New Year's Eve in Budapest

Budapest is a great place to be at on New Year's Eve, because there are many opportunities for fun even if one is not invited by friends to a private party or doesn't want to decide and book anything in advance: countless regular and hotel restaurants organize gala dinners with special programs, and many dance clubs and pubs have parties where one can just drop in.
It's also possible to simply go out in the evening and join the crowd of strangers that celebrates the New Year at one of the three open-air locations: Oktogon, Vörösmarty Square (Vörösmarty tér) or Nyugati Square (Nyugati tér) – programs here are usually put together by the biggest local commercial radio stations, each place offering a different musical style and atmosphere, fireworks at midnight, and the possibility to dance until morning. This year Oktogon will be perfect for disco lovers, those interested in live performances of Hungarian bands can meet at the Nyugati, and foreing tourists will be awaited mostly at Vörösmarty Square, because they can see many different international artists there – here the festival will continue on the afternoon of the first day of 2010 as well, with klezmer concerts, Jewish food and kosher wine.

Those who wish to spend New Year's Eve in a fancier environment have two choices.
The Operetta Boat invites tourists on board for an unforgetable musical, gastronomic and touristic experience: a the candle-lit voyage on the Danube with an international program of excellent instrumental music, singing and dancing; 25 great artists will guarantee a truly special night of entertainment. They will be singing the most popular passages of Italian operas, Spanish songs, musicals in original languages, and performing instrumental solos as well as brilliant folk, classical and step dances in elegant costumes; guests can enjoy all this while admiring the wonderful night view of Budapest and tasting the best local dishes.
A fine Budapest tradition, the annual New Year's Ball of the State Opera House will be organized again as well: on the last nigth of 2009 participants will be invited to watch a unique gala program, eat an exclusive dinner served by the famous Gundel Restaurant, watch dance shows and listen to popular hits, try cocktails made by a world champion mixer then dance till dawn.

On the 1st of January there are two nice concerts to choose from to greet the New Year.
Instead of the light classical music customary at other venues at this time of year, the concert organized in the Palace of Arts (Művészetek Palotája), will feature Joseph Haydn's magical oratorio The Creation that has enjoyed more than two hundred years of unbroken popularity; lead by conductor Ádám Fischer, the program will be completed by three soloists, a chorus and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.
The other event will be held on the same evening in the Papp László Sportaréna, where a large crowd can join famous violonist Zoltán Mága and many artists invited by him, in celebrating the beginning of 2010. Due to a prime time television broadcast the first edition of the gala has been a huge success in the country as well as abroad, so those who will be there on Friday can expect this second show to be full of surprises and guest stars too.

Have a Beautiful Christmas!

Szép Karácsonyt kívánunk!

Disney Heroes in Budapest

As an extra present to children who enjoy the colorful world of glamorous shows as well as classic cartoons, this year again parents can put a guaranteed success-gift under the Christmas tree: tickets to the fantastic Disney on Ice performance that will await visitors in the Papp László Sportaréna in Budapest, for seven shows between the 24th and the 27th of December.
Entitled The Magical Journey of Mickey and Minnie, this will be an unforgettable trip inside the best known Disney tales and the tour guides on the memorable route will be the two giant-headed mice - with their help young and old guests will be able to visit exciting destinations, enter enchanting stories and meet favourite Disney friends.

The fun-filled ice show will feature brilliant lighting effects, excellent music and songs, as well as true magic in every setting and scene, taking viewers to an amazing undersea kingdom with Ariel the little mermaid and Sebastian, to an interesting jungle adventure in the African Pride Lands with Simba and Nala, to a genuine Hawaiian luau feast with Lilo and Stitch, and a fantastic trip to old London town with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.
Like always, the special choreography will be presented by an international team of award winning figure-skaters, and the unique experience will be completed with charming costumes and popular musical scores, filled with familiar movie hits and rock-and-roll classics the entire family will surely enjoy.

The extraordinary show is, according to its producers, the perfect addition to a family vacation day during the winter holidays: it's about loud laughter, tears of joy, squeaks of excitement, and naturally friendship and love.

Saturnalia in Budapest

One of the most popular feasts in Ancient Rome was a celebration dedicated to the god of agriculture and time, Saturn - introduced around the third century BC, Saturnalia days were marked by the reversal of social roles, in which slaves and masters switched places for fun.
Although there is no scriptural or secular evidence that early Christians in the first centuries AD commemorated the birth of Jesus, Saturnalia is in a way still the predecessor of Christmas, as the festival was celebrated with similar customs (gift giving, plenty of food) and the date also coincides with the pagan feast.
In the period between the 20th and the 25th of December The Friends of Aquincum Association and the Aquincum Museum in Budapest organize days of fun for families, offering them the opportunity to revive the antique traditions with the help of interesting children games and special workshops.

Aquincum Museum and Ruin Park are located in the northern part of Budapest, close to the Danube river – the museum building is surrounded by gardens where the ancient ruins of a former Roman civil town are exhibited.
During the first three days of the event, the courtyard surrounding the exhibition hall will host a Christmas Fair with artisans' works for sale, that can be visited during the opening hours, then later in the week there will be handicraft courses, a sacrificial ritual, a pantomime show and a slave market. With the help of experts both children and adults can get to know and try out antique toys and there will be performances selected from Antique literature and staged by actors; these Saturnalia programs will take place between 2 PM and 6 PM.

Those who would like to attend the festivities, can find several places of accommodation nearby – for those who want to relax with thermal and wellness services after the fair we recommend Ramada Plaza Budapest***** (former Corinthia Aquincum Hotel), BB Hotel*** is ready to welcome romantic guests with rooms with jacuzzis, and families who don’t want to spend much and are only interested in attending the Saturnalia the perfect choice is the simple but friendly Hotel Touring**.

