br /><br />So, they've got the food and drink covered and they've also covered the walls with a smattering of flat TVs for the sports fans. Oh, and it seems that Thursday nights is karaoke night. Karaoke isn't "my thing" but people were having a lot of fun and that's good in my book. <br /><br />If you're around Liszt Ferenc tér and looking for an alternative option. Cross over Andrassy and stroll down Mozsar. You'll find a fantastic pint of beer down there.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-31453290063631802812007-01-19T08:46:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:53.824+01:00Blustery Budapest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbB-aT20f0I/AAAAAAAAAHI/-i1oZ5yMcEw/s1600-h/wind_blow1.gif" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbB-aT20f0I/AAAAAAAAAHI/-i1oZ5yMcEw/s200/wind_blow1.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021652574990008130" /></a>The sun has risen and a new day has begun. The world didn't end after all, which is what seemed would happen according to the number who warned me about the storms coming into Hungary last night.<br /><br />I realise that, yes, the winds were <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6277537.stm" target="_blank">pretty windy</a> over a lot of Northern and Western Europe. They were strong enough to kill people with falling trees and blowing lorries off course.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/blustery-budapest.html">Read more</a><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbB-aj20f1I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/oCZMEVYY21I/s1600-h/nweather19b.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RbB-aj20f1I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/oCZMEVYY21I/s200/nweather19b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021652579284975442" /></a>Hungary also recently messed up when the last bit of really <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5269642.stm" target="_blank">bad weather blew in on St Stephens day last year</a>. As it was a holiday the weathermen were taking it easy, people from all over the country had traveled up to Budapest to see the fireworks on along the Danube. Then the storm hit and people died.<br /><br />To try to prevent the same happening again, it seems that the media went into a frenzy over the approaching Armageddon and every single Hungarian I met yesterday mentioned it to me. They suggested that I leave work early so I didn't get caught in it, get hit by trees, roofs, flying cows etc. I appear to have survived and according to the news, no Hungarians were killed by the thing so hopefully it's all blown over now.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-23665740187033428192007-01-18T20:03:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:54.446+01:00Sprok!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sLj20fvI/AAAAAAAAAGM/xj9uXrg9Fi4/s1600-h/oma.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sLj20fvI/AAAAAAAAAGM/xj9uXrg9Fi4/s200/oma.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021491792889282290" /></a>Apart from being a great name (not to be confused with <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/spork" target="_blank">Spork</a>), it's also great "furniture". I've put furniture into quotes as while the chairs, tables and cupboards that <a href="http://www.sprokdesign.hu/en/index_en.html" target="_blank">Antal Sprok</a> designs can be used to hold your everyday things, they themselves are far from ordinary.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sLz20fwI/AAAAAAAAAGU/XEXSk-U_CSU/s1600-h/dezsoke.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sLz20fwI/AAAAAAAAAGU/XEXSk-U_CSU/s200/dezsoke.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021491797184249602" /></a>A chest of drawers is placed in the chest of a <a href="http://www.sprokdesign.hu/en/lajcsika_en.html" target="_blank">strange man</a> or a <a href="http://www.sprokdesign.hu/en/oma_en.html" target="_blank">little old lady</a>. A <a href="http://www.sprokdesign.hu/en/nyul_en.html" target="_blank">lean rabbit</a> poses with a backpack into which you can place your own things. Or perhaps you prefer the <a href="http://www.sprokdesign.hu/en/teve_en.html" target="_blank">camel</a> who rests backwards to create a chair for you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/sprok.html">Read more</a></span><span class="fullpost"><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sMD20fxI/AAAAAAAAAGc/AbPnmY03RY4/s1600-h/agarka.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sMD20fxI/AAAAAAAAAGc/AbPnmY03RY4/s200/agarka.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021491801479216914" /></a>The furniture is all wooden sculpture and Sprok also takes it further with objects with no other purpose than to fascinate you with their fun creativity. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sMD20fzI/AAAAAAAAAGs/wlUaDRnoVeg/s1600-h/hideousbirdman.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sMD20fzI/AAAAAAAAAGs/wlUaDRnoVeg/s200/hideousbirdman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021491801479216946" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sMD20fyI/AAAAAAAAAGk/ZoxrmrSXSnA/s1600-h/gentleman.