Month: October 2009

Fat Mo is history

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Fat Mo Budapest - History
Fat Mo Budapest - History

Someone asked me for help to reserve a table at Fat Mo’s last week. I kept on trying through email, telephone and tried to reach their internet site, but nothing worked. Today I visited the restaurant just to check it out, and then it was a sign outside the entrance with the text: “Closed”. I brought my camera to make a picture, but the battery was empty. My extra batteries always at hand were empty as well. Then I thought I could make a picture with my mobile, but the battery was so low, that I could not make a picture with it. So I can not show a picture with the text, but it was written closed, for sure!

Budapest Restaurants

Mark Knopfler Budapest 2010

Mark Knopfler Budapest 2010

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Mark Knopfler Budapest
Mark Knopfler Budapest

Mark Knopfler, known as the leading vocalist and songwritfer, in Dire Straits is coming to Budapest the summer of 2010. On the Independence Day (July 4) he will enter the stage at the Papp Laszló Budapest Sportarena and perform there. The concert starts around 20.00 and if you would like to see Mark Knopfler live in Budapest, this is a great possibility. Mark Knopfler was born in Scotland in 1949, and throughout his carrer he has helped many celebrities and participated in albums and songs. Now Mark is coming himself to Budapest, and this is a great possibility to see him live in the Budapest, capital of Hungary!

Mark Knopfler Budapest
July 4, 2010
Papp László Budapest Sportarena

Mark Knopfler Budapest Tickets

Mark Knopfler in Madrid

Budapest concerts

Autumn in Budapest and some average temperatures

Posted on by Budapest Guide

I wrote on Twitter this morning that its raining in Budapest. Then I went out on a guided tour, but I forgot my umbrella at home. Starting on the Gellert Hill I soon got to regret my mistake. It started to rain a lot, and even more. In the castle district I bought an umbrella, but then of course I was already very wet. Anyway, the company was great and we all had a great time anyway. In the end we stopped and grabbed some hot Goulash soup.

So, the autumn has come to Budapest, and this week it is going to get even colder, and the bad weather will stay around. Last Thursday Budapest experienced a heat record (October 8), but that is now history and we can welcome the cold weather. My request is only that it should stop raining. It is okay with the cold weather, but the rain is making life miserable, at least when out guiding!

After my trip I went to a paperstore to buy a calender for 2010, as requests already start coming in. In my new calender they have written down average temperatures for big cities around the world, and one of them is Budapest. Below you can see what the average temperatures of Budapest are, according to my calender. For another theory concerning the average temperatures of Budapest, check out average temperature page.

Budapest average temperature

January: -2 Celsius
February: 1 Celsius
March: 7 Celsius
April: 13 Celsius
May: 17 Celsius
June: 21 Celsius
July: 23 Celsius
August: 23 Celsius
September: 18 Celsius
October: 13 Celsius
November: 6 Celsius
December: 1 Celsius

Climate in Budapest

Thermal Baths with 50 % autumn discount

Posted on by Budapest Guide

The Thermal Baths of Budapest give us a little Christmas present, a bit to early though, this autumn. From Monday to Friday they give 50 % discount on the entrance fees, each day in a new thermal bath. The most popular one, the Szechényi Thermal Bath, is not on the list, but hotshots like the Gellert Bath can be found on the list.

Below you can see a complete list showing what thermal bath give you 50 % discount every day:

Monday: Dagály Strandfürdő és Uszoda
Tuesday: Lukács Fürdő és Uszoda
Wednesday: Dandár Gyógyfürdő
Thursday: Gellért Fürdő és Uszoda
Friday: Csillaghegyi Strand-Uszoda

I guess it is time to go swimming!

On official national days (if those are on weekdays) the discounts are not valid.

Hungary to Semi-final in U20 World Championship

Posted on by Budapest Guide

Hungary did it again… they managed to beat a great team in the U-20 World Championship, this time it was Italy, and they ended up qualifying for the semi-final again Ghana. But, it didnt happen easily, or at least not without a fight!

In the 2nd minute Hungary got a penalty, and Vladimir Koman earned the trust and scored the 1-0 goal. And after this Hungary kept on playing well. And after Italy got two red cards, everyone thought it would be easy run. But, then Hungary got a red card as well, and then with only 8 minutes remaining Antonio Mazzotta got a nice ball in the box and scored a goal. So, then it was 1-1… and it remained like that. So yet another time Hungary went to overtime.

The first half of the over time went on without two much action. But, then the action begun! Krisztian Nemeth got a beautiful ball from Vladimir Koman, and the Liverpool striker did as he was supposed to, score! 2-1!

But, before the fans were able even to sit down Bonaventura ran with the ball and scored a goal for the italians. And then, just when everyone thought that now it will be penalties again (like against Czech Republic) Krisztian Nemeth got another beautiful ball, and yet another time Nemeth shot the ball in the net, and this time it proved to be the winner goal.

Hungary 3 – Italy 2

This means that Hungary has qualified for the sem-final in the U-20 World Championship, and this is a great thing for Hungarians not used to much success at the football ground. And I will just repeat what I wrote in my former post about the U-20 World Championhip; If Greece could win the European Championship in 2002, everything is possible in football, so maybe Hungary could go all the way to the top?

