Feb 8th, 2012 at 9:00AM:
The blow nearly knocked me off my feet. I was crouching down to take a photo and WHACK! I felt and heard some blunt instrument smack me right on the top of my head. I was momentarily dazed by the force of the blow and by the time I gathered myself, my assailant, a boy of about 12 dressed up in a wooly suit and wooden mask, was already halfway down the ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Hungary posts
Busójárás: Hungary's version of Whacking Day
Feb 8th, 2012 at 9:00AM:
The blow nearly knocked me off my feet. I was crouching down to take a photo and WHACK! I felt and heard some blunt instrument smack me right on the top of my head. I was momentarily dazed by the force of the blow and by the time I gathered myself, my assailant, a boy of about 12 dressed up in a wooly suit and wooden mask, was already halfway down the ...National Gallery in Budapest exhibits art of epic Hungarian history
Jan 11th, 2012 at 2:30PM:
The Hungarian capital of Budapest is a popular destination for those who love high art and culture. Its sumptuous National Gallery is famed across Europe, and now it's putting on a new exhibition highlighting the nation's history.
Heroes, Kings, Saints - Pictures and Memories of Hungarian History brings together some of the masterpieces of 19th century Hungarian painting. This was a high ...Hungary's clown-shaped electrical towers
Nov 30th, 2011 at 3:30PM: I never really imagined that I'd see clown-shaped electrical towers anywhere, but Hungary's clown-shaped electrical towers have proven that what I imagine, or don't imagine, has no bearing on reality. Laughing Squid recently published some photos of electrical towers throughout Hungary that are so creative that I hardly believe they actually exist. Constructed in the shape of clowns (yes, clowns, ...Photo of the day: Budapest mist
Sep 28th, 2011 at 5:00PM:
I have never visited Hungary or Budapest, but this photo by Christoph Sahle of a misty day in Budapest makes me want to. Touring musicians, travel writers, and wandering friends have warned me of the city's immense beauty, telling me I'll never want to leave should I ever go. Well, those kinds of places are precisely the kinds of places I want to visit. I suspect they are the kinds of places ...Mummies of the World exhibition opens in Philadelphia
Jun 21st, 2011 at 9:30AM:
Mummies are endlessly fascinating. To see a centuries-old body so well preserved brings the past vividly to life. While Egyptian mummies get most of the press, bodies in many regions were mummified by natural processes after being deposited in peat bogs or very dry caves.
Mummies of the World is a state-of-the-art exhibition bringing together 150 mummies and related artifacts. It opened last ...Five great European thermal baths
May 3rd, 2011 at 3:30PM: Before the spa revolution saw most upscale hotels offering spa services to guests, there was the venerable European spa town tradition, centered on thermal baths built around natural hot springs. The water on offer for bathing at these sites has historically been thought to possess therapeutic qualities. The tradition of taking a "cure" remains an enthusiastic habit across Europe today, in ...The ten best castles in Europe
Mar 16th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
Castles originated in Europe over a thousand years ago. These fortresses were one of the original defense systems, and erecting the structures on hills or just beyond moats was a functional choice. Castles were built to house rulers, impose power, and above all, spurn would be attackers. Conforming to these basic principles of utilitarian design, the strongholds now appear solitary, majestic, ...Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps
Mar 1st, 2011 at 10:00AM:
Creative new use for border crossing posts at German/Austrian border.
In the late 1980s, an American spending a summer traveling across Europe with a Eurailpass would see his or her passport stamped possibly dozens of times. With a few exceptions, every time a border was crossed, an immigration agent would pop his or her head into a train compartment, look at everyone's passports, in most ...Drinking Bull's Blood in Hungary's Valley of the Beautiful Women
Oct 31st, 2010 at 10:00AM: There are no beautiful women in the Valley of the Beautiful Women, located on the outskirts of Eger in northeastern Hungary. A true misnomer. At least from what I could see. Instead, the only humans in sight were old crones pouring potent deep-red vino from long stem-like glass wine pourers and ancient portly men passed out in the corner of subterranean wine cellars. Is this one of those bad ...Flying Wizz Air, European low-cost airline
Sep 13th, 2010 at 10:00AM:
I just flew with Wizz Air, a major budget airline in Europe whose name and stunts I had previously only snickered over. It turns out in addition to offering low fares across Europe, they are also the largest carrier in Hungary (at least according to Wizz, Malev Hungarian would beg to differ) and a major player in Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. Last week I traveled to Bulgaria (look for some ...Weekend travel media top five: July 24-25, 2010
Jul 26th, 2010 at 8:30AM: This weekend's best travel stories include a run through Hungary's Tokaj wine district, a pilgrimage to horsey Chincoteague, Virginia, a family vacation in England's Isles of Scilly, a guide to Europe's top cycling cities, and a tribute to the many charms of Saskatchewan.
