We have stayed a while at Budapest, before pushing on along the Danube and what better way to convey to you the majesty of this great twin city with the River Danube flowing through its heart, than this travel video with Hungarian music, brought to you by the new Budapest Pocket Guide.
The next stop on our occasional series of posts, documenting a tour along the river Danube, from its source to the Black sea, is Budapest and one of the most popular winter events is the Budapest Christmas Fair.
More than 600 thousand visitors enjoy the traditional nature of the Christmas Fair, with its Hungarian customs, traditional food and drink, folk arts and crafts and bands playing traditional and folk music. Fresh bread baked in traditional clay ovens, