Budapest Travel Blog

Passport for pets - Budapest, Hungary (EU)

2010-02-24T21:29:00.005+01:00

photo: flickr

If we would like to bring with ourselves our dog, cat or ferret when travelling (to Budapest, Hungary) a pet passport is required for our pet. The pet passport was introduced on 1 October 2004 for the travel of pets between the member states of the European Union, and the relevant provisions are set forth in decree number 998/2003/EC, included in detail in decree 147/2004. (X.1.) FVM

Contents of the pet passport

The pet passport is a document that needs to be obtained for the travel of pets - dogs, cats and ferrets - among the member states for non-commercial purposes or for entering them from a non-EU country into the territory of the EU.

The size of the passport is 100 x 152 mm, its cover is blue in colour, and it is issued in the official language (languages) of the issuing member state. The cover of the passport bears the number of the passport, the ISO code of the issuing member state and an individual number. The data set forth in the document also have to be indicated in the official language (languages) of the issuing member state.

The document specifies the animal's name, type, breed, gender, date of birth, as well as the colour and type of hair, moreover - at choice - also the official-sized photo of the animal. The pet passport also contains the name and address of the current and former owner.

Issue of the pet passport

Conditions for issuing the pet passport:

1. Immunisation (repeated, if necessary) against rabies,
2. Tattoo or microchip serving the identification of the pets,
3. Payment of the fees determined by the Hungarian Chamber of Veterinarians.

The passport has to be requested from the veterinarian who gives the immunisation against rabies.

Currently, animals are identified with tattooing or with an electronic identification system (microchip), but from 4 June 2011 on only microchips will be accepted as a method of pet identification.

Validity

The validity is adjusted to the validity period of the immunisation, and it must be obtained again after the expiry of the said period.

The document is accepted in all member states of the EU, but Sweden, Ireland, Great Britain and Malta require - in addition to the pet passport - blood test (anti-body assaying) and its certification. The certification of the blood test may only be carried out in laboratories approved in the EU. It is not necessary to repeat the blood test on an animal that is repeatedly immunised in certain periods following the blood test, whereby the immunisation rules required by the preparation laboratory are observed.

Consequences of violating the provisions

The owner of, or the person responsible for the pet must be able to present the passport to the authorities - non-EU citizens arriving from third countries must present a veterinary certificate for a single entry into the EU - verifying that the pet is in conformity with the requirements set. If the microchip is not in conformity with the 11784 ISO standard or the 11785 ISO standard, the owner of the dog or the cat must also provide for a tool required for reading the chip. However, the existence of the passport does not mean that the authorities may not examine the health status of the pet.

Should such examinations show that the pet is not in conformity with the specified requirements, the competent authorities decide - after consultation with the official veterinarian - in the following manner:

1. The pet is returned to its country of origin;
2. The pet is separated under official supervision, at the cost of the owner or the natural person responsible for the pet, for the period which is required for meeting the health requirements; or
3. As a final solution - without financial compensation - the pet is slaughtered if it cannot be returned or separated in quarantine.

If the permit to enter the territory of the EU is refused, the pets are placed under official supervision until they are returned to their country of origin or until any other public administrative decision.

Source: Magyarország.hu

Hungarian Dry Whites? Forge Ahead - Tokaj

2010-02-13T20:40:00.003+01:00

The New York Times - Dining and Wine
The Pour
Eric Asimov

Hungarian Dry Whites? Forge Ahead

COMFORT zone? Believe me, I understand. At restaurants, I’m always fighting the impulse to order a beloved dish again and again. I have to struggle against sticking to customary territory in music, books and, especially, in wine.

Habit partly explains the appeal of the familiar. The desire to drink nothing but Burgundy, for example — assuming you can afford such a desire — stems certainly from the titillating satisfaction derived from the wine. Like a laboratory rat touching a button wired to the pleasure center of the brain, you want to repeat the experience endlessly. With time, the quest broadens to the point where you want to learn as much as possible about this complex, nuanced region.

People who are just beginning to grasp wine naturally want to dive deeply into the pantheon regions. They have read such ardent descriptions of the thrills of these wines that they are no longer willing to settle for vicarious enjoyment. Again, with experience, comes the desire to focus and learn. Who can argue with the notion that one can lose oneself forever in the wines of Italy?

Yet no matter how alluring the desire to fixate on a particular set of wines, experimentation has great virtues. Practically speaking, wines from lesser-known regions are often cheaper. But more to the point, drinking wine with blinders on can deprive you of unexpected, deeply satisfying, even thrilling bottles.

Case in point: the dry white wines of Hungary. Who even knew Hungary made dry white wines? The country is best known for Tokaji aszu, gorgeously honeyed, lavishly sweet wines of such balance and precision that they can accompany savory meals. The history of this legendary wine stretches back centuries, and most likely, near the beginning, the wines were more dry than sweet. Now, in the post-Communist age, Hungary is making dry whites again, and some of the wines are stunningly distinctive and delicious.

