<BR>Hi, I'm a Hungarian, lived in Hungary until 3 years ago. (in Szolnok, and went back for 3 weeks last summer) If you have any questions regarding language, food, history etc., I'd be glad to help. Not much knowledge about accomodations and some other touristy stuff however!

Hello Lindi, <BR> <BR>A friend and I are headed for Prague, Vienna and Budapest in early May. <BR> <BR>I would like to know if you have experience/ideas on travelling between the cities... air, train, bus, car... what works, what doesn't? <BR> <BR>Thanks for any help. <BR>

Dave, <BR>I've never been to Prague, but went several times to Austria (every time by car). There's a boat trip available on the Danube btw. Budapest and Vienna, I guess it would take around 3 hours or less. I'm not sure they operate in May, but maybe. You can go by train, from most railway stations, from Budapest, trains to Vienna start from the "Deli Palyaudvar"="Southern Train Station". Tickets are not expensive (depends on the kind of train) and it should take around 3 hours as well. Trains go daily or more times a day. (Not 100% sure) By car, the border crossing I recommend is Hegyeshalom, towards Gyor (North Hu.). You can take the M1 "Autobahn" (how do you say it in English?) By car it is around 2.5 hours. I don't personally recommend buses, but there are certainly buses from Budapest to Vienna. They are however I think the most uncomfy option, and they might take the longest time too. And the longest scrutiny at the border. Also you can go by plane, which is fastest and most expensive. They start from either Ferihegy 1 or Ferihegy 2. If you decide to go by train, there's a website with detailed info from MAV. I'll try to find it and post the address. Hope this helps, lindi

The address is for train travel inside Hungary (tried Vienna/Becs with no result): http://elvira.mavinformatika.hu/ <BR>and then click on the English flag. <BR> <BR>or: http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/detect.exe/bin/query.exe/en <BR>It's not the Hungarian Railways, so probably more expensive. <BR> <BR>

Lindi, <BR> <BR>Thank you... that information is very helpful. I'm very much looking forward to the trip. <BR> <BR>By the way, thanks to that great German band Kraftwerk, we say Autobahn too... "fahren, fahren, fahren"... or sometimes "Freeway". <BR> <BR>Cheers, <BR>Dave <BR>

Dear Lindi, <BR> I'll be travelling from Ireland in the summer to see the grand prix. Is it safe to camp in Hungary ? Also would you recommend a trip on the Danube. I have a friend in Esztergom and I would also like to visit Vienna. <BR> And finally I am looking forward to traditional food, what would you recommend. Thanks, Simon

Hi Simon, <BR> <BR>I've camped many times in the Bukk and Matra mountains in Hungary, with lots of my friends, without any trouble. I don't think camping would be too much different than in other countries. The trick is not to invite too much attention (you know...no gold chains, Rolexes) but then you'd probably chose a luxury hotel! Campsites can differ from the VERY primitive, to the ones with toilets, showers, food stalls etc. If you're camping close to the Hungaroring, I guess there'll be lots of foreigners there, as well as more comforts. <BR>I must confess, I've never been on a trip on the Danube (actually only once when I was under 5) so I don't know if it's better or worse that other forms of transportation, but I'm sure that you can get magnificent views of the Parliament, Fisherman's Bastion, the Buda mountains and the bridges, so I guess I do recommend it. <BR>Ok, traditional food: <BR>Hungarian food can be either delicious or very fatty and greasy. I recommend "Gulyasleves" (Goulash Soup), "Halaszle" (Fish Soup--can be hot), "csirkepaprikas"/csirkeporkolt (chicken, with paprika spice), a long one: "hortobagyi husos palacsinta" (pastry(?) filled with spicy meat and mushroom filling) "rantott hus" and there are of course lots of others.. <BR>But my favourites are the desserts: retes, gesztenye pure (pureed chesnuts with whipped cream- very very goood), zserbo, mignon, kremes, etc. <BR>Most often if a place is clean and respectable looking, the food is good too. (one thing I don't recommend, although my dad likes it is "csulok" and "kocsonya" -- they are growse) If you don't chose the most touristy or luxury restaurants, you should be able to get a full meal with drinks for under $10 or maybe $15. (most often around $3-5!) <BR>When you're camping look out for your possessions if there are shady-looking people close by-- it's the easiest to steal at campsites. Maybe it's best to chose smaller places. but I guess you already know this stuff. <BR>Have a great trip!! Lindi

Another thing: warm "pogacsa" (a type of pastry)

Hi Lindi, <BR>I just saw your message, hope you are still checking responses! If so, maybe you would be the ideal person to help me with any tips regarding Hungarian culture and society? I'm spending a month teaching there this Summer, and can use all the help I can get! Thanks!

