#Budapest City Guide

[shockercoco]

Little Do You Know

Austin Butler x reader

Warnings - none just fluff

Word count - 1144

a/n - request: "I have a request. I was think about when Austin was in Budapest filming Dune II and reader showing him or the whole crew (Timothee, Zendaya, Florence) around the city in their free time and Austin gets a crush on the reader and the crew teases him about it" - hopefully i fulfilled your vision :)

“You need to get out of this place, you know, get some fresh air,” you tell Austin as you stand in front of him.

He was currently reclining on the lounge chair in front of you reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. The book was literally centuries old, but somehow it caught his attention.

“I went out with you guys earlier,” he says referring to you and Florence, his eyes still attached to the book.

“That was for breakfast, and afterwards we came straight back here. I’m talking about just getting out and walking around to explore. This is your first time in Budapest, do you really want to spend your days off from filming surrounded by four walls all day?”

“It’s no use, he’s been stuck in that position all day,” you hear Florence say. Florence was sitting out on the condo’s balcony – it had been rented to the three of you for the duration of filming Dune. She swivels her chair around to join the conversation currently happening inside.

“I’m not taking no for an answer,” you glance at her before looking back at Austin. “This is unacceptable. You have plenty of time to read, the book isn’t going anywhere.”

“And Budapest isn’t going anywhere either, we’re going to be here for a while,” Austin looks up at you while he speaks, but immediately looks back down at his book when he’s done.

You scoff before you snatch the book out of his hands and hold it behind your back.

He lets out a big sigh and says, “really?”

Austin looks over at Florence as if he was silently asking for help, but she says, “I’m not on your side.”

He laughs at her statement before looking up at you. You raise your eyebrows, waiting for him to say something.

“I guess…I can take a break,” he finally says. 

You smile and hand his book back to him, before turning around and heading to your room to change. This causes you to miss the smile he gives you back and the way he stares at you as you walk away. Florence notices, though, but she already knew about his crush on you. It was the main reason he caved in so quickly.

What everyone doesn’t though is his reasoning for not wanting to go out – he doesn’t know how to act around you. When you look up at him he can’t help but smile, he also can’t help the way his neck turns red, but you don’t notice. When you asked him a question and he gave you an answer, he would end up overthinking for the next hour if his response was too long, or wonder if his answer was good enough, or even wonder if he made too much eye contact with you.

“Are you going to tell her, or should I,” she smirks at him as she comes inside from the balcony.

“Don’t you dare,” Austin points at her, and she laughs.

You took responsibility for being the tour guide around the city, this is what you do in all new cities. Anytime it was someone else, you just ended up being in charge in the end, but of course you took suggestions.

“Where to next?” you ask everyone behind you as you look down at the minimap on your phone. Timothee and Zendaya had finished filming for the day and ended up joining you guys on the sightseeing journey.

 The sun was setting and you all had just left St. Stephen’s Basilica, or as the locals call it Szent Istvan Bazilika.

“Oh, now you want to ask us?” Timothee jokes from behind you, causing you to turn around to see him smiling at you, Austin standing next to him with his hands in his pockets. You continue walking, but backwards to keep moving.

“Well I wasn’t going to, but I figured it was rude to not hear from the group,” you joke back with a shrug of your shoulders.

“I’m fine with you leading, you’re doing a great job,” Zendaya says from beside you, Florence hums in agreement from the other side of her. You look at Austin for his answer, and he just nods with a grin on his face

“Well thank you, I’m glad my service is appreciated,” you say to no one in particular and then look back at Timothee.

“Do you have a suggestion?” you raise your eyebrows at him.

“Well since I’m the only one that seems to have a problem, nope,” he laughs and you smile back.

Meanwhile, while you were talking to Timothee, Austin was watching you. He watched the way your face lit up as you joked with Timothee, the light from the sunset reflecting on your face. He watched how the whites of your teeth showed when you smiled and the way your lip gloss made your teeth look even whiter.

When you bumped into someone on accident from you walking backwards, he watched the way you immediately apologized and helped the person pick up their dropped belongings. He saw the embarrassment on your face when you turned back to the group to ask, “So no one was going to tell me that I was going to crash into someone?”

You easily brushed it off and turned around to continue walking, allowing Austin to stare at you as much as you wanted. When he heard you laugh at something Florence said, a grin instantly appeared on his face.

Austin felt Timothee nudge him in his side to get his attention. When he looked over, Timothee leaned in with a smirk to whisper, “you’re making it so obvious, just tell her.”

Austin playfully pushed him away. He did want to tell you, he just didn’t know how to tell you, which he knew was ridiculous because you wouldn’t be the first girl he admitted his feelings to. Another thing holding him back was the thought of you not liking him back and just seeing him as a friend.

What Austin didn't know, though, you had feelings for him too, but you were one of those people who would never admit their feelings first. You getting rejected? No. There was no way you could just move on and pretend like it didn’t happen. 

Florence and Zendaya both knew how you felt and kept asking you to tell him because according to them “It’s obvious Austin likes you.” You just thought they were saying that to try and convince you, not knowing it was actually true.

Eventually, Austin would admit his feelings to you when it felt like the right time, and of course you would say yes. When everyone found out that you were dating, you two would have to deal with the endless amount of teasing and ‘I told you so’s’ because little did you both know, the feelings were reciprocated.

[mortem-writes]

1. A Widow's Bite | Simon Riley x Black Widow!Reader

Fic Masterlist- ❋ Read this on Ao3 ❋

Main tags: Innocent reader is accused of being a traitor trope, torture and interrogation, AFAB reader, questionably platonic bed sharing, strangers to lovers, sloooow burn, eventual smut, angst/hurt/comfort, kidfic Chapter word count: 1.8k

>> BUDAPEST-KELETI STATION, HUNGARY

>> November 3rd, 2019

Barkov is dead, and you are running for your life.

The city is busy despite the cold weather, and the awareness that time is running out sits heavy on the edges of your mind.

You surge through the throngs of people, and finally you enter the train station with a sense of trepidation pounding through your veins, but there are no yells, no bullets, only the sound of people bustling about the platform and the rare warmth of a pale winter sun peeking through the high windows. Your heart is throwing itself against your ribcage, and sweat beads under your collar.

Time seems to slow with every passing second as you wait in line at the ticket office. You can feel your watch leisurely tick against the rabbit-quick pulse at your wrist. You count the seconds. Feel the space between each tick stretch and unspool. You tap your feet to expel the pent-up energy, and you can feel the slim knife you slid into your boot earlier that day shift over your ankle joint with every mindless movement.

Unable to stop throwing furtive glances over your shoulder, you hand over one of your passports to buy a ticket when it is your turn, and then pick at your fingernails absentmindedly. You can't stop your eyes from darting about and scanning the crowd. There's tension stitched into every fibre and every layer of muscle in your body as you expect a hand to clamp down on your wrist or a gunshot to punch through the air or something to happen at any second, but then the ticket officer hands over to you both your passport and your literal ticket to freedom with a tepid smile. You relax— slightly.