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra_sMD20fyI/AAAAAAAAAGk/ZoxrmrSXSnA/s200/gentleman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021491801479216930" /></a><br />I first saw Sprok furniture when it was displayed in a <a href="http://www.demko.hu/" target="_blank">Demko Feder</a> shop on my way to work. It reminds me of the great originality of my old friend <a href="http://www.pockless.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dr. Pockless</a> who turns out similar sketches over at <a href="http://www.meafmania.co.uk/squint/" target="_blank">Squint</a>.<br /><br /><br />It appears that Sprok has a <a href="http://www.sprokdesign.hu/en/kiallitasok_en.html" target="_blank">permanent display</a> of his work in a Budapest gallery over at Kő utca 14, in the 2nd district and has an exhibition starting in the House of Hungarian Wines from March 3rd. I highly recommend popping over sometime to take a look at the weird and wonderful world of Sprok.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">* Images "borrowed" from the <a href="http://www.sprokdesign.hu/en/index_en.html" target="_blank">Sprok</a> and <a href="http://www.meafmania.co.uk/squint/" target="_blank">Squint</a> sites. Please visit them for more of the same.</span><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-30739195236827280512007-01-17T08:48:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:54.837+01:00Not An Uplifting Experience<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra3VvT20ftI/AAAAAAAAAF0/WxDb1RYcPWc/s1600-h/DSC00907.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra3VvT20ftI/AAAAAAAAAF0/WxDb1RYcPWc/s200/DSC00907.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020904168348745426" /></a>This is a sign that I am seeing more often than I should. It reads <br /><br /><i>"Rossz vagyok. Javitás sajnos csak reggel"</i> <br /><br />which translates into <br /><br /><i>"I'm bad. Unfortunately, fix just in the morning"</i> <br /><br />which can also be read as <br /><br /><i>"The lift has broken down yet again for the umpteenth time and so you better start hiking up those stairs. Might be repaired in the morning, might not, who knows?"</i><br /><span class="shortpost"><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/not-uplifting-experience.html">Read more</a><br /></span><span class="fullpost"><br />Maybe I'm getting cynical and it's all in my mind but I'm sure that this is happening more frequently. It's a real bummer to see it when you've had a busy day at the office then stopped off at the shops to load up with food on the way home. It's a non-negotiable contract that you signed unwillingly to lug all your bags up 5 flights of stairs. Then again, think of the little old ladies that have to trudge up the steps. That's got to be hard.<br /><br />People who get trapped inside used to have a alarm bell to ring with a push of a button. It sounded just like a normal doorbell so it was a while before I realised what it was when we first moved here. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra3aez20fuI/AAAAAAAAAF8/RoclxdGq4bM/s1600-h/DSC00946.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ra3aez20fuI/AAAAAAAAAF8/RoclxdGq4bM/s200/DSC00946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020909382439042786" /></a>Those who have to respond to the bell got fed up with the lift breaking down and the lift getting stuck. But instead of the house paying for repairing the lift properly or installing a new one they've just added another button and another alarm to ring. This one is linked to a telephone somewhere, so that you can chat to someone while you're imprisoned awaiting release.<br /><br /><br />I love the flat and the house that we live in. It's slowly improving bit by bit so I'm sure it's only a matter of time before it's in tip-top condition. The only problem is that by that time I'm probably going to be a wrinkly, old man muttering to myself as I carry my shopping up the stairs.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-30367707226678255572007-01-16T08:34:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:55.535+01:00Other Side of the Square<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHdD20foI/AAAAAAAAAE4/S14UodypIoE/s1600-h/DSC00473.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHdD20foI/AAAAAAAAAE4/S14UodypIoE/s200/DSC00473.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020536617932455554" /></a>After writing about postcards from the edge of Erzsebet ter yesterday, I realised that I never put out a post for the smart, new Erzsebet ter on the other side of the old bus station.<br /><br /><br /><br />Workers spent a few months pushing and pulling it about in the second half of 2006 and then sometime back in September or October they finished it off and opened it up.<br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/other-side-of-square.html">Read more</a></span><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHdz20frI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/xEJbIG2Fmy0/s1600-h/DSC00684.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHdz20frI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/xEJbIG2Fmy0/s200/DSC00684.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020536630817357490" /></a>These pics are from back then, which explains the lack of bulky winter clothes on the people wandering about. But to be honest, the weather has been so warm this January that it might as well have been yesterday.