Hi Pauline, <BR> <BR>I am glad to help you! I'm not sure what to write as your question is very broad. You wrote you will be teaching there, and I just remembered this: <BR>Four years ago, when I still lived in Hungary, I went to a school where there were some American teachers teaching English. One time, my history teacher was quite upset. He told us that when he entered the teachers' room, the young American guy was sitting at a desk, his feet with his dirty shoes up on the desk, listening to loud music on his walkman, eating a sandwich, and he didn't even greet him when he entered. And when he was not eating, he was always loudly chewing a gum. He then gave us a little sermon about how we should keep our good manners even when under cultural pressure from "barbarians". But he was a member of the older generation, many people don't think this way. But you should remember never to put your feet up, don't chew gum when in a formal environment (most schools are quite formal), hold the door for older persons and let them go through before you, and close doors around you. When I came to Canada I was amazed that teachers left the door open while teaching, this never happened in Hungary. (and be careful not to slam doors) <BR>When on a bus, it is customary to give your seat to an old person who is standing or someone with a small child. <BR>It is also customary to give good friends two kisses on the cheek when meeting after a long time. And also when handing over a gift, even if you don't know the person. (Two men just shake hands) But we know that it's not a custom elsewhere, so we don't necessarily expect it from foreigners. Once when we had a German group at our school, my classmates got on the schoolbus and gave kisses on the cheek to all their friends on the bus. It was hilarious, we had a hard time not to break out laughing! It was a joke to amaze the Germans! <BR>Of course nothing will happen if you do none of the above, these are just some observations. At most, people will thing that you have bad manners. <BR>Well this is what comes to mind right now. Where exactly will you be staying? Around Nyiregyhaza? If you have specific questions feel free to ask me.

To the top <BR>

Hi Lindi, <BR>Thank you so much for all your great tips and information! <BR> <BR>Yes, we will be staying in Nyiregyhaza, teaching at a Summer language camp there for 15-18 year olds. I'm very excited about this trip ... we'll have lots of time to explore the town and area, so, if you have some "inside" info' on the town itself I would realy appreciate it. You know, good places to eat, visit, stay away from! etc. Thanks for any help!

If I have been in Nyiregyhaza, it has been travelling through, so I don't have insider info about that. But I'm sure you will get to know some locals during your stay, so ask them! For outside trips, I recommend: <BR>Eger: a very walkable city with beautiful architecture and lots of wine <BR>Pannonhalma: has a famous "kolostor" (maybe convent in English?) and a nice area, <BR>Hortobagy puszta: the large flat area in Eastern Hungary, has lots of birds, a type of beautiful, rare whitish-gray cattle ('Hungarian grey longhorn cattle')and horses. To get the best experience, go to a horse show, and I recommend driving out in a horse carriage to look at the cattle. (http://www.arts.klte.hu/hungary/hortob.htm) <BR>Csenger:a little village, has many buildings by a world-famous Hungarian architect. I haven't been there, but I know that his buildings are awesome, espec. from the inside. <BR>Holloko- an authentic, preserved Hungarian village. It's a world heritage site and worth a visit. <BR>and Debrecen, which is not very far from Nyiregyhaza. <BR>These are some places off the beaten path, (some not). Also, feel free to explore! If you have a chance, visit the western part of Hungary as well (I prefer that part over the east), the whole country being so small, it can be easily done. Have a great time!

Thanks very much lindi for all the tips, I appreciate your help!

Fodors <BR> <BR>Ten trains a day leave Budapest Keleti station, rather than Deli, and take three hours to Vienna. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR>

Thanks for the correction, Ben, <BR>I always went to Vienna by car <BR>I guess that part of my info was outdated or incorrect.

up for Judy

Hi Lindi, <BR>I am 19 years-old and I am traveling to Hungary for the first time in July. I am curious about opportunities to go horseback riding in and around Budapest - not just trail riding, but also lessons as I am an advanced rider. I would appreciate any info that you might have! Thanx. <BR>~Rebecca

Dear Lindi: Any ideas for nice places to take my 8 year old daughter in and around Budapest?

Hi Pauline, I was in Hungary last fall and loved it. I stayed in a room with private bath with a retired chemist (Dr. Walter Fleps) while there. He had put together a pamphlet of 12 walks in Budapest. I did 11 of them while there and it has now been publishte ISBN: 963 9188 56 5. In fact I had asked him to mail me a coopy when he received it and it just arrived 10 days ago.