Saint Lucy's Day in Hungary

One of the most interesting high days of the Advent period is Saint Lucy's Day, celebrated on the 13th of December, on a date on which according to the unreformed Julian calendar was the longest night of the year. Although that has changed later on, the day is still dedicated to Saint Lucy and beside being a Christian holiday celebrated by most Churches, it is also linked to numerous folk traditions all over the world, and some special ones unique to Hungary.
Saint Lucy, also known as Saint Lucia, is a venerated martyr from the 3rd century: a young Sycilian girl during the Diocletian persecution, she offered her virginity to God and had her dowry distributed to the poor; when her mother arranged her marriage with a pagan man and she refused to wed him, the angry groom denounced her as a Christian to the governor. Guards were sent, first to take her to be defiled in a brothel, then to burn her according to the death sentence – but miraculously they were unable to move her, even with the help of fifty oxen; as a final torture her eyes were gouged out, but she was able to finish her prayer even when her throat was cut. By the sixth century her story was widespread, and because she was the bride of Jesus, after becoming a saint she was considered, among other things the patron and protector of those awaiting marriage.

According to Hungarian folk tales St. Lucy (in Hungarian: Luca) was far from being a saint, she was actually some sort of a witch, and numerous traditions, customs and superstitions were linked to her.
For example people believed that on her day ghosts were roaming around free, so they put garlic in their windows to protect themselves and hid their brooms so witches couldn’t fly away. Peasants began to observe the weather on this day and they did so for twelve days, creating a calendar at the end ("lucakalendárium"); according to popular belief the twelve days until Christmas were a copy of the months of the following year, so if the weather was ugly on one of them they axpected it to be so in the equivalent month as well.
In some parts of the country young men and little boys dressed up in white bed-sheets with smut on their faces, tried to scare everyone and recited funny rhymes and blessings in exchange for small presents or some money.
Girls and women were not allowed to work on this day and young ladies were busy foretelling the future in many different ways. They knocked on the roof of the pigpen to scare the animal – if the pig didn't grunt it meant that they would be engaged soon, if it did, the event would only take place after a number of years (depending on how many times the pig grunted). Another custom was to write the names of twelve young men on pieces of paper, then place them into a sort of fortune cookies or throw them into fire – the one remaining last, would contain the name of the future groom. Also women had seeded wheat on this day and if sprouts appeared until Christmas, that was a sign that crops would be rich in the following year – in many villages this custom is still alive today: the green of the wheat stem symbolizes hope and the arrival of Jesus, so it's placed under the Christmas tree.
The best known Hungarian tradition of this day was the building of Lucy's pentagram-shaped chair ("lucaszék") from nine different types of wood; its maker was only allowed to do one procedure per day and had to finish working exactly on Christmas Eve – then the chair was taken to the church on the high mass, and whoever stepped up on it was able to see the local witches.

A great Saint Lucy's Day festival will be held this weekend in Budapest as well, organized by the Museum of Ethnography, located near the Parliament buliding. The event called Music under the Stars will take place from Friday the 11th of November until Sunday the 13th and will include a Christmas Fair, many creative programs for kids and cultural shows for adults, with concerts and performances featuring a Swedish choir, holiday carolers, and lots of popular Hungarian singers and bands from different music styles from folk to rock.

Saint Nicholas' Day in Hungary

Saint Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra during the 4th century and became recognized as a saint within a century of his death because of the many miracles attributed to him; his reputation evolved among the faithful and later his relics were relocated to southern Italy – since then he has also been known as Nicholas of Bari and has been honoured by various different Churches.
According to some sources his wealthy parents raised him to be a devout Christian and after they died in an epidemic, he dedicated his life to serving God and used his whole inheritance to help those in need. Many stories and legends are known about his life and deeds, the most important accounts saying that his contemporaries suspected that he was behind a large number of anonymous gifts given to the sick and the suffering so after his death people in the region continued to secretely give to the poor in his behalf. Beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need, Saint Nicholas' example lived on and later medieval nuns used the anniversary of his death to remember his generosity by depositing baskets of food and clothes at the doorsteps of the needy and expecting nothing in return.

Celebrated on the 6th of December in most of Europe Saint Nicholas is an extraordinary character similar to and possibly the model for Santa Claus, and his existence helps preserve a Christmas that focuses on the religious holiday linked to Jesus rather than the material surprises.
Nicholas' (in Hungarian: Miklós) holiday called "Mikulás" is a very important festivity for Hungarians, usually celebrated on a small scale with simple presents given to children by their parents. As the legend says that Nicholas’ bags of gold were tossed through open windows and landed in stockings or shoes left by the fire to dry, the custom is for kids to place their polished boots on the windowsill waiting for St. Nicholas, dressed in a red bishop's cloak, to come and fill them with treats by next morning. Treats have traditionally been sweets and fruit but nowadays chocolate Santa figures and small toys are more common.
Saint Nicholas knows everything about each child, so they all get what they deserve: good boys and girls receive candy and bad ones get a lump of coal as a warning to improve their behaviour by next year; and everyone is given a twig called "virgács" left by the old man's elf companion, a little devil called "Krampusz", to remind them that nobody is perfect.

Posters in the Socialism

Three years ago, when the Hungarian Museum of Trade and Tourism (Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum) moved from the Buda Castle to the touristic center of Pest near Saint Stephen's Basilica, the first temporary exhibition organized in its new building was "The Picture Book of the Street": a wide variety of commercial posters from between 1885-1945, accompanied by their contemporary reviews, and with a unique opportunity for visitors to design their own posters on the spot.
This time the exhibition entitled "We are Opening..." will include the 1945-1989 period, offering everyone a peek into the interesting world of the socialist era, through merchandise and slogans that reflect the various trends characterizing the decades between the World War II and the fall of the communist regime. Some posters are stuck on advertising pillars, but there are also sets constructed from enlarged pictures that look exactly like old streets, with typical store entrances and shop-windows filled with the advertisements of the most popular products.