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHeD20fsI/AAAAAAAAAFY/5Y7OPkkKF-E/s1600-h/DSC00685.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHeD20fsI/AAAAAAAAAFY/5Y7OPkkKF-E/s200/DSC00685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020536635112324802" /></a>The park has lost some of it's wild charm as they have pulled out a lot of bushes and put more paving down. It now appears very sparse and open. <br /><br />However, some people will see that as a good thing as it's less scary to walk through at night with not a lot of places for nasty monsters to lurk.<br /><br />Now, instead of an open gravel area where people would walk their dogs and just leave them to it, there's a fenced off doggy area. This should help keep the park clean but I often wonder how often (if ever) the canine cage gets de-crappified. It doesn't take long for it to become a concentrated camp of crap that is so bad, even the dog walkers refuse to enter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHdj20fqI/AAAAAAAAAFI/WSoJnkmNb9w/s1600-h/DSC00683.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHdj20fqI/AAAAAAAAAFI/WSoJnkmNb9w/s200/DSC00683.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020536626522390178" /></a>Other improvements include a decent looking basketball court that's actually used (I even saw a group playing around midnight as I was walking home from the pub this weekend) and a good kid's playground with lots of fun swingy, swirly things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHdT20fpI/AAAAAAAAAFA/7XKBlmla9tk/s1600-h/DSC00682.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RayHdT20fpI/AAAAAAAAAFA/7XKBlmla9tk/s200/DSC00682.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020536622227422866" /></a>The main statue and fountain has stayed put and I think they have improved the lighting of it. Strangely another statue of a shepherd playing music to his sheep was moved to the other side of the square, but at least they've kept it. <br /><br />The old statue of Erzsebet that used to sit, hidden in the bushes was hauled away some years ago.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-58234005880081242632007-01-15T08:58:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:55.943+01:00Postcards From Hungary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ras8oT20fnI/AAAAAAAAAEk/mbnwwNtDYfo/s1600-h/DSC00852.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ras8oT20fnI/AAAAAAAAAEk/mbnwwNtDYfo/s200/DSC00852.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020172872857190002" /></a>People were expecting a bit of tension around the 50th anniversary of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Revolution_of_1956" target="_blank">1956 uprising</a> last year but I don't think anyone realised there would be full-blown riots. Last September a tape was "leaked" that had the prime minister admitting that he'd lied morning, noon and night about the state of the economy and that they'd done bugger all since getting into power to put the country back on track.<br /><br />I won't go into the riots in this post. You can read all about it at the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5359250.stm" target="_blank">BBC</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_protests_in_Hungary" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> or even the <a href="http://riotsinhungary.blog.hu/" target="_blank">"Riots in Hungary"</a> site. They all have good coverage of it and the Riots in Hungary site has links to all the video clips and an <a href="http://riotsinhungary.blog.hu/2006/10/25/interactive_riot_walkthrough_1" target="_blank">interactive walkthrough of events</a>.<br /><br />While a lot of people vehemently opposed the prime minister and what he had done, they were equally disgusted by the riots and the idea of Hungarians fighting each other in the streets. <br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/postcards-from-hungary.html">Read more</a></span><br /><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ras8XT20flI/AAAAAAAAAEU/clfOn2NgymI/s1600-h/DSC00853.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ras8XT20flI/AAAAAAAAAEU/clfOn2NgymI/s200/DSC00853.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020172580799413842" /></a>A new installation at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Budapest,+Hungary&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=47.497648,19.05261&spn=0.010003,0.027122&t=h&om=1" target="_blank">Erzsebet ter</a> in the 5th district shows the results of a campaign by the government to get people's take on situation. The <a href="http://www.szeretemmagyarorszagot.hu/" target="_blank">"Szeretem Magyarorszagot Klub"</a> <span style="font-style:italic;">(careful, the film and music is set to autoplay)</span> asked people to send in postcards with their thoughts. These postcards were then digitized and printed onto outdoor covers. Each cover sheet holds a load of cards and then they've put these sheets all around the main walkway of the square. <br /><br />Some cards display just the simple "Szeretem Magyarorszagot" phrase while others are slightly more political and refer to the riot police, the prime minister or the leader of the opposition (both for and against).