It was by chance last year, at Terroir, the wine bar and merchant in San Francisco, that I first tried the 2006 dry white from Kiralyudvar, a winery that I knew made wonderful sweet wine. The ’06 was only the second vintage of this dry white, made mostly of furmint, the region’s leading grape, yet it was extraordinary, with a gorgeous aroma of herbs and flowers, and the luscious texture that comes from fermentation in oak barrels.

The wine was absolutely dry and balanced, with the waxy, lanolin quality that I find so alluring in good white Bordeaux. Yet it had an indelible stamp of sweet richness to it, as if botrytis, the fungus that so beautifully intensifies the flavors of Tokaji aszu — and Sauternes, for that matter — had somehow insinuated its way into this wine as well, though I knew it hadn’t.

I’ve had this wine several times since, and have not been let down. Moreover, it has spurred a fascination with dry whites from Hungary that has led to a few highly satisfying bottles, a number that is small because production of dry whites is still in its infancy in Tokaj, and few make it to the United States.

Still, in an Indian restaurant I managed to find a 10-year-old bottle of dry furmint from Tokaj Classic, and its delicate floral flavors complemented the spicy food beautifully. I also found a 2007 furmint from Royal Tokaji, with beguiling aromas of exotic fruit, Asian spices and anise. It, too, had that waxy quality, as did a 2005 from Dobogo, which had gorgeous fruit aromas and an attractive, almost savory mineral flavor.

All these wines come from the Tokaj region, about 130 miles northeast of Budapest in the foothills of the Carpathians. But I also found a bottle of 2006 Szent Ilona Borhaz from Somlo, in the western part of Hungary near the Austrian border. This wine, which had a floral aroma and a tangy apple and mineral flavor to it, was a blend of 30 percent furmint, 60 percent harslevelu and 10 percent juhfark. Talk about leaving a comfort zone!

At least I can pronounce Kiralyudvar — it’s KEE-rye-oohd-var, which means king’s court. Although the estate is historic, with records dating back to the 11th century, it was reconstituted in 1997 when it was bought by Anthony Hwang.

Mr. Hwang, an American businessman, is also the majority shareholder of Huet, the iconic Vouvray producer. His co-owner at Huet, Noël Pinguet, who oversees the winemaking, has worked closely with Kiralyudvar. Fittingly, chenin blanc, the grape of Vouvray, shares with furmint the capacity for making complex dry wines of elegance and finesse, and the versatility to make a range of long-lived sweet wines.

Because dry wine is relatively new to the region, Mr. Hwang wrote in an e-mail conversation, Tokaj producers are still working out the kinks. But he is optimistic about the future.

“Sweet winemaking mind-sets and techniques are at times practiced too often when making dry wines in Tokaj,” he said. “The results are high-alcohol, tannic wines where the wonderful terroirs are obscured. As more producers find their own voices, more precisely made, terroir-expressive dry furmints will be produced.”

Mr. Hwang suggested that most producers consider dry wine to be vital to the region’s future growth, and that the region’s greatest challenge is overcoming the public perception that Tokaj makes only sweet wines.

“The challenge is to get people to taste well-made dry Tokaj furmint,” he said. “Once tasted, the wine speaks for itself.”

That was certainly my experience. I’ve had a few other good dry furmints, like the Oremus Mandolas, refreshing with well-integrated oak flavors — oak and furmint take to each other very well. I’m still looking for a dry white from Disznoko.

Interestingly, Oremus is owned by Vega Sicilia, the great Spanish producer, and Disznoko is owned by Axa, the French insurance giant, which owns a number of top-flight wineries. Foreign ownership certainly recognizes the potential of Tokaj. It’s up to the rest of us to have a look.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/dining/10pour.html?hpw

Budapest - Hungary, Hungarian inventors - short video

2009-11-10T12:18:00.003+01:00

St. Stephen's Day, Budapest 20th of August

2009-08-22T11:25:00.004+01:00

Flying Under The Chain-Bridge, Budapest

2009-08-20T16:20:00.006+01:00

FORMULA 1 ING MAGYAR NAGYDIJ 2009

2009-07-22T21:25:00.002+01:00

Note - please be advised that this timetable is subject to change.

Thursday 23rd July
Formula One Press Conference - Press Room 15:00

Friday 24th July
Formula BMW Practice Session 08:50 - 09:15
Formula One Friday Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
GP2 Practice Session 11:55 - 12:25
Formula BMW Qualifying Session 12:50 - 13:15
Formula One Friday Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
GP2 Qualifying Session 15:55 - 16:25
Formula One Press Conference - Press Room 16:00 - 17:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Practice Session 16:45 - 17:30
Formula Master Qualifying Session 17:50 - 18:30

Saturday 25th July
Formula Master First Race (TBA Laps or 30 Mins) 09:40 - 10:15
Formula One Saturday Practice 11:00 - 12:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Qualifying Session 12:25 - 13:10
Formula One Qualifying 14:00
GP2 First Race (42 Laps or 75 Mins) 16:00 - 17:20
Formula BMW First Race (13 Laps or 25 Mins) 17:40 - 18:10

