And then the public transportation strike in Budapest was over, for this time. The buses are polluting the city again, the trams are following their normal schedules and the people of Budapest can easier get to their jobs than last week. Well, if the buses are able to drive. It has been snowing and it is quite cold, so often that causes great problems for the drivers and the buses!
At least it is over! So that was it for this time. There is a small strike on the Ferihegy Airport as well, but that is not expected to cause any further delays!
The dates for the Sziget Festival 2010 has been announced, and it will start August 11th and last until August 16th. Very often they have some extra stuff the day before the official beginning, but the official start will for sure be August 11. No information has yet been given about artists coming, but we can only hope for big hot-shots, as ususal!
This event takes place at the Obudai Island. For more information and tickets, check out our Sziget Festival page.
Bobby McFerrin is a very popular jazz musician and singer. He has performed together with major celebrities around the world, and he is the man behind the famous “Don’t worry, be happy” song which ruled the hit lists in the 80s. Now he is coming to Budapest where he will perform in the SYMA Hall. The concert will be arranged August 22nd, and it starts at 20.00.
Bobby McFerrin Budapest
SYMA Hall
August 22nd, 2010 – 20:00
The public transportation strike which we have written about several times already is still going strong and most buses, trams and trolley buses in the capital of Hungary are still standing still. Some of them are going and you can read more about that in our former post.
I guess the taxi companies enjoy the strike as they probably have much more to do than under normal circumstances, but it would be nice if they could finish this strike within shortly.
One addition to the strike is the fact that MAV (train company) has joined into the strike and especially in the early morning many trains stand still and do not transport passengers!
Paul Anka performed in Budapest 5th of August 2009, and I guess he most have felt good, because in 2010 he is coming back to Hungary again. He will perform in the Budapest Sportarena this time as well and the concert will be arranged 3rd of June, starting at 20.00.
For Paul Anka 2009/2010 will be good years, especially since Paul Anka will earn loads of money, as he wrote “This is it”, the latest Michael Jackson song!
Paul Anka Budapest
Budapest Sportarena
June 3rd, 2010 – 20.00
It is winter in Budapest and the buses of the local transportation company, BKV, is having a hard time. But not only the buses, but the drivers and other workers are not at all satisfied, and the rumours are even spreading that some drivers just leave their buses in so called wildcat strikes.
In addition a big strike has been announced on January 12, and time will show it it will be a heavy strike or not (I have heard that even if it is a strike the metros will probably be running and so on)!
The Dohányi Utcai synagogue in Budapest is the second largest in the world and it attracts hundred thousands of visitors every year. I just added some pictures of the synagogue by night for our visitors to enjoy, but I also did so to answer a question I received during a guided tour half a year ago. The tourists asked me what the “tablets” above the entrance of the synagogue are. I was not sure, but I guessed that they were some “model” of the Ten Commandments or something similar.
Tablets above Synagoue entrance
As I walked by and made these photos not long ago I zoomed in with my camera and made a picture. As I came home I checked the pictures and compared them with my Hebrew Bible. The answer; on the tables you can find parts of the Ten Commandments. The first and the third commandment are very long, so you can not find them completely, but commandments such as “You shall not kill” , “You shall not commit adultery” and “You shall not steal” can be found in its complete beauty!
Did you know that it is easy and cheap to travel from Budapest to big cities in other countries? Thanks to the Hungarian bus company Orangeways there are several opportunities daily to travel to these cities and booking can be done easily online. The buses leave from Nepliget in Budapest (blue metro line) and the buses drives you safely to all the cities mentioned in the topic; Vienna, Bratislava, Prague and Krakow.
They have other destinations as well, but these are just examples. So, if you are planning to travel, why not come to Budapest and use this as a center for travelling on to other cities and nations.
Elton John is coming to Budapest in 2010. That is fantastic news for all Elton John fans around the world. The concert will be arranged in Budapest Sportarena, June 8th. It will start 20.00. Elton John has written tons of famous songs and he is an amazing piano player with an interesting voice. So if you want to be there as he performs in Budapest, grab hold of your tickets as soon as possible.
Elton John Budapest
Budapest Sportarena
June 8th, 20.00
Not long ago we got to enjoy an evening at Karpátia in Budapest, and we really felt good the time we spent there. Since the gipsy music starts around 18.00 every evening we went there 18.00 and got a table where we could enjoy the music, but still relax and not be disturbed by it.
Smoked farm ham with spicy cream cheese
As a starter we ate a “Hungarian appetiser platter with “mangalica” sausage and salami, paprika-flavoured ewe-cheese and vegetables” and a “Smoked farm ham with spicy cream cheese, blue grape jam and fresh baguette”. The portions were just perfect, and my wife commented that if she were at home she would stop eating after that. But, since we were out eating we did not stop after the starter.
After the good start we continued towards the main course with some real Hungarian meals; “Mangalica” pork medallions with spicy fresh “lecsó” and potato chips” and the second meal was “Pörkölt appetiser from veal, beef and chicken, with butter gnocchi”. I have never tasted three different Pörkölts at the same plate, but this was an easy way to find out which one is your own personal favorite. Both courses tasted great and with the starter already relaxing in our stomachs we started to feel very full.
Blackberry-yogurt cake
But, a good dinner needs to be finished with a good dessert. That is why we ended up ordering a “Piquant sour cherry strudel with cinnamon mousse” and a “Blackberry-yogurt cake topped with bitter and white chocolate”. The strudel tasted as it should, the Blackberry yogurt cake was fine (nothing more), but by that time I felt so full that it didn’t really matter.
After a couple of hours we then headed home, completely satisfied and uncomfortable full!
It must be said that Karpátia is not the cheapest restaurant in Budapest, and the complete price of what we ate had a total price of around 18,000 Forint (appx. 65 Euro). But it was a nice experience, the music was comfortable and we got to taste nice Hungarian specialities! So a visit to Karpátia can be recommend for those who want a nice Hungarian experience, in a traditional environment and at a central location.