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ras8oD20fmI/AAAAAAAAAEc/IR2_8MfChdk/s1600-h/DSC00849.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/Ras8oD20fmI/AAAAAAAAAEc/IR2_8MfChdk/s200/DSC00849.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020172868562222690" /></a>If you're walking around downtown then it's worth taking a peek. Even if you don't understand the Hungarian, you'll get the gist of things with the pictures that people have drawn and the sheer number of cards. If you're not in the center (or even in Hungary) then you can <a href="http://bekestobbseg.szeretemmagyarorszagot.hu/" target="_blank">browse through the cards online</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-10900682727321357832007-01-12T08:45:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:56.259+01:00Nagymező News<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RadHwz20fjI/AAAAAAAAAD8/euOL-uBFwWs/s1600-h/DSC00943.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RadHwz20fjI/AAAAAAAAAD8/euOL-uBFwWs/s200/DSC00943.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019059213607140914" /></a>One side of the "Hungarian Broadway" has already been renovated and closed to normal traffic. The wide section housing the Operetta and Moulin Rouge was re-paved, re-planted and restricted to just buses and taxis a couple of years ago.<br /><br />It seems that the same sort of operation will be carried out on the small section of Nagymező that's home to another theatre, <a href="http://thehungaryyears.blogspot.com/2006/03/better-late-than-never.html" target="_blank">Két Szerecsen</a> and <a href="http://thehungaryyears.blogspot.com/2005/12/crashes-bananas-humanity.html" target="_blank">my old greengrocers</a> on the other side of Andrassy.<br /><span class="shortpost"><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/nagymez-news.html">Read more</a></span><br /><span class="fullpost">That section of road has been closed since the end of last year and they have dug up all the pavements which must be a real pain for the businesses there. I took a closer look at the sign the construction company has erected and saw that they will be building yet another underground car park. <br /><br />There's loads of underground car parks now throughout the city and I like the idea that you can still park your car somewhere relatively safe without the need for ugly multi-storey car parks.<br /><br />I just hope it won't go the way of Moscow where they worry about the whole place <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1578729.ece" target="_blank">collapsing into the chasms underneath</a>. I guess Budapest has been dealing with that <a href="http://www.elgi.hu/banya/presents/becs1.htm" target="_blank">problem</a> for a while in the Castle District.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RadHxD20fkI/AAAAAAAAAEE/uc22qyYMy3k/s1600-h/DSC00938.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RadHxD20fkI/AAAAAAAAAEE/uc22qyYMy3k/s200/DSC00938.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019059217902108226" /></a>I'm sure that it'll make Nagymező a nicer place to be and will hopefully extend the pavements so that the pubs, cafes and restaurants can creep out with their tables. I'm not sure if I believe the fantasy pictures on the website of <a href="http://www.murus.hu/index.php?01011071" target="_blank">Murus</a> the construction company. For one thing, they seem to have omitted all other buildings and placed the skyline at street-level. <br /><br /><br />Oh well, we'll have to wait and see. It's going to be pretty messy there until they finish in the middle of 2008.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://parkolas.lap.hu" target="_blank">Link to more info on car parks in Hungary</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-33923288635059626252007-01-11T08:09:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:56.344+01:00Boom Boom!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaXpoz20fiI/AAAAAAAAADw/aY4nlAd4bYU/s1600-h/DSC00920.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaXpoz20fiI/AAAAAAAAADw/aY4nlAd4bYU/s200/DSC00920.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5018674247098465826" /></a>Here's another car that you wouldn't expect to see on the streets of Budapest. Well okay, it's not on the streets of Budapest but in the entrance to a big supermarket but it's definitely not in it's natural habitat.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.basilbrush.com/" target="_blank">Basil Brush</a> is a great character that was a feature in my early years. He was on British telly in the 70's and 80's, had a long break and then had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Brush#Basil_Brush_Show_Comeback_.282002.29" target="_blank">comeback in 2002</a> He's still going now with his classic "Boom Boom!" catchphrase. He may have a rounder, softer face, but that happens to a lot of stars. Hey, he's even got his own <a href="http://www.basilbrush.com/blog/" target="_blank">blog and vlog</a>!<br /><br />He's always been a bit of a dashing fellow about town and country so the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118655/" target="_blank">Austin Powers</a>' <a href="http://www.411toys.com/moviecars/shagmobile.jpg" target="_blank">shagmobile</a> could be said to match his character. If any male could be <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/foxy" target="blank">"foxy"</a> then that would have to be Basil Brush.