Sunday 26th July
Formula Master Second Race (TBA Laps or 30 Mins) 08:15 - 08:50
Formula BMW Second Race (13 Laps or 25 Mins) 09:15 - 09:45
GP2 Second Race (28 Laps or 45 Mins) 10:30
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Race (14 Laps or 30 Mins) 11:45 - 12:20
Formula One Drivers' Track Parade 12:30
Formula One Race 14:00

Budapest 2009 Race Guide - Red Bull Air Race

2009-07-20T21:46:00.002+01:00

Race facts

Race: 2009 Red Bull Air Race Budapest, Hungary
Date: Qualifying on August 19, Race Day on August 20
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Tickets: hospitality packages & travel services here
Race history: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Local information

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial and transportation centre. In 2007 Budapest had 1,696,128 inhabitants with an official agglomeration of 2,451,418 down from a mid-1980s peak of 2.1 million. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube (Hungarians call it the Duna river) with the amalgamation on 17 November 1873 of right-bank (west) Buda and Óbuda (Old Buda) together with Pest on the left (east) bank.

Aquincum, originally a Celtic settlement, was the direct ancestor of Budapest, becoming the Roman capital of Lower Pannonia. Magyars arrived in the territory around 900. Their first settlement was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241-42. The re-established town became one of the global centres of Renaissance humanist culture in the 15th century. Following nearly 150 years of Ottoman rule, development of the region entered a new age of prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Budapest became a global city after the 1873 unification of its three constituents. It also became the second capital of Austria-Hungary, a great power that dissolved in 1918. Budapest was the focal point of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Hungarian Soviet Republic of 1919, Operation Panzerfaust in 1944, the Battle of Budapest of 1945, and the Revolution of 1956.

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Budapest is considered an important Central European hub for business, culture and tourism. Its World Heritage Sites include the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue and the Millennium Underground railway, the first on the European continent. Budapest attracts over 20 million visitors a year, making it one of the top destinations in Europe. The city ranks 74th on Mercer Consulting's 'World's Top 100 Most Livable Cities' list.
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Schedule

Qualifying (Wednesday, August 19th)
• 14:00 Doors Open, reception
• 15:00 Pre-show, Side Acts
• 16:00 RACE STARTS!
• 16:00 1st Qualifying session
• 17:00 2nd Qualifying session
• 18:00 Results, Summary, Interviews, Highlights of the Day
• 18:45 Hospitality Pit Lane Walk (High Flyer's Lounge and Business Class Race Club only)
• 19:30 Doors Close

Race Day (Thursday, August 20th)
• 13:00 Doors Open, reception
• 13:00 Pre-show, Side Acts
• 14:00 RACE STARTS!
• 14:00 Wild Card session
• 15:00 Top 12
• 15:30 Super 8
• 16:15 Final 4
• 17:00 Award Ceremony
• 17:15 Results, Summary, Interviews, Highlights of the Day
• 21:00 National Holiday Celebration (Fireworks)
• 21:30 Doors Close

Important: The above schedule is subject to change.

Szigetfestival 2009, Budapest

2009-07-20T09:37:00.002+01:00

The 17th edition of the Szigetfestival will take place from August 10th ’till the 17th. With a camping ticket you can stay on the grounds from 12.00 ’o clock of the 10th of August ’till 08.00 ’o clock of the 17th. The 10th of August is the so called Hungarian Day. The majority of the cafe’s and party tents are open and on the Mainstage a popular Hungarian will be performing. On the 11th of August some stages will host several acts. The actual festivities will commence as from August the 12th with complete programming on all stages. This year the division of the festival grounds will be a little bit different. Especially the smaller stages used to be kind of hard to find. This year they will be more clustered and therefore easier to be found. On top of that this years focus will be, (even more so than in previous years), on ’Meeting point Europe’. The days are far gone that Sziget used to be an exclusive Hungarian affair. Of course the Hungarians constitute the majority of the visitors, but also thousands of French, Dutch, German, Italian, Rumanian, British and hundreds of Belgium, Finnish, Austrian, Polish, Skandinavian, Spanish, Slovak and other Eastern European visitors have found their way to Budapest. Therefore the line-up will be more international than in previous years. The grass root visitors shouldn’t be worried though. The party element and price policy will stay the same! Changes will only amount to improvements.

Schedule Sziget 2009:

8th of August: No festival activities yet, but for 10 euro per day you can camp on a camping on the festival site. These additional camping tickets can be purchased at the camping gate on Obudai Island.
10th of August: Party's all over the place.
11th of August: Day Zero: Rock Against Racism.
12th of August: Festival day 1
13th of August: Festival day 2
14th of August: Festival day 3
15th of August: Festival day 4
16th of August: Festival day 5
17th of August: Final day. Visitors are supposed to have left the grounds at 08.00 a.m.

Up-to-date information can be found at Szigetfestival Facebook!

On May 1st a free Sziget camping card will be raffled on Facebook amongs the entrants of the personal Wish list. You already have purchased a ticket and turn out to be the lucky winner? No worries; your ticket will be refunded...

Public Transport
Sziget (Hungarian for Island) is held at a big island in the river Danube north from the city centre. From the city centre the festival is easily to be reached with the HEV-metro. This train will run every 10 minutes. The metro also runs during the night, may it be less frequent. In the city night-buses run throughout the whole night; on the major routes even every 15 minutes. At metro stations you can purchase public transport tickets. These cards are valid day and night for an entire week on all buses, metro trains and streetcars and will only set you back 12 euros. The island is to be accessed over a bridge, which is open at all times. An other option on how to get from the city centre to the Sziget festival is to take the ferry. Every 30 minutes a ferry leaves from the backside of the island to Margit bridge (Pest side) en Batthyány Tér (Buda side).

Camping
The festival grounds open on August 10th at 10 ’o clock in the morning. On August the 8th and 9th you will be able to camp out at the Romai camping just a little more than one mile up the road. As for now it is not entirely certain, but you might be also able, just like last year, to stay at a campingsite on the Sziget island outside of the festival grounds for 10 euros a day. As from August 10th camping out is permitted on the all the festival grounds. The toilets, showers and washing basins are cleaned several times a day. So are the festival grounds. However, after four days everything ain’t as spotless as they were on the first day. Luckily lots of bathing-houses are to be found in the city centre. The ancient warm water springs not only provide you with hygenical relieve. They also serve as the perfect anti-hangover antidote. At the backside of the festival island all is more tranquille. Here you can find teniscourts, volleyballfields, ping-pong tables and a swimming-pool. Very fortunate is the fact that lots of lush trees grow on the island offering you the shade you will be searching for once temperatures sore up to 30 degrees Centigrade. In case you come with a camper or caravan you can stay at the right-hand side of the entrance. You’re allowed to leave the grounds with your camper or caravan once over the duration of the entire festival. Together with the regular camping ticket you will be needing an additional special camper/caravan ticket.

The grounds
The days are far gone that Sziget was an exclusive Hungarian event. Nowadays tens of thousands European youngest come to the Hungarian capital to see and perform over one thousand bands. Rock, dance, worldmusic, punk, electro, funk, blues and classical; there’s something to be found for anyone liking on of the more than 40 stages. But Sziget offers more than just music: Film, fairground, art, spirituality, sports, the most diverse restaurant, shops, little bars and tea-houses....all of this in the midst of the beautifully lit camping sites. The majority of the international acts with wide acclaim perform on the main stage before a 40.000 strong audience. The Worldmusic Stage is one of the best programmed stages in its own right drawing over 15.000 visitors for every performance. At night there are several parties on different locations serving the likes of all party goers. This year over 400.000 thousand (one third Hungarian) visitors in total are to be expected over the span of one week. The prices for commodities have hardly risen and a beer will cost you just about one euro. A meal goes for 2 to 4 euro (including a wide offering of vegetarian meals!). All tough the grounds are huge and the number of camping sites is enormous, the Sziget tickets including camping might sell out before August.

Facilities
Lots of facilities are to be found on the island: a swimming-pool, a non-stop doctor and pharmacy, cash-machines, cellular phone loading docks, shops, free internet (100 computers), telephone and a non-stop information-and complaint desk. Sziget is a festival with a laidback vibe, but this does not mean you do not have to watch your personal belongings. You better do not leave valuable belongings in your tent and it is also recommended to meet and greet your neighbors in order to promote a social network. There will be gates at all entries/exists and you can get badges which you can hide in your luggage and will be set of once they have passed the gates. You can also lockers rent on the island, but you have to be quick. Be smart and rent one as soon as you have set up your tent.

The city
Budapest is one of the most beautiful and most exciting capitals of Europe. You’d better pay the city a visit – it only takes fifteen minutes to get there. Apart from the touristic parts like the centre of Pest and the castle of Buda, there also are lots of special underground bars and clubs to be found in the city. The hills are perfectly fit for mountain biking and they have great parks, warm water springs, museums, shops, swimming-pools, etc...

The newest Pocket Guide in the series Bahrain Pocket Guide

2009-05-09T21:24:00.004+01:00

visit Bahrain Pocket Guide now

Emirates Pocket Guide

2009-03-14T11:29:00.006+01:00

The newest Pocket Guide in the series

Emirates Pocket Guide

visit the Emirates Pocket Guide now

Qatar Pocket Guide

2009-03-14T11:04:00.004+01:00

The newest Pocket Guide in the series - Qatar Pocket Guide

visit the Qatar Pocket Guide now

MADONNA - STICKY & SWEET TOUR - BUDAPEST, 2009

2009-02-12T15:51:00.008+01:00

BUDAPEST, 2009-08-22

With special guest Paul Oakenfold.

