H
:
Gergo Szabo talks with Pablo Mori about Hugarian
cuisine, football, how to get in & out of Hungary,
If
the German language is not difficult enough for you, there is no need to go too far away to face a really hard
challenge. Many studies agree that this language is the most difficult one using the Roman alphabet. You
just need to take a plane or to cross any of the land borders that this country shares with Slovakia and Ukraine, in the northeast, with
Serbia, Romania and Croatia in the south, or with Slovenia and Austria in the west. You will have reached your destination:
ÜDVÖZÖLJÜK MAGYARORSZÁGON! (WELCOME TO HUNGARY!
The land whose capital, Budapest, is split by the river Danube, is also the land of natural thermal waters and spas, of the largest lake
in Central Europe (Balaton) and the country of birth of Rubik’s cube. Hungary is also the homeland of famous personalities, such as
photographer Robert Capa, escapist Harry Houdini, the “show-woman” Cicciolina and our colleague Gergo Szabo, who has told us a
bit more about his country.
ORIGINALLY
– WHERE DO YOU ORIGINALLY COME FROM?
I was born in Debrecen, but my hometown is Hajdúszoboszló. the 3rd most visited city in the country, due to its huge spa and
thermal waters. So bring your swimming trunks or bikini, if you are around!
YOU
– WHEN AND WHY DID YOU MOVE ÁWAY FROM YOUR HOMELAND?
I have worked abroad on and off since I was 18 and I have lived abroad for 5 years now. I have seen quite a lot of interesting places,
met incredible people and I do not want to stop yet. Plus, the situation back home for young people, well..., to put it politically
correct: s**t...
EASIEST
– WHAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GET IN/GET OUT?
You can reach Magyarország numerous ways, have not tried teleportation, though :-)
By plane: From Berlin you can fly to Budapest with AirBerlin or Easyjet, it takes only around 50 min.
By bus: from ZOB there are several companies which bring you to the Motherland, but it takes around 13 hours, so pack some
Bratwurst and Weizen.
By train: it takes around 8 hours, it is quite fun and it is a really picturesque journey. If you want to move to Hungary, kind a big help,
you can move your belongings, that's how I came to Berlin back then! But watch out for the pickpocketers!
By car: around 8-10 hours, depends if you drive like Vettel or like a rickshaw.
TRADITIONS
SPORTS:
– WEIRD HABITS, TRADITIONS OR SPORTS
Hungarians like to complain but will open their homes and hearts while sharing their Palinka (homemade spirit ) with you. And it is
said that we celebrate in tears, sounds weird, but it is so 'Magyar'. Gulyás, puszta combo is well known but the cuisine is unbeatable.
Sports: we were good at football, sadly just in past tense. Waterpolo, kayak, kenu (canoe) and swimming are still world class!
– LIST SOME MUST-SEE, MUST-DO
MUSTMUSTBudapest is a must, it's like Berlin, just a smaller, so that makes it even a bit better.
Sziget Festival in Budapest is world known, Balaton Sound and Volt Festival are attracting more and more youngsters every year. All
of them offer different kinds of music. For the food, I just advise to enter the first local restaurant and try everything from starters to
the desserts. I cannot write all the meals, mhhhh...
Balaton (Plattensee) is our "sea", during the summer is the best if you move down there as it is around 40 degrees in the capital. Also
every small village is worth a visit just to feel the local's hospitality. A big KÖSZÖNÖM (køsønøm) - thank you - can open gates,
bottles and people’s heart for you.
– THINGS TO AVOID - DON'TS
Beware of the beggars and ethnics around the train stations, major attractions and sh ady parts of the cities.
There are several bars and restaurants in Budapest that charge different prices for the tourists. But Google is a big friend in this case,
plus ask at the hotel’s reception which place to choose and not to.
If you have the chance, buy a ticket for the public transportation, as the inspectors are not quite friendly and do not speak any
language.
booking blue: the berlin cs magazine
october 2013
p.7