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.

Ladies with pearls - Ferenciek tere (square)

Ferenciek tere, a beautiful square right in the heart of Budapest.

If this place had to be person, it would certainly be a noble lady. The elegant shapes, frolic curves and  ornaments of the lofty buildings hide even more surprise inside than the fancy decoration on the facades. Modern integrates perfectly into the old style as the light, steel arcs of the snow-white suspension bridge extend over the Danube.      

Let me introduce you to the twin ladies posing on the two sides of the road, Klotild and Matild. Klotild to the south and Matild to the north are perfectly symmetric images of each other. Their names are half real and half part of urban imagination. The land where the two buildings stand now was bought by Archduchess and Princess Clotilde (precisely Marie Adelheid Amalie Clotilde of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). She imagined a magnificent gateway to the Elisabeth Bridge; the two buildings, as graceful ladies, welcome people crossing by. The glass paintings are the masterpieces of the Róth Miksa atelier, the one that prepared the glass windows of the House of Parliament, of the Gresham Palace or the National Bank. The towers are topped by the Archduke's crown. 

Luca Day - 13 december - Witchspotting and asking for love hints from pigs

Luca did not bring presents, but punished

Eastern Central Europe is a place where Drakula and other scary faces feel at easy - woods, gloomy weather, medieval castles... So considering this, you won't be surprised to read that we have a very famous witch in Hungary, namely Luca. Her figure got mixed up with that of Saint Lucia, the bride of Jesus who lived in Syracusa - and from this not very usual fusion many entertaining and creepy folk traditions and superstitions were born...

Art Nouveau Wonders in Budapest #2 - Paris Department Store

You might have come across already one of budapestUNDERGUIDE's Art Nouveau programs (http://szecesszio.eu/en), taken part on a free walk on Saturdays or you might have found one of the treasures on the Urban Geocache game. To get you in the turn of century mood, we will publish from now on regularly something about Art Nouveau, Liberty, Modernismo, Secession, or whatever you might call it in your language.

This week, we will tell you about the Paris Department Store - it is a must-see with its Lotz-room!

Let's swim in the Danube in front of the Parliament!

Let’s reclaim the banks of the Danube in Budapest! - our special proposal, a wonderful initiative:

Would you believe that there used to be a swimming pool in front of the Parliament in
Budapest and everybody was allowed to jump into the Danube? Which animal living in the
river do you think was believed to give magical male power that helps the husband perform
his marital duties? Who were the Danube water sellers? What does a street artist can create
out of two white boxes? Where can you lie down on a giant deckchair in the city center on the
riverbank? If you are curious to find out the answers and want to be amazed by the treasures
the city holds during a lovely walk in downtown, Duna Tanösvény (Danube River Trail) is
waiting for you until the 3rd of October.

Art Nouveau Wonders in Budapest #1- Philantia Flower Shop

Philantia Shop window

You might have come across already one of budapestUNDERGUIDE's Art Nouveau programs (http://szecesszio.eu/en), taken part on a free walk on Saturdays or you might have found one of the treasures on the Urban Geocache game. To get you in the turn of century mood, we will publish from now on regularly something about Art Nouveau, Liberty, Modernismo, Secession, or whatever you might call it in your language.

This week, we have Philantia, a little jewelry box on the menu.

Urban Geocache – Art Nouveau Treasure Hunt

urban geocache - art nouveau treasure hunt

Treasure hunting is cooler than ever - pirates, adventurers and small children have been venturing day by day on new quests in search of that pot of gold, that secret ingredient or the favorite chocolate of theirs. The 21^st century hype, the Geogaching games have revived the excitement of the true outdoor treasure hunts' excitement.

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.

Easter Monday is the Hungarian Halloween

In Hungary, as as well in many other countries, Easter's main symbol is a bunny and beautifully decorated eggs. I never understood this bunny stuff so much, especially combined with the eggs... Now I have read that it might be a mistake and the bunny was supposed to be some kind of bird... Traditions evolve. Now we have bunnies and eggs made of chocolate, bunnies lying eggs, eggs made out of bunnies. And I even discovered our Easter is like Halloween, read on to see why.

I would like to wish happy Easter to everyone with this gorgeous cartoon:

"- My ass hurts"

"- What?"

Did NOT See that Coming! - expat tells us the strangest things about Hungary

Billboard of Dalbir, the new spokesperson for Budapest Bank

It’s been a challenge to unearth information about Budapest Bank’s reasoning behind their choice of spokesperson. One new acquaintance said that it was a social experiment to demonstrate that Hungarians are not racist. Upon voting among a Finish, a Spanish, and an Indian Sikh, the overwhelming choice was for Dalbir. And I’ve also seen a Chinese man modeling clothes in a storefront poster, the anomaly next to the other three white models, yet posing confidently and with a dour expression meant to convey his sex appeal. So I was not surprised then when I saw an Asian woman, flesh and blood, walk into a gyro eatery. In a little less than a week, that was about the extent of my exposure to non-Hungarians. It’s not exactly a melting pot, but perhaps it’s getting there—slowly.