You step onto a train heading for Warsaw with nothing but five passports, five identities, and a handgun stashed in your satchel with a bundle of cash.

The train pulls out of the station, gathering speed and, within a handful of minutes, Budapest falls behind with your past entombed within the old city walls.

>> GEORGE BUSH CENTER FOR INTELLIGENCE

>> VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

>> November 5th, 2019

Barkov is dead, but his legacy is not.

At least not yet.

Despite being determined to rectify that, Laswell feels that either her skull is going to implode into a migraine or her eyes will be rendered useless if she spends any longer staring at beaming bright computer screens, and squinting at various complicated maps littered with minute scribbles and equally minute symbols.

Following the news of Barkov's death, his forces had scattered and his followers all across Russia and Urzikstan had been sent into a frenzy without a leader to guide them. The mayhem has spiralled out of control, and Barkov's bases and facilities are cropping up on the map in the dozens every time a new intelligence report lands on Laswell's desk.

The interns had long since gone home, and the clock above the door implores her to retire for the day. Laswell knows that option is probably what's healthy, but she's nothing if not obsessive at heart and a workaholic, especially when all the current leads on this case look like a massive ball of knotted yarn just waiting to be untangled.

The maps, the profiles, the photographs, the mountains of scattered files, and the wall of flickering screens— all of it— a puzzle, ready to be solved.

The job will get done, and with what the leads spiralling from Barkov look like, it needs to get done as soon as possible. As the clock steadily ticks away, and time drags Laswell into the early hours of the morning, she discovers that Barkov's secrets have secrets.

The leads spiral all across the map. France. Austria. Belarus. Poland. Siberia.

Internment camps. Massacres. Bombing civilian blocks. Trafficking weapons. Trafficking people.

The secrets unravel, the war crimes are stacking on top of each other, and the migraine sets in. She follows a lead that seizes her attention and puts a ball of dread in her stomach but seemingly leads to a dead end.

She reads for hours about young girls, often left orphaned from Barkov's killings, taken from orphanages in Urzikstan in droves and mysteriously disappearing from the face of the Earth. Laswell sits back after a few dedicated hours of digging as far as she can into the missing children. She sits and lets her mind sweep over the facts, letting her thoughts rove over the massive void of information in the middle of the story like a tongue feeling around the bloodied gums where a tooth had been. She wonders what has happened to these girls, somehow feeling that the answer to their disappearances may fill the pothole in their intelligence.

Laswell thinks of her young niece, about how her niece is now the same age as these girls when they went missing, and decides that she will find these girls at any cost, or at least make sure their story is known and whole. All the facts or none.

Sighing, Laswell pinches the bridge of her nose, lost in thought, just as the sun peeks over the DC skyline and dyes the sky in hues of purple and orange. She pulls a pack of migraine relief pills from her desk and swallows a handful of them down with a mouthful of cold coffee.

Then, just as the coffee settles unpleasantly on her empty stomach, the thought hits her as swift as lightning.

Belarus.

A money trail showed that Barkov's forces had frequently transported cargo to and from the country. She'd brushed the information off earlier, assuming they were solely transporting weapons and deeming it irrelevant to the missing girls. Now, however...

When Laswell had just begun her career in intelligence, she'd heard whispers of a covert facility buried somewhere in the snowy eastern European countryside in mission reports, and knew that half of the intelligence community believed it to be nothing more than a ghost story meant to intrigue the recruits. She knew that those who believed in its existence were convinced the KGB— now FSB— operated it long before and long after the USSR crumbled and Belarus gained independence.

Finding the base will be difficult, it had eluded the CIA for the better part of a century after all, but Barkov's death has condemned his empire to a slow death by a thousand cuts. Eventually, someone will slip up and give away the base, and the 141 will be there to wipe away the footprints of Barkov's legacy. 

>> BREST OBLAST, BELARUS

>> December 17th, 2019

Barkov is dead, and it's up to the 141 to wipe the shit stain off the map.

They don't have the full story yet, but for now Laswell has given them coordinates pointing deep into the snowy rural landscape of the Belarusian countryside.

Ghost watches a litter of workers mill around the dark tarmac like ants, clearing the runway of any stray streaks of ice and snow under a wan grey sky, and hoists his pack further up his shoulder as he and the rest of the 141 pile into a small cargo plane that looks more like a starved bird than a machine capable of flight. They amble noisily down the narrow aisle, dropping their packs into their seats and chattering amongst themselves, the sounds ricocheting off the blank walls.

Just as he’s settling in his chosen seat, someone drops heavily with a theatrical sigh into the seat to Ghost’s right. Sergeant MacTavish. Soap. Ridiculous fucking name but whatever he supposes. Soap grins crookedly at Ghost and scratches absentmindedly at a band aid taped to the jut of his bruised cheekbone — just one of many scattered across his face and knuckles that serve as clear testaments to Soap’s inability to keep himself out of trouble. 

“Laswell must be havin’ a field day, right LT?”

Ghost pictures in his mind Laswell hunched over a cramped desk for the past month just to find a measly single line of coordinates pointing them to arse fuck nowhere, and can’t help but think the poor woman isn’t having anything other than hell on earth let alone a field day. 

“Why’d you say that?” he asks gruffly, already feeling irritation seeping into him as he begrudgingly continues the conversation. 

“The CIA finally nailing a commie base after 60 years? Must be feelin’ proud o’themselves.”

“You’d think they’d be more irritated that it’s taken them that long. We don’t even know if this is it.”

Ghost discovers that Soap is the type of guy to embellish his words with expressive hand gestures, and he does so now. “Have some faith, LT. Hear both sides of the story before jumping to conclusions.”

“The only sides the CIA will know are the sides of my boot when I fit it up their arses if this goes nowhere.”

That cracks Johnny up, and Ghost looks away to hide the way the crow’s feet framing the corners of his eyes crinkle slightly under his mask. 

----------

What they find inside is nothing short of a bloodbath.

The facility was all but abandoned when they had made their way to the outer walls. No guards. No lights. No noise except the whistling of the wind sweeping over the snow.

The silence around them serves as an indicator of the deafening noise it must have taken for so many bodies to litter the floor. There are bullets embedded in the marble wall in the foyer, and the team picks their way inside over the heaps of dead guards. The blood is old enough to have coagulated, and there’s an unpleasant sticky noise every time Ghost lifts his boot to step forward.

They’re on the second level now, and the layers of spilt blood get thicker the deeper they go into the facility. Ghost passes a room before doubling back and entering, he takes a glance in and sees rows upon rows of wrought-iron beds with thin mattresses atop them. His head tilts curiously to the side as he spies a girl’s hair ribbon sprawled on the floor and a tiny pair of mary jane shoes tucked neatly under one of the beds.

