Rolling in Budapest Cultural information in English … Hear everything first hand

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What a night … All our sence were filled!

Participated by invitation at the 9th event organized by the Hungarian Museum of Trade and Tourism at the District III. l., Crown Square – Old Buda at Budapest.

The event was held on the eve of the occasion of the World Tourism Day, which this time was devoted to one of the key region in the South Transdanubia. Taking into account the conditions in this region and season is no surprise that this event was held at a previous wine cellar at Old Buda. The visitors were welcomed by a glass of clear pure soda water. No wonder … everything has a reason … the choice of the venue was non accidental to be at Old Buda, where the museum is situated, which was previously a wine cellar and was well-know place by Mr. Gyula Krúdy, (1878 –1933) who was a Hungarian writer and journalist. who spent his last days living at this district and often visited the place, as it was at the time being a wine cellar. He was known as being fond of good food, drinks and was weak by heart in falling for ladies  companionship. As a writer, left his thoughts of many superb sites of Old Buda. His writing enlightens the contemporary atmosphere as an echo from the far and past era of the quarter. It was him who here at this place attributed the Krúdy Soda, which was a mixture 9 dl. of wine and 1 dl. of soda water. (Most famous novel of his was the Sinbad stories.) This evening we were taking back-in-time blending literature, gastronomy, fine wines of Szekszárd. More to it, the organizers had taken the audience, not leaving their seats on a pinch of travelling tour experiencing the Zsolnay Quarter at the City of Pécs.

The Hungarian National Tourist Office and the New Western Literary Circle held this evening show along with cultural values ​​of the country in the eyes of artists, highlighting some of the important tourist cities and cultural sites. Since the beginning of the year showing countless landscapes, capturing  images, movies,  literary works, culture, gastronomy and special wines from its specific region

The basic principle of organizing these events is to be in the frame  of „Being West at Homeland” in our country.The presentation was given by Mr.Imre Kiss the museum director – also the author of the book of Soda, who briefly introduced the history of the soda water.

After the presentations our way led us to the theater room, along the way seen hanging on the walls items reminders of the past remit covers, metal add labels, domestic trade, international trade, financial trading, the hospitality industry’s items from hotels and other catering areas, as well history tourism cultural collections. Mr. Imre Csuja took us on an imaginary tour into a rare real world, as he held an inevitable reading of the revived Southern Transdanubia … alittle differently.

thereafter, the organizers showed the way to the cellar, heard at a presentation given by the hosts of the Southern Transdanubia. Ms. Zsuzsa Hegyi, Regional Director for Marketing at the Tourist Office in South Transdanubia who was our hostess and in brief spoked about the region. Quote: „The Southern Transdanubia is situated in a hilly landscape, which has a thousand valleys indented with many small villages. The area has huge forests, fertile river valleys, carefully cultivated gentle slopes characterize this region. Protected areas represent a major eco-tourism base. The rural tourism is well-developed in the region. It’s brimming with luscious wines. These are in taste that makes a difference from other red wine producers throughout Hungary. But the region is not only unique in wine routes, also large in number of special historic values to be seen, and is famous for its thermal waters.”

This evening we were taking back-in-time blending literature, gastronomy, fine wines of Szekszárd from the South Transdanubia region. More to it, the organizers had taken the audience to an imaginary journey to the Zsolnay Quarter at the City of Pécs. Beside the Szekszárd vineyards, the well-known brands are the wines from Villány and Tolna also worthy to mention and to be kept in mind. The region’s gastronomy representative  introduced teritory’s meat products from ranch and farms:  cattle, wild boar, donkey, goose, duck. These meat products were also brought to taste to the event. Mr. Pál Mészáros, from Szekszárd was present introducing his family owned Wine House and Cellar. Spoke about the three different types and flavor of wines he had brought  for introducing and tasting. After the presentations the visitors were invited to taste mouth-watering wines and sworn by many the best red wine in Hungary is from Szekszárd. Many may have heard or already tasted, the rich in flavor red wines from Szekszárd. Szekszárd is a unique brand of red wines, as the winegrowing region is only of a few in Hungary that is considered as one of the oldest vineyards in Hungary. No wonder at all, when we take into account the Meszáros family’s viticulture and oenology is holding on the family’s precious heritage keeping the tradition in making wines.Through the decades this tradition flows from father-to-son in making wines. Just a short story of the Mészáros Winery and Cellar as Mr. Mészáros Pál told me, Quote:”Our family brought the cellar couple of years ago. The place has the original spirit with its original 250 years old bricks. Making extra heavenly taste, mainly red wine isn’t only depending only on the soft hilly landscape, excellent soil, the special micro-climate which led to success.” Right said Mr. Mészáros, but assume much more in deed is needed and that is  the palm hands of the Mészáros Family in blending ancient traditions together with the art of modern wine-making. This evening Mr. Mészáros brought three special wines for tasting. What deeply brought a smile to me was a pleasure of seeing label wasn’t only written in Hungarian language, but also in English language. Have not really had that experiences with other labels to read beside the Hungarian language, oh only when the product is off for export, which we hardly see here in Hungary. Thumbs-up for having to have it written in English language and the tourist and foreigners working in Hungary won’t need to hold under their arms a book to translated what stands on the label. It is written in Hungarian and English language.

Another awesome spot to visit in Budapest is this Hungarian Museum of Trade and Tourism where three-in-one: the history, culture, gastronomy come alive…

on an evening by sights and sounds and of course the mouth-watering wonderful flavors taking the visitors sence by all means.

Upcoming programs for the literature-loving visitors being able to follow the Hungarian language „Being West at Homeland” see www.itthon.hu … site unfortunately, only in Hungarian language.

Just a  tinny-winny background history to development of advertising shop signs seen at the Museum … In Hungary increased significantly during the Astro-Hungary Empire. The enamel factories began being founded.The enamel industry in the 20th century had all come into existence and evolved continuously in Hungary. The advertising board was the decorative shop sign, usually painted on wood and hung above shops and more often taverns and restaurants and on basis of which the customers recognised and sought them. Publishments to these things and putting out a suitable shop sign began to dwindle in the 2nd half of the XIXth century. First folding shop door were  with wooden boards, later on  colored, enamelled advertising boards. Advertising boards began appearing not only on the shop door and above them, but also in the shop windows and in the shop as well. The most important innovations in enamelling techniques were introduces between 1891 and 1900.  It was during this period when the ground enamel containing cobalt was invented and the use of Cryolite agents were introduced …at the Museum many of these oldie signs are out on the walls  showing the era’s signs. Some of these signs are seen in the slide-show.

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter