Budapest

OferL · 11-04-2019, 04:37 AM

For our younger son's 19th birthday we took him on a short vacation to Budapest. It's a beautiful east European city, with old and new construction, breathtaking views, cool night life and some amazing food. The city is separated by the Danube river to two parts Buda and Pest. We stayed in a hotel on the Pest side. Most of our time was spent in Pest. We took one day to tour Buda.
Here are some of the things we saw:
A river boat sail gives you a condensed tour of all the nice views, palaces and monuments.

But as the sun sets it turns breathtaking.

Roaming the streets

On the Buda side of the river a calmer more classic vibe. We climbed this hill on foot.

The city’s largest cathedral

Back to Pest inside the parliament palace

Cigar holders…

Nighttime

The Jewish side – the largest synagogue in Europe, second largest in the world

In the yard there were several holocaust memorials. Names over mass graves.

A tree statue with names etched into the leaves

And by the river the shoes memorial where Jews were shot on dropped to the water.

Another case of history re-written. The statue in the back was erected by the city to symbolize the Hungarians oppression by the Nazis. The true story was of cooperation and assistance in the annihilation of the Hungarian Jews. A small line of pictures and documents was placed by the Jewish community under the big statue telling the real story. Then the city built the fountain to focus attention away from the documents.

AND NOW the FOOD…

OferL · 11-04-2019, 04:39 AM

The food was amazing. Goulash like I’ve never had was like a new dish to me. They really take pride in peppers and paprika. We had a guide take us to some of the local diners and try some of the Hungarian food. It was delicious.

Stuffed cabbage with sour cream

Square noodles with sweet pickled cabbage

Retesh which is a kind of pastry sweet or salty

Local alcohol made of fruit or peppers.

Sweet cucumber with sour cream

Crapes that we call Blinches. My wife’s favorite

Amazing cakes. They have national competitions for cakes and an annual recipe is declared the official annual cake.

Good stuff…

Altogether a highly recommended trip with a good vibe and really nice things to eat.

Titch · 11-04-2019, 05:53 AM

Epic, great pictures,thanks for taking us along.
Some reflection as well,
Those cakes got my attention.
Happy birthday to the Boy

OferL · 11-04-2019, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titch

Epic, great pictures,thanks for taking us along.
Some reflection as well,
Those cakes got my attention.
Happy birthday to the Boy

Thanks brother. The cakes were really good but after a long tour and 9-10 dishes I "tasted" I discovered I no longer have a separate desert stomach.

Stingerhook · 11-04-2019, 06:47 PM

Great share, I think I gained 10 pounds.

gtr · 11-04-2019, 11:07 PM

Spectacular post - words and pix! Thanks for putting that up.

frognot · 11-05-2019, 07:38 AM

Incredible photos! Thanks for posting them.

OferL · 11-08-2019, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingerhook

Great share, I think I gained 10 pounds.

I lost most of it walking the streets. It just pulls you to keep going.

Gore · 11-12-2019, 02:53 PM

Whoa! Absolutely beautiful. I haven't been in far too long, but you sure brought back a lot of good memories, especially the goulash! Love the goulash. First time I was there in the early nineties, it wasn't so food friendly. On my wife's first visit she had a pizza with frozen peas as one of the toppings. Fifteen years later it was completely changed for the better. I think I still have a bottle of Tokaj in the basement from my last trip there some 12 years back. Hmmmmmm.

OferL · 11-14-2019, 01:39 AM

Thanks brother. East Europe has changed a lot in the past 10 years, some for the better and some not... Prices have gone up, hotels and restaurants aren't as cheap as they used to be. And the local's attitude towards tuorists has become less welcoming. I'm generalizing of course.

Gore · 11-14-2019, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OferL

Thanks brother. East Europe has changed a lot in the past 10 years, some for the better and some not... Prices have gone up, hotels and restaurants aren't as cheap as they used to be. And the local's attitude towards tuorists has become less welcoming. I'm generalizing of course.