Soap follows him, catching his attention silently to show Ghost the pairs of handcuffs dangling from each iron bedpost. The atmosphere is heavy, like the air in the room has a story of pain to tell and it’s suffocating them. 

Price is the one to palm his radio when they regroup and relay what they’ve seen, “Watcher-1, I’m sure you’ll be glad to know that the lead’s legitimate.”

“I’ll be more glad to know if you’ve found the children,” Laswell returns crisply.

“Somebody got here before us, wiped out the whole place. ‘S a bloodbath.” The air shivers with tension. “No kids in sight now, though there’s evidence to suggest that they were here some time ago.”

A few seconds pass in silence. Ghost imagines that Laswell’s eyebrows are pinched like they always are whenever she runs into a problem or defeat. A bit more than a month of searching, for nothing more than a mass grave. 

A sigh comes over the line, but Laswell’s voice is determined. “We better find this somebody then.”

[louisupdates]

Sziget

7–12 August, Óbuda Island, Budapest

In the middle of the Danube River in Budapest is Óbuda Island, a 108-hectare strip of land that has played host to Sziget festival since its inception 31 years ago. Since then, the festival has grown from a showcase of local talent to a home for international superstars, while retaining its transgressive spirit. From Wednesday to Monday this August, the city is taken over by a line-up mixing pop and dance, with the likes of Four Tet, Fred again.. and Overmono rubbing shoulders with Becky Hill, Nia Archives, Yard Act and more.

TICKETS

-

Louis Tomlinson has been mentioned in Rolling Stone UK’s article on summer festivals.

[mariacallous]

This summer, I traveled to Transylvania, on a Birthright-esque tour for young North Americans of Hungarian heritage. Almost everyone I told about the trip made some sort of Dracula joke. I rolled my eyes, knowing the region was much richer than this. But truth be told, I didn’t have too much yet to counter with. 

Here’s the history book version: Transylvania, now part of Romania, belonged to Hungary for more than a thousand years. It’s far larger than I had imagined – at around 100,000 square kilometers, the region is bigger than the whole of present-day Hungary itself, which ceded the region to Romania after WWI. There are currently around one million ethnic Hungarians who still live in Transylvania. The community speaks the language and passionately keeps their customs alive, from music to dance to crafts and, of course, food. 

And my version? It was easy to fall in love with Transylvania. From the moment I clambered off the small, tinny plane from Budapest at the small regional airport in Marosvásárhely, I was taken by its beauty. Rows and rows of golden sunflowers, framed by the verdant hills and rugged peaks of the Apuseni Mountains rolled by as we headed for our bed and breakfast. We spent a week learning about the Hungarian community in Romania, hiking, exploring cavernous salt mines and lakes, taking in medieval frescos and wandering cobblestoned streets.  

We also ate well — very well. 

Growing up, many of our cherished family recipes were very traditionally Hungarian (with a twist, to make them kosher), and the rich goulash, tender chicken paprikash and juicy stuffed cabbage we ate on the trip were familiar. Truth be told, aside from the dizzying assortment of wild blueberry and rosehip jams, I wasn’t really focused on dessert. 

That is, until I tried a pastry called somodi kalácsin a tiny village called Torockó. Lightly sweet and yeasted, with a cinnamon swirl, it’s as if cinnamon-raisin bread and babka had a baby. While every meal served by our grandmotherly hosts left us stuffed, I loved the folded bread so much that our guide got the inn to pack us a honey-glazed loaf to go. 

Transylvania was home to a sizable Hungarian-Jewish population. In 1910, according to The Museum of the Holocaust in Northern Transylvania, the Jewish population numbered above 64,000. By World War I, Hungary itself had the second largest Jewish population in Europe at almost one million. By this time YIVO’s Encyclopedia of Eastern European Jews notes Jews were “fervently assimilated” to the language and culture (and, rather sadly, looking back now), “passionately identified with Hungarian nationalism.” 

Upon my return home to Los Angeles, I made it my mission to find somodi kalács. I knew that Jewish immigrants to the U.S. and Israel popularized other classic pastries from Hungary, such as chimney cakes and monkey bread (aka aranygaluska), and was hopeful I’d succeed.

While I haven’t (yet) found somodi kalácsin my city, I discovered that it’s available at Zingerman’s Bakehouse, the iconic Jewish bakery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Like me, the Zingerman team tried somodi kalács for the first time in Torockó. The recipe, they found, dates back 400 years, when the village was a flourishing mining town, whose residents could afford the luxury of cinnamon and sugar. It’s typically served for Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, and until the 20th century, Zingerman’s notes, somodi kalács was the customary wedding cake. Theirs is a pretty traditional version. However, like my own great grandmother would do often, they sub the traditional lard for butter when greasing the pans, explained Managing Partner Amy Emberling.

At Zingerman’s, Emberling told me, it’s a beloved special item that they only bake a couple days each year. “Customers order many loaves of it and stock them in their freezer,” she said. And it’s not uncommon for customers to “let us know that they have not seen this since their childhood days in Hungary.” 

It’s also not uncommon to see patrons shed happy tears. I may have felt like shedding a couple happy tears myself when she shared their recipe.

[windandwater]

in this town we roast ourselves

*meaning, opposite-gender of the one you would typically use, or, the one you would be embarrassed to look up and find yourself in if you were in Budapest

if you're none of these or more than one, no option for you, you have to reblog and tell me which ones, or tell your story that's close but not quite.

[jaspell]

insane white woman conversation I overheard today (they were looking at travel guides)

“Have you done India yet?”

“No I watched (lowers voice) slumdog millionaire, and it put me off.”

“Oh really? It made me want to go there more.”

(talks about travelling in Europe, “of course Budapest, but that’s not really a holiday, more of a city break” then conversation returns to India)

“I don’t think I could go somewhere like that unless I had a travel buddy. I saw some pictures that Sophie put up on instagram where she was in India and from the pictures it looked like she was alone 😳. It doesn’t feel right to me. Canada, yes. New Zealand, yes. But any of the um…. Africas, and India it just doesn’t feel right.”

[seabreeze2022]

Danube River Cruise, Part 4

Still in Budapest

Still doing walk about. So much to see and do in Budapest. This is their “Funnel Cake.” This is common street fare.

It is dough wrapped around a metal form and then turned over a charcoal fire. As it cooks it is periodically moved closer to the heat. Two different shapes. The one becomes a cone and can have ice cream placed in it. Mine was the “classic”, which is tube shaped, with Nutella chocolate smeared on the inside. They forgot the coconut on the outside. I think they all go through a sugar bath after cooking.

We were looking for this “Street Market” which was next door to the little food truck stop where I bought the funnel cake. The Street Market was not a Farmers market which we were expecting. Save your money on a “Bad acid trip” and visit this place.

