Mummy, why is New Year coming in winter and cold? Survive Happy New Year 2013 as a Hungarian

So here we are, after the end of the world (do you remember? it was 21 december 2012), sound and safe, fat after all those Christmas feasts and cookies, and in the usual winter depression. Actually, I never understood why the New Year has to come in the middle of the December-January transition full with darkness, cold, snow and depression... I'd rather have it in spring when the flowers blossom, it would make more sense, wouldn't it?... Anyway, long story short, this is how we do it today and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone and see what you need as a Hungarian to glide into 2013 with luck and happiness :)

And… ACTION 2- Hungarian Hollywood: Budapest!

I was curious about the hungarian film-studios who assisted in the many foreign productions and found out that Korda Film Studio – one of the five biggest  film-studios near Budapest is open for visitors. I was really excited about it and on a nice and sunny Sunday afternoon I visited the film-studio in Etyek.  

And… ACTION 1 - Hungarian Hollywood: Budapest!

The star couple in Budapest

Over the last few years Hungary has became home to many international film productions. Two years ago, Angelina Jolie directed her first film in Budapest and a year after that, her husband filmed a zombie movie, called World War Z in Hungary. This summer, another american blockbuster, Die Hard 5 chose Budapest as it’s filming location.

Let the Festivals Begin...!

Many festivals grace the sands of our beautiful country, and with summer fast approaching it is time to start preparing! Here a few of Underguide's favorite festivals...!

Budapest Pálinka Festival 10th-13th May, 2012

The Hunyadi Court in Buda Castle plays host to the spring Pálinka Festival the aim of which is to introduce high-quality Hungarian fruit brandies, pálinka in Hungarian, to both locals and tourists.

Musical programs, concerts enhance the atmosphere during the 4-day event.

This year the focus will be on pálinkas made from apricot.

Daily tickets: 2 000 HUF includes a tasting glass, 4-day pass (includes a tasting glass): 5 500 HUF.

Opening hours: Thurs-Fri: 14.00-02.00, Sat-Sun: 14.00-24.00

More information: Budapest Pálinka Fesztivál

One little Piggy... Hungarian Pig Cutting Feast

This weekend was definitely a first for me... throughout my year in Hungary I have experienced many traditions and festivals, but non so intense as the one and only Pig Cutting.

Arriving at the Hunters Hut in southern Hungary (so far South that my phone tried to connect to a Serbian network), I really didn't know what to expect... we hopped out of the car, and before I could even stand up properly, my dog ran over to what looked like a small whale in a cage! This was by far, one of the biggest pigs I had ever come in contact with. I knew that without a doubt, that this was the last night on earth for this little pig... and soon... to be blunt about it... he would be in mine, and many others' bellies!

Kino Cinema & Café

There is a place in Budapest which i really like. A good friend took me there after school, and ever since then we have never stopped going there - before school, after school and instead of school - until it eventually became one of our favourite hangout places in all of Budapest.

Well, I dont really know what it is that makes a bar the perfect hangout, but to me Kino Cinema and Cafe has it all to be one of the best hangouts in town.

Hungarian House of Photography - The embassy of our nation's photographers

Hungarians are everywhere, and amongst the best... We do like to believe this here in the Carpatian basin and in the case of photography this sentence gets quite close to the truth: World wide famous camera holders were born here...

Did you know that Robert Capa's surname means shark in Hungarian (Cápa)? Or did you know that it was the Hungarian photographer Martin Munkácsi to inspire Bresson to start shooting pictures?

Get to know closer everything about Hungarain photography now and then on the English speaking lecture series at the Hungarian House of Photography (Mai Manó Ház).

Janus Winery - A Vineyard like no other..!

During my time in Budapest, I have had the pleasure of tasting many wines, some good - some not so good, but a vineyard that I stuck out to me the most, not just because of the incredible taste of the wine, but the experience it brought with it, was the Janus vineyard in Villány.
My first real Janus experience brought me out of Budapest, into the wonderful region of Villány in southern Hungary, where the 'Janus Szülinapi Borzsongás' (The Janus Birthday Bash) of 2011 was happening.

Ádám Fellegi piano artist's House concert

Ádám Fellegi is one of the most well-known Hungarian piano artists and he has been providing many of us with a unique program. His speciality is giving special house concerts - ring the bell, go upstairs, chat with him and enjoy his performance seated in his living room. 

We said performance, and we mean it. It is not purely like listening to a composer's masterpiece (the plays change every few months) - it is getting involved in the world of that music.

First Christmas mood in Budapest- by expat Amrit Chima

 Vörösmarty Tér:
the crowd drinking mulled wine

It’s getting cold here now and the days are becoming shorter and shorter. With only a wink of daylight before the sun dips back below the horizon around 4 in the afternoon, I’m left shivering in the dark beneath my down jacket. But although many grumble about it, I love these wintry days; I head to my favorite café on Andrássy út, to my cozy corner table where I write and meet friends.

Hungarian wedding and logic - by expat Amrit Chima

Homemade apricot pálinka with homemade tomato juice.
Beyond the table,

There’s been so much movement and sway this past year (as always). I didn’t even see it coming: Daniel and my one-year wedding anniversary.

