Word for the Travel Wise (10/27/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Iva touched on Central Europe’s woes last month around this very same time and if you’re the revolutionary type student protest and shady government scandal could make Hungary, Poland or the Czech Republic your destination of choice. On the flipside for those of us who don’t wish to experience any parts of the drama while vacationing, but happen to get stuck in smack dab in the middle of some yuck situation this word is for you.

Today’s word is a Magyar (Hungarian) word used in Hungary:

segítség – help

The Hungarian lingo is a Finno-Ugric language, which you can learn more about at Wikipedia, right now let’s stick to the places you can learn it for free. Hungarotips is a completely free site with beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons. This impulzus web page has everything you’d basically find in a LP guide. There’s no audio, so read a little about the alphabet and then find someone who’s willing to make sure you speak like a local. The verbal exchange will be very rewarding I am sure. As always remember to scope out the BBC for basic lang downloads.

Past Hungarian words: köszönöm, vásárlók könyve, hangverseny, kijárat

Budapest Diary

by Erik Olsen on

A rather old, but none the less interesting little video over at Google called Budapest Diary. Having spent a couple of days in Budapest myself way back when, I have to say I rather enjoyed this, although I do wish it had been produced a bit more recently. Still there are some lovely shots of the river Danube and the Parliament Building, and some thoughtful interviews with people in the city.

Red Corner: Art Nouveau Budapest

by Neil Woodburn on

I first fell in love with Art Nouveau architecture while living in Prague.

I’ve never liked the Art Nouveau paintings and thought that this artistic style had nothing more to offer. But the buildings, oh my the Art Nouveau buildings are fantastic!

There are a handful of places around the world to revel in the glory of this architecture, but, according to the Los Angeles Times, one of the most underrated is the city of Budapest, Hungary.

Writer Susan Spano visited the Hungarian capital earlier this summer and wandered through Art Nouveau nirvana, soaking in the “operatic, almost cartoonish flair” that is typical of Hungarian Art Nouveau. I’m not sure how so much of this beauty escaped my eyes when I visited Budapest in the early 1990s but I suspect that the post-communist grime that covered the city tragically buried these masterpieces.

Now that they’ve cleaned things up, looks like I’m going to have to go back to Budapest!

Central Europe in Trouble?

by Iva Skoch on

If you missed 1989, now is a good opportunity to sample the “revolutionary, yet peaceful” spirit of Central Europe once again. Head over to Budapest.

Hungarian students have been protesting the new socialist government of the Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány for a week now. Last weekend, he admitted to the nation, that his party lied about the real state of the Hungarian economy in order to win the election. Apparently, everyone lies, so he didn’t see anything wrong with admitting to it. Since then, students have been demonstrating in the streets of Budapest, demanding his resignation. Sure, you have some radical nuts and soccer hooligans joining the crowds, but that is the way things in Central Europe have been — ranging from the extreme left to the extreme right.

Some say this is the first indication that Central Europe is in trouble: Hungary is wrapped up in protest, Poland is on the verge of a government crises and Czech Republic has a “puppet” government in place before preliminary elections are called. I think being in the good old revolutionary days is pretty cool. It’s good to see students in the streets again, rather than only in their bedrooms playing computer games. You know people care. The spirit is contagious.

Maybe Neil was right in his post, suggesting that Budapest is stealing some of Prague’s spotlight.

Red Corner: Budapest vs. Prague

by Neil Woodburn on

On Sunday when The New York Times printed an article titled, Budapest Is Stealing Some of Prague’s Spotlight, I just had to smile.

I’ve debated many times with fellow travelers over which is the better city, Prague or Budapest? One thing I’ve learned is that those who visit Budapest first tend to prefer the Hungarian capital over the Czech one. Those who visit Prague first, consider Budapest a lesser, and therefore inferior version of the Czech capital.

It’s been many years now since I visited Budapest, but the gist of the New York Times article is that Budapest has come a long ways in that time. Thanks to a strong flow of foreign investment, the city is no longer grungy and smelling of post-communism, but has “turned the corner” and is now all “cutting edge and credit cards and trendy restaurants.”

I’m not convinced that this in itself is enough to “steal Prague’s spotlight” but nonetheless, I am impressed. I’ll certainly detour there on my next trip to the Czech Republic and judge for myself.