Multiple bars and a couple of open air shops. Two floors of what you would expect to see in an opium den. A cross between Bourbon Street and Key West. I am sure it is wild at night.

This is the “Great Synagogue” in the Jewish District. Surprisingly we only saw a handful of Hasidic Jews in the district. Second largest synagogue in Europe. Lots of history and not all good. It did survive WW 2 fairly unscathed. But its people did not.

This is inside with our English speaking guide giving his talk. Very ornate. All men had to wear a yamaka. So they gave us a paper yamaka with a bobby pin. With my short hair, I more or less balanced it in place and held it on when outside in the wind. The bald guy really had problems.

This is a reminder of the Jewish hostages held in Palestine. We have seen much graffiti starting in Zurich and here of “Free Palestine” with some fighting back by the Jews. It has now been a little over a year of captivity for the hostages.

The Jewish faith forbids bodies to be buried near the synagogue. Yet there are over 2,000 bodies buried in the courtyard here. All were killed and left in the street at the end of the WW 2. Allied forces quickly buried these here in mass graves. Only half have been identified. It is also forbidden in the Jewish faith to exhume or move a body. So they are a grim reminder of what has transpired in the past.

From the Jewish synagogue we visited St. Stephen’s Cathedral. I need to specify it is St. Stephen Cathedral in Budapest. We visited several others with the same name in different cities. The largest Cathedral in Budapest. I would like to formally post my objection to the building of such tall Cathedrals. I can not get them in the photograph without it warping the image. I also have to strain my neck to see the spires and the ceilings inside.

Pictures just do not do these houses of worship justice. So much symbolism and artistry everywhere.

The Cathedral is named after King Stephen founder of the state. He died in 1038 and was later Canonized.

Before heading back we stopped by for a pint of Guinness. Which reminds of us Neil and Beverly and our trip through Anglesey, Wales.

Having a traditional Hungarian dish of pork knuckle. I can highly recommend it for meat eaters in the crowd.

Desert of caramelized strudel.

This is the after dinner drink of the local moonshine “Palinka”, no open flames please.

Next morning we toured the Parliament Building. It is so big you can not get it all in the photograph from street level. You will see the whole thing lit up when we depart on the ship the next night.

This is looking back at the front door. Unfortunately there are very few places where we can take photos inside. We saw the gold Crown studded with gems, protected by two soldiers at all times.

This is equivalent to the Senate floor. With students receiving a lecture at the time.

This is a monument of 60 pairs of shoes. Symbols of the 15,000-20,000 Jews who were required to remove their shoes, prior to being shot and their bodies dumped in the Danube. This happened during 4 months in WW 2. The shoes were considered valuable at the time.

After checking out of the “Hampton by Hilton” we took the subway to the ship. Budapest boasts about it being the second oldest electrified subway in Europe, opening in 1896. The strange thing is after buying your very small ticket above ground and riding the subway. It is not until you try to leave that you have to find the very small paper ticket in one of many pockets. Two very tough looking women, probably prior East German border guards, caught the women behind us.

We find our ship Avalon Illumination (warned: don’t call it a boat) at Dock 6. The cruise line is Avalon, which has been in tourism for 100 years. They supply us with an app that gives us all the information we need. Including the time and quickest way to find the ship if we are walking around town.

This is our sea cabin. We drop our bags and head back into the city.

We cruise through the large market two blocks away. Food stalls are on the first floor. Souvenirs and such on the upper floor. I buy some pork rinds.

Nancy finds a man with a chicken. He would not answer which came first, the chicken or the egg.

These are small pastries filled with different fillings. Walnut paste was the classic. It was a bit dry but very popular. The meat shop next door had every part of a duck on display.

This shows just how big the market is. So many people selling the same souvenirs or food, you wonder how they survive.

Back to the ship for our first night onboard. We get our safety brief and meet the Captain and crew. In an emergency we are all supposed to meet on the top deck. The Danube is so shallow there is a good chance the boat would sink to the bottom and we would still be 10 feet above the water drinking our beer and wine.

Nancy and I passed up the tours that the ship set up since we had already toured the city for two days. Instead we did a walking tour with a local woman who was passionate about history. The walking tours can really get into the specifics. This courtyard had just about all the architecture styles: Baroque, Gothic, neoclassical and neo-ugly. The far building was bombed and replaced with bland architecture, which our guide aptly labeled as neo-ugly.

This is the last day of us walking 5-7 miles a day with quick stops by the hotel room. Tours on the cruise are much less. Definitely trying to walk off as many calories as we can. So much to eat and see!

This is the “Chain bridge.” The chain refers to the links between the vertical columns. The chains are like huge bicycle chain links. Very ornate and the only bridge from Buda to Pest for years. Originally open in 1849 and one of the largest bridges in the world at the time. The bridge was destroyed by retreating Germans in 1945 and reopened 1949.

Back to the ship for our embarkation at 5:30 and sailing upstream to Vilshofen, Austria.

They dock up to 3 boats side by side. This is the bow of a second ship tied along side. We left first. So they untie from us and they move back and out a little. Then we untie from the shore, and pull ahead. They immediately retie to shore at the same dock. These guys make it look easy.

[roomchailimited]

Budapest’s Thermal Bliss: Unveiling Hungary’s Dual Capitals

Straddling the banks of the Danube River, Budapest stands as one of Europe’s most captivating cities. Known for its grand architecture, thermal baths, and vibrant culture, it seamlessly blends the historic charm of Buda with the lively pulse of Pest. For Bangladeshi travelers seeking a mix of relaxation, history, and scenic beauty, Budapest offers a gateway to Central Europe that feels both luxurious and affordable. This dual capital city is a treasure trove of experiences, perfect for those who want to bask in its old-world charm while indulging in modern comforts.

When to Visit Budapest for the Best Experience

Budapest’s beauty shines throughout the year, but the experience varies with the seasons. Spring (March to May) sees the city come to life with blooming flowers and outdoor festivals, making it one of the best times to explore. Summers (June to August) bring a bustling atmosphere with lively riverside events, though temperatures can rise. Autumn (September to November) offers cooler weather and fewer crowds, ideal for strolling along the Danube or visiting the city’s famous baths. Winter (December to February) transforms Budapest into a magical destination with Christmas markets and the warm allure of thermal spas, perfect for escaping the cold.

For Bangladeshi travelers unfamiliar with European climates, spring and autumn are highly recommended for their mild weather and vibrant city life. Roomchai Limited, along with other travel agencies like ShareTrip and Gozayaan, provides tailored travel packages to ensure the best seasonal experience, making it easy to plan a trip that aligns with personal preferences.