Venue: Kincsem Park, Budapest

Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal voted Budapest's "Best Luxury" hotel among top Europe and world hotels

2009-02-11T08:53:00.004+01:00

by TripAdvisor

CHI Hotels & Resorts (CHI) announced that its superior five-star Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, a Wyndham Grand Collection hotel, has been voted ‘Best Luxury’ hotel in Budapest, Hungary and among the ‘Best Service Europe Top 20’ and ‘Best Hotels in the Top 25 World Cities’ by the leading TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice™ awards 2009.
Winners for the 2009 awards were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor's Popularity Index and traveler ratings of specific attributes. TripAdvisor's Popularity Index is a system that determines traveler satisfaction based on a variety of sources, including TripAdvisor hotel reviews and travel articles and opinions from across the web. The hotel review process also allows travelers to ‘grade’ hotels based on a variety of attributes, including cleanliness, value, and suitability for specific types of travelers. The Travelers' Choice awards, the only honors representing the unbiased opinions of millions of travelers, are among the most coveted awards in the global hotel industry.
“We are absolutely delighted with the result,” said CHI Hotels & Resorts’ CEO and managing director Tony Potter. “This jewel of a hotel has been collecting accolades ever since it opened its doors in 2002, when it immediately won Europe’s ‘Best Hotel Architecture Award’ and later the International ‘Five-Star Diamond Award’ for its commitment to excellence in luxury amenities and top quality services. The hotel is now also on the privileged list of ‘The Most Famous Hotels in the World.’ The TripAdvisor recognition is of particular significance as the awards are based primarily on guests’ experience and expectations. The fact that we not only matched, but even surpassed, last year’s performance on the Tripadvisor awards, reflects our commitment to maintain the highest standards of luxury and services possible in all our hotels. This latest award, and the fact that the property is a Wyndham Grand Collection hotel, promise a great future for this flagship property, as well as for the luxury Corinthia brand, whose portfolio will next year be boosted with new properties we are currently developing in Sharm El Sheikh and London."
The Corinthia Hotel Budapest is a member of the newly-repositioned, upper-luxury Corinthia Hotels brand and of The Wyndham Grand Collection. The hotel was painstakingly restored through the personal initiative of Corinthia Hotels’ founder and the owning company’s (IHI) chairman and chief executive officer Mr. Alfred Pisani and is a faithful reconstruction of the 110-year-old Grand Hotel Royal. It is owned by Malta-based International Hotel Investments plc (IHI) and managed by CHI Hotels & Resorts, a hotel operating company that is a joint venture between IHI and Wyndham Hotel Group. Among its many amenities, the Hotel features a majestic ballroom and a unique ‘Royal Spa’ - an extensive Euro 4 million renovation of an original 19th century spa that has once again regained its rightful place as Budapest’s most luxurious and imposing Spa facility.

Corinthia Hotels’ portfolio features award-winning properties that include the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest, Hungary and the Corinthia Hotel Prague in the Czech Republic. The Corinthia Hotels portfolio also features the elegant Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa and the splendid Corinthia Hotel St. Georges Bay in Malta; the superior five-star Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel in Tripoli, Libya; the modern Corinthia Hotel Lisbon in Portugal; and the renowned Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Corinthia Hotels brand is associated with the ‘Wyndham Grand Collection’ tier of upscale hotels worldwide.

Source: http://www.eturbonews.com

HUNGARY’S LARGEST CULTURAL FESTIVAL

2009-02-10T12:50:00.006+01:00

2009 - The year of Haydn in Hungary

Budapest comes alive for the annual Spring Festival 20 March – 5 April 2009

Budapest Spring Festival

THE Hungarian National Tourist Office has designated 2009 as the ‘year of cultural tourism’ and will seek to highlight major cultural sights, festivals and events in its global marketing activities throughout the year.

One of Hungary’s largest cultural events of the year is the annual Budapest Spring Festival, this year taking place from 20 March until 5 April. This is an extravaganza of more than 200 events taking place at top venues throughout the city including the Hungarian State Opera House and the Palace of Arts, with performances catering for all cultural tastes.

Palace of Arts, Festival Theatre

The festival showcases the finest Hungarian performers, composers and artists, as well as many international acts and also includes a two day Fringe Festival (3-5 April), for the third year running, for up and coming talent.

From classical to rock concerts; contemporary dance to traditional ballet; from high brow operas to colorful street performances; fire jugglers to art exhibitions, the festival offers visitors the chance to sample a wide variety of world-class performances and exhibitions in one visit to the city.

Kodály Quartet

One of the highlights for visitors will be the chance to see a performance from the world-famous Nigel Kennedy who has been popular for over 25 years and is one of the greatest violinists in the world. He will perform with the Nigel Kennedy Quintet on 2 April, at the stunning Palace of Arts.

Béla Bartók National Concert Hall

Opera lovers will be able to see Puccini’s Turandot and Haydn’s The Soul of the Philosopher performed at the opulent Hungarian State Opera House, which is one of the cheapest places in Europe to see these world-renowned operas where tickets can often be purchased on the day of performance for under 6 Euro’s or in UK money under a fiver. Classical music fans will be able to take their pick from many orchestras including the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Those looking for a more alternative cultural scene will find contemporary bands, theatre groups and performance artists at the Fringe Festival, plus belly dancers, storytellers and fire jugglers.

cecta

Rubik's 360 - The new Game from Hungary

2009-02-04T12:45:00.016+01:00

Rubik's 360

Sensation!

A new game by Rubik, inventor of the iconic Rubik's Cube, is tipped to become a best-seller when it goes on sale world-wide.

