Business People About Hungarians
One European businessman said, “Hungarians are wonderful people socially, but you better be careful when you do business with them. They do not have the same kind of ethics as in the West. Culturally and socially they are western, but in the way they do business they are more Eastern than Western. Read more »
János hegy
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Hike to János hegy and ride on the Children’s Train or take the Chair Lift to the top.
Family tip: Spend the Day in the Green Hills of Buda
Smiling, Eye-Contact, Sharing
The Smiling Factor
Hungarians tend to behave reserved, cautious and skeptical in public.
Americans behave alert and confident. Read more »
Deák Ferenc
Deák Ferenc, (October 17, 1803, Söjtör – January 28, 1876, Budapest), was a Hungarian statesman, known as “The Wise Man of the Nation”. He supported the “Compromise” (Ausgleich, Kiegyezés, 1867) with all his strength, leading the delegation that signed the actual accord, and yielded the premiership of the new dispensation to Gyula Andrássy After 1867 his health weakened; the continuous work and the attacks on him by disappointed radical patriots used up most of his strength. His reformist ideas were often rejected by Parliament. He died on January 28, 1876, and was buried with great pomp. Parliament created a law to remember his excellent service and ordered that a statue should be created from national donations. (wikipedia)
Spend the Day in the Green Hills of Buda
Buda is hilly and green for serious walking, caving, climbing, biking and riding the Children’s Train! Read more »
My Ride in a Trabant
Another observation I made at that time (still today, but not like then) I noticed all of the eastern European autos on the streets and could not believe how people would fit their families into Trabants, Dacias and Polski Fiats, but they did! I even saw people fill them with merchandise Read more »
Hungarian and International Train Schedules
MAV, the Hungarian Railway Company has a website where you can find out about all train traveling within Hungary. The Hungarian Railway website is www.elvira.hu. Click on ‘English’ and there you go.
Read more »
Get Out of the City
Idea for Fun in Budapest: Get out of the city! Take a day trip to a nearby town: Szentendre, Visegrád, Vác, Gödöllő, Esztergom, etc.
Jazz Clubs
Go check out a Jazz Club. They are listed in the Budapest Sun and Budapest Week each week with scheduled performers and so on. Try these: Read more »
NEVER change money on the street
Keep extra Forints, enough for an unexpected cab ride or a meal – try to not have less than 2,000 HUF on you and your cell phone.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER change money on the street or in train stations! It is illegal and you can be sure to get badly ripped off. The best place to exchange cash is at the small money xchange shops in the big shopping centers, in Mammut or MOM park for example.
And, if someone asks to see your money to check if it’s correct – don’t be a fool to show them!
Shopping at the Great Market Hall
The Great Market Hall (Vásárcsarnok) is one of the best places to buy souvenirs and other typical Hungarian gift type things for family and friends. At the top floor of this interesting building (which, by the way, was designed by Eiffel, the same guy who designed the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris!) is where you find Read more »
Budapest in 1908
“Can these things be.
And overcome us like a summer’s cloud,
Without our special wonder?”
- Shakespeare: Machbeth, Act 3, Scene 4
W. B. Forster Bovill: Hungary and the Hungarians, 1908 – CHAPTER VII
BUDAPEST AS IT IS Read more »
Showing Emotions
Showing emotions means being passionate to most Hungarians. It can also be seen as honest devotion, sensitivity, or simply being “real” (as opposed to fake). Read more »
Names & Addresses
When introduced, address your counterparts by their professional or academic title plus family name. Colleagues, friends and relatives address each other by first names.
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Feedback & Self-Esteem
There is an obvious cultural difference between European and North American cultures, is feedback and in relation to this, the concept of self-esteem.
Read more »
No Public Transportation in Budapest on Friday!
Talks Fail to Avert Daylong BKV Strike. Public transport in Budapest will not be running on Friday as BKV management and unions failed to reach agreement yesterday. No talks are scheduled for today.
If the walkout goes ahead, the 22 BKV unions will be on strike Read more »
What do Foreigners Think About the Hungarians?
This author has thought long and hard about this question. One of the questions Hungarians ask me most is, “Szerinted milyennek a magyarok?” In your opinion, what are the Hungarians like? Read more »
Out alone at night
Women (in general) should not walk alone at night and should avoid public transportation alone at night. DO NOT make direct eye contact with men – it is seen as an invitation or as a challenge. Read more »