Agreed. I organized a conference in Bratislava in 2001 and the rooms were $6/night and we we had an all-day tour for some 40-50 people to visit some castles in the countryside for a whopping $200 total, for everyone, including bus transportation, tour guide, entrance fees and lunch. I couldn't believe it when they provided the quote, but that's what it cost. It wasn't luxurious, but it was amazing. Oh my gawd, how much wine we drank! Great wine and practically free. One meal, we had over 3 liters per person. I've made it back a few times since then. It's still lovely, prettier than before, but the prices are the same as ours now.

BBQ Bacon · 11-18-2019, 09:07 AM

That is awesome. Thanks for the pics. Now I need to go for a visit.

gsmith · 11-18-2019, 12:39 PM

Thanks for sharing

OferL · 11-24-2019, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQ Bacon

That is awesome. Thanks for the pics. Now I need to go for a visit.

You'd enjoy it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsmith

Thanks for sharing

Thanks brother!

Sid Post · 11-24-2019, 06:13 PM

I remember going to Budapest back in the late 80's before the 'wall' came down. I remember how friendly the people were to see an AMERICAN in Soviet Hungary. I was surprised to see Fuji Film everywhere!

The busses and Strawberries were the main Soviet products of Hungary at the time. I was not a huge fan of Strawberries back then and remember almost everything sweet was a Strawberry themed item. I remember going into a little breakfast pastry type shop and pointing out a few things since the girls at the counter didn't speak English or German and I didn't speak Russian. Apparently I was a big spender based on the expressions and reactions I got, especially when I went back for some more strawberry crepes. On the official exchange rate, I think I spent somewhere between 60 and 80 cents USD and I had some of everything in the display case plus seconds! It really was delicious.

That really was a nicer trip than I expected. The Red Wine I got there was awsome too and was <$2USD a bottle.

If you enjoy a place like Budapest, Cologne Germany has a similar feel I assume from the ancient Roman influence.

11-04-2019, 04:37 AM	#1
OferL is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-30-16 Location: Israel	Budapest For our younger son's 19th birthday we took him on a short vacation to Budapest. It's a beautiful east European city, with old and new construction, breathtaking views, cool night life and some amazing food. The city is separated by the Danube river to two parts Buda and Pest. We stayed in a hotel on the Pest side. Most of our time was spent in Pest. We took one day to tour Buda. Here are some of the things we saw: A river boat sail gives you a condensed tour of all the nice views, palaces and monuments. But as the sun sets it turns breathtaking. Roaming the streets On the Buda side of the river a calmer more classic vibe. We climbed this hill on foot. The city’s largest cathedral Back to Pest inside the parliament palace Cigar holders… Nighttime The Jewish side – the largest synagogue in Europe, second largest in the world In the yard there were several holocaust memorials. Names over mass graves. A tree statue with names etched into the leaves And by the river the shoes memorial where Jews were shot on dropped to the water. Another case of history re-written. The statue in the back was erected by the city to symbolize the Hungarians oppression by the Nazis. The true story was of cooperation and assistance in the annihilation of the Hungarian Jews. A small line of pictures and documents was placed by the Jewish community under the big statue telling the real story. Then the city built the fountain to focus attention away from the documents. AND NOW the FOOD…

11-04-2019, 05:53 AM	#3
Titch somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 11-17-12 Location: South East Victoria Australia Name/Nickname : Titch :-)	Epic, great pictures,thanks for taking us along. Some reflection as well, Those cakes got my attention. Happy birthday to the Boy __________________ Unofficial Vegemite Sponsor. Don't send the Foster's, it's a Federal crime(IamMadMan) Join us for a Laugh. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

11-04-2019, 06:47 PM	#5
Stingerhook somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-13-12 Location: SE Florida Name/Nickname : Marty	Great share, I think I gained 10 pounds. __________________ Marty UDS now resurrected, Square Chicken Cooker, Green 22" Kettle, Stok Tower Grill & Barrel Grill, Stealth WSM 18", Char Broil Kamander

11-04-2019, 11:07 PM	#6
gtr somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA	Spectacular post - words and pix! Thanks for putting that up. __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Spitjack XB85, 22.5 WSM, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, WRK, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Kanka Grill, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. "Relax, it's only BBQ." - Bigmista, 2013 SPFP Avatar by my son! WTFWGALD?