Just like that it was upon us, a shocking reminder of how rapidly we’re propelled forward through time. Wasn’t I just moving from New York

to prepare for the wedding? Wasn’t I just enduring an onslaught of photographers surrounding me in the reception hall while I danced to Punjabi bhangra music holding a Hungarian paprika keychain in myhand?....

Art Nouveau Wonders in Budapest #6 - Róth Miksa Memorial House

 The Róth Miksa Memorial Building was closed for August but now it is open again. Oddly, more foreigners are visiting it than Hungarian - Róth Miksa's glassworks and mosaics are world-famous and the memorial house reveals a lot about this artist and his life.

Hungarians do not smile but have nice Basilicas - by expat Amrit Chima

The Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert

Daniel took me away from the city to Esztergom.

The city is 28 miles northwest of Budapest where the Danube snakes west toward Austria, forming a natural border between Hungary and Slovakia. From the tenth to mid-thirteenth centuries, Esztergom was the country’s capital and is now the center for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Not much of a shock, then, that the highlight of our trip was a visit to the city’s church, which is also the tallest building in Hungary—The Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St. Adalbert.

I prefer to simply call it The Basilica.

Budapest's Eclectic Mix by Amrit Chima

My life in June was relatively uneventful, as is appropriate for this time of year here in Hungary. Not only did Daniel and I spend another two exhausting weeks scrambling to get into our apartment, but we’ve just entered the inertia of “cucumber season”. It’s precisely as many people here have warned: the most exciting event worth reporting is that the cucumbers have begun to ripen…and by how much. Throngs have fled the city after enduring the monotony of their jobs for yet another year (as we in the U.S. are all too familiar with). And although there is an influx of tourists, thickening around festival hotspots, the streets still seem quieter than usual. Though I sometimes feel that I should attend some of these festivals—by missing them surely I’m cheating myself out of an opportunity to fully experience this place—the truth is that we collapsed into our new home with fervor. We didn’t go out except for necessities, instead enjoying books, documentaries, and wine. Friends came to us.

Happy Birthday 88-year-old Grandpa and 100-year-old houses!- expat Amrit's blogpost

Hey magyar readers! ever wondering how expats see us? So read Amrit's articles, where she tells about her life in Budapest...

I left the US in search of surer footing. Budapest may seem an odd choice. By all first impressions, given the unfamiliar language, the lack of my own social network, and the uncertainty of finding employment, it appears more like a place where I’d be unbalanced and flailing. But good things are happening, and I’m beginning to feel at home for the first time in far too long.

Budapest Underground Partyguide - let's go open air

Last November - when started writing this guide, I designated Budapest as 'the city of open air bars'. Now, as dark winter has gone, the time has really come for the verification of this statement. Cold days seem to be finally over, and as nature wakes up and everything around you gets green, our favourite open-air places open their "doors" as well. This weekend everyone should definitely check in one of these venues, and enjoy the magical feeling of spending the night outside.

Changing the world in a coffehouse - about our springtime national holiday

15th March, our national holiday in spring has presented us this year with a 4 day long weekend. Very thoughtful and kind of a holiday. Thanks.

Also very thoughtful of google to adorn its logo for this occasion - even if it is rather ugly...

Budapest Duel - hungarian girl vs. guy from New Zealand

Last friday I was invited for a duel with one of the Ambassadors of the Budapest Tourist Office.  The „new colleagues” are requested to represent their country/ nation/ culture and help for their arriving compatriots with tips –where to, what to  etc.


My  partner in the duel was Scott from New Zealand after working in London, Auckland, Buenos Aires, Florence, Beirut, Vancouver and Seoul, he told that his  favourite city of all was Budapest. It always touches me, when someone from abroad just falls in love with Budapest and has decided to move here after living such a great cities….

Whats up Budapest? - Regular Underground Partyguide

Even though the partyguide has always been - and will be - a very enthusiastic promoter of Budapest nightlife, this week we have to mention a very sad story related to our beloved partylife. Last weekend three young girls died in West Balkan at a „teenager party” because of the too big crowd. This article is dedicated to their memories and to safer and happier parties.

This weekend some places cancel their parties to remember the three girls. Maybe the best thing in Budapest is that you can always go to a nice pub to have a great chat with your friends – and some beers of course. Here is „pub-list” for the weekend:

Tűzraktér: Artists, wannabe artists, feel-like artists and other nice people are usually sitting in the rooms of Tűzraktér – which rooms are decorated by the same artists, wannabe artist and nice people. Good music, sometimes nice concerts and exhibitions and the only place in town, where you can have a Club Mate!

STRICTLY UNIQUE AND HUNGARIAN! Part 2. - Siberian Eco Shoes and Eco Lamps

Did you know that flat shoes are sexy and they can be bought in Siberia? No, not in Russia, in the Siberia of Budapest. Let me introduce you to Anna Zaboeva  and her world of shoes.

And did you break your favourit mug, or inherited a too worthy porcelain set? Time to turn them into your unique lamps: cut, glue, dream and switch on the light :)

 Discover Hungarian Design Part 2.