About half of the population of Hungary still remembers late socialism, although mostly its bad influences - but those of them who would like to think about the nice days and take a nostalgic walk down memory lane, can easily evoke the atmosphere of their youth now. They can revisit the interior of grocery shops from their childhood, think about their very first Trapper jeans, see the ads of the best clubs of the seventies, and go back in time to their old living-rooms: armchairs that looked like seashells, china ornaments and knick-knacks, orange coloured tapestries, aluminum candlestick, huge radios and black-and-white television sets. Also they can show their kids a world where one could only buy one type of detergent and the peak of an ad was a famous actor reciting a rhyme.
The time travel can also be an interesting history lesson to foreign tourists, who can find out all about the everyday life of Hungarians who were stuck behind the Iron Curtain. They will get acquainted with the poor supply of provisions that were available (modest selections of canned and preserved food), they will see how some of the best graphic artists and painters of the time had to waste their talents creating posters representing the good moments of social realism. Due to the chronological placement billborads will show them the growth in the standard of living and the gradual evolution in the quality of technology: as a wider range of products and services become available, colour photographs and complex collages appear and take the first steps in trying to influence consumer behaviour.

It's been more than a month now since the exhibition opened and its items will stay on display until the 28th of February 2010 - if you are interested in this controversial period or in the finest of socialist deco design, it's time to visit the MKVM museum.

Saint Catherine's Day in Hungary

On the 25th of November Catholic and Orthodox Churches all over the world celebrate Saint Catherine of Alexandria, one of the most influential virgin-martyrs venerated by religious culture. Claimed to have been a noted scholar in the early 4th century, Catherine was an important focus of devotion during the Middle Ages and a model for proper feminine behaviour later on; she also inspired many painters and artists throughout the centuries.
According to a legend with many variations and little historical basis, she attempted to convince the Roman Emperor Maximinus of the error of his ways in persecuting Christians - she succeeded in converting his wife and fifty pagan wise men whom he sent to dispute with her. Angered by his failure the emperor ordered her to be put in prison, and when her visitors were converted too, she was condemned to death on the breaking wheel; the instrument of torture broke when she touched it, so she was beheaded, and her body was eventually taken away by angels.

In Hungary her day of remembrance is a very popular folk holiday, as is her name itself (in Hungarian: Katalin), and St. Catherine is considered to be the patron of young girls who wish to get married. In the countryside on the eve of her day they dress up in special costumes and masks and go around the village reciting blessings and expressing wishes of health and matrimonial happiness. According to popular belief on this night each girl should cut off the bough of a fruit-tree and put it in water - if Catherine's bough ("katalingally") grows green until Christmas, it predicts marriage in the near future.
Saint Catherine's Day is a holiday of women, one on which work is forbidden to them, but many other folk traditions are linked to it as well. The best known one is an interesting weather forecast: if this day is chilling and frosty, then Christmas will be rainy and muddy, if Catherine brings a mild weather, then Christmas will be freezing cold. Also in rural areas this date marks the beginning of a resting stage: between this day and Christmas, no balls, dances and wedding parties are organized.

Budapest Christmas Fair 2009

Beginning with tomorrow the beautiful Vörösmarty Square (Vörösmarty tér) will be the host of a Budapest tradition again: the 10th edition of the Christmas Fair, known as one of the best of its kind in Europe, will be open every day (except the two days followign the Holy Night) between the 20th of November and the 29th of December, from 10 AM until nightime.
Visited by six hundred thousand tourists from all over the world last year, and considerable numbers in all years before that, the international event invites all who are curious about the unique selection of Hungarian products and would like to enjoy the wonderful setting, the intimate festive atmosphere and the wide range of exciting programs, all reflecting the magic of Christmas.

For more than a month, cottage-style wooden pavilions will be open and will display products manufactured by more than 100 talented artisans and craftsmen: folk and applied art object, decorations made from natural materials and with authentic techniques - all hand-made and with a quality gurantee from the Hungarian Society of Folk Arts.
Beside the festive ornaments and the original holiday season gifts and artifacts, other traditional items like wooden toys, hand-blown glass figures, wrought iron decorations, blue-dye fabrics, reed baskets, clay pots will be available too; also a rich selection of fashionable things will be up for sale: various leather goods, silver and enamel jewellery, books and CDs, candles and bags.

Hungarian gastronomy will be present as well, so tourists interested in local cuisine will be able to check out the food stands and choose from the rich offer of typical Hungarian desserts, snacks and even main courses. There will be grilled sausages and roast ribs too, but one should definitely try something very Hungarian like tejfölös lángos (fried dough with sour cream) or töki pompos (pizza batter bread with onion and bacon topping) served right out the mud oven. Sweets will surely include mákosguba (poppy-seed cake), kürtös kalács (sugar coated cylinder-shaped pastry), almásrétes (apple-strudel), mézeskalács (gingerbread with honey crust), milk loaves and Christmas cookies.
The traditional country food feast should be started off with pálinka (fruit brandy) and can be washed down with a delicious coffe, hot tea or mulled wine – after drinking it, one can take home the specially designed Christmas Fair mug it is served in.

The smell of cinnamon and chestnuts, the sound of silver bells and carols, and the sight of thousands of colourfull lights on fir trees, will be completed with interesting cultural programs: folk music and dances, traditional greetings and short theater performances will be presented on an outdoor stage.
From the 1st until the to 24th of December, accompanied by beautiful chime music and festive wind-instrument pieces as well as an amazing light-show, the windows of the famous Gerbeaud building will open one by one each day at 5 PM, to reveal a huge advent calendar consisting of stunning contemporary paintings.
On the 13th of December a small Betlehem (nativity scene) will appear on the square and for three days beginning with the 21st it will come alive with real animals.

While nostalgic parents make themselves busy with Christmas shopping in the fair, they will find that this can be a real family experience that brings generations together: a heated tent will host a playhouse for children of all ages, where they will have the opportunity to make their own toys and holiday ornaments guided by professionals; craftsmen will introduce ancient games to them, they can get acquainted with old trades, and they can can take part in a Christmas tree decorating competition.
On weekend mornings there will be special children's puppet theatre performances and Santa will visit kids this year too: sitting on his chair at the corner of the Gerbeaud house he will warmly welcome little ones and their wishes on the first weekend of December.

Similar but smaller Christmas markets will also be organized on Liszt Ferenc Square (Liszt Ferenc tér) close to Oktogon and on Nyugati Square (Nyugati tér) near the railway station.

Budapest Fashion Week 2009

The 8th edition of Budapest Fashion Week will start on Thursday, the 19th of November, and last until Sunday from 8 PM until late at night. The three-day event that has become a notable one in the international fashion industry will be hosted by the Vam Design Center.

