Hungary’s largest tourist parade at HUNGEXPO –TRAVEL 2016.

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DAY1 ... Even though the data are under processing on the opening day showed the tourism trends show that the visitors are mainly looking at inland offers. Never-the-less there is still 3 days to go for visitors to look and see what the foreigner exhibitors can offer them.

Many foreign exhibitors were here last year and having good experiences with their offers, came back this year aswell.

The list would be extremely long to mention having from 28 countries with 399 exhibitors of domestic and foreign exhibitors, but a short note to see a couple of offers at their stand can be learnt. On the first hand, Budapest – Hungary as the City of Guest of Honor, with its slogan “Budapest hosts Hungary”. In 2016., the Budapest Summer Festival and the Budapest Spring Festival offering this year within the spirit of Romanticism assembled cultural activities and including for tourists special packages to book also available during the exhibition on the spot. At the Margaret Island Open-Air Stage, Hungarian and International artists will be on stage  such as: Andrea Rost, Erika Miklósa, Zoltán Kocsis, Támas Vásáry, Gergely Madaras, Hawk Dominic. Welcoming foreigner stars on stage will be Yuja Wang- Chinese pianist, Marc Heller, Sébastien Guez, Giuseppe Filianoti, James Valenti – opera singer, Stacey Kent – jazz diva, guitarist – Stanley Jordan and London’s Globe Theater and the Monte Carlo Ballet. As a novelty 3 Tenors opera gala  and  there will be Virtuosi festive variety show, circus and concerts as well.

On the second-hand, a wide variety of foreigner exhibitors arrived this year aswell to make the Hungarians wish to spend their holidays abroad, and most probably if they really want to know a country’s cultures then certainly will learn through its gastronomy. As mentioned, more than two dozen foreigner exhibitors are present, so here is a couple mentioning to visit their stand.

Austria – Offering  unforgettable entertainment and loads of fun at the Wiesn Festival – September,22. – October, 9. 2016. (More info  to come)

Israel – The israeli stand was opened by His Excellency Ilan Mor Israeli Ambassador to Hungary, by saying Israel is a place to visit once in a lifetime, these were the first welcoming words. Take a journey through the ancient Holy land, learn, discover the authentic Israel with family, friends or fellow travellers. Whatever the season experience something new, interesting and exciting, including activities, customs and places that are unique.  Hear more about the travel opt. on the spot. There is a huge of holiday offers that will surely catch the eye.

Turkey  – A place where nature, Sun and Sea,  health and wellness, sport, culture  can be all  reached having vacation at Kemer/Antalya with family or friends.  There are many hotel just by the Sea where the spectacular mountains and sea view of the Mediterranean can be perceived on the spot.

Malta –  Is closer from Budapest than many may think. It is a small countries with marvelous places to visit, for instance: Popeye Village, the Grand Fort and during the fall holds the Birgufest – Candlelight event at Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa) – which is one of Malta’s oldest and most historic cities.

Cyprus – Was a good reason for the visitors by telling, Cyprus can be visited any time of year that suits you.  Many places rich of ancient ruins can be found there and also very handy is a “free” weekly guided tour, I was told.  Was highlighted to visit Pafos Archaeological Park. It is at the entrance of the harbour one can access this quite stunning park which houses a truly unique collection of remarkable treasures dating from far back in time in the 2nd century B.C.

The visitors strolling around  the stands were pretty surprised by the sight of Mr. Piano Man rolling along  the pathways…

Coming up  more adventure at the Travel 2016. Hungexpo – Budapest

Update and snaps Aggie Reiter

The aftermath of the “Son of Saul” – Oscar Award 2016.

A press conference was held in Budapest, whereas the whole crew of the Son of Saul was present arriving back from LA. László Nemes Jeles – film director admitted: Q.: “It’s was amazing to see how happy people were to hear the film to be the Oscar winner at the press conference in Budapest.  László Nemes Jeles told he had spoke with Oscar-winning the legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg both before and after Sunday’s Oscar ceremony, telling him that Son of Saul is “an important film” which had contributed to the collective remembrance of the Holocaust. Lead actor Géza Röhrig said that even before the Oscar ceremony, he felt like he was “the Saul of 15 million Hungarian” in LA. Gábor Sipos  the producer said the film’s cast and crew were extremely touched by the huge support they received on the remembrance Sunday’s ceremony.