<br /><br />I'm not sure how much it costs for your kids to ride with Basil, but when you wander in through the automatic doors of the <a href="http://www.tesco.hu/" target="_blank">Tesco</a> at Váci út, you'll see an icon of British TV. <br /><br />Oh, and if you don't fancy Basil Brush, there's also the more literary <a href="http://www.mrmen.com/site/flash/" target="_blank">Mr Men</a> giving chase just behind. But that's a different story all together.<br /><br /><!-- blah -->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-45923430984181356792007-01-10T08:26:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:56.593+01:00Hungarian Hot-Rod<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaSV2j20fgI/AAAAAAAAADY/RV7IGtTZlVQ/s1600-h/DSC00922.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaSV2j20fgI/AAAAAAAAADY/RV7IGtTZlVQ/s200/DSC00922.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5018300649368223234" /></a>There's a bizarre car around town. It's quite rare and I've seen it maybe 3 or 4 times. The last time being a few days ago and I remembered to whip out the phone and take a pic.<br /><br />I was in a rush and forgot to get close enough to see what the make and model was. I remember it from some magazines or TV programs a few years ago so knew it was a production model from one of the big American companies and not some cottage industry car. <br /><span class="shortpost"><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/hungarian-hot-rod.html">Read more</a></span><br /><span class="fullpost">Looking around on the net for cars that look "like a car from ZZ top", "dragsters" and finally "hot-rod" brings up the information that tells me it's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Prowler" target="_blank">Plymouth Prowler</a> (aka the Chrysler Prowler). In fact, there's a test drive article in Hungarian over at <a href="http://totalcar.hu/tesztek/prowler/" target="_blank">Totalcar</a> (<a href="#ps">*</a>). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaSV2z20fhI/AAAAAAAAADg/WddPStX5JPo/s1600-h/DSC00923.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaSV2z20fhI/AAAAAAAAADg/WddPStX5JPo/s200/DSC00923.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5018300653663190546" /></a>Its appearance is so wacky and out of place on the road that I love it. Imagine seeing it in your rear-view mirror and you could be mistaken that you're having a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075860/" target="_blank">close encounter of the third kind</a> as aliens make their way down to their weekend house at Balaton. I'm not sure who has the money to really "play" with their cars but it seems that Hungary has some people out there willing to do so. I salute them.<br /><br />Sadly, Chrysler replaced the futuristic Prowler with the muscled but more mundane <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Crossfire" target="_blank">Crossfire</a>. <br /><br />In 1998, the people of Tusla, Oklahoma thought the car was good enough or weird enough to bury a purple Prowler in a time capsule along with the City of Tusla financial report, some restaurant menus and a case of <a href="http://webersoftulsa.com/" target="_blank">Weber's root beer</a>. Perhaps the Prowler's styling will be standard enough for it to be more of a sales success when they dig it up in 2048.<br /><br /><br /><a name="ps">*</a> After writing this, I remembered that <a href="http://kzamm.com" target="_blank">Mr Kzamm</a> is connected with Totalcar. After a quick look at his site, I see that he's already covered the Prowler in his <a href="http://kzamm.com/2006/05/when-corporations-build-hot-rods.html" target="_blank">"When corporations build hot-rods" article</a>. Sorry for the lack of originality. But it doesn't stop it being a weird-but-cool car.<br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-78442151444149088662007-01-09T08:34:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:57.050+01:00Just A Perfect Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaNQYTaRIII/AAAAAAAAACw/tB9XBooQe1U/s1600-h/DSC00931.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaNQYTaRIII/AAAAAAAAACw/tB9XBooQe1U/s200/DSC00931.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017942788278395010" /></a>It wasn't exactly illness but after the bout of unwellness on Saturday it was good to venture out for some fresh air on Sunday. <br /><br />We had thought about getting back into the swing of things with a long hike with the <a href="http://ttt.tr.hu/" target="_blank">Teljesítménytúrázók Társasága</a> but decided that we would ease into the exercise a little more slowly. And besides, we had overslept and been lazy in the morning. <br /><br />When we've been out for walks before with the TTT, they've always started no later than 9.30am. On Sunday we managed to get out of the flat at around midday. With the sun scheduled to set at just after 4pm, that forced us to keep the walk short and simple.