Hi, Im thinking of visiting Budapest. Im mixed, but Im about Will Smith's complexion. I understand that minorities in Hungary are about as comon as Eskimo's in Florida, so Im wondering if I will be recieved well. Can anyone clue me in on what to expect from the locals? I was treated extremely well in Spain, so if Budapest is anything like that then I expect I should get along just perfectly.

The Hungarians are not too crazy about gypsies, but is anyone in the Western world? My daughter and a Haitian female friend were there 8 years ago. They had some unpleasant experiences, but refused to talk about it. In their tri-city trip, they preferred Berlin, then came Prague and finally Budapest in terms of comfort. On the other hand, it could not have been that bad, since her present recollection is that she liked Budapest better than Prague.

Who's Will Smith??

Will Smith? Beverly Hills HillWilly

Huh? means nothing to me

American actor turned rapper

http://www.music.msn.com/artist/?artist=16319052

I don't like to correct anyone, but it was actually rapper turned actor. tomboy,he starred in Fresh Prince of Bel Air on t.v. and such movies as, Independence Day, Men In Black, and more recently, IRobot.

RST, thank you, at last a rapper with brain

I think that with Hungary now being part of the European Union, they are receiving more and more foreigners and tourists each day, so I guess you should be ok (lots of things have changed in the last 8 years!). Anyway, if you don't feel really sure, maybe you should try to look as American as possible ;-) Hope you'll have a great trip!

Well I am American, so I dont think I can not look American. And I've heard about problems with the gypsies (and people having trouble who look like gypsies), but I dont look like a gypsie. So I doubt there will be any problem in that respect. No one has any 1st hand experience in Budapest??

xxatti.... Try the forum at the Budapest Sun on line. It's a web site for English speaking people living Hungary or people who migrated out of Hungary and yet remain in contact. I think you'll get an honest answer to your question there. Hope that helps. I'll be visiting Budapest/Balaton/Sopron/Eger for a couple of weeks next month and I really don't think you'll have any problems. I'd expect that you'd find things in Budapest like most other big cities of the world. Try this: http://pub20.bravenet.com/forum/1703145588 Hope this helps... SoCal

In Communist days all Warsaw Pact countries welcomed African marxists with open arms.

OTOH: Today you see virtually no black people in Budapest.

Will Smith fans: Rent "Six degrees of separation", a beautiful film

Maybe Im a little slow... but what does OTOH stand for??

OTOH = On The Other Hand

FainaAgain, sorry I'm a little slow to respond - been busy.

>finally, a rapper with brain< - couldn't agree with you more. How about a Fodorites rap group then we could all get into movies! (or maybe at least travel documentaries) "I love Italy, it's way cool, I know my countries, I ain't no fool."

RST, this would be great! Where, do you think, it will get us? Into a circle? Inner or outer?

I am Asian American and when I went to Budapest in 1991, I got a lot of looks, But it was more looks of curiosity because they don't see many Asians there.

My cousin said the same thing about when she went to Croatia. Curious stares.

I can't answer your question. I've never been to Hungary, and anyway I'm Causasian (Mediterranean-looking). But, while I'm a little interested in going to Hungary some day, I've occasionally read reports of somewhat alarming incidents of intolerance there, so I thought you might possibly have some good reason to be concerned. I just did a very quick superficial search. Here's an article that refers to some problems, and makes me think it might be worth researching this further: http://www.tanok.bme.hu/surv/surv08.ssi

Faina, if we use my lyrics, I would venture to say it will get us into an Outer Circle - a waaay "out there" circle!

You might also want to ask the question here: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti15.html I'm not familiar with that forum, but it seems to be on point.