The Academy Award topped off a highly impressive haul of accolades for Son of Saul, which include the Golden Globe for best foreign language film, the Grand Prix along with the International Federation of Film Critics prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, this year’s Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film and also the critics prize at last year’s CinEast film festival in Luxembourg.

Zoltán Vági, the film’s historical consultant, said that the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives will launch the Children of Saul program which will focus on identifying the names of the 100,000 Hungarian Jewish children exterminated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in the early ’40s.

 

Update Aggie Reiter

10th Dinning Week in Budapest and in the regions of Hungary – 2016.

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Gourmand are awaited at a laid table for a special  Hungarian treat.

The past day within the grand selection of menus was invited to taste  and hear about the forthcoming  Restaurant Week  at the Hotel Corinthia Budapest.

Coming up again this year for the 10th occasion in the capital and at several region’s  restaurants entered by a high  number offering the 3-course special menu prepared exclusively for the occasion. The participant restaurants offer their menus for  the price of 3300HUF and the premium menus for 4900HUF. Beside the delicious menu, 3 kind of wines are offered for the price of 1990HUF. These wines were previously and especially selected to the different menus recommended by sommelier Antal Kovács at each participating restaurants to match the menus. The service charge is always included into the menu price. Restaurants who serve premium menus are marked with red color as “DiningCity Star” at the reservation list.

Bookings for the Dinning Week is also available in English language and can only be made through the website at: http://www.etteremhet.hu.

You can see right the minute whether the selected restaurant has available seats for that certain day and time. Therefore, when hitting the reservations button it will be shown in real-time and will automatically will appear  as the approval.  Whether wish to make change of already reserved seats, it is not necessary to first delete and make a new reservation.

This year for the first time, the 10th Dinning Week joins for charity to the „Feed the Children Foundation” (Gyermekétkeztetési Alapítvány).  This means that from the sum of  each menu 50HUF goes to the Feed the Children Foundation. At the end of the Dinning Week the income will be transferred  to support  the needy children.

Here are is a link to follow, see the restaurants participating at the 10th Dinning Week en English language: http://www.etteremhet.hu/lang/en/restaurants_list?city=budapest

and also  can be viewed those regional restaurants participating  aswell: http://www.etteremhet.hu/lang/en/restaurants_list?city=countryside

Update and snaps: Aggie Reiter

6th Francophone Film Days and Festival – Budapest – 2016.

Francophone days budapest 2016

From February, 26. 2016 – 6 March, 6. 2016. for the 6th occasion the Institut Français invites movie lovers to join Francophone Film Days –  2016, featuring drama, comedy, romance and thriller movies.

This year at two locations in Budapest, the Urania National Film Theater and Cirko-Geyser Cinema.  In addition to the film days, concert films, literatures and language programs, theater and dance performances, exhibitions, Q+A at lectures and social issues.

Beyond the screening in Budapest, the movies will head to be viewed at other cities in Hungary: Miskolc, Szeged, Pécs, Debrecen, Tatabanya, Székesfehérvár, Szombathely, Szolnok, Jaszbereny, Eger, Győr until the end of March, 2016.

During the FilmDays 30 movies, including 23 pre-premier will be screened.  Six movies from the Francophone countries Algeria, Belgium, France, Greece, Romania, Canada and Switzerland.

All films will in the original language, but a large number of them will be English subtitled. To gain further Francophone Film Days detailed useful information:  http://www.urania-nf.hu/en/esemenyek/564/2016/02/26/_6th-francophone-film-days-26-02-06-03-2016

Update by Aggie Reiter

Newsflash … Samsung Club des Chefs Welcomes Newest Member – Michel Roux Jr.

 

Photo_Michel-Roux-Jr

Samsung Electronics announced that the Michelin-starred, UK’s most admired chef, Michel Roux Jr. is to become the eighth member of its esteemed Club des Chefs.

“Launched in June 2013, the Samsung Club des Chefs invites visionary chefs from around the world to contribute their unique insight and fresh ideas for creating next generation kitchen products. This spring, the Club des Chefs will be launching an app for the newly announced Family Hub connected fridge, featuring recipes, cooking advice and hands-on appliance demos from the chefs themselves.

Michel Roux Jr. of Le Gavroche and Roux is also known in the UK as a popular TV personality, appearing as a judge and presenter on the BBC’s primetime programme, Masterchef.  His entry into the Samsung Club des Chefs sees him join fellow food visionaries including Elena Arzak, fourth generation owner of the three Michelin-star Arzak; Daniel Boulud, one of the most revered French chefs in New York; and French three-star Michelin chef, Michel Troisgros.