<br /><br />We hopped onto the red metro to Moszkva tér and then took the 56 tram up to Hűvösvölgy. From that last stop, it's easy to head off on several walks, short and long. <br /><br /><span class="shortpost"><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/just-perfect-day.html">Read more</a></span><br /><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaNQYjaRIJI/AAAAAAAAAC4/X4brWf4AOKc/s1600-h/DSC00933.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaNQYjaRIJI/AAAAAAAAAC4/X4brWf4AOKc/s200/DSC00933.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017942792573362322" /></a>We followed the route over Harshegy to a lookout tower (Kaán Károly kilátó) and then through the Budakeszi-erdő. A lot of people must have had the same idea as the paths were packed with people. <br /><br />Okay, they weren't exactly packed but there were definitely more people than we were expecting in January. Obviously they had been listening to the same forecasts as us and were making the most of the unseasonal weather. The sun shone and we had to strip off our outer layers to stop the sweat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaNQYzaRIKI/AAAAAAAAADA/PevYDX6_MqQ/s1600-h/DSC00936.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaNQYzaRIKI/AAAAAAAAADA/PevYDX6_MqQ/s200/DSC00936.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017942796868329634" /></a>After about 10km, we ended up at Normafa and from here we'd normally take the 56 tram back from the stop at the cogwheel railway but as we'd just missed it and the sun was still in the sky, we carried on all the way back to Moskva tér. <br /><br />To treat ourselves, we took one of the new the 4-6 trams to Oktogon to pick up some cakes for home. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaNQYDaRIHI/AAAAAAAAACo/VKcNQhBP0s8/s1600-h/DSC00928.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaNQYDaRIHI/AAAAAAAAACo/VKcNQhBP0s8/s200/DSC00928.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017942783983427698" /></a>As we passed the clock at Nyugati Scala it was showing 11C in the dusk, meaning that it must have been well above that in the sun on the hillsides. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I've always liked a bit of snow in the winter but if this is what global warming is, then bring it on. <br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br /><br />makkosmáriai templom<br /><br />harshegy - Kaán Károly kilátó - budakeszi erdo - normafa<br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-16145979773364218642007-01-08T08:22:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:57.307+01:00The Random Chocolates and the Two Pint Hangover<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaH6dDaRIFI/AAAAAAAAACQ/uuM8pG_dPJc/s1600-h/DSC00912.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaH6dDaRIFI/AAAAAAAAACQ/uuM8pG_dPJc/s200/DSC00912.JPG" border="0" alt="The Random Chocolates" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017566836906074194" /></a>Perhaps it wasn't a true two pint hangover. I had been feeling a little bit rough before I even took a sip of beer on Friday night but I went to <a href="http://www.vittula.hu/" target="_blank">Klub Vittula</a> on Kertesz utca anyway. The place has been around for a while now but it was the first time I'd been. Strange, as I know some people that are regulars there and it's not far from the office. <br /><br />The reason for losing my Vittula virginity was to watch couple of bands play. The first being <a href="http://www.radkin.com/the_random_chocolates/" target="_blank">The Random Chocolates</a> leading up to <a href="http://www.mookiebrando.com/" target="_blank">Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins</a>. I'd seen both play before over at the <a href="http://www.ratepubs.com/pub/4518/general.htm" target="_blank">Fregatt</a> but they had been lacking drums and drums make all the difference.<span class="shortpost"><br /><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/random-chocolates-and-two-pint-hangover.html">Read more</a></span><br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaH6dTaRIGI/AAAAAAAAACY/ESUd791z448/s1600-h/DSC00917.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RaH6dTaRIGI/AAAAAAAAACY/ESUd791z448/s200/DSC00917.JPG" border="0" alt="Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5017566841201041506" /></a>Vitulla is a narrow, smoky joint in a basement with the bar at the back and the stage at the front next to the entrance. The stage itself is tiny and decorated with what looks like a variety of colourful shower curtains. The result is actually very good. A cosy and friendly atmosphere with everyone shuffling around each other and a band that dominates the main room. <br /><br />The chocs were on great form and got a good response from the audience. It may have been helped by the random chocolates being offered to the crowd. Once the real chocs were in front of us on the table (the sweets not the band) my stomach rumbled to signal that it needed food. Not wanting to fill up on beer, I scoffed a few chocolate covered nuts. <br /><br />I was pleasantly surprised to see they sell Arany Facan (aka <a href="http://www.zlatybazant.sk/" target="_blank">Zlatý bažant</a>) which is very tasty and clean, so that was my first order. But the next pint was part of someone else's round and came in a large, unbranded glass and I suspect may have been Holstein which has been known to mess me about in small quantities.