In every major city there seems to be some spot for locals, and some others for tourists. Szimpla Kert in Budapest seems to please both audiences. Although you can find it on every major tourist guide like Lonely Planet, Szimpla Kert is also frequented by locals and expats as well. On every average visit to the place you’ll hear all kind of languages, and yes, a good part of it will be Magyarul (Hungarian).
This cafe, bar, beer garden, screening house, pub, and almost disco (depending on the time of the day or night you go there) consists basically of the courtyard and few apartments of an old building in the VII District. Word of mouth is clearly bringing most of the people, because if you were a tourist passing by you would hardly thing of entering the big old gate, with a little sign just distractedly hanging over it.
Especially if you visit in winter, you’ll enter into a dark and weird looking corridor, if you manage to go through some plastic stripes hanging from the doorway (the kind of industrial ones, butcher or market style, to keep in the warmth). Once inside though, you’ll discover a perfect heaven of comfy, relaxed atmosphere.
The furniture is very peculiar indeed: old benches, armchairs, and coaches; sitting places made out of old bath tubs, film reels containers, old cars (a Trabant converted into table and chairs can be seen in the garden) and disused sewing machines. This appears to be a trend in many nightlife spots in Hungary; a local one said with an ironical accent: “looks like, if a spot has got two similar chairs, it’s not trendy these days”.
That said, Szimpla Kert remains one of the most favorite spots; for the way it’s located, for the atmosphere, but most of all for the people: wether you’re an Hungarian, an expat or a tourist, it’s good to go to one place and know that you can meet all kind of people in a special atmosphere!
Share Around
Posted by Andrea 8 months, 1 week ago at 7:42 am. Comments
The first monographic exhibition in Hungary of the painter J. M. William Turner will be hosted in The Museum of Fine Arts, in Budapest, from July 15th to October 25th.
The exhibition, named Turner and Italy is arranged by outstanding British experts, and will come to Budapest after being shown in Ferrara and Edinburgh, with its material slightly modified.
Turner’s talent was recognized early in his life, and the financial independence allowed him to travel widely across Europe. His experience of the Mediterranean landscape together with its conditions of light fundamentally changed his style, making his palette lighter. Having visited Venice on three occasions, Turner, like many other artists, was enchanted by its singular atmosphere. Turner’s Venice-inspired watercolors filled with light, together with his late unfinished color sketches, have become extremely popular since through them spectators may trace the precedents of abstract painting.
The artist’s career is presented in chronological order, ranging from early landscapes to the almost abstract pictures of his last period, their motifs dissolving into patches of color.
The exhibition will present Turner’s career in about 80 works presented in chronological order, ranging from early landscapes to the almost abstract pictures of his last period.
Share Around
Posted by Paul 8 months, 1 week ago at 7:33 am. Comments
Want to explore a place where you won’t find hordes of tourists and relax totally immersed in nature?
Located almost half way between Budapest and lake Balaton there is lake Velence, the third biggest natural still water in Hungary. In summer sunny beaches and pleasantly warm waters (which happen to contain also a large amount of mineral salts) make this spot perfect for sun lovers.
All kind of accommodations are available, from cheap pensions campsites and motels to the luxury of the 183 rooms of the recently opened Velence Resort and Spa, which boasts 11 indoor and outdoor pools – thermal baths, adventure pools, kids’ pool – which adds up to 1,000 m2 total water area, in case the lake is not enough for you!
The mountains surrounding the lake are perfect for a good hike, but if you prefer something less energetic like fishing the good news is that the lake is extremely rich in fish, especially carps. Bird watching is particularly favorable too, with 28 bird species breeding regularly here and plenty more transiting during the autumn and spring migration.
From outdoor activities to luxurious Spas looks like Lake Velence, or Velencei-tó in Hungarian, offers something that is able to please all needs.
Share Around
Posted by Paul 8 months, 1 week ago at 7:29 am. Comments