Exploring Budapest’s Architectural Marvels and Landmarks

Budapest’s architecture is a captivating mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical influences. No visit is complete without standing in awe of the Parliament Building, an iconic structure sitting elegantly along the riverbank. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour to witness the grandeur of its interiors, complete with intricate frescoes and historic artifacts. Just across the river, Buda Castle sits atop Castle Hill, offering panoramic views of the city. Walking along the cobbled streets of the Castle District feels like stepping into a medieval fairytale.

Another unmissable landmark is the Chain Bridge, which beautifully connects Buda and Pest, especially enchanting when illuminated at night. The Fisherman’s Bastion nearby provides postcard-worthy views of the Danube and Parliament. For those who enjoy religious architecture, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Matthias Church offer stunning examples of Hungary’s rich artistic heritage.

Roomchai Limited offers well-curated tours that cover all these landmarks with ease, ensuring travelers skip the hassle of long queues and maximize their time in the city. Their packages often include knowledgeable local guides who provide rich insights into Budapest’s history, adding depth to the experience.

The Famous Thermal Baths: A Soothing Experience

Budapest is known as the “City of Spas” for a reason. The city sits atop numerous thermal springs, giving rise to an array of luxurious bathhouses that date back to Roman times. The Széchenyi Thermal Bath, one of the largest in Europe, is a must-visit. Its outdoor pools, filled with steaming thermal water, provide a perfect blend of relaxation and socializing. The Gellért Baths are another popular choice, offering Art Nouveau interiors that make bathing feel like a regal experience.

For Bangladeshi travelers, visiting these baths offers not just relaxation but also a cultural experience, as thermal bathing is deeply ingrained in Hungarian life. Roomchai often includes thermal bath visits as part of their packages, ensuring that visitors can unwind in style after a day of exploring the city.

Hungarian Cuisine and Dining for Every Palate

Hungarian cuisine is hearty and flavorful, with dishes that reflect the country’s rich agricultural heritage. Goulash, a savory meat and vegetable stew, is the national dish and a must-try for any visitor. Langos, deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream and cheese, makes for a delicious street food snack. For those with a sweet tooth, chimney cakes (Kürtőskalács) are a delightful dessert commonly found at markets.

Recognizing the needs of Bangladeshi travelers, Roomchai Limited highlights restaurants that offer halal options or vegetarian dishes, ensuring a smooth dining experience without dietary concerns. Additionally, several local eateries cater specifically to international visitors, blending traditional flavors with modern twists.

Where to Stay for the Ultimate Experience

Choosing the right neighborhood can elevate the entire Budapest experience. Buda offers a more tranquil and historic atmosphere, ideal for families and couples seeking quiet charm. In contrast, Pest is vibrant and energetic, with nightlife, cafes, and shopping districts that appeal to younger travelers. Popular areas like District V (Belváros) place visitors close to major landmarks, while District VII (Jewish Quarter) is known for its ruin bars and artistic flair.

Roomchai collaborates with a range of hotels and boutique accommodations, providing packages that cater to different budgets and preferences. Whether travelers seek luxury or budget-friendly options, Roomchai ensures a comfortable and memorable stay.

Getting Around Budapest with Ease

Budapest’s efficient public transport system makes navigating the city a breeze. The metro, trams, and buses connect all major tourist spots, allowing visitors to move around conveniently. For those who prefer to explore on foot, many attractions are within walking distance of each other. A scenic river cruise along the Danube offers a unique perspective of the city, particularly during sunset.

Roomchai often includes transport passes and river cruises in their packages, ensuring travelers have everything they need for seamless exploration.

Day Trips and Excursions Beyond the City

Budapest’s surroundings are rich with history and natural beauty, perfect for day trips. Esztergom, known for its impressive basilica, offers a glimpse into Hungary’s religious heritage. Szentendre, a charming artist town along the Danube Bend, is ideal for leisurely strolls and souvenir shopping. Additionally, the Lake Balaton region provides a refreshing escape from city life, with its tranquil waters and vineyards.

Roomchai Limited organizes guided day trips to these nearby attractions, allowing Bangladeshi travelers to experience more of Hungary’s diverse landscape without the hassle of planning logistics.

Conclusion: The Allure of Budapest Awaits

Budapest’s timeless elegance, rich cultural tapestry, and soothing thermal baths make it a destination like no other. Whether exploring historic castles, indulging in local cuisine, or simply soaking in a thermal bath, the city offers an unforgettable experience for Bangladeshi travelers. While agencies like ShareTrip and Gozayaan provide competitive options, Roomchai Limited stands out with personalized services and deep cultural insights, ensuring every journey to Budapest is as seamless as it is magical.

[beardedmrbean]

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Family members of a 31-year-old American tourist who was killed while on vacation in Hungary’s capital mourned their loss while a 37-year-old suspect was in custody Saturday.

The victim, Mackenzie Michalski from Portland, Oregon, was reported missing on Nov. 5 after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest. Police launched a missing person investigation and reviewed security footage from local nightclubs where they observed Michalski with a man later identified as the suspect in several of the clubs the night of her disappearance.

The man was detained on Nov. 7 and questioned by police, and later confessed to the killing.

Before the confession, Michalski's family and friends had launched an effort to find her, starting a Facebook group to gather tips on her whereabouts. Her parents traveled to Hungary to assist in the search, but while en route learned that she had been killed.

At a candlelight vigil in Budapest on Saturday night, the victim's father, Bill Michalski, told The Associated Press that he was “still overcome with emotion" at the death of his daughter.

“There was no reason for this to happen,” he said. “I’m still trying to wrap my arms around what happened ... I don’t know that I ever will."

Police detained the suspect, an Irish citizen, on the evening of Nov. 7. Investigators said that Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the man's rented apartment. The man killed Michalski while they were engaged in an “intimate encounter,” police said.

The suspect, whom police identified by the initials L.T.M., confessed to the killing, but said it had been an accident. Police said that he had attempted to cover up his crime by cleaning the apartment and hiding Michalski's body in a wardrobe before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.

He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, around 90 miles (150 kilometers) southwest of Budapest, where he disposed of the body in a wooden area outside the town of Szigliget.

Video released by police showed the suspect guiding authorities to the location where he had left the body. Police said the suspect had made internet searches before being apprehended on how to dispose of a body, police procedures in missing person cases, whether pigs really eat dead bodies, and the presence of wild boars in the Lake Balaton area.

He also made an internet search inquiring on the competence of Budapest police.

Crime scene photographs released by police showed a rolling suitcase, several articles of clothing including a pair of fleece-lined boots, and a small handbag next to a credit card bearing Michalski's name.

According to a post by an administrator of a Facebook group called “Find Mackenzie Michalski,” which was created on Nov. 7, Michalski, who went by “Kenzie,” was a nurse practitioner who “will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman.”

At the candlelight vigil in Budapest on Saturday, Michalski's father gave brief comments to those who had gathered, and was wearing a baseball cap he said he had received as a gift from his daughter.

Michalski had visited Budapest before, and called it her “happy place,” her father told the AP.

“The history, she just loved it and she was just so relaxed here," he said. "This was her city.”

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 2.13 (after 1940)

1945 – World War II: The siege of Budapest concludes with the unconditional surrender of German and Hungarian forces to the Red Army. 1945 – World War II: Royal Air Force bombers are dispatched to Dresden, Germany to attack the city with a massive aerial bombardment. 1951 – Korean War: Battle of Chipyong-ni, which represented the "high-water mark" of the Chinese incursion into South Korea, commences. 1954 – Frank Selvy becomes the only NCAA Division I basketball player ever to score 100 points in a single game. 1955 – Israel obtains four of the seven Dead Sea Scrolls. 1955 – Twenty-nine people are killed when Sabena Flight 503 crashes into Monte Terminillo near Rieti, Italy. 1960 – With the success of a nuclear test codenamed "Gerboise Bleue", France becomes the fourth country to possess nuclear weapons. 1960 – Black college students stage the first of the Nashville sit-ins at three lunch counters in Nashville, Tennessee. 1961 – An allegedly 500,000-year-old rock is discovered near Olancha, California, US, that appears to anachronistically encase a spark plug. 1967 – American researchers discover the Madrid Codices by Leonardo da Vinci in the National Library of Spain. 1975 – Fire at One World Trade Center (North Tower) of the World Trade Center in New York. 1978 – Hilton bombing: A bomb explodes in a refuse truck outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, Australia, killing two refuse collectors and a policeman. 1979 – An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a 0.5-mile (0.80 km) long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. 1981 – A series of sewer explosions destroys more than two miles of streets in Louisville, Kentucky. 1983 – A cinema fire in Turin, Italy, kills 64 people. 1984 – Konstantin Chernenko succeeds the late Yuri Andropov as general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. 1990 – German reunification: An agreement is reached on a two-stage plan to reunite Germany. 1991 – Gulf War: Two laser-guided "smart bombs" destroy the Amiriyah shelter in Baghdad. Allied forces said the bunker was being used as a military communications outpost, but over 400 Iraqi civilians inside were killed. 1996 – The Nepalese Civil War is initiated in the Kingdom of Nepal by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre). 2001 – An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter magnitude scale hits El Salvador, killing at least 944. 2004 – The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics announces the discovery of the universe's largest known diamond, white dwarf star BPM 37093. Astronomers named this star "Lucy" after The Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". 2007 – Taiwan opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou resigns as the chairman of the Kuomintang party after being indicted on charges of embezzlement during his tenure as the mayor of Taipei; Ma also announces his candidacy for the 2008 presidential election. 2008 – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd makes a historic apology to the Indigenous Australians and the Stolen Generations. 2010 – A bomb explodes in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India, killing 17 and injuring 60 more. 2011 – For the first time in more than 100 years the Umatilla, an American Indian tribe, are able to hunt and harvest a bison just outside Yellowstone National Park, restoring a centuries-old tradition guaranteed by a treaty signed in 1855. 2012 – The European Space Agency (ESA) conducted the first launch of the European Vega rocket from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. 2017 – Kim Jong-nam, brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, is assassinated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. 2021 – Former U.S. President Donald Trump is acquitted in his second impeachment trial. 2021 – A major winter storm causes blackouts and kills at least 82 people in Texas and northern Mexico.

[masakrivokuca]

School trip🎡

🎡Activity title: Going on a school trip

🎡Duration and date: 5 days, 15.5-19.5.2023.

🎡Type of activity: Action and Creativity

🎡Activity description: Visiting Budapest, Prague, Dresden and Vienna as a part of a organized school trip and exploring cities with a guide and on our own while meeting other customs, cultures and traditions

Learning outcomes🎡

🎡Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

🎡Identify own strengths and develop areas for personal growth

🎡Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

🎡Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences

🎡Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

Reflection🎡

Exploring 4 different cities in only five days was an exhausting, but amazing experience. Visiting Budapest, Prague, Dresden, and Vienna on a school trip with guides, we learned about the rich history and breathtaking architecture of each city. But what made it special was having time to explore on our own. We gained understanding of these cultural hubs, unearthing hidden gems and authentic local experiences, but most importantly my school mates and I formed a stronger bond which made the whole experience more memorable.

My favorite moment of our school trip was sadly the shortest one-day trip to Dresden, where we hade the most time to explore on our own. We climbed up the Dresden Frauenkirche and dived into the city from a bird's perspective, getting to know its buildings and settlements. This day was a rite of a passage for me because it was the pivotal point of friendship for my friends and I and out of all these cities I would like to visit Dresden again the most. In conclusion the memories made during this school trip will be etched in my heart forever, making it one of the most beloved and remarkable trips I've had in my life.

[budapestbug]

Szentendre is a small town on the Danube's bank, located about 40-minutes from Budapest by public transport. Best known for its Mediterranean vibes and Serbian history, Szentendre also offers Baroque architecture, Hungarian folklore stores, and lots of art, both old and modern.

True, you can find all of those in Budapest, so Szentendre isn't a must-visit for short-term visitors. But if you enjoy a break from big-city life, you can spend an adventure-filled half a day here with some advance planning. Szentendre's food scene has a long way to go, but I’ve included below a few cafés and restaurants that won’t disappoint.

Note that Szentendre is a popular tourist destination, which means the typical symptoms of mass tourism, especially mediocre gift shops, abound here. This guide will help you steer clear of the commercial traps and try to reveal the side of Szentendre worth the journey.

[hydralisk98]

16^12 Angora Civs "Roadmap" (0x12/?)

Welcome to the 16^12 referee guide...

Civilizations / cultures

Starting point in Azgaar (From their maximum of 32 vanilla cultures at once...) [Super, Major, Minor tier ranks for Civ & City-States prioritization for Civ 5 scenarios-sake]

Utchewn (Shoshone Super Civ, Moson Kahni)

Marsch (Austria Major Civ, Wien)

Chunhau (Yue / Cantonese? Minor Civ, Guangzhou)

Samas (Samoa Super Civ, Apia)

Talyian (Persian Iran Major Civ, Persepolis)

Cao (Vietnam Super Civ, Hanoi)

Hwatcha (Korea Super Civ, Seoul)

May (Mayas Super Civ, Palenque)

Eqalen (Inuit Super Civ, Ivvavik)

Matwa (Swahili / Carib? Major Civ, Zanzibar)

Zebie (Carthage Super Civ, Carthage)

Mersuit (Sweden Major Civ, Stockholm)

Hugues (Scotland Major Civ, Edinburgh)

Aberku (Aremorici Super Civ, Darioritum)

Eyn (Sumer Major Civ, Ur)

Tabar (Morocco Super Civ, Marrakesh)

Tersun (Poland Super Civ, Warsaw)

Ibrad (Huron / Blackfoot / Basque? Major Civ, Ossossane)

Temu (Angola Super Civ, Luanda)

Sasson (Burgundy Major Civ, Dijon)

Treano (Italian / Netherlands Major Civ, Amsterdam)

Ishtar (Babylon Major Civ, Babylon)

Turchian (Turks? Major Civ, Edirne)

Medran (Spain Major Civ, Toledo)

Arela (Portugal Major Civ, Lisbon)

Hangzhou (Manchu? Minor Civ, Shenyang)

Palche (Incas Major Civ, Cusco)

Mangapu (Indonesia / Indian? Minor Civ, Jakarta)

Rzhev (Czech / Moravian / Slavic? Minor Civ, Prague)

Troporea (Minoans Major Civ, Knossos)

Lueur (Nubia / Mongolia? Minor Civ, Meroe)

Syrus (Assyria Super Civ, Ashur)

To the 48 cultures excluding the future's otherkin sapient clades...

