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.

Art Nouveau Wonders in Budapest #10 - Museum of Applied Arts

We are at number 10 with the Art Nouveau treasures around in town - this time we visit the Museum of Applied Art, a beauty on the ugly square of Corvin Negyed. Our favourite master, Ödön Lechner and Franz Joseph the "gipsy emperor" are important figures. And breaking news: the cupola of the cupola has been removed recently due to endangering passersby by falling into pieces...

Art Nouveau Wonders in Budapest #9 - Postal Savings Bank

Postal Savings Bank- currently the Hungarian Treasury

Simply the building with the most beautiful roof in Budapest...

Let's see the history of the building and the mastermind of architect behind it!

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 #8 - Hungarian National Bank

Some will argue - is the National Bank really Art nouveau style? Hmm, yes and no. There are some parts which definitely bear the mark and anyway, it was high time we talked about this important building! 

Art Nouveau Wonders in Budapest #7 - Erzsébet Town Community House

Ever raised your head in Wesselényi street while strolling from one ruin bar to the other? It is really worth it, shoemaker's ghosts inhabit the area around this yellow red Art Nouveau wonder...

For the inexperienced visitor, the sign saying "Capital City Shoemakers’s Guild" may be misleading. Yet, in these parts one had better get used to signs hiding not quite what they read.


 

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.