Archive for the ‘Herald News for Hungarians who speaks English!’ Category

„Tourism in Hungary 2015” – statistical overview published in 2016.

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Yes, now-a-days the UEFA fever is on not just in France, but for those who did not make to the football arena to France can easier follow int he evening hours the live broadcast of their favorite team whilst during the daytime can enjoying the Hungarian hospitality the sights-and-sound, the gastronomy in Hungary. It is absolutely endless variety ways to spend a memorable time in Hungary.

Over the past years the tourism in Hungary has increased. This is due to the number of regions considering it important to offer not only Hungarian profiles, but can also be available in English language publications.

In 1993, the Hungarian Tourism Ltd. published the „Tourism in Hungary” publication which contained summary data of the tourism performance in Hungary. It included detailed analysis about the inbound and domestic tourism, furthermore gave an overview of its structure of the Hungarian tourism decision-making bodies. Also an insight of the main marketing activities of the Hungarian Tourism Ltd. The released publication goal was helping decision-making of the stakeholders, supporting by guidelines the international and Hungarian tourism professionals.

The Hungarian Tourism Agency has launched its „Tourism in Hungary 2015” publication based on the final data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office and the data of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank – Central Bank of Hungary.  The table of contents deal with the most important facts of the tourism and the inbound, domestic and outbound tourism of Hungary. Moreover, deals with the results of the most important tourism facts around the globe.

Last but not least the publication also summarizes the most fascinating features to visit the regions in Hungary.

Update and snap by Aggie Reiter

Robert Mapplethorpe documentary film – Budapest Rooftop Cinema – 2016.

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“Look at the Pictures” (2016)

Budapest Rooftop Cinema

9 p.m.  – Thursday, June, 9. 2016.

Runtime: 1H. 20 min.

A great kicked off to the summer season at the Budapest Rooftop Cinema will be pre-screening the  “Look at the Pictures” (2016) distributed by the Hungarian Ant Community of Mapplethorpe. The iconic and controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe is profiled in this documentary directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. The documentary film is not just for the photography enthusiasts, but for all those who are interested of a non everyday movie.

Countrywide cinemas  will be officially screening the documentary from June, 16. 2016. The fascinating portrait of one of the most controversial photographers of the twentieth century. It might be reckless to reduce an artist’s life and work to a single observation, the magic key that unlocks everything, but in the case of Robert Mapplethorpe there is a pronounced duality in the themes and subjects depicted, graphically stylized black-and-white photographs. Even the most shocking, blocked images are shown in the original, exactly as the artist wanted.

The young British actor Matt Smith playing the role as the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Matt Smith name is known from the Doctor Who movie as Doctor Who. Patti Smith‘s character, who had a stormy romantic relationship and later became a lifelong pal with the well-known gay Mapplethorpe. In the documentary film Zosia Mamet will portray her.

The Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures documentary was the first authentic, full-length portrait about Robert Mapplethorpe,  the American photo artist who died of AIDS in 1989.

Mapplethorpe’s  … “prophet or the devil himself” … pictures are shocking but not even close to his scandalous life.

Update Aggie Reiter

17th Harley-Davidson Open Road Festival – Alsóőrs – Hungary – 2016.

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Twenty years rolling the Harley Davidson Budapest’s chapter.

The 17th Open Road Festival  at Alsóőrs (Northern Lake Balaton) is warming up to welcome the Harley folks.

Wednesday, June 8. – Sunday, June, 12. 2016.

The past decades  Harley Davidson motorbike lovers from all over the world rolled over to Hungary to celebrate their love for their H.D. bike and as well to meet long non seen mates.

The 4Days long festival is coming up soon so fasten yourself to your motorbikes and hit the road to arrive to Alsóőrs – Hungary where Europe’s largest gathering of  motorbike  gather to enjoy in the heat of nights  filled with cool rock music and the brotherhood. When you hear the motorbike engines, ear shocking music and see happy folks with wide smiles on their face  you’re gonna be just at the right place  and time to be at the 17th Harley Davidson Festival. Each year one of the “oldie” favorite bands arrive to spoil your hearing … but that’s what it is all about, be in the in-crowd and enjoy your time here in Hungary. Other programs await for the rolling Harley  Davidson folks as the traditional motorbike parade guided  tour, visiting not just superb vineyard cellar, but taking a visit to the tiddy small villages along the Lake Balaton.

This year from the UK, the powerful glam rock band SWEET will rock the folks  and from Germany the “metal”  HALLOWEEN group will sweep the dust under the audience feet.

Naturally the tough  Hungarian rocker groups will be present, as they will not
miss out not to be at such an awesome H.D.gathering!