The main show on the program will be the Haute Couture collection of famous designer Michael Adam – the founder of Fashion TV will present his creations in Budapest for the second time after the Hong Kong premiere; the Italian Yes London will be the other international highlight in the Hungarian capital this autum.
Beside these two, many Hungarian names will offer their talents to complete the prestigious event: Czinege, Mónika Király and Renáta Mag, MartinKA, Réka Orosz, Gyöngyi Varga, UHT, Nicole, Márta Georgina Gere, Ticci, Erika Glotz, Kriszta Szakos, Mónika Tóth, EXP La Coll, Klára Földi, Cecília Reök and Tímea Varga, Le Corset, Kinga Mohari, Kriszta Iványi, Wazzy, as well as Kinga Novák.
The organizer of the event is designer Balázs Mayer, whose company has a ten year experience in the fashion industry, and who is well-known all over the world for his very special style: the brand name Kenguru is a synonym for interesting, extravagant clothes.

Beside the usual dress-parades there will be other things to see as well: the performance of Magma Tűzszínház fire-theatre and also many individual surprises announced by the participant designers, who will not just stick to the rules of traditional runway shows and send their models on the catwalk.
Just like in the past years, the 2009 Budapest Fashion Week will end in a glamorous after-party too.

Art Collectors' Night Budapest 2009

This autumn for the 14th time professional art dealers from the historic center of Budapest have decided to organize a very special event: on Thursday the 12th of November, a bunch of galleries and shops located in the 5th district of the capital (in Falk Miksa street and its vicinity) will keep their gates open until midnight inviting anyone who wants to buy works of art or is simply curious. Starting at 5 PM, the Art Collectors' Night festival will include exhibition openings, guided tours, artisan presentations, fine and applied art exhibits, craft demonstrations, lectures and concerts – a total of 22 programs organized by 21 participants.

Among programs there will be 12 exhibition openings. The most important one is perhaps one brought from London and exclusively planned for Art Collectors' Night – a private collection of silver artefacts from the eastern part of the world: various weapons, Buddha statues, dishes and jugs decorated with cultics symbols, gathered from Iran, Syria, Morocco, Turkey, Armenia, India, China, Burma, Laos and Tibet. Those who enjoy expressive paintings with symbolic meanings, with a hint of surreal but always closer to realism, can see a preview of the works of József Breznay, whose exhibition Paintings about the 30’s will open later this month. Some of the exciting works of the world famous Victor Vasarely will be displayed as well: his serigraphies, collages and kinetic installations will await visitors who like graphic design.
For those who would like to surprize their loved ones with unique presents this year, next month a Christmas art auction marathon will take place at Pintér Auction House; beginning with the 2nd of December it will put up for sale items of antique furniture, jewelry, as well as classical and modern paintings and sculpture - the viewing of all three days' lots will take place in Hungary's largest private art gallery (on nearly 2000 square metres) opening on the Art Collectors' Night. A charity fundraiser will take place during the program: tombola tickets will be sold and will win the luckiest buyers valuable contemporary works of art; the money accumulated by the charity event will help sponsor a Transylvanian orphanage.

Tomorrow evening will be an absolute delight for all who are interested in contemporary Hungarian art, in Hungarian artists who live and successfully work abroad, in geometric art patterns in the work of international artists, in antique furniture and home decor objects, in original vintage placards and typical Art Deco style posters presenting life in the twenties, in old maps or beautiful diamond jewels.
Throuhout the night the visual art feast will be complemented by several musical gifts that will include the improvisations of a jazz quartet and a concert of French ballads accompanied by a harmonica.

Saint Martin's Day in Hungary

Saint Martin and the 11th of November, the day that celebrates him, are well known all over Europe: an acclaimed Bishop of Tours during the 4th century, he experienced visions and impressed Christians with his enthusiasm that urged them to destroy the pagans' temples, altars, sculptures and convert them. His veneration was very popular during the Middle Ages and even today he is one of the best known Catholic saints, the day dedicated to him being an important one in the Christian calendar.
Saint Martin is particularly dear to Hungarians, as he was born in Savaria, Pannonia, which today is the town of Szombathely from the western part of the country. Local legends say that when he was elected bishop he refused to accept the honour and tried to hide in a goose-pen, but the geese cackled and betrayed him - based on this tale in Hungary he is mostly known from folklore, and throughout the centuries many popular traditions have been linked to his person.

In the countryside Martin's (in Hungarian: Márton) day marks the closure of the farm labour period that starts each April with Saint George's Day: harvesting of field crops is finished and domestic animal herds are gathered and moved from the pastures to stock-yards. With the help of a rod sheperds lead their animals home to their owners and receive their annual pay and gifts (usually a goose) in return for their service – the rods are then placed on the rooftops of stables to protect the livestock and are used again next spring for the same work.
Then to ensure an abundance of food and drink throughout the year feasts are held, because according to a belief that goes back to the 12th century, whoever doesn't eat goose meat ("mártonlúd") on St. Martin's Day will go hungry and be weak all year round. From the breast-bone of the goose, villagers can prognosticate the weather: if the bone is long and white winter will bring snow, if it's short and brown the following months will be muddy. On the same day new wine is tasted for the first time, so the celebration usually turns into a cheerful party.

If you happen to be visiting someone in Hungary or are a tourist in Budapest this week, you will find that this autumn festivity rooted in folk culture is kept alive by local families and many restaurants pay attention to it too by including adequate items in their menus. So blend in and go out to dinner - make sure you order a roasted goose leg, potatoes with onions, steamed red cabbage, and drink some wine made from this year's grape yield.

The Autumn Night of Museums 2009

For the past seven years on the 21st of June, the date of the summer solstice also known as Midsummer Night, Budapest museums have kept their gates open after the usual closing time, inviting everyone to visit exhibitions, take part at programs, listen to lectures and participate in discussions about art - to have fun in an unusual environment at an unusual hour.