To check out the goals from the match, check this link at Fifa.com

Champions League in Budapest

And by the way; tonight Hungary will play against Portugal in Portugal (in the official World Cup Qualification). I guess they do not have a chance, but let us at least wish them good luck!

Hot autumn in Budapest

Posted on by Budapest Guide

I just read over at Caboodle.hu that Budapest experienced its hottest October 8 on record yesterday, with a high temperature of 28.5C. That is NICE! I like it at least. It is much nicer to do guided tours in such a weather, than when its blowing and freezing cold. But the winter is closing up on us, so I guess I will have to start wearing warmer clothes soon, but lets hope it will stay nice and warm for at least some more days and weeks!

For more information about the Budapest climate press the link, or for the average temperatures in Budapest, click that link!

By the way – do not forget to check out the Pálinka and Sausage festival this weekend (it started yesterday). I guess the people up there are happy about the weather.

If not, it is worth nothing that the Budapest Autumn Festival started today as well!

Shining Elisabeth Bridge soon…

Posted on by Budapest Guide

Not long ago the Liberty Bridge received its floodlights! The Margaret Bridge is on the way to receive its floodlights.The Chain Bridge has always been illuminated by the beautiful lights! And now soon we will experience yet another nice bridge during night time.

They have already tested out the new lights to be used on the Elisabeth Bridge and from November 17 they will be there permanently. The lighting system was designed by Ishii Motoko from Japan, and the Japanese state provided Ft 130 million to the project, which in other words means around half the cost. This is to mark the fiftieth anniversay of the Hungarian-Japanese diplomatic relation.

Elisabeth Bridge by night (from urbanista.blog.hu)
Elisabeth Bridge by night (from urbanista.blog.hu)

Budapest bridges
Budapest attractions

Amazon Kindle coming to Hungary

Amazon Kindle coming to Hungary

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Amazon Kindle in Hungary
Amazon Kindle in Hungary

I just read that the Amazon Kindle will be available in Hungary within a few weeks. Great news, at least I think so. It will not really be available in Hungary, as you will have to order it from Amazon.com, but if you order it from there, you will be able to order books, read books and use it in Hungary. It will be released October 19.

Books will in the start only be available in English, but for the happy people reading this article that shouldnt cause any problems. The price for the Amazon Kindle is 279 Amazon Kindle, and if you add the tax etc. to that you will end up around 60,000 Forints. If you first have the Amazon Kindle, the books will cost around 1000 Forints to download.

You want to check it out? Go to Amazon.com and order it today! (they will only ship it as it is released October 19, though).

But here is my question… Can it be nice to read a book from a screen? I would really like to try, because I am curious. But, holding a monitor as I read… it sounds so uncomfortable to me. Reading on the metro? Reading on the beach? I am not sure. Anyone tried such a thing before? I would love to hear some comments concerning this from people with experience.

Recommended literature

Hungary to quarter final in U-20 World Cup

Posted on by Budapest Guide

Hungary is writing football history in these days. For the first time since the U-17 Fifa Championship in 1985 Hungary has qualified for a quarter final. Yesterday they played against the runners up from 2007, Czech Republic, and after 90 minutes the score was 1-1. Then after 30 more minutes it was 2-2, and every got ready for penalties. The Hungarian keeper Peter Gulacsi did a great job, and saved 3 out of 6 penalties, and in the end Hungary ended up as winners! Hurray!

This Friday they will meet Italy in the quarter final, so it is only to hope that they will succeed again. If Greece could win the European Championship in 2004, everything is possible in football.

By the way, check out Hungarys first goal yesterday scored by Mate Kiss, a real beauty. Check it out on FIFA.com (direct link).

If you want to see football in Hungary, check out Debrecen this autumn playing against Fiorentina and Liverpool in Champions League.

Palinka and Sausage Festival this weekend

Posted on by Budapest Guide
Pálinka
Pálinka

Budapest is simply a festival town. There is always something going on, and when one festival is finished, another starts. Not long ago there was some small Pálinka Festival by the Danube on the Pest side, before that visitors could participate in the Wine Festival located in the Castle Area… And then you have the Autumn Festival and we could keep on writing!

Whats important now, is that starting this Thursday and keeping it up till Sunday people in Budapest can visit the Pálinka and Sausage festival in the Castle area. The Hungarian sausages are not very famous, but many claim that they taste just as good as Mortadella, Tyrolean and Viennese sausages.

The Pálinka is a real Hungaricum, protected by law since 2004, and you are only allowed to call the drink Pálinka if produced according to strict laws and rules.  Below you can see some of them:

1. it has to be made 100-percent from fruits or herbs indigenous to the Carpathian Basin and grown in Hungary, or from pomace grown in Hungary, and does not contain any additives,
2. it has to be produced and bottled in Hungary,
3. it has to have an alcohol content between 37,5% and 86% ABV.

So if this sounds interesting, check it out. You can read more about the entrance fees and about the festival at our Palinka and Sausage Festival page.

Events in Budapest