Each year the  Open Road Fest organisers jointly with the Hungarian Baptist support the needy. This year  welcomes the  motorbike folks  to support  with price of a tank of patrol the needy small children aged between 3-6.

The donation is held on Friday, June, 10. at 5 p.m. at the Kids Race. The small children compete with each other rolling on little plastic motorbikes. Families with their kindergarten age children are most welcomed to participate in and at the mini-bike-race.

Tickets: http://www.openroadfest.hu/en/buy-tickets/

Update Aggie Reiter

9th Judafest Street Festival – Budapest – 2016.

Smúzoljjjjj velünk 

Sunday, June, 5. 2016.

District, VII., Kazinczy Street – Budapest, Hungary

Admission is free and so is parking around event area!

At this time of season, it has become a tradition to hold the biggest social event the Judafest Street Festival in Hungary. It  revives this exceptional heritage introducing the cultural life that vibrant downtown in Budapest.

Indeed a multicultural event, traditionally attractions both for locals and foreign visitors, giving them chance gathering together with old friends and to meet new acquaintances.

This year’s Judafest will host Germany as guest of honor at the festival, which will dedicate a series of cultural and culinary gigs to the country. Special guests from Germany include H. E. Dr. Heinz-Peter Behr, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Budapest and German Schmitts Katze Klezmer Band.

The past years more than ten thousand visitors spent their day at the street fair and the participation number each year are arising. Throughout the day: live performances, concerts, free gigs, collection of craft art, plus children are offered several activities. For the smaller kids various opportunity await them to enjoy themselves at “kids court” just as: to cook at the kitchen, be a gardener, or do washing at the laundry and party the earned money in the kibbutz bar’s drugstore, or go for a ride on the swing! As for the adults…  getting hungry no worry, the food and drink specialties just at their fingertips to explore flavorful authentic Jewish and German dishes.

The Kazinczy street is between the Király and Wesselényi Street based in the historic Jewish Quarter  has always been the heart of what is today considered one of Europe’s must see urban attractions with an unmatched atmosphere filled with living Jewish and multicultural tradition dated back to several hundred years.

During the day offering a guided special district walk tour, having a chance to discover the hidden corners of the old Jewish Quarter.

Last years’ Judafest’s extraordinary events were the evening getting together around a 50 meters long table installed in Kazinczy Street, where the organizers hosted a dinner for indigent families. This year a similar meal will be held in the spirit of solidarity and raising awareness.

Update Aggie Reiter

 

EDEN Days – “Best ecotourism destination” – Styrian houses – 2016.

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Need not have to get too far from the highway, when driving from North-West Europe i.e. Austria to Budapest or  heading to other cities in Hungary to visit Kőszeg and its surroundings. Indeed, should not to be missed by foreigners to take a break, stop, visit the historical sites, stay for a couple of days, taste the local gastronomic delights.

The European Commission in 2006 launched the project title: Great European Destinations, which stands for the European continent’s natural, cultural and heritage diversity intending to introduce for the tourists. EDEN is an English acronym (European Destinations of Excellence), but also a welcoming, friendly expression … state of harmony and inviting destination.

Visit to Írottkő Park … In May, 2009, the Írottkő Park won the tender by the European Commission’s EDEN competition titled: “Best ecotourism destination”. In connection with the award of obtaining anniversary Írottkő Nature Park Association this year also organized EDEN days, in the name of the fascinating spectacle Styrian houses which we also visited. The nature park is an awesome experience to see, learn at the open-air museum how the tiddy styrian house look like in the old days.

Hungary specifically target a lot to choose from among the green economy: 21% of the area of our woodland, close to a quarter of that number is high global level, and 10% of the country is under nature protection.

Visit to Őrség seen the village deservedly won a European rating agency, destinations, EDEN Award. Protect and discover the wonders of nature, get to know the local customs and clear-eyed hospitable folks. An exciting and unusual itineraries in the green economy  talking a walk in their footsteps. Őrség offers a thousand pure springs, dark giant pines, bell-feet villages which preserved its natural, cultural and rich in sacred values. Tradition gastronomic event held yearly in several local village in autumn during the Pumpkin Festival  at: Őriszentpéter, Szalafő, Pityerszer, Magyarszombatfa. It is worth to taste the local dishes of pumpkin seed oil, the “dödölle” – potato dumpling  and watch the world go by with a sip of wine and relax. During the Pumpkin Festival  chartered bus runs between Kőszeg and the Styrian houses on the spot buffet and wine tasting available.

Living in a crowed city with all the rush and noise around a perfect place to get loose by visiting, spending a couple of nights at Őrség where many neat  family houses are out for rent, where visitors can get close to nature, and for the active sports travelers  hiking, cycling take them around the different faces of the landscape. Those who want to learn about the typical local atmosphere may roam between the villages of romantic times.