1. In the New York Times, Evan Rail does an oenophile tour of Hungary's Tokaj wine trail (see photo), with great dining and ...Worst travel mistakes of the 2000's: Diplomatic Dipsticks
Dec 29th, 2009 at 11:30AM:
As we take time to count our travel sins of the past decade, I get all teary-eyed and indecisive. Where to begin? Couldn't we just say "Iraq" and be done with it? And are we including food mistakes? 'Cuz I got some real doozies: how about shrimp ceviche from a quaint Mexican beach cafe or fresh cut watermelon in India? Uh, those would be travel mistakes, no? But like, since we're trying to ...Four ways to throw an international New Year's Eve party
Dec 21st, 2009 at 12:30PM: After years of the same old New Year's Eve parties, singing Auld Lang Syne, counting down at midnight and kissing as the clock strikes 12, it may be time to shake things up a bit. With some creativity, you can host an international-themed New Year's Eve party that incorporates traditions from around the world. Here are a few ideas.
Say cheers
As you clink champagne flutes with your guests ...Travel sans visa coming for European, Caribbean, Mauritius, and Seychelles nationals
Feb 13th, 2009 at 2:00PM: A mutual agreement allowing Europeans, nationals from four Caribbean countries, and citizens of two island nations in the Indian Ocean is expected to be passed and approved by the end of March, which will allow for hassle-free and smoother travel. If you hold a passport from any of the following countries, it means you're that much more free to travel between those listed sans visa: Austria, ...The Very Best Foreign National Parks
Feb 13th, 2009 at 10:00AM: The Coalition of National Park Services Retirees (yeah, I didn't know they existed either) put out a press release yesterday listing the organizations favorite national parks from around the globe. The list was compiled by the more than 700 members of the CNPSR, who voted on their favorite places to visit while traveling abroad. Each of those members is a former employee of the U.S. National Park ...The new face of army food
Jan 11th, 2009 at 5:00PM: The U.S. Culinary Arts Team ... yes, there is such a thing ... faced an incredible challenge. The team had to cook 150 three-course meals in six hours without the benefit of a real kitchen. The crew had to work "in the field" – as the army calls being away from the plumbing, walls and heat of the barracks – which is never an easy task. The IKA/Culinary Olympics, which occurred back in ...From the New Europe: Mr Gay Europe final returns to Hungary
Apr 15th, 2008 at 6:30PM: Before the fall of communism, back 19 years ago (jeez, has it really been that long?) there were no gay people in Eastern Europe. No really. None. At least according to the Soviet propaganda.
Look at good old Eastern Europe now. Prague is the new capital of gay pornography and Budapest proudly announces that Mr Gay Hungary competition has has joined forces with Budapest Pride to organize the ...From the New Europe: Transylvania art in the streets of Budapest
Mar 28th, 2008 at 11:00AM: If Hungary is on your travel list this spring, make sure to check out the open air art exhibit in the streets of Budapest.
According to the Budapest Sun Online, sculptures, paintings and photographs by Hungarian contemporary artists have broken out of galleries to enjoy the spring scenery.
Szabadság tér, the green area in front of the television building in Budapest, brings ...Hungarian wine on my mind
Dec 2nd, 2007 at 6:00PM: A few weeks ago I enjoyed sampling some Hungarian wines at a New York reception hosted by Perceptive Travel magazine. The folks at Monarchia Winery and Hungarian Tourism were kind enough to provide a collection of regional wines for tasting. I particularly enjoyed sampling two Tokaj varieties. Traditionally known for its sweet dessert wines, the two I tasted were drier, and quite nice. (You want ...Big in Japan: Scenes from the World Rubik's Cube Championship
Oct 9th, 2007 at 10:30AM: Did you know that there is an annual Rubik's Cube competition held every year in Budapest, Hungary, the hometown of Erno Rubik, the cube's inventor?
I know I didn't, which is why I was ecstatic to learn that the 2007 Rubik's Cube World Championship this past Sunday was won by Yu Nakajima of Japan. The 16 year old boy was able to solve the classic 3x3 cube, which has six sides of a different color ...