Year after year the special night has attracted more and more interest from the general public, and the atmosphere has always been great, so encouraged by the huge success that has exceeded all expectations, the Hungarian Ministry of Education and Culture has decided to offer to all lovers of art a smilar opportunity in autumn as well: for the very first time in 2009 a sister event will take place in celebration of Saint Martin's Day.
On Saturday the 14th of November, which is also the closing weekend of the Autumn Festival of Museums, several dozen famous as well as small museums will allow those who purchase just one ticket to enter exhibitions in all the museums they can manage between 6 PM and midnight.
Preparing to establish a new tradition, 30 museums and cultural institutions in Budapest and a total of 47 in towns all around the country will stay open and will put on a variety of cultural programs, with sights and sounds never seen or heard in at other times of the year. Their goal is to entertain adults, children and young people within the walls of old historic buildings, in an attractive and elegant setting, making sure they receive valuable impressions that will hopefully convince them to become regular museum visitors.

Starting this year former stickers serving as admission tickets are replaced by armbands, that are already available and can be bought at all participating in the program, as well as at the ticket offices of the Budapest public transport company. These armbands will allow their holders to use all regular BKV services during the time of the event, but just like always special museum buses will run between venues as well on four different routes, all departing from and arriving back to Deák Square (Deák tér).
A mobile map and program guide will be available to cellphone users during the event: a small application will allow them to connect easier to an online booklet and search for the nearest museums and their offers based on their own location - but those who would like to prepare in advance can already find out lots of useful information on the event's website.

The Harlem Gospel Choir in Budapest

After their enourmous success of last year, the Harlem Gospel Choir will stop on their Concert of Hope World Tour 2009/2010 in Hungary as well: at 7:30 PM on the 27th of November their show will be hosted by the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music (Zeneakadémia) in Budapest and it will be one of the last events organized here before the venue is closed for renovation.

The Harlem Gospel Choir is the absolute best in this music genre – although there are now many similar performers all over the world, this was the first real gospel choir, founded by Allen Baily in 1986.
The American company travels the globe with amazing concerts and generous charity fundraisers, sharing its joy of faith and its message of love and peace with hundreds of thousands of people. Through dynamic performances they try to bring people of all nations together and create a better understanding of the African-American culture and the inspirational music called gospel.
In its almost twenty-five years of existence he choir performed for President Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II, with Harry Belafonte and Whoopi Goldberg, in parks, churches and theathers, at festivals, stadiums and parades, as well as at Carnegie Hal and Radio City Music Hall.

The members of the choir are among the best singers and musicians from the Tri-State Region around New York City and their special secret is the fact that during every show they are able to fill concert halls with an intimate atmosphere and make audiences fell a mystical power. Their spiritual energy is a true blessing and those who listen to their angelic voices will feel ecstatic and happy regardless of their religious beliefs.
The Budapest concert will be part of the ones dedicated to the "King of Pop" and is called Remembering Michael Jackson - tickets are still available, go and enjoy.

In Love with Budapest

Some of the reasons that make us proud of Hungary and some of the sights that make us love Budapest:

Gary Moore in Budapest

There seems to be pleasant surprises for every musical taste in the capital this autumn, even on a bad omen day: on Friday the 13th of November Northern Irish guitarist and singer Gary Moore will enchant blues lovers; as part of his European tour he will give a concert at the Syma Sport and Event Center at 8 PM, for the first time ever in Budapest. The main attraction of the evening will be preceded by Jamie Winchester and his band, a performer well known and loved by Hungarian rock fans.

The career of Gary Moore dates back to the sixties and through the decades he released many albums, he gave countless concerts, and played with artists including Thin Lizzy, B.B. King, Colosseum II, Greg Lake and the blues-rock band Skid Row, as well as having a successful individual career, beginning with his first solo album that came out in 1973.
Ginving proof of amazing versatility over his long career Moore experimented with many different genres and variations, raging from rock, jazz, blues and country, to traditional electric blues, modern dance beat or hard rock and heavy metal, his strange choices sometimes confusing audiences and critics alike; he cooperated with huge artists in very diverse musical styles, like George Harrison, Ginger Baker, The Beach Boys, Ozzy Osbourne and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

After a series of rock records, Moore returned to blues music with a hugely popular 1990 release, Still Got the Blues and stayed with it: last year he released a new album called Bad for You Baby, one that presents his talent and wide spectrum once again, offering an electrifying experience based on the unique tone his fans are so familiar with. To revive romantic memories accompanied by his old hits and to get a taste of his newest melodies, you can be one of the lucky fans who gets the final ticket to this show, as the last standing places are now up for sale.

The Parliament - A Gem on the Danube

The Parliament (Országház) is one of Europe’s oldest legislative buildings, the most important Hungarian public facility and one of the most beautiful ladmarks of Budapest - it is located on the Pest side of the capital, on the bank of the Danuber river, about halfway between the Chain Bridge and the Margit Bridge.
The luxuriously decorated, breathtakingly beautiful architectural masterpiece was built between 1884 and 1904, based on the layout plan of Imre Steindl – unfortunately he didn’t get to see the finished work, but he was witness to the first parliamentary session held there: on the 8th of June 1896, in celebration of the thousandth year of existence of the Hungarian state.

Similar to the Palace of Westminster, the building was built in Gothic Revival style, on a Baroque design ground plan and it has a symmetrical facade and a central dome. The interior decoration includes 242 sculptures on the walls, frescoes on the ceilings, statues of Hungarian kings and Translyvanian military leaders, coats of arms, stained glass windows and mosaic paintings.
Two of the most famous parts of the building are the ornamental stairs and the Central Hall where the Holy Crown of Hungary is displayed; there are two huge chambers adjoining it where the National Assembly meets (and where the Upper House used to meet until 1945).

One of the rules followed during the time the building took place was that only local materials could be used in the process. An average of a thousand people worked on the site at all times, around forty millions bricks, half a million ornamental stones and forty kilograms of gold were used.
The building is 268 meters long, 123 meters wide, 96 meters high, and an area of 17745 square meters, it has 27 entrance doors and gates, 10 interior courtyards, 29 stairways and 13 passenger and freight elevators; today it hosts the National Assembly as well as several institutions, a library, many congress halls and over two hundred offices.