Visiting the City of Kőszeg myriad of historical, natural and cultural treasures. Once the visitors are at Kőszeg, worthwhile to visit the tourist destinations which were featured in the internationally prized „EDEN program”. Worthwhile to stay several days because it is a city with buildings that has its own story. Kőszeg and the surrounding neighbourhood is unique by itself as the locals place in front of their gates a pot for the price to leave  buying their homemade products as jams, season’s fruits from their garden and collected local honey  therefore the city is basically called the “Honor Pot City”.  Also the relationship between Kőszeg and wine history has a centuries-old relationship. The history sources are from the past centuries about the vineyard and its role of the city. Recently established the Kőszeg Wines worthy guardian of the wine culture featuring the grape and wine history, the wine making traditions. wine. The Kőszeg winemakers community preserved in caring the history of the local wine shoots in the “Book of Grapes” from 1740.

Visit to the Jurisics Castle … After enjoying the picturesque small villages providing the peaceful atmosphere and harmony, we visited the main square, the Jurisics castle, which is now a museum and cultural centers.

Mentioning a couple of the so many programs that awaits tourist to enjoy whilst visiting Kőszeg and its surroundings: Museums, World Heritage Site, active recreation, mineral spa, Wine Tour and Wine – Wine House, Museum of grape and wine processing local history collection, ski jumping, Sport Fishing, boating on the Lake and so forth.

In August –  Turkish siege of days, and at the Castle Theater will hold several performances.

On the  last week-end in September each year on the main square is held the harvest festival. In the evening a parade from local and international brass bands … even arriving from Australia will entertain the visitors.

Nature and wildlife is definitely recommended for those interested families to visit the István Bechtold Nature Conservation Visitor Center, which presents the area’s wildlife, bird life and especially unique for children to take the adventure trail, also gain the experience in store for European Crested Tit.

Stayed at the Gotthard Thermal Hotel & Conference****, which is situated in Szentgotthárd at the most western  town in  Hungary and just a short distance from the Hungarian-Austrian-Slovenian borders.  The hotel got all what it takes to recharge yourself , enjoy the mediterranean feeling with its sunbathing terrace, thermal spas, roman baths, wellness treatments, outdoor sport facilities, good cuisine and for the  tourists to explore the surrounding area can take an easy excursion to Őrség.

Update Aggie Reiter

 

 

Beer Sheva Theater – Guest performance – Atrium-movie theater – Budapest – 2016.

Beer Sheva Theater Photo by : MaayanKaufman

Beer Sheva Theater Photo by : MaayanKaufman

Jewish Art Festival –  Saturday, May, 28. –  Tuesday, June, 14. 2016.

Slichot – Yom Kipur – Day of Atonement

Tuesday, June, 7. 2016.

7 p.m.

Original Hebrew performances with Hungarian subtitles!

In the frame of this year’s Jewish Art Festival the Beer Sheva Theater as guest performance will be for one night on stage with the play Slichot – Yom Kipur – Day of Atonement.

 The story goes on as … one day Massouda Ohana return the keys of the house to the Amidar housing company, and disappeared. The four daughters … Malka – the homemaker,  Evelyn – very religious woman, Fanny – the  sexy business woman and Amira –  the student studying cinema arrive to their home to clear out the house. Their intention is spend together the holiday  season of Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement with their mother. While packing, packaging, memories come forth, family secrets come upon surface, and their relationship becoming increasingly intense. By the end of the day they realize that despite the fact they originate the same mother, actually they all in a way  perceive to have different personality and in a way hardly know each other. At the end of the day it is like as though someone else would be their mother.

The Slichot is a funny play, dynamic dialogues game in which family issues, such as child-parent relationships, women’s jealousy, the deep gap in generation. Painful secrets and deep emotions come upon the surface.

Update Aggie Reiter

Vietnamese Days are here again – Grand Market Hall – Budapest – 2016.

visiting Vietnam in Budapest

Tuesday, May, 31. –  Thursday, June, 2.2016. 

8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

District, IX., 1-3.Vámház Blvd. – Budapest

Coming up reminder to the next National Days at the Grand Market Hall – Budapest. Another far away country will be introducing their culture with crafts and all sorts of programs.

What you will not find …

Grand market hall

BUT …You can admire and even buy the products made of bamboo, textile, silk, semi-precious stones and objects made of wood from this beautiful and far-away country.

Vietnam welcomes locals and foreigners to join at the 2 days exhibition to learn about its culture, Vietnamese cuisine, spices, soups, pastas, sauces, all sorts of hand-made crafts also available to buy on the spot.

During the 2 days program the visitors walking into the market hall may hear the original Vietnamese music, photography and get a hint of travelogues.