“I think the premise of the Samsung Club des Chefs developing technology to help people increasingly experiment in their own kitchen, is really exciting. The Family Hub is a wonderful example of bringing people together in the heart of the home – in the kitchen.  I’m delighted to be joining my peers and friends to share our expertise and passion, partnered with Samsung’s innovation, to help people master their own cooking at home.” said Michel Roux Jr.

“By working with some of the world’s finest culinary talent we have been able to capture the essence of professional cooking and make it readily available via the Club des Chefs app coming to the Family Hub fridge in 2016. We are extremely privileged to welcome Michel Roux Jr to our club. The expertise and insight he has garnered over 40 years of experience, makes him the ideal addition to the Club.” said Dan Harvie – European Director Home Appliances –  Samsung Electronics Europe.”

 Update from newsroom by Aggie Reiter

Pork Sticker Festival – Millennium – Budapest – 2016.

Port Sticker Festival - Budapest

February, 19. – 21. 2016.

The 3days program are opened from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

In the month of February it does not end the continuing large-scale of events in Budapest.

The Millenary Fish Festival has just ended and is giving the venue way to the festival of pork stickers.

The event will be lined with the best domestic and international pork cuisines, all spiced with high quality handicraft products. Visitors may also can experience the classic farmhouse traditions of the past. Also Pork breeds from the Carpathian Basin will be on the spot. The event is lined with hundreds of culinary specialties made from pork, not only to taste, but also can learn tricky ways of cooking it.

For the smallest ones, especially those living in Budapest, who cannot see live animals only at the zoo will be having pleasure visiting the farm-yard, watching live animal demonstration and taking part in petting animals. Also during all three days, the children can take visit the free, heated children’s area having free arts and crafts workshops, visiting of large-scale livestock show and strolling in-and-out the mini zoo. The continuous stage programs, major concerts and folk games entertain the audience of all age.

Day1. … At the opening day, which is Friday guests can buy their tickets to the “Gluttonous  Friday” for  50% discount price and go for tasting to the indicated stands, shown in the coupon booklet for various meals. The national press organs and celebrities will be divided in teams as filler of their own sausages, and int he meantime the retro concerts will take the main role.

Day2. … On Saturday, rollicking music, a real village atmosphere with traditional village atmosphere will take place where a wedding party starts off for the Hungarian food lovers. At this event will be elected the most beautiful girl in the village elections. Another fun experience is to take part by chasing pork, and even pork-eating competition. The lads can measure their skills  in a completion  as who will be  the village’s most strongest Anybody may enter the city’s biggest sausage competition, where families may bring their most favorite family’s recipes.

Day3. Sunday Hungarian folk music and folk dancers will play the main role and of course enjoying meals during the luchtime or as an evening supper.  Another funny time for the day is to take part in chasing pork, and even  particioating at a pork-eating competition and sausage eating competition.

Update by Aggie Reiter

Concert for the Ears of Blues and Rock Music-lovers

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„Legenda” Legend Brewing Center  

 District, XVI.  8/C Kövirózsa  Street – Budapest.

Friday, February, 19 .2016. 7.30 p.m.

Listen to the music by the way  the Hungarian BluesSteel  presenting the American and British blues!

Along on the tap fine, special beers will be in company for sure and you will not be blue at all, enjoying the BluesSteel and the „Üzletembers BussinessFolks music.

The BluesSteel and the „Üzletembers” BussinessFolks are to be jointly giving a concert on the stage at the Sörfőző” Legend Brewing Center.  They are not yet legends, but definitely worthwhile to go and listen on the coming Friday night at the popular Pub.

The emerging rock-blues team already previously held a memorial concert to long gone ahead musician „Radics ’70”, and the audience appreciated every second and note  at the concert.

Within the list of their repertoire can hear the BluesSteel playing evergreen pop music by well-known musicians as Steve Ray Vaughn, Gary Moore and BB King, furthermore hear superb music from the past generation’s best musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Cream and John Mayall. During the concert Péter Vámos, Cook Karesz and Gábor Kárnyáczki  will play for the first time their own brand new songs, so the public will hear these for the first time. They will be releasing a brand-new album by the end of the year.

In the second part of the program, Tibi Hegedűs and Gyuri Cserép and other band’s members: Kyru Zsöci and Zoli Pálmai will give a hint to the audience how the seventies hard rock really sound way back.

Entry ticket on the spot, price: 1500HUF.