YouTube video: In this exclusive interview, creator Erno Rubik talks about how he designed the Cube and shows off his new toy, the Rubik's 360 for TimeMagazine

video: cbc.ca

Newest Pocket Guide in the series - Maldives Pocket Guide

2009-01-07T13:27:00.003+01:00

Maldives Pocket Guide

Oman Photo Gallery

2008-09-18T09:13:00.004+01:00

click to view Oman Photo Gallery

Budapest Trip Planner - Flight + Hotel + Car

2008-09-13T17:02:00.006+01:00

Budapest Trip Planner - Four Great Ways To Plan Your Vacation in Budapest

click here to visit the Budapest Trip Planner

click here to visit the Budapest Trip Planner

Red Bull Air Race - Budapest

2008-08-07T08:13:00.004+01:00

On to Budapest

19th and 20th August

CHAMBLISS WIN IN LONDON AND THROWS RACE OPEN
The championship battle in the Red Bull Air Race World Series narrowed dramatically after leader Paul Bonhomme stumbled spectacularly in his home race in London, throwing open the competition again and raising the stakes for the next race in Budapest in on 19th and 20th August. The pressure will be on Britain’s Bonhomme in the sixth stop in the nine-race season to get back on track after his painful defeat in London, where the favourite who had won three of the first four races ended up in a dismal 7th after hitting a pylon.
Bonhomme’s first pylon hit in over two years cost him dearly and he will be looking for revenge in Hungary. His hard-earned six-point lead at the top was slashed to two points (he now has 38 points) after American Kirby Chambliss beat Nicolas Ivanoff in the final. Chambliss moved into second with 36 points – and two wins in his last three races while Austria’s Hannes Arch is in third, also on 36 points. “The championship is a little bit more exciting now,” he said.
Despite suffering from a neck injury he got in Rotterdam, Chambliss is on a hot streak and the 2006 World Series champion could overtake Bonhomme in Budapest – the same city where the Brit surrendered the championship lead to another American. Mike Mangold won the Budapest race and overtook Bonhomme despite a controversy over whether or not he flew too low through one Air Gate.
“We’re just a couple points behind Paul now,” Chambliss said, delighted by the unexpected turn of events in London. “We’re just gonna continue doing what we’re doing – go out there and win and see what happens.” Paul is gonna be tough to beat. But it’s a definite help where he finished. He can do that again, as far as I’m concerned.”
Bonhomme had fought back after losing in London and Budapest last year to get back on top of the table going into the final race in Perth. But after finishing on the podium in all nine races in 2007 to that point, Bonhomme had an off-day in Australia and finished fifth, a heartbreaking last-minute debacle that handed the championship to Mangold. He was hoping to build up an insurmountable lead and clinch the title before Perth this year.
“I tried too hard,” said Bonhomme, who aborted his flight in London after hitting the Air Gate and dipping perilously close to the water. “I just pushed too hard. When things aren’t going right you should just stop. My head just said ‘it’s time to get out’.”
Peter Besenyei, who took fourth in London, was glad to get back near the podium and will be looking to avoid the home town pitfalls that hurt Bonhomme, Steve Jones and Nigel Lamb in London.
“I’m pleased with fourth place,” said Besenyei, who is fifth in the standings. “I’ve been pretty consistent this season and haven’t been going up and down in the standings.”

source: www.redbullairrace.com
photo: flickr: by repeet

Sziget Festival 2008

2008-08-03T22:04:00.003+01:00

Sziget 2008 - More Than Music
13-18 August 2008, Óbudai Island

In addition to the coolest international line-up in the prestigious history of Sziget, the festival offers a wide and colourful range of programmes for those seeking spiritual recreation in fields of culture other than music featuring drama, puppetry, contemporary dance art and ballet, fine arts and poetry with exquisite performances by international and homeland artists.

Theatre Festival

The sub-festival offers a big handful of performances: beside the quality performances of contemporary theatre, dance and performance arts, a bunch of talented newcomers are granted the chance of debut performances. Thirty-five Hungarian and international works are to be staged in five days altogether on five spots (Open Air Stage, Tent, On the Grass, Performance Stage, TÁP Theatre-tent).

Renewing an old tradition TÁP Theatre presents One Minute Theatre at Sziget. The exclusive performance presents a one-minute long play to each member of the audience individually. Every afternoon.

Sziget Theatre and Dance Acts Open Air Stage – beside a number of other attractions – presents Danza Contemporánea de Cuba (founded in 1959), Stockholm 59° North ( formed by the solo-dancers of Royal Swedish Ballet), Félix Lajkó and Antal Brasnyó. The closing day features performance titled ’deGENERATION’ directed by one of the most promising new choreographers (who was born in Jerusalem) Hofesh Schechter. The Tent will host a choreography by Jordi Cortés and Damián Munoz based Sándor Márai’s famous novel ’Embers’ as well as the premiére of the play ’Stone Answer’ by the ten years old Baltazár Theatre, not to mention the theatrical mock-documentary ’Dutch Tsunami (Drowning In Europe)’ by Space Theatre. On the night of young Hungarian and international artists the audience will be presented Belgium-based Alexandr Zivkov’s solo, the performance by Tunisian Bahri Ben Yahmed, and Eléonore Valére’s choreography performed by Budapest Dance School.

