The best souvenirs are those that are specific to the place you visited and, ideally, made by local people. You’ll not only be buying something special but you’ll also be supporting the local economy. If you’re traveling to Hungary and are hoping to bring back a memorable gift, here is a list of ideas for [...]
Exactly seven weeks before Easter, the streets of Mohács come alive with the annual Busójárás Carnival. The pre-Lent festival features locals wearing sheepskin costumes while parading and dancing in the streets. Busójárás lasts six days, starting on Thursday and ending the day before Ash Wednesday. The carnival ends with a symbolic ritual called ‘The Burial [...]
From imperial palaces, trotting white horses, lush gardens to chandelier-lit coffeehouses and fine wines, Vienna doesn’t disappoint when it comes to romance. So, if you’re looking to do something special to spark a little love in your life, here are just a few of the best things on offer in this historical city. Admire “The [...]
In 1913, the 7th Congress of the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance (IWSA) met in Budapest. The aim of the convention was to raise public awareness of women’s issues in Hungary. In particular, the alliance wanted to work with city council to establish a women’s aid office as well as day care centers. Here’s a look [...]
A larger-than size bronze statue of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was unveiled today at the Graphisoft Park in Budapest. The statue was commissioned by Graphisoft Founder and Chairman of the Board Gabor Bojar. The relationship between Graphisoft and Apple can be traced to the 1980’s, when Jobs came across the first version of Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD [...]
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Commonly most of the regions’ festivities begin with the period of Advent which is four weeks prior to Christmas and the feast of Saint Nicholas on the 6th of December. Although the celebration of the season is shared, each country has developed their [...]
Honey cake is one of the most popular traditional desserts in Croatia. It consists of thin layers of biscuit made with honey and vanilla flavored cream filling. This version contains both vanilla and cocoa which gives it just the right amount of sweetness. It makes a great accompaniment with tea or coffee. For the biscuit [...]
Originating as a staple for herdsman’s traveling across the great plains of Hungary many centuries ago, goulash is one of Hungary’s most famous dishes. A hearty soup of beef, vegetables, and paprika, goulash gets its flavor from being cooked slowly over a long period of time. Making goulash is fairly simple but to make a [...]
Often referred to as “Hungary’s red gold”, paprika has become synonymous with Hungarian food due to its ability to add excellent flavor and color to various traditional dishes. There are several versions of paprika ranging from édes (sweet) to eros (hot) as well as everything in between. Below is a list of the types of paprika [...]
Czechs love beer. Whether it’s the water, hops, or simply that Pilsner was invented here, beer is undeniably central to Czech culture. To help you prepare for a great beer drinking experience in the Czech Republic, here are a few interesting facts about Czech beer. • Czechs consume more beer than any other country in [...]
There are a lot of legends about wine. Of the more strange and unusual is the parallel with bull’s blood. Bull’s blood also known locally as “Egri Bikavér” is a potent, dry red wine that is from the Eger wine region in northern Hungary. It is reputed to have earned its name from the 16th-century invasion by [...]
Launched in September, “The Tokaji Journal“, is a new digital wine magazine that focuses exclusively on the wines of Tokaj, both dry and sweet. The magazine’s aim is to provide the latest news, trends, and information about these unique wines to an English-speaking audience worldwide. Editor Gergely Somogyi shares with us his inspiration for launching the magazine. [...]
Tokaj is famed for its intense sweet wines but there also many other styles to appreciate from the region. In particular, dry wines from the single variety of Furmint. Many of these wines can be of good quality, possessing excellent acidity and flavour. This week, I decided to try a 2009 Tokaji Furmint from Hétszölö. This winery has a long and distinguished reputation in [...]
Whether your travelling to Budapest for business or leisure, give yourself a little treat and stay at Gerlóczy Rooms de Lux. Built in 1892, this former bank building has been stylishly renovated into a luxury boutique hotel. Gerlóczy Rooms de Lux is situated in the middle of a fabulous old square in the historical downtown of Pest named [...]
Fruit soups are a very common dish in Hungary and Romania. This savory soup is meant to be served hot with a side of crusty bread. Ingredients 1 potato 3 medium carrots 2 celery sticks 1 green pepper, seeded 2 tomatoes 3 tbsp butter 10 cups (2 1/2 litres) chicken stock 6 green apples, peeled and finely chopped [...]
The Balkans may be one of the least traveled areas of Europe but don’t let that make you think its not a worthwhile place to visit. The region has a fascinating and complex history expanding thousands of years, a rich culture, spectacular sights and countless natural wonders. Albena Shkodrova shares her insight with us about [...]
Here are six great reasons why you should travel by rail. 1) Accessibility Most major cities have railway stations right within the city center and are easily reachable by public transit or sometimes even within walking distance. This includes popular destinations such as Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Munich, and Warsaw. So there’s less time spent traveling [...]
Wine is such an easily recognizable term known around the word. Hear a variation and you can easily determine that wine is being described. In Spanish and Italian its known as ‘vino’, in German its ‘Wein’, in French its ‘vin’ and so on.
Kati Marton, a former NPR and ABC News correspondent and author of multiple of books including Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History and Wallenberg: Missing Hero, will be speaking at the University of Toronto on Tuesday October 26th. The event is entitled “A Hungarian Navigates a Dangerous Century: from “the Great Escape” to “Enemies of the People,” A [...]
Oktoberfest celebrated its 200th anniversary this year. Here are some photos of the event.
The Royal Academy’s Treasures from Budapest: European Masterpieces from Leonardo to Schiele will be on display from 25th September until 12th December 2010. The exhibition comprises of works from the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, with additional key loans from the Hungarian National Gallery. It features over 200 works and includes paintings, drawings and sculptures from the [...]