Those who would like to be accommodated within walking distance from the Parliament can stay in the cosy little Hotel Central Basilica***, the elegant new Hotel Parlament****, or the recently renovated luxury boutique Hotel President*****.
The main facade of the Parliament building, the one on the side of the river, can be seem in its complete beauty beginning with September 2009, when 21 years of renovation and restoration finally ended; group tours that take tourists inside are organized every day - these are lead by professional travel guides who talk about the sights in several languages.

Italian Renaissance in Budapest

The most comprehensive exhibition to date dedicated to the Italian Renaissance is currently running in Budapest, in the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) – the spectacular, large scale exhibition entitled Boticelli to Titian: Masterpieces of Two Centuries of Italian Art and it displays paintings from over fifty museums from around the world.

The exhibit of 15th and 16th century Italian painting offers visitors the opportunity to find out more about the development of intellectual and artistic processes in the most important cultural centres and get aquainted with the greatest artists of the period (among whom were Giorgione, Raphael, Veronese and Tintoretto).
Among the presented paintings visitors will be able to see sensational masterpieces like Titian's Man with a Glove, Veneto's Flora, Botticelli's Story of Virginia, Cossa's Portrait of a Man, Perugino's Portrait of Francesco delle Opere, Savoldo's Tobias and the Angel and Vecchio's La Bella. The Hungarian public will also have the unique chance to see one of the most valuable paintings in the world, the emblematic Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci – the painting is very special because it's permanently exhibited in the Czartoryski Museum in Cracow and so far in Europe it has only been loaned to Italian museums.

In addition to the artists and works listed above, the show includes 35 paintings from the prestigious Italian collection of the local museum as well as 130 paintings, representing the art of over eighty masters on loan from famous museums including the Uffizi in Florence, the Galleria Borghese in Rome, the Prado in Madrid, the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the national galleries of London and Washington DC.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the box office of the Museum of Fine Arts – the exhibition can be attended for three and a half months, until the 14th of February 2010.

CSI: Budapest

No, there’s no new spin-off (at least not a Hungarian one) as far as the popular CBS series is concerned - there is however an exciting and fun chance to become a crime scene investigator and discover hidden clues on mysterious murder scenes.
CSI: The Experience is an interactive exhibition that incorporates elements from the famous television show; the travelling exhibition is now on a very successful world tour and will be hosted by building G at the Millenáris Park in Budapest, beginning with the 7th of November.

The exhibition invites everyone to become a detective and use intuition as well as modern science to solve a murder case. Everything is designed to lead visitors deep into the world of mysteries, to challenge their intelligence and to give them the tools to act: the most advanced technology and techniques used by professionals will be available to the general public on this unique occasion.
Upon arrival visitors will be briefed and directed to one of the three staged crime scenes where they have to identify and record evidence; they are allowed to determine what they believe to be the important clues, then they can take their notes and can cooperate with their favorite TV characters as well as real-life forensic experts via video screens in order to examine every little detail. They can talk to doctors or pathologists, ask the virtual labs to explain blood spatter analysis and conduct firearms technology comparison, and they may be requested to use a microscope to compare or examine tire tracks, pollen fibers, DNA, fingerprints or shell casings. At the end they can submit their reports and conclusions to supervisor Gil Grissom and find out whether they have solved the case correctly.
The event will also receive professional help from the Budapest police department, providing valuable insight into their everyday work: located in a special section, the staff of the BRFK will be presenting the scene of a fictional homicide. Visitors can view several minutes of video footage with forensic specialists explaining how evidence is analyzed during criminal investigations in Hungary.

The purpose of the exhibition is to entertain but also to educate: to encourage critical thinking skills through scientific inquiry and modern technology, and to promote public awareness of recent advances in forensic science. Fans of the TV series will also be delighted as the exhibition features never-before-seen footage of their favourite film characters.
Due to its nature, the exhibition is recommended for adults and older children only; reservations have to be made in advance because, in order to ensure the best conditions, only a limited number of people can enter the premises every day. If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a detective, now is the time to make that wish come true – choose a day, purchase your tickets and become a part of the CSI team.

Diana Krall in Budapest

The next one seems to be the month of great concerts in Budapest, and at 8 PM on the 18th of November Hungarian audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy the best of jazz music as well, as the Canadian singer and pianist Diana Krall will be in town.

She was born into a musical family and started playing the piano at the age of four, but the world only fell in love with her in 1996 when she was nominated for her first Grammy – later her deep, soft voice and characteristic singing style won her two awards out of eight nominations; critical success and countless other awards followed, she topped the Billboard jazz charts and sold millions of records. This year she is on a world tour to promote her 12th album, Quiet Nights and the Budapest concert organized in the Papp László Sportaréna is part of that.
Although the public would have probably been happy to listen to her old hits over and over again (or anything else for that matter, just to hear her hypnotic voice), with this new album Diana Krall managed to create a different sound: using Brazil as her musical point of reference she took a popular musical style, "bossa nova" and combined it with a fresh perspective. Each tune begins as a jazz quartet performance, with her (vocals and piano), a guitarist, a bassist and a drummer, then the traditional samba rhythms of the cafés in Rio are added to form swaying beats and sultry melodies.

The combination of the sensual tone of her voice and the unique orchestral arrangements always create exciting harmonies that are an amazing starting point for classical improvisation and offer a once in a lifetime experience in live shows. If you are lucky, there mights just be one more ticket that allows you to be a part of her night of amazing jazz.

Tom Jones in Budapest

Already 70 but younger than ever, Tom Jones returned in 2009, after four years of absence, with a brand new studio album (his 37th) entitled 24 Hours. His European tour, organized to promote the new material, has a stop in Budapest at 8 PM on the 11th of November, in the Papp László Sportaréna, where the legendary singer will mesmerize his audience once again.