The Grass-location presents two unique performances by Georg Traber from Switzerland: a space-specific installation performance titled ’Heinz Baut’ and the circus-adaptation of an old tradition ’Hikohki Gumo’. The long-standing, almost traditional performance by the Movement Department of the University of Theatre and Film Arts will also feature. The dramatic and fascinating ’Chaser’ by Motionhouse (UK) will be presented twice.

It has become a tradition at Sziget by now to stage grandiose street-theatre performances defying the shackles of time and space. This year it’s Italy’s KITONB’ ’Carillon, a time travel’. The scene is set between earth and sky. This grand performance came to life as the brainchild of art director Angelo Bonello.

National Vietnamese Water Puppet Show follows North-Vietnamese traditions by staging the play titled ’The Spirit of the Village’. This performance is part of the world-heritage with its intense colours and very special design. An outstanding cultural event.

Travelling Fun Fair offers a bunch of puppetry and street-theatre acts, a number of games, unique attractions and music-specialities on each day of the festival.
Museum Festival

2008 is the first year that Sziget hosts Museum Quarter within the Octopus Multi-Art Area. Museums await Sziget-goers with outdoor installations and reduced entrance-fees, plus the involved museums can also be visited at a preferential price in the whole month of August with Sziget-wristbands on! Műcsarnok is also involved!

Multi-Arts Festival
Under the organization of Medence Group, Octopus Multi-Arts Area has been operating for six years now at Sziget, providing a home for literary, fine arts and classical music programmes. Take the Singing Giant Sculpture for instance: the gigantic Venus of Willendorf built up in the center of Octopus will „speak up” five times a day. Five women at different ages will sing to us about the way they percieve their own age and the passing of time in five songs of distinct atmosphere.

Recycling is much more than a trendy topic for us here at Sziget: under the guidance of activists and artists art-workshops are to be established in which Sziget-people can create objects and works of art out of material regarded as rubbish, or at least used objects. An exhibition is to be displayed in the big tent of the recycled objects. Octopus will host a photo-exhibition by Islam-convert, internationally acknowledged photographer Peter Sanders. His photos present the crucial role of Muslim communities within the English society and the colourful social life of today’s Great-Britain.

Classical Music
The place where it’s not only the living legends of rock are present but also the dead giants of classical music. Baroque music at nights will offer you a perfect recreation laid back on the most comfortable sofas after the all-day long bustle of the festival. You can also browse the overwhelming classical arsenal of the Jukebox at daytime. Capriccio Chamber Orchestra await you in the evenings, while the Music Academy students show their „baby-claws” in the afternoons.

Literary Programmes
Bilingual outreadings and talk-show evenings will present works of prestigious Hungarian and international authors in Hungarian, German and English. Ádám Nádasdy, László Márton and György Dragomán will be supported by Scotchman Christopher Whyte and German literateurs Wilhelm Droste and Hans-Henning Paetzke. The reading sessions will be accompanied with relaxing live-music. Our Hungarian-Spanish programme framed up by Casi Flamenco features poems in both languages and is accompanied by classic flamenco performed by professional dancers and musicians.

In the foreground of the tent Anagram Factory will operate this time again, offering multilingual versions mixed and cooked from the letters of the clients’ names.
Architects of Air presents: Amococo – Luminaire

It will be the seventh time that Luminaire from UK is present at Sziget. A deep dive into a colourful world of dreams. A sculpture, and the sculptor is an architect while the painter is none other than the Sun.

For more information visit Sziget.hu

Heartbreak for Massa, Kovalainen’s lucky day!

2008-08-03T16:29:00.006+01:00

As a race, the 70-lap Hungarian Grand Prix is always somewhat processional and this year was no exception. However, the race was spiced up by some unexpected issues that took both Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa out of contention and handed Heikki Kovalainen the race win in the very final stages of the race.

Felipe Massa made an electric getaway from third position on the grid passing Kovalainen on the run to turn one and then braking late, passed Lewis Hamilton for the lead around the outside of turn one. It was a tremendous aggressive move and showing that his record breaking pace in the second round of qualifying yesterday was no fluke, the Brazilian was able to pull out a small advantage from Hamilton, a gap of four to five seconds he retained though the first round of pits stops.

Hamilton did not look to have an answer to Massa’s pace but the championship leader’s race took a further nose-dive as the front-left tyre failed on lap 42. Hamilton made his way slowly back to the pits and took the soft tyre for the remainder of the race.

Out front, Massa controlled the pace and allowed Kovalainen to slowly close the gap. It all looked to be perfectly under control until two laps from home when the Ferrari V8 failed in dramatic fashion handing the race win to Kovalainen and leaving Massa distraught.

It was certainly Kovalainen’s lucky day as he recorded his first Grand Prix victory.
The Finn did not have the pace of McLaren Mercedes team-mate Hamilton nor Massa in the Ferrari. Still, it was an error free run which launches his championship tally to within striking distance of the BMW Sauber duo of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica.

Timo Glock drove what is by far the strongest race of his career to finish second for Toyota, Starting from fifth position, Glock made the jump on Kubica and ran with Kovalainen for much of the race and while second position was perhaps a little fortunate, he was a contender throughout the race on pure pace and not a safety car intervention or an abstract fuel strategy.

