sajnálom :C
Hungary’s popular opposition radio station, KlubRadio is about to shut down. (That’s what is written on the cloth covering the protestor’s mouth.) The government has apparently awarded its frequency to another station. Don’t know much more about this specifically, but there are some disturbing autocratic changes afoot in my ancestral home.
Happy New Year! I’ve got a good feeling about you, 2011.
New Year’s Eve in Budapest.
This Bad Boy
Is older than you. Yep, this gas convection relic is the only thing standing between us and this below zero, freezing Budapest December. And it’s doing a fantastic job. Just check out those roarin’ gas flames in there.
It’s ridiculously satisfying to turn the nob and hear it fire up.
Not to worry, there are more deep, poignant posts where this came from.
Oh, did I mention it’s Tumblr Tuesday? My click this week goes to Dear Coke Talk, but I won’t say which category.
My first effort at a guest-blog invitation. Budapest, though cold, is great this time of year.
More from the baths at Szechenyi. (It’s hard to concentrate while standing in a soaking wet bathing suit, with flip flops, in sub-zero weather.)
We’re heading to the Christmas Market inside Szimpla Kert today (open 1-7 pm), should have some unusual stuff to look at!
Do not miss spending several hours at the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest. It couldn’t be easier to get there - just take Metro 1 towards Mexikoi Ut, and get off at Széchenyi fürdő. You’ll see the large yellow buildings as soon as you pop above ground.
Budget at least 3 hours - it’s a huge complex full of a variety of saunas, steam rooms and beautiful indoor and outdoor baths to explore. Don’t forget flip-flops and water. And you’ll be even happier if you also take sandwiches, a robe and perhaps a can of beer. Also, don’t miss the super hot downstairs saunas, accessed only from outside, and make sure you cold plunge after!
Jeez, I am bossy.
Just inside the entrance of the smaller Christmas market near Hősök tere (Heroes’ Square) in Budapest, there’s a magical Mikulás-gyár (Santa’s factory). Elves are working hard inside, when they’re not waving at the dozens of families crowded about watching the action.
The main Christmas market is at Vörösmarty tér, close to the river. It’s beautiful, and I should probably be posting pictures of that first instead. But I’d pick one of the smaller markets around the city if you enjoy being able to walk on a Sunday evening. The main one is so crowded it’s hard to move without spilling your mulled wine.
And the market near Heroes’ Square not only has the “factory,” but also the Angyalok Erdeje (Angel’s Forest). The “forest” is a glade of colorfully illuminated artificial Christmas trees, each of which represents a charity or organization. They have large tubes attached, where you can drop a few coins.
I suppose since I’ve decided to describe the place in this much detail, I might as well mention there’s also an adorable petting zoo. And a stage where you can watch Hungarian idols belt out tacky Christmas carols and jump around in loosely choreographed revelry. And loads of shopping — Christmas trees, crafts, T-shirts with cool Hungarian prints, jewelry, etc.
Finally, have I said anything about the multiple grilled sausage, roasted chestnuts, hot mulled wine and palinka (strong Hungarian brandy) stalls yet? They’re swell too.