The Welsh Tom Jones was discovered at the beginning of the sixties, he performed in the famous Ed Sullivan Show and delighted everyone with his first hit, It’s Not Unusual; only a couple of years after that Delilah and his biggest success Green Green Grass Of Home came out and soon he had his own TV-show on ABC. During the seventies he conquered Las Vegas with his many concerts, international audiences with his world tours, and female fans with She’s a Lady. The eighties brought an unexpected success: the MTV generation embraced the artist when he joined Prince in singing Kiss, the cooperation resulting in several awards and great sales figures. And naturally he was reborn in the nineties too, when he became the favourite singer of young audiences again with hits like If I Only Knew and Sex Bomb.
During his career he performed duets with stars like Elvis Presley and Luciano Pavarotti, he made cameo appearances in feature films, played an animated character in The Simpsons and sang numerous movie soundtracks. He was the guest of honour of President Clinton at the Millenium celebrations and was knighted by the Queen of England in 2006; he was a winner at the Grammys and Brits and has countless other awards.

Although time and time again his managers and public relations staff have attempted to change his sex-symbol image in order to replace the screaming fans with a crowd more proper to his age, to the delight of his audiences Tom Jones has never toned down his behaviour in the shows. He was able to surprise the world, come up with a new style in every decade, and make his music irreplaceable when it comes to radio top lists and private parties.
His career started almost fifty years ago so Tom Jones will surely give his best to bring together grandparents and youngsters on an unforgettable evening – you can still order a ticket and be a part of it.

Budapest Art Fair 2009

Between the 19th and the 22nd of November, the Art Hall (Műcsarnok) will be the host of Budapest Art Fair 2009. The antique and contemporary exhibition and fair looks back on a 15-year old history and is the most significant Hungarian artistic survey as well as an internationally renowned cultural event, acclaimed by art portals, professional forums and critics all over the world. Every year different foreign art galleries are present with, presenting their best artists and works – this time the guest of honour is Austria.

During the fair visitors can get acquianted with beautiful old and modern paintings, valuable antique furniture, and the works of many classical and contemporary artists. The highest standard of the fair is ensured by the fact that, though anyone can apply to participate in it, there are very strict criteria that have to be met for each category and an independent jury consisting of famous experts examines every artefact and only approves the very best.
Visitors will also be able to take part in exciting programs and side events: art historians will guide them in group tours, those interested can attend the professional gathering of Artmagazin and a playroom will also be available where art history books and film presentations will offer great opportunities to learn and have fun.

Allthough the event is organized in one place, several venues can be included in a tour in order to make up a colourful cultural program while in Budapest: periodic or permanent exhibitions at the Museum of Applied Arts, the Museum of Etnography, the Hungarian National Museum and the National Gallery, the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Arts, or the Museum of Fine Arts, opera or ballet performances at the State Opera House, concerts or dance shows at the Palace of Arts.
The Budapest Art Fair headquarters, the Art Hall, is located in one of the most beautiful places and best known landmarks of the capital, Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere) – those who would like to be within walking distance can stay at Hotel Benczúr*** or Lion’s Garden Hotel****, both located in a very peaceful neighbourhood, full of old villas and diplomatic residences.

Equestrian Festival and Fair at Hungexpo

Love of horses has been a Hungarian characteristic for a very long time - it supposedly goes back to the time when the legendary Huns migrated to Europe, on horseback, to form a mighty empire here. And horsemen have indeed always been part of Hungarian tradition and history from the wrangler ("csikós"), who uses this clever animal to help him work, to the cavalryman ("huszár"), who is joined by its faithful four-legged companion in battle.
If one visits the Hungarian countryside, a trip to the southern and eastern part of the country called the Great Pannonian Plain (Alföld) is a must, and there are farms there where young men still know how to handle horses the way their ancestors have; and handsome hussars in their typical uniforms can still be seen at many official events organized in the capital. Now there is a great opportunity to have a look at both of the above and then some at an event organized specifically to popularize the beautiful traditional relationship between men and horses.

Between the 6th and 8th of November EquiFest, the International Equestrian Festival and Fair is organized on the Hungexpo grounds in Budapest, offering audiences three days of special attractions, interesting programs, shows performed by Oscar-winner circus artists, and demonstrations organized by important figures of the Hungarian and international horsemanship.
This is the second edition of EquiFest, organized under the title "The Celebration of the Horse" – last year, at the first one more than ten thousand people visited the venue and enjoyed the programs. There will be one day when breeders can meet buyers, owners can check out the exhibited saddlery products, and those involved in equestrian tourism can discuss business ideas; then on the last two days the public will be allowed to attend the event as well.
Regular programs will include different kinds of contests for little children that can be enjoyed by the entire family, wrangler and cavalry shows, sport demonstrations with the participation of the most successful local champions, as well as jousting competitions.

In addition, on the 7th and 8th a magical show called Horse Evolution will take place; this world premiere with three exclusive performances (starring international guests lead by the famous Flórián Richter) presents the special bond between men and horses that has formed over a period of hundreds of years and ends in a perfectly harmonious union.
The artists won the gold medal in the 32nd International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo with this amazing two-hour show featuring 36 horses of different types, 20 horsemen, 10 dancers, several vaulters, acrobats, technicians, as well as a breathtaking set and unforgettable choreography. The show itself will inculde elements like dressage, synchronized riding, show-jumping, coach-driving, vaulting, and the entire event will be accompanied by state of the art laser light technology and great sound effects.

Eros Ramazzotti in Budapest

Probably the best known Italian singer in Hungary, Eros Ramazzotti, will be in Budapest again two weeks from now, as part of his 2009-2010 World Tour. Ramazotti's music is very popular among Hungarians, his songs always go to the top of most played lists on local radios, whenever something new comes out; also three years ago the biggest concert arena in the country had a sold out show when he performed. Now the star returns to the stage with his most recent album called Ali e Radici ("Wings and Roots"), released after a four year break, and hopefully many of his old hits.

The Roman singer and songwriter has tons of fans all over the world (especially among the ladies), but the music industry and critics appreciate his talents as well: over a quarter of a century of worldwide success and countless awards are already behind him and he is only 45 years old. His album sales are currently at 36 million copies - a very impressive number, considering that he sings mostly in his mother tongue (apart from a few famous English-Italian duets with artists like Anastacia, Cher, even Tina Turner and Joe Cocker).