<br /><br />So my two pint hangover was probably a combination of a slight cold, chocolate dinner and the dodgy second pint. Saturday was spent taking it easy. I can only imagine what would have happened to my hangover if I'd been to see The Random Palinkas.<br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-62095872214352897962007-01-05T08:31:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:57.482+01:00Timber<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZ2PNMLk6_I/AAAAAAAAACE/uVn8RcqBOPI/s1600-h/DSC00910.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZ2PNMLk6_I/AAAAAAAAACE/uVn8RcqBOPI/s200/DSC00910.JPG" border="0" alt="Final Tuft of Christmas" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016323016731454450" /></a>I did say that the lights would be coming down soon. On my way home last night I caught sight of some wannabe lumberjacks taking down the big tree outside the opera house on Andrassy.<br /><br />Instead of going for the full-on comedy value of taking an axe to the base and letting it crash onto stunned pedestrians coming out of the metro stop, they were sensibly taking it apart bit by bit like some large, green lego set. Albeit with a chainsaw and a large hydraulic lift on loan from the fire department. <br /><br />One onlooker had managed to snatch a big shiny bauble and was bouncing the huge unbreakable ball on the new cobblestones they have there. Instead of taking my own souvenir I took a quick pic of the final tuft of Christmas standing proud on the top of the tree and left.<br /><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714879.post-78070628254201353062007-01-04T09:07:00.000+01:002008-11-13T09:29:57.949+01:00Light of Your Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZy3UMLk68I/AAAAAAAAABc/R59EK1GBXas/s1600-h/2006_Szilveszter+025.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZy3UMLk68I/AAAAAAAAABc/R59EK1GBXas/s200/2006_Szilveszter+025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016085642478939074" /></a>One of the things that Budapest has been getting better and better at each year is their impressive display of Christmas lights. Up and down the main streets and in some of the open areas, they've wired up trees and posts to a bazillion little light bulbs.<br /><br />It seems that each district has it's own budget and schedule for the lights and a clear distinction can be seen when going from one district to another. Follow the korut clockwise from the 6th to 7th to 8th districts and you'll notice the different styles.<span class="shortpost"><br /><br /><a title="permanent link" href="/2007/01/light-of-your-life.html">Read more</a></span><br /><span class="fullpost"><br />The street that has the most shock and awe value has to be Andrassy ut, with that huge avenue lined by trees and each tree sporting its own suit of lights. Even when the trees change from the big sturdy fellows between the Bajcsy and Oktogon stretch and the weedy new-plants on the remainder up to Heroes' Square, the effect is still magnificent.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZy3TcLk67I/AAAAAAAAABU/tZL2ifsMgxI/s1600-h/2006_Szilveszter+004.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZy3TcLk67I/AAAAAAAAABU/tZL2ifsMgxI/s200/2006_Szilveszter+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016085629594037170" /></a>My memory fails me but this may have been the first year for blue bulbs in the squares. Liszt Ferenc ter and Jokai ter were both decked out in snazzy blue light. The scene was replicated around the theatres and cafes on Nagymezo. The new square that appeared after the demolition of all the little shops on Karoly krt were also blue and sparkling.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZy3UsLk69I/AAAAAAAAABk/4UBCpOG8hDA/s1600-h/2006_Szilveszter+026.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZy3UsLk69I/AAAAAAAAABk/4UBCpOG8hDA/s200/2006_Szilveszter+026.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016085651068873682" /></a>It was a very pleasant sight and although I'm talking about them in the past tense, the lights are still up. However, having gone up at the beginning of December and with Christmas and New Year over, I'm sure they'll be coming down any moment now.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZy3VMLk6-I/AAAAAAAAABs/eFzVcTCD6OY/s1600-h/2006_Szilveszter+029.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kCFnaOkYTiw/RZy3VMLk6-I/AAAAAAAAABs/eFzVcTCD6OY/s200/2006_Szilveszter+029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016085659658808290" /></a>If you or your friends are thinking of coming to visit Budapest sometime, don't just stick to the summers (which are great by the way), why not try a Christmas break to get a bit of shopping in around the markets, scoff some street kolbasz, sip some mulled wine and get enchanted strolling down the street filled with lights.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="javascript:history.back(1)">Back to home</a><br /><br /></span><br /><!-- <br />Some helpful html<br /><a href="blah" target="_blank">blah</a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img src="blah"></a><br /><a href="blah" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 10px;" src="blah.jpg"></a><br />-->Timbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17340427820712489149noreply@blogger.com0