Red Corner: Hungarian Wine, Unique and Enticing

by Neil Woodburn on

There are so many wonderful little wine regions throughout the former Soviet Empire which sadly remained anonymous to the West during communism and today, are only slightly becoming known. A few weeks ago we posted about the yummy wines of Georgia, the former Soviet Republic most famous for wine making during the USSR days. Today, we point you towards an utterly unique wine that comes from Hungary and which has attracted the attention of Travel & Leisure.

Like most of the other wine regions in the area, Hungary was once quite world famous for their vintage before falling on hard times. Perhaps the most heralded, Hungaricum, comes from a unique white grape grown only on the north shore of Hungary’s Lake Balaton.

Journalist Bruce Schoenfeld (who has written for Wine Spectator and it shows) recently traveled to Hungary’s most famous lake to speak with wine makers and imbibe the local specialty himself. The article is lengthy and fascinating and accomplishes two very important goals; it makes you want to travel and it makes you want to drink. I’ll leave you with a very insightful quote typical of what you will find in the engaging article.

“…another reason is Hungary’s cuisine: rich and heavy, spiced with paprika, utterly unsuited to bottlings in the ultra-ripe international style. Balaton’s wines cut through that spice and fat, refreshing the mouth with their bright acidity but also adding a measure of complexity that emanates from the strong minerality of the soil.”

Red Corner: Hungarian Troglodytes

by Neil Woodburn on

There is simply nothing worse than discovering something wonderful about a destination long after having left it. This is how I felt when I came across a recent article in The Budapest Sun about a marvelous system of caves lurking directly beneath the city of Budapest.

Subterranean surprises are always the most underrated of tourist destinations. And yet, often times I find they actually eclipse the more popular tourist haunts located in the surface world above. This is why, after numerous visits to Budapest, I was saddened to discover a little known underground treasure while sitting behind a computer on the other side of the world.

Instead of being immersed in the goulash-eating tourist hordes crowding the narrow streets of Budapest, I could have been quietly spelunking through some of the nearly 200 limestone caverns that riddle the foundations of the Hungarian capital.

Although only a few of these caves are actually open to the public, they most certainly offer a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path alternative to the adventurous few who venture to their depths. Guided tours (available in English) will whisk you from the bustle of the capital, deep into a dazzling world of stalagmites, gypsum crystals, and a unique crystalline arrangement known as popcorn.

And don’t worry; there will be plenty of goulash waiting for you upon returning to the surface world.

Word for the Travel Wise (04/14/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

It is a firm belief of mine that I will one day return to Budapest. I’m setting my hopes high to reside in the city for at least one year, but I’ll surely settle for a quick jaunt if it’s the only way to explore my beloved Budapest at least once more. To prepare for the day of my return I like to keep tabs on what’s happening via Pestiside.hu – the daily dish of cosmopolitan Budapest. In one of their more recent dispatches a failed shoplifter returns to the scene of the crime to file a complaint. You can read the full account of what went on at Pestiside or Index.hu (a Hungarian consumer blog). Pestiside notes the original letter from the alleged thief claims he was removed from the store after asking to write in the shopper’s book, which brings me to the word for today.

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

vásárlók könyve – shopper’s book

Now Hungarian speakers out there, please help me out. It is my guess that vásárlók könyve truly means shopper’s book, but judging from the piece I’m also going to have to second guess myself. Give me the inside scoop. Dish the deal on this Hungarian language find in parentheses.

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

Roller Coasters, Theme Parks, Cultures & More

by Adrienne Wilson on

Call me out of touch with the whole
amusement park business, but "Dude! Where’s My
Passport?! 2005" doesn’t strike me as a likely film title for theme park reviews. Am I alone on this one?
The new DVD by Don Garrison and Monica Jack showcases 15 parks across Europe like Thrope Park in England, Vidampark in
Hungary and Alpine Coasters out of Austria. Thrill Network does an amazing job
describing each segment of the DVD
and as a whole offers this for any interested other, um, coaster ‘tools’ out there:

"These DVD’s
include amazing footage of not just roller coasters, but cities around Europe. From Thrope Park to Parc Asterix and
back again, these tools are in for a world of fun. From being crazy "gangsta" to touring Europe, Don has a
few run-ins with a certain trampoline that will have you laughing when the trampoline actually beats him!"

Wait  – crazy gangsta? Since when did ‘crazy gangsta’ and theme parks become almost one-in-one? Last time I
went to Disney World or Knotts
Berry Farm I don’t remember Mickey or Snoopy being crazy gangsta. Perhaps I was at the wrong park? If you’re a lover
of coasters worldwide I suggest checking out the DVD.
Furthermore, I welcome you to come back and make some sense of all this for me. I may not know which ride your passport
flew off on, but Dude, I’m sure feeling like I need to trade mine for a lesson in Roller Coaster Cool 101.

To
order the DVD or find out more visit Theme Park Review.

Red Corner: Famous Budapest Baths to Allow Women

by Neil Woodburn on

To go where no man has gone before is not so much of a challenge. Far more difficult, is for a woman to go where no woman has gone before-but men go to regularly.

For the last 70 years, the famous 16th century Rudas Baths in Budapest have been an all-male domain. Women were simply not allowed to frolic in the saunas, pools, and steam rooms of this particular Turkish bath.

Budapest’s Turkish baths have a long and glorious history dating back to, yes you guessed it, the 16th and 17th century when the Turks ruled the city. The most historic baths reside in immaculate buildings awash in marble and tile. They have been the heart and soul of this city for many years and enjoyed by both sexes-except for the Rudas Baths.

But not any more. Enough was finally enough. Thanks to an internet campaign by the Hungarian equal rights website, www.tusarok.org, women have finally won the right to penetrate the all-male domain of Rudas. Not only do they share facilities for three days of the week, they actually have the entire baths to themselves for half-days on Tuesdays and Thursdays-no men allowed whatsoever!