Now he will bring a Mediterranean atmosphere and passionate emotions to Budapest on a concert held in the Papp László Sportaréna, on Tuesday the 3rd of November at 7:30 PM - if you haven’t already, you still have a chance to buy a ticket and go see him.

The Fisherman's Bastion - Enjoy the view

The Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya) is one of the best known landmarks of Budapest - the terrace with many walkpaths, corridors and stairs, built in Neo-Gothic and Neo-Romanesque stlye, is situated on the Buda side of the Danube river, on Castle Hill. Designed and built between 1895 and 1902 by Frigyes Schulek on the remains the old Buda Fortress’ walls, the place was almost completely destroyed during World War II and restored half a century later by the architect’s son. It got its name from the district located beneath it, once inhabited mainly by fishermen, whose guild was responsible for defending this stretch of the town wallsduring the Middle Ages; its seven towers represent the Magyar tribes that settled int he Carpathian Basin in 896.

The area in the immediate surroundings of the Fisherman’s Bastion has several famous sights: in its courtyard there is the bronze statue of Saint Stephen of Hungary, a bit further the one of the most heroic Hungarian military commander of all times, János Hunyadi, and the one of the legendary Saint George, the dragon killer; then right next to the walls is the beautiful Matthias Church, and just a few steps away Szentháromság tér, the square dedicated to the Holy Trinity where one can hop on a horse-drawn carriage to take a tour of the entire castle district.

There are several hotels located close to the Fisherman’s Bastion, the two closest ones being the elegant luxury hotel Hilton Budapest***** and the small and friendly Hotel Burg***, both offering several rooms with an amazing panoramic view of the Pest side of the capital across the Danube.
As far as this breathtaking view is concerned, it’s also important that until the 15th of March 2010, so for many months from now on, the entrance to the Fisherman’s Bastion is free for everyone, so tourists who visit it in this period can climb up to the towers and take a look at basically the entire Budapest spread out in front of them, from the Buda Hills to Margaret Island, from the Parliament to Saint Stephan’s Basilica, from the Chain Bridge to Gellért Hill.

Champions League in Budapest

Football has a glorious history in Hungary, due to The Mighty Magyars ("Aranycsapat") who dominated the world’s very best teams in amazing matches during the fifties. Nowadays however, as great as the country is in many other sports, unfortunately Hungarian football is not at its best.

Only twice did Hungarian teams succeed to become part of the most important modern competition, the UEFA Champions League: Ferencváros TC made it past the qualifying rounds in 1995 and now, one and a half decade later, Debreceni VSC (known to locals as "Loki") managed to qualify for the group stage as well.
Two of its matches are already over: DVSC lost the first one against Liverpool FC quite honourably, by only 1-0 on Anfield Road – then followed a sad 0-4 at home with Olympique Lyonnais; today the team plays its third game, this time against ACF Fiorentina.

The match begins at 8:45 PM tonight in the Puskás Ferenc Stadium Budapest and the fight will probably be a hard one since winning is essential to both teams: the Hungarians desperately need to finally score their first point, while ACF Fiorentina has the chance to enter the final knockout phase if the Italians win today.
The following match will be the return on the 4th of November in Florence, then the one against the British team on the 24th of November at home again, and finally the one against the French on the 9th of December in Lyon.

Tickets are already sold out for tonight, but if one is planning an off-season visit to Budapest, the end of November would be a perfect timing to mix... well pleasure with pleasure... with pleasure – spend a couple of days relaxing in the traditional Széchenyi Thermal Bath, see the legendary Liverpool in action, and visit Budapest’s Christmas Fair (about which I will write soon).

Public holidays: October the 23rd

October the 23rd is a public holiday in Hungary in remembrance of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, when a student demonstration triggered nationwide revolts against the Soviet occupation. Without the much needed international help, after bloody battles on the streets of Budapest and the creation of a short-lived new government, the revolution ended up being suppressed, but it's still considered one of the most important events in Hungarian history as it brought worldwide recognition to the country and managed to prove that the communist ideology was not unshakeable within the Eastern Bloc.

There are always many commemorative events that take place on the 23rd of October throughout Budapest, several political parties and civil society groups organize outdoor festivities and celebrations - during the past years some of these unfortunately turned into street fights between the participants and local police forces. However these weren't half as dangerous as the images transmitted by foreign television stations might have suggested (with the same cars on fire and armed policemen shown each year): they usually took place within a couple of blocks' distance from the specific places where the meetings were held, were contained there by autorities and were quickly dissolved.

What can cause real inconvenience to travellers though is that on public holidays many typical tourist activities have to be put on hold: almost all shops and many museums are closed, exhibitions, thermal baths, etc. have shorter opening hours; also, in most cases these days are extended with extra days and added to weekends, so the entire holiday period can last up to four days.
However, at the end of October the weather is usually still very nice in Hungary (around 10-15 degrees Celsius), plus on days like these locals usually travel to the countryside, so everything is perfect for exploring the empty city and taking great pictures without any strangers in them...

Around the world

When I was trying to figure out the detailes of our trip to Rome a couple of years ago I constantly wondered how on earth had anyone ever been able to make travel plans before the Internet.
But although the amount of information available online was a blessing, I was completely overwhelmed by the multitude of choices offered: there was of course the must-feel atmosphere of the Eternal City with every piazza and narrow street and roof-top garden, there were the cultural and artistic must-see parts with churches and monuments and museums and every gem inside them, there were the famous restaurants and the small traditional ones with culinary wonders known only by the family of the owner... there were things everyone agreed you absolutely should try, and then there were others that travel guides recommended, but were frowned upon by locals... Hundreds of books worth of information scattered about in complete disorder on hundreds of different websites - as fun as the trip itself eventually was, one thing I was absolutely sure of: I would never be able to go through so much trouble to organize something like this for someone else.

But then again there is Budapest, a city I chose to be my home seven years ago, and a city that adopted me... Due to the work I do right now it's part of the job description that I have to know the place about as much as I love it; and it's really not a lot of trouble to tell stories about something you love.
So the plan is to write about this wonderful city, and gather in one place every bit of information I had wished were available when we set out to conquer the capital of Italy. Hopefully one day it will help someone...