11-05-2019, 07:38 AM	#7
frognot somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 03-22-04 Location: Allen, Texas Name/Nickname : Charles	Incredible photos! Thanks for posting them. __________________ Texas Bash 10-26-2019 (link) gtr's Big Pig Roast in SoCal 9-1-2019 (link) Large Big Green Egg "If you really care about this place, you'll show some respect for it." deguerre "Bludawg looks just like I thought he would. Frognot looks like Tuffy Stone's dad!" aawa

11-04-2019, 04:39 AM	#2
OferL is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-30-16 Location: Israel	The food was amazing. Goulash like I’ve never had was like a new dish to me. They really take pride in peppers and paprika. We had a guide take us to some of the local diners and try some of the Hungarian food. It was delicious. Stuffed cabbage with sour cream Square noodles with sweet pickled cabbage Retesh which is a kind of pastry sweet or salty Local alcohol made of fruit or peppers. Sweet cucumber with sour cream Crapes that we call Blinches. My wife’s favorite Amazing cakes. They have national competitions for cakes and an annual recipe is declared the official annual cake. Good stuff… Altogether a highly recommended trip with a good vibe and really nice things to eat.

11-12-2019, 02:53 PM	#9
Gore Phizzy Join Date: 10-05-08 Location: Hiding out from blood suck ghost snake gods, Nazis and scrap iron chefs trying to harvest body parts Name/Nickname : Gore (surprise!)	Whoa! Absolutely beautiful. I haven't been in far too long, but you sure brought back a lot of good memories, especially the goulash! Love the goulash. First time I was there in the early nineties, it wasn't so food friendly. On my wife's first visit she had a pizza with frozen peas as one of the toppings. Fifteen years later it was completely changed for the better. I think I still have a bottle of Tokaj in the basement from my last trip there some 12 years back. Hmmmmmm. __________________ Assistant to a Mad BBQ Scientist (and a squirrel): Primo Oval XL, Small Offset, Gasser, Optigrill, UBS "I love everything about the pig, even the way she walks." -- Spanish proverb (\__/) (='.'=) This is the rabbit baby. Invests him in yours signature, (")_(") and the help rabbit baby takes over control of the world! Hmmmm, I wonder, WWGALD? Avatar courtesy of Grillman and NorthwestBBQ Promoted by Bigabyte to "Idiot #1" , and dubbed "Phizzy" by Sir Ron.

11-14-2019, 01:39 AM	#10
OferL is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-30-16 Location: Israel	Thanks brother. East Europe has changed a lot in the past 10 years, some for the better and some not... Prices have gone up, hotels and restaurants aren't as cheap as they used to be. And the local's attitude towards tuorists has become less welcoming. I'm generalizing of course.

11-18-2019, 09:07 AM	#12
BBQ Bacon is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-22-11 Location: Canyon, BC Name/Nickname : Dean	That is awesome. Thanks for the pics. Now I need to go for a visit. __________________ I'm a griller, I'm a smoker, I'm a midnight fire stoker! 18.5" Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker. They call me Dean! thecanuckfoodie.wordpress.com/

11-18-2019, 12:39 PM	#13
gsmith Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-23-09 Location: NE Connecticut	Thanks for sharing

11-24-2019, 06:13 PM	#15
Sid Post is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-31-13 Location: East Texas, USA	I remember going to Budapest back in the late 80's before the 'wall' came down. I remember how friendly the people were to see an AMERICAN in Soviet Hungary. I was surprised to see Fuji Film everywhere! The busses and Strawberries were the main Soviet products of Hungary at the time. I was not a huge fan of Strawberries back then and remember almost everything sweet was a Strawberry themed item. I remember going into a little breakfast pastry type shop and pointing out a few things since the girls at the counter didn't speak English or German and I didn't speak Russian. Apparently I was a big spender based on the expressions and reactions I got, especially when I went back for some more strawberry crepes. On the official exchange rate, I think I spent somewhere between 60 and 80 cents USD and I had some of everything in the display case plus seconds! It really was delicious. That really was a nicer trip than I expected. The Red Wine I got there was awsome too and was <$2USD a bottle. If you enjoy a place like Budapest, Cologne Germany has a similar feel I assume from the ancient Roman influence. __________________ 14"/18"/22"/22" 'stacker' WSM's, 26" Weber Kettle, VG Kamado, GMG Crockett