Kimi Raikkonen finished in third position having followed Fernando Alonso for two-thirds of the race without making much of an impression. Some rapid pit work from the Ferrari crew gave him the track position and he was then able to close the gap to Glock before backing off in the latter stages following team-mate Massa’s engine failure. The result moves Raikkonen ahead of his unfortunate team-mate in the championship race.

It proved to be a pretty good day for the Renault team with Alonso and Nelson Piquet taking the chequered flag in fourth and sixth positions with Hamilton recovering from his puncture to finish in fifth position and score four valuable points. Despite his problems, Hamilton retains the championship lead with 62 points.

Jarno Trulli started ninth and finished in seventh position in the second Toyota while it was a disappointing day for the BMW Sauber team with Robert Kubica sliding back at the start of the race and then in the pit stops to finish in eighth position. Team-mate Nick Heidfeld opted to take a one stop strategy and finished in tenth position from 15th position on the grid.

Red Bull Renault lost further ground to Toyota in the constructors’ championship with Mark Webber finishing in ninth position and David Coulthard 11th behind Heidfeld. Glock’s eight points move Toyota nine clear of Red Bull in the battle for fourth position in the championship.

Jenson Button finished a lap down in 12th position in the leading Honda while Rubens Barrichello made early progress in the second RA108 only for a refuelling issue to drop the Brazilian veteran back down the order to finish 16th. In between, Kazuki Nakajima used a one stop strategy to take the flag in 13th position ahead of Williams-Toyota team-mate Nico Rosberg and the Force India Ferrari of Giancarlo Fisichella.

Massa was classified in 17th position and now drops eight points behind Hamilton in the championship and three behind team-mate Raikkonen.

Sebastien Bourdais also suffered a refuelling problem and finished three laps down in 18th while team-mate Sebastian Vettel ran wide at the start of the race heading into the final turn on the first lap and dropped down the order. It would matter little as the STR3 soon ground to a halt with yet another mechanical problem. Adrian Sutil suffered a puncture late in the race in the second Force India and retired the VJM01 a few laps later.

Formula One now takes a short break before reconvening in Valencia in three weeks time.

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International
source: f1-live.com
photo - Index

Formula 1, 2009 - Bahrain International Circuit

Button Crowned 'King of the Desert' at Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
Manama, 26th April 2009: Heat, noise and spectacle from the Bahrain International Circuit today gripped the Kingdom and hundreds of millions of TV viewers around the world, as the 2009 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix hit a heart-stopping climax.
As the biggest sporting and social event in the Middle East, the event drew an unparalleled crowd of 93,682 people throughout the weekend

Budapest Dental Care - Dental Tourism

2008-07-19T13:21:00.006+01:00

The Smile Professionals

"Smile is a wonder weapon of every days, it has magic power. If you can smile, you are invincible, because who can smile is always able to go on fighting."

The DentalCoop team is dedicated to healthy and aesthetic smile. The treatment at DentalCoop is all encompassing: the dentist at the centre practice seven specialities including implant, aesthetic dentistry, stomatology, periodontology and orthodontics among others. The dentist works as a team. To make the work easier the practice has it own dental technician’s laboratory. This means that the dental technicians can meet the exact needs of the patient and prepare crowns and bridges within three to five days.

DentalCoop

H-1121 Budapest, Hungary
Zugligeti street 60.
phone: +361 398 10 28
fax: +361 398 10 29
e-mail: info@dentalcoop.hu
http://www.dentaltourist.co.uk

Oman Pocket Guide

2008-07-11T09:00:00.005+01:00

The newest Pocket Guide in these series,
the Oman Pocket Guide
visit the website at http://omanpocketguide.com/

Schengen rules apply from March - Budapest Ferihegy Airport

2008-03-29T20:42:00.003+01:00

Schengen rules apply from March

Although Hungary joined the Schengen zone on 21 December, 2007 the traffic changes at Budapest Airport – similarly to all other airports in the region - will take affect on 30 March, 2008. In practice it means that the control of travel documents will go on unchanged until the end of March.

Budapest Airport would be ready to implement the requirements and physically separate the Schengen and non-Schengen passengers as soon as the first day of 2008. Due to international agreements the new procedures of passenger traffic will change uniformly at all new Schengen-airports on the first day of the aviation summer timetable.

source Budapest Airport

Hungarian glider sets world record

2007-12-25T14:13:00.000+01:00

Budapest, December 21 (MTI)

László Hegedűs (alias: Bagoly - Owl) of Hungary set a new world glider speed record in Namibia on December 19.

Taking off from the airport of Bitterwasser on board a Nimbus-4 plane, Hegedus glided over a triangular course of 1,253 kilometres at a speed of 151.3 kilometres per hour, then landed at the same airport as required, Hungarian airline company Malev told MTI on Friday.

The previous record of 149.2 kilometres per hour was set by multimillionaire Steve Fossett in Nevada on July 12 this year. The renowned adventurer, who achieved over 110 world records, disappeared in the Nevada desert in September.

Hegedus is a Malev pilot flying a Boeing-737 and member of the national gliding team.

photo: Bors