Hittites (Hattusa, Minor)

Byzantium (Constantinople, Minor)

Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Minor)

Hungary (Budapest, Minor)

Myceneans (Mycenae, Minor)

Argentina (Buenos Aires, Minor)

Dene / Cree (Mikisiw-Wacihk, Minor)

Croatia (Zagreb, Minor)

Prussia (Konigsberg, Minor)

Hanseatic League / Mecklenburg (Rostock, Minor)

Chile (Santiago, Minor)

Kazakhs (Almaty, Minor)

Lithuania (Vilnius, Minor)

Two Sicilies (Naples, Minor)

Oman (Muscat, Minor)

Songhay (Songhai, Minor)

Just noting down that the map fully wraps around the X-axis, like a globe. ;-)

Religions

Pohakantenna (Shoshoni pantheon, quirky thanks to their "Daughters of Utchwendira" communion with the divine)

Angakkunngurniq (Inuit pantheon)

Confucianism / Shinto tradition?

Al-Asnam (serving as Aremorica's Celtic druidic-like pantheon over there, inspired by the classical era Galatians)

Ba'hai (monotheistic non-exclusive syncretism)

Arianism (iterated from the defunct Christianity dialect)

Chaldeanism (Mesopotamian pantheon)

Calvinism (derived from the Protestant Reformation’s Huguenot Southern French, monotheism)

Tala-e-Fonua (Samoan pantheon)

Hussitism (central slavic dialect of monotheism)

Jainism (communal humility & individualized Ki monks culture)

Buddhism (inner way reincarnation & large monasteries)

Judaism (the theological foundation of which most of the monotheistic faiths in this world agree upon nowadays)

Zoroastrianism (Iranian religion)

Ibadiyya (their Ba'hai like Islam is a very minor religion with a outsized impact here, just like Judaism is in our world)

Canaanism (Carthaginian belief system)

Pesedjet (Numidan Hieroglyphics belief system)

Mwari (Carib religion)

Intiism (Inca pantheon)

Tzolk'in (Mayan pantheon)

Have a great day ppl!

[ryanmeft]

Ryan's 2023 Film Guide

For the hell of it, I've decided to slap together a "guide" for the 2023 movies I've seen, and whether and how much they are worth your time. I do not consider my opinion sacred or objectively correct, but hopefully what I have to write will help you make viewing decisions in some way. I'll post an updated version of this after I've seen more movies, but for now, here you go.

Anatomy of a Fall ***

Two incredible performances, by actors playing a mother and a visually-impaired son, elevate this courtroom drama/mystery even at times when one-note supporting characters and a somewhat indulgent running time threaten to upend our tolerance. In French and English with English subtitles.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ***

Though it constantly tries to upend itself with with dumb humor and overproduction, this is a perfectly fine Ant-Man film for fans of the first two. It embraces comic book weirdness in a way fans disappointed in the franchise’s more sterile entries may appreciate.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret ***1/2

I do love this modern trend in teen movies, where we shift away from gross-out sex comedies and into films that treat teens like budding adults, with all the baggage, hopes and fears that go with that. Whether you ever read the book or not, this is a coming-of-age story well worth a watch.

Asteroid City ****

I divided sharply with critics on Wes Anderson’s pretty-but-plodding previous feature, The French Dispatch, so it was a joy to see him return to the level of oddballs-and-misfits comedic genius he previously achieved in movies like The Grand Budapest Hotel. Every character is lovable and quirky in all the right ways, and the visuals are like a decorated cake you want never to eat, to avoid disrupting it.

Barbie ***1/2

Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and Kate Mckinnon hit every single note that Greta Gerwig can concoct perfectly, delivering a movie that is funny, touching, poignant, and most definitely transcends the reputation of toy-based films. This is much more than a girl trip movie for the Sunday brunch crowd.

Creed III ***

If you liked the first two helpings of Creed, you’ll be well-served by this third dish. It moves Adonis forward in his own story, particularly outside the ring, and features a compelling new antagonist who challenges the hero in both arenas.

The Equalizer 3 *

With a single star entirely for the unfailing talent of Denzel Washington, the third Equalizer movie is otherwise a joyless, thrill-less, pointless morass of gruesome violence, hollow characters and plodding direction. You’ll feel unclean by the time it’s over, and eager to escape into the sunshine.

The Flash ***

Who would have thought a disregarded film in a dead-franchise-walking like the DCEU could be this much fun? Excellent action sequences, clever fan-service and a perfect odd couple dynamic (where the couple is actually two of the same person) add up to one of DC’s best movies, and a thrill for fans of bombastic old comics.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ***1/2

James Gunn and his crew send the Guardians off in style with one of the best superhero movies ever made, eschewing endless MCU connectivity bullcrap in favor of a character-driven sci-fi film that brings everyone full circle and delivers emotional closures for each character.

A Haunting in Venice ***1/2

The best yet in Kenneth Branagh’s series of Agatha Christie adaptations, a spooky setting, compelling mystery and excellent visuals are finally met by equally excellent performances of characters we find compelling, the key element that was missing in the previous films.

The Holdovers ****

At turns funny, endearing, touching and devastating, loneliness and the need for intimacy are explored through the lens of three dysfunctional people in one of the year’s best films. The environments, music, camerawork and literally everything else go a long way to redeeming Alexander Payne after the disastrous Downsizing.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny ***1/2

After many (though not I) were disappointed with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Indy gets one more chance at a swan song through the magic of digital technology. While some may object to that on principle and a few action scenes carry on too long, the overall package is still Indy at heart, and the big closing sequence may be the series’ best, sending Indy out on an appropriate note.

John Wick Chapter 4 ***1/2

Like Mission: Impossible, John Wick gets a nearly three hour runtime. Unlike Mission: Impossible, it earns that time with few reservations. The third movie kind of spun its wheels a bit, which is why it’s such a pleasure to say this one feels much shorter than it is and gives John a send-off both epic and personal.

Killers of the Flower Moon ***

A little too long, a little too sedate, and a little too obsessed with the villains at the expense of the actual Osage characters, Martin Scorsese’s latest passion project is nonetheless a true work of cinema for those with the patience to stick it out. You’ll be rewarded by stunning DiCaprio and De Niro performances, fantastic camerawork that drinks in every detail of the reservation, and a sobering message about the nature of evil and the too-often scant punishment for practicing it.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter ***

Billed as a closer look at what happened just before the events of the novel Dracula, this overlooked horror-thriller has a lot to offer anyone who feels that reasonably scary adventure movies should be more prevalent at theatres. There’s nothing revelatory here, but there is a fun and tense time if you’re into that sort of thing.

The Marvels **

This is the nadir of the MCU, a movie mostly so dull it could put food to sleep. The saving grace is Iman Vellani, who reprises her star-making role from the TV series Ms. Marvel and steals every scene she so much as breathes in. That’s also the movie’s biggest misstep: with five or six movies and TV shows being necessary viewing before going in, most people just won’t have the patience to slog through the homework for a mediocre film.

Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part One ***

You wanted action, you got action. With the exception of a few meaningless character-building scenes, the seventh M:I film barrels out of the gate and never slows down for the entire three-hour running time. That’s right: three hours. And if you think that’s a little long for M:I movie, you’re right. The audience will likely run out of steam long before the movie does, but if you’ve got the patience and a taste for pure action, you should still tune in.

Oppenheimer ****

An incredible examination of power, progress and the dangers of intertwining the two, Murphy, Downey and Pugh all offer A-list performances in arguably Christopher Nolan’s finest film to date. It is as much about how weak men fear and revile excellence as it is about a bomb or a bomb-maker, and every element clicks to deliver these messages perfectly.

Past Lives ****

An intimate, character-driven look at how the road not taken affects our lives, Past Lives gets into your very bones and stays there. You may end up wondering where those old flames and friends have gotten to. In Korean with English subtitles.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ****

Packed with genuine thrills, revelations, twists and heart, the second in planned series of three Spider-Verse movies starts off strong out of the gate and doesn’t slow down. The development of the characters is spot on and subtle, especially for American animation, and the action and visuals are still executed perfectly. It’s the kind of thing we really want to see from a comic book movie.

The Super Mario Bros Movie ***1/2

It may not be what the critics wanted, but Mario is everything it needs to be for fans: witty, exciting, colorful and full of sly references to video game both famous and obscure. A musical sequence by Jack Black’s Bowser and a nihilistic magical star are among the touches that make it worthy of the attention even of families who do not game together.

Teeneage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem **

It’s got the cool animation style, it’s got the attitude, and it’s got the copious fan service, but unlike in Super Mario, these elements never cohese into a satisfying whole. The Turtles themselves are enjoyable enough in a movie that tries to ape Spider-Verse, but is held back by an outdated reliance on gross-out humor and lackluster plot.

[mariacallous]

This summer, I traveled to Transylvania, on a Birthright-esque tour for young North Americans of Hungarian heritage. Almost everyone I told about the trip made some sort of Dracula joke. I rolled my eyes, knowing the region was much richer than this. But truth be told, I didn’t have too much yet to counter with. 

Here’s the history book version: Transylvania, now part of Romania, belonged to Hungary for more than a thousand years. It’s far larger than I had imagined – at around 100,000 square kilometers, the region is bigger than the whole of present-day Hungary itself, which ceded the region to Romania after WWI. There are currently around one million ethnic Hungarians who still live in Transylvania. The community speaks the language and passionately keeps their customs alive, from music to dance to crafts and, of course, food. 

And my version? It was easy to fall in love with Transylvania. From the moment I clambered off the small, tinny plane from Budapest at the small regional airport in Marosvásárhely, I was taken by its beauty. Rows and rows of golden sunflowers, framed by the verdant hills and rugged peaks of the Apuseni Mountains rolled by as we headed for our bed and breakfast. We spent a week learning about the Hungarian community in Romania, hiking, exploring cavernous salt mines and lakes, taking in medieval frescos and wandering cobblestoned streets.  

We also ate well — very well. 

Growing up, many of our cherished family recipes were very traditionally Hungarian (with a twist, to make them kosher), and the rich goulash, tender chicken paprikash and juicy stuffed cabbage we ate on the trip were familiar. Truth be told, aside from the dizzying assortment of wild blueberry and rosehip jams, I wasn’t really focused on dessert. 

That is, until I tried a pastry called somodi kalácsin a tiny village called Torockó. Lightly sweet and yeasted, with a cinnamon swirl, it’s as if cinnamon-raisin bread and babka had a baby. While every meal served by our grandmotherly hosts left us stuffed, I loved the folded bread so much that our guide got the inn to pack us a honey-glazed loaf to go. 

Transylvania was home to a sizable Hungarian-Jewish population. In 1910, according to The Museum of the Holocaust in Northern Transylvania, the Jewish population numbered above 64,000. By World War I, Hungary itself had the second largest Jewish population in Europe at almost one million. By this time YIVO’s Encyclopedia of Eastern European Jews notes Jews were “fervently assimilated” to the language and culture (and, rather sadly, looking back now), “passionately identified with Hungarian nationalism.” 

Upon my return home to Los Angeles, I made it my mission to find somodi kalács. I knew that Jewish immigrants to the U.S. and Israel popularized other classic pastries from Hungary, such as chimney cakes and monkey bread (aka aranygaluska), and was hopeful I’d succeed.

While I haven’t (yet) found somodi kalácsin my city, I discovered that it’s available at Zingerman’s Bakehouse, the iconic Jewish bakery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Like me, the Zingerman team tried somodi kalács for the first time in Torockó. The recipe, they found, dates back 400 years, when the village was a flourishing mining town, whose residents could afford the luxury of cinnamon and sugar. It’s typically served for Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, and until the 20th century, Zingerman’s notes, somodi kalács was the customary wedding cake. Theirs is a pretty traditional version. However, like my own great grandmother would do often, they sub the traditional lard for butter when greasing the pans, explained Managing Partner Amy Emberling.

At Zingerman’s, Emberling told me, it’s a beloved special item that they only bake a couple days each year. “Customers order many loaves of it and stock them in their freezer,” she said. And it’s not uncommon for customers to “let us know that they have not seen this since their childhood days in Hungary.” 

It’s also not uncommon to see patrons shed happy tears. I may have felt like shedding a couple happy tears myself when she shared their recipe.

[budabuddyfun]

Szia! Welcome to our BudaBuddy Blog

We are four girls who created this blog in the hopes to give travellers insights into the beautiful city of Budapest. This is our first blog in what we hope will be your go to guide to Budapest !! .Immerse yourself in the rich history, vibrant culture, and hidden gems of this breath-taking city as we take you on a virtual journey through its iconic landmarks, mouth-watering cuisine, thriving arts scene, and lively local traditions.