Update by Aggie Reiter

The First Beer Festival – Hotel Gellért – Budapest 2016

Have a Happy Beer Day and Night in Budapest

Have a Happy Beer Day and Night in Budapest!

The First Beer Festival – Serfőző Pub –  Hotel Gellért – Budapest

A fine time to indulge yourselves with friends within the cavalcade of beers.

February, 19 – 21. 2016.

The event is jointly organized by Serfőző– Beer Brewer and Danubius Hotel Gellért.  The coming week-end  February, 19-21. the LIQUID BREAD, as the Hungarians call it,  Hungarian and international brewers products will be served as in a Pub.

At this first Beer Festival will be on tap  and bottled over 100 types of draft beers  at your fingertips making sure that nobody will remain thirsty. Just a hint of a few  beers and breweries …  Barbár, Blanche de Bruxelles, Bohemia Regent, Corsendonk, Floris Kriek, Delirium, Serkentő – Franzberger Brewery, Sümegi Brewery, Abbey of Zirc Manufactury, Guinness, Kilkenny, Bombardier, Primátor, Bernard, Bigfoot Brewery, Maissel’s Weisse, Csíki Beer, Fót Handcraft Brewery, Wells & Young’s Brewery, Robinson Brewery, Brewdog, Flying Dog, Oedipus, Opat, Pardubicky Porter, Postřižinské, Satan, Hedon, Legenda and many more well-known labels.

Beside the beer specialties visitors may not worry about getting hungry, cause fine delicacies of László Héjja, Head chef of  Hotel Gellért will be serving delicious dishes  during the week-end.  On Sunday visitors Beer brunch and a Beer dinner will be available and served.

International Beer Day: Friday, February, 19.  4 p.m. – Saturday,  2 a.m.  English  Beer Day, Saturday, February, 20.  4 p.m. – Sunday, 2 a.m. German Beer Day, Sunday, February, 21.  4 p.m. Midnight  Czech Beer Day.

The beer festival will not pass without a beer drinking competition. The beers compete by votes of the visitors.

Each  entry ticket goes with a beer mug  with the event’s logo. It will be  filled as  a mug of gift beer of choice on one occasion at the festival.

Update by Aggie Reiter

„TRAVEL 2016” – International Tourism Exhibition – Hungexpo – Budapest – 2016.

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Travel 2016. – March, 3-6.

HUNGEXPO  Ltd. Fair Center – Budapest

District X., 10. Albertirsai  Road.

There are so many places to explore in Hungary!  For those who have not already made up their mind where/when to travel in the year 2016 may get ideas beside exploring Hungary or to travel aboard. If not for only thst reason, at the “TRAVEL 2016.” – International Tourism Exhibition at the HUNGEXPO Fair Center will be able to reach offers from Hungarian and foreigner country’s stands offers, from around almost 40 000 potential partners during the 4 days fair!

For those visitors who are coming from other regions of the country to Budapest may be able to travel to Budapest with the off 50% of MÁV-Start ticket for the duration of the exhibition. Daily tickets on the spot at the entrance  ticket office: 2500HUF.

The year 2016 is also the year for the Olympic games and the visitors to the HUNGEXPO Fair will be able meet on the spot members of their favourite popular sports and Hungarian athletes.

Beside strolling through the great hall’s tourisim desks, the visitors can enjoy a parade, Carnival cars and dancers.  furthermore, Hungarian and international carnivals and festivals will be showcased at the exhibition. There will also be quiz with the jackpot prize, a trip to Brazil.

This year as so in the previous years, the Travel Expo invites a country to be  the Fair’s  Guest of Honor.

This year the Hungarian Guest of Honour will be Budapest  Our capital is a noteworthy window open to tourist destination from the four corners of the Earth.  At the exhibition a space of 300 square meters stand will be offering cultural, family and sightseeing programs  and entertainment shows during the 4 days.

The Professional Guest of Honour will be China … On the first day of the exhibition’s professional day will be only valid a higher  ticket price.The guest of honor China  has a prominent role in the program. The professional programs beginning on Thursday will continue on Friday as well.

The Cultural Guest of Honour … naturally in the year of the Summer Olympia Games will be Brazil …  So at the Brazil’s stand  visitor may feel the rhythm  of the samba and capoeira dancers and get into the mood of the carnival atmosphere. In addition to the dancers the gastronomy bits-and-pieces will be preparing in an authentic Brazilian cuisine and the visitors can explore the popular Cachaca in Brazil (grim reaper) and caipirinha as well.

Update Aggie Reiter

Watch out opera lovers … Teatro alla Scala – The Temple of Wonders – “Palace of spirits” – Budapest

The Milano Scala - Urania Cinema

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence – Documentary film,  Directed by  – Luca Lucini.

The film makers have prepared an outstanding new movie in 3D.

URANIA NATIONAL FILM THEATER

District VIII., Rákóczi Rd.- Budapest

 The film makers have prepared an outstanding new movie in 3D.

As the audience will be taken back in time, on a journey where every room, every corridor and every corner breathes 237 years of history. A real treat for the viewer whether they previously visited the place or planning to do so.

In Budapest will be only seen at the Urania National Film Theater. Dates: February, 17. – at 6.30 p.m., 18. – at 5 p.m., 19. – at 3.45 pm., 20. – 11 a.m. The film will be in its original Italian language and synchronised to Hungarian language. Ticket available at the cash desk on the spot. Posibility to book tickets by telephone +361/48634 00.
Booked tickets can be picked up half-an-hour before the film starts. Following this, the reservation is automatically deleted from the system.  Ticket price for  the 3D film … 1800HUF – Main Hall ground floor … 2000HUF – Main Hall box seats.

Country wide Premier: 2016.02.18. Distributor: Pannonia Entertainment

From February also will be screened across 18 cities cinemas throughout Hungary.

“Unprecedented access to one of the most exclusive temples of performing arts in the world and its fascinating story. A “place of spirits”, in which past, present and future intersect as in a wonder factory, where men craft their skills to produce art in its highest form.

Teatro alla Scala – The Temple of Wonders is an exclusive documentary shoot in 4K,  a journey through time and space to discover a marvellous place, where the most glorious pages in the history of music, opera and ballet have been written.

“Can you hear them? Here dwell the spirits of the great artists of the past”. One of the leading theatrical impresarios of all time, Paolo Grassi, said this of the Teatro alla Scala, and this is what still makes this place unique the world ver, a veritable Wunderkammer, and much more than this, a Wonder Temple.

 Built between 1776 and 1778, the year of its inauguration, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan has drawn major artists from the international music scene, turning immediately into the theatre of reference, he one every artist aspires to, the Mecca of music. To this day, performing at the Scala means consecrating a career in the eyes of the world.

Music critic John Gavazzeni wrote: “The pillars of world Opera repertoire are Italian: Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini – composers whose works have been performed  almost all over the world. The symbol of all great conductors is an Italian, Arturo Toscanini. They were all launched or consecrated in one place: at the ‘Teatro alla Scala’, as well as the careers of great sopranos like Renata Tebaldi and Maria Callas, and of directors like Visconti, Zeffirelli and Strehler”.

Yet, La Scala, in its time, was much more than this. It was a lively place where, at the same time, people in the stalls and galleries would gather to gamble and talk about politics, literature and general chit chat while, on stage, emotions were played out in full. The same emotions, absorbed by those velvet drapes, and by the wooden panels of the stage, are still alive today and blossom every night, the very moment the lights are dimmed, the audience is quiet, and the performance begins.

There is one particular day when all this becomes a sacred ritual: December 7th, feast day of St. Ambrose, patron saint of Milan, which since 1951 has also always been the day of the ‘Prima’. The exclusive, fashionable soirée that launches the new Opera and Ballet season: an unparalleled event of extraordinary, worldwide prominence.

By following day-to-day preparations and the frantic activities of the staff, leading to the much awaited 7th December, our journey takes us into the main, living body of the theater, where every room, every corridor and every corner breathes 237 years of history – a real treat for the viewer, a wonderful succession of discoveries and revelations.

La Scala is a treasure trove of fascinating, timeless stories where rare archival footage intertwines with interviews with the major players on the international art and music scene, such as Daniel Barenboim, Roberto Bolle, Riccardo Chailly, Placido Domingo, Carla Fracci, Zubin Mehta, José Carreras and Riccardo Muti, to name but a few.

This is the theater where absolute masterpieces came to life such as Nabucco, Norma, Othello, and which hosted, in the fifties, Luchino Visconti’s scandalous, cutting-edge Traviata featuring Maria Callas. It is the place were historical rises and scenes that have taken place and where extraordinary voices have been immortalized, such as those of Placido Domingo, Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti, as well as incredible performances by legendary conductors such as Arturo Toscanini, Daniel Barenboim, Riccardo Muti and Claudio Abbado.”

Source: Urania Film Theater

Update by Aggie Reiter