Following fate similar to that of many other artists, Márta Pán is not widely known in the country that gave her birth (Hungary, although from 1952 she became a French national) but her sculptures are displayed in public spaces all over the world. Her works are erected in Ottawa, Amsterdam, Paris and in Japan, where there are around 30 of her works, she was awarded the Praemium Imperiale Prize by the Emperor. The award is an equivalent of a Japanese Nobel Prize.
Just one year after her death, Budapest Museum visitors are able to see ten of the artist’s monumental steel sculptures, displayed one after the other in the impressive Renaissance and Baroque Hall on the ground floor, and on the first floor, displayed among the paintings of German and Flemish masters.
Culture.hu defines walking among Páns works “like being in a dream city where gravity does not pull one downward, but lifts one up. Her sculptures radiate perfection, like survivors of the loss of the sense of beauty”. Indeed an exhibition not to miss, considering also the numerous other collections to see once in the Museum of Fine Arts.
I had a friend of mine visiting recently, and we decided to go to one of the baths in Budapest. Being the first time for him to a bath my friend had a lot of questions for me, like: “Do I need to bring a towel?” or “Can I get changed there?”. I then remembered that I had the very same questions for my friends who brought me to a bath for the first time.
So in case you’re visiting Hungary and you’ve never been to one of its bath before, here’s the Hungarian Baths for Dummies guide, a list of answers to most common questions. And if you have any other question feel free to ask leaving a comment below.
Can i get changed there?
Absolutely. All baths offer a changing room where you can put your costume on, leave your personal belongings and then lock. Some baths would have a changing room that you cannot lock, but then offer storage cabinets. Just make sure to fix the key of the room or cabinet in a way that you won’t lose it. The most common option is to tie your key with a knot to your costume.
Do I need to bring my costume?
Of course. But in case you forget it (unlikely I know, but it happened to me once) you can even rent or buy one there.
Do I need to bring a towel?
The choice is all yours. In case you don’t want to carry a towel with you (and a wet towel back) you can rent one there for a little extra.
How about flip-flops/thongs?
You could walk barefoot most of the time, but for hygienic reasons, and because some surfaces are slippery or rough it’s a good idea to bring a pair.
Is it true you are completely naked and there’s a male and female section?
Most baths are like public swimming pools, so you wear your costume and mingle with the crowd. But when there are separate sections it’s clearly indicated (see also how to choose the right bath below)
Do I need to be able to swim?
This was one of the questions that worried me most (as you can guess I can barely stay afloat). The good news is that most thermal tubs are not deep at all. The biggest baths have something a bit deeper, but there are always signs indicating the depth of the water, and people in charge of supervising the bathers.
How long can I stay there?
As long as you want. Some baths offer a refund in case you spend less than two hours there. Most of them have also weekly or monthly pass. For a different experience Rudas Baths at weekends opens from 10pm to 4am.
How do I choose the right bath for me?
You can choose depending on which kind of experience you’re looking for, and in case you go not only for fun but for health reason on the thermal water that is more beneficial for you. For the perfect choice you can consult two Baths Search Engines: at national level the Hungarian National Tourism Office, or for Budapest only SpasBudapest.com. Just enter your parameters (type of swimming pool, water qualities, adventure pool, etc) and get the customized result.
Finally, will I enjoy my experience?
It depends how much you like soaking in water. I thought I wouldn’t like it too much, considering also that I can’t even swim, but I feel in love with the whole bath experience. My friend, a good swimmer that loves water, at the end of the day commented: “I was lucky you brought me here only on the last day of my stay, otherwise I wouldn’t have seen anything at all and spend every single day at the baths”.
Posted by Paul 1 year, 1 month ago at 11:53 pm. Comments
Having a dog is definitely part of the Hungarian culture.
In the countryside most people have a dog, and even in Budapest you’ll be surprised by the high number of people you’ll see (especially in the morning or late at night) giving their dog one of the walks of the day. Although you’ll see dogs of all kinds and shapes, it is pretty easy to spot the Hungarian (or Magyar) Vizsla, thanks also to their coat color, defined as golden-rust or copper-brown.
We’re talking about a very special, and sometimes demanding dog here. Wikipedia describes the temperament as “very high energy, gentle-mannered, loyal, caring, and highly affectionate”. They are “natural hunters with an excellent ability to take training”. If you see a Vizsla inside a home you might think it’s a potato coach; but bring it outside and you’ll realize how this is a proper hunting dog, wishing to chase most of the moving objects in sight. It is said that normally a Magyar Vizsla needs 2 to 3 hours a day of outdoor activity. That’s enough to turn every Vizsla owner into a fit person!
One interesting definition for the Vizsla found online is “velcro” dog. Vizslas are extremely affectionate and tend to attach themselves physically to their owners; as a consequence they tend to suffer of separation anxiety if left alone for long period of times, not properly looked after or stimulated. In these cases they can become hyperactive or bored (and destructive as a consequence, usually chewing everything available).
Another curious story about them is that apparently they used to be symbols of aristocracy, and were smuggled out of the country and into Austria and other states, including America, when the Russians occupied Hungary after WW2. You can find this together with 9 other Vizsla’s facts on 10facts.com.
It must be something about the curious way they point those big ears to the source any noise, or the fact that they are so playful, but it’s difficult not to stop and have some interaction with a Vizsla when you see one on the streets, and being in Hungary, that happens very often!
Posted by Paul 1 year, 1 month ago at 12:12 pm. Comments
Do you know what is the largest thermal lake in Europe? It’s Lake Hévíz, located near the western end of Lake Balaton. Some even say it’s the largest in the world, or at least the largest natural one.
With an area of 47500 square meters, it’s quite surprising that the water of the lake is completely changed within 85 hours by its spring rushing up at a depth of 38 meters. The curative effect of the lake was known since the times of the ancient Romans, although it’s “only” in the last 200 years that there are treatments taking place there.
Lake Hévíz combines naturally carbonated medicinal waters with other kind of waters containing sulphur, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen-carbonate. Some waters even have a slightly radioactive content, while it is said that one of the possible causes of the curative effects of the lake is due to bacteria, which is indeed the dominant life form present here, thanks to the unique temperature (26C to 28C even in winter!) and chemical composition of the waters. One of the best curative features is the Hévíz mud, which is a pretty unique kind of mud. It contains radium-salts and reduced sulphuric solutions, and it you can find both organic and inorganic substances; a rather unique medicinal combination.
Due to all these qualities in the waters and in the mud it’s no surprise that thriving health tourism industry has grown in the area, with hospitals, hotels and wellness centers. Whether you plan to go for health reasons, or simply to relax and pamper yourself, Lake Hévíz can offer you pure bliss.
Posted by Paul 1 year, 2 months ago at 3:14 pm. Comments
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