Update Aggie Reiter

 

The XV Kuruc Day … Back to evoke the heroic age! … Tarpa – Hungary

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Community Center

25/c Kossuth Street

 Tarpa

Saturday, May, 28. 2016.

10 a.m.

At the Rákóczi Memorial Park, cultural programs, traditional groups awaiting the region’s and tourists to join the unforgettable day by entering into the world with Kuruc demonstrations evoking the heroic age.

Throughout the day, Kuruc traditional food  originally from recipes dated way back from 1698 will be prepared to taste. Also the era’s folk attractions, arts and crafts booths, horse show, dragon boat, drums, dance, programs to entertainment the visitors.

Get the feeling of the Kuruc festive atmosphere  who  will visit  Brigadier Tamás Esze home village at Tarpa.

The Kuruc Day Festival is awaiting all visitors no matter of age … kids, young adults, families, elder folks to get into the mood of being back in the 17th century.

Just a reminder… do not miss to taste the village’s famous Golden Plum Pálinka, if you wish to taste something the unmistakable to any other pálinka, then go for it!

The event is free of charge.

Update by Aggie Reiter

Musical … “La Cage aux Folles” … Atrium-Film and Theater – Budapest

Musical … “La Cage aux Folles”

Musical in two acts

Music and Lyrics – Jerry Herman

Upon the book by – Harvey Fierstein – Hungarian text by – István Ugrai

Directed by – Róbert Alföldi

Based on the play by – Jean Poiret

Another play with English language subtitle after the superb play of “The Lonesome West” is soon coming up the “La Cage aux Folles”  – Crazy Women’s cage.  The Átrium-Film and Theater, venue: District, II., 55. Margit Blvd. – Budapest from June  presents the musical “La Cage aux Folles” not only to the Hungarian public but the foreigner audience living, staying throughout Hungary.

The Atrium film and theater is a great advantage to the foreign theater lovers, because they can easily follow the pieces simultaneously on the projector above the stage.  Also a superb idea for the Hungarians to hit two birds with one stone by polishing their English language knowledge.

La Cage aux Folles is a place where everyone can be what they are. Or what they want to be. But what if you cannot show what you truly are? Faith, hope, love, work, family, country, yesterday, today, tomorrow, me, you – and us together. The production is not suitable for children under the age of 15.

Performance dates: June, 30. – 7.30 p.m., July, 1. – 30 p.m.,  July,2. – 7.30 p.m., July, 7.- 7.30 p.m., July, 8. – 7.30 p.m.,  July, 9. – 7.30 p.m.

The length of the play is 3 hours – 15 minutes, including one interval. Tickets are available on the spot at the ticket office, or through online at atriumfilmszinhaz.jegy.hu

Photo by  Judit PUSKA

Update by Aggie Reiter

Gyula Castle Days … Gastronomic, Sport, Culture Festival – 2016.

Castle of Gyula – 71. Széchenyi Street – Gyula

May, 20. – 22. 2016. 

This time not rolling in budapest, but bring your steps to rolling in gyula!

Within the Castle of Gyula the Castle Days Gastronomic, Sport and Culture Festival a 5-year-old tradition of cooking the wild-meat national competition held in Gyula, and a fine time to spend an outdoor event. The 3-days festival hold many adventures to discover the neat City of Gyula  The sporty lovers will surely find their fun of the day. Countless cultural programs in-and-around the Castle of Gyula. Within the 3-days festival an exciting show to be presented. On Friday, May, 20.  at 6 p.m. the Békés Band will bring for the nostalgia lovers their place is to be. On Saturday, May, 21. on stage with the Samurai Kyokusin Karate performance. Dancing time with the Bakator band and folk dancers will be one of the highlight program.  Still staying on the Saturday’s program, the main attraction starts off  at 7 a.m. with the National Wild Meat Cooking Competition on  the Sport courts. Of course this does not mean the visitors have to wake-up so early to be at the start, but definitely worthwhile to take a visit and see how the competitors are doing, then after enjoy the taste of the Hungarian way of  unique A’la wild-meat. Sunday, May, 22. will be filled with superb events to be visited  as … Python magician show, VI. Gyulavári Castle Cup – a-side football tournament, plenty of concerts one after the other and last but not least being in the area of Gyula, stroll around the spectacular romantic park, enjoy the sights in-and-around the Castle of Gyula, the pond with wonderful old trees around the paths, not to mention worthwhile to go for dipping into the superb AquaPalace – Medicinal baths and the Castello Wellness and Sauna Park.

For those visitors arriving from other parts of Hungary, the City of Gyula can be reached easy through: GPS: 46.64509963989258 | 21.282100677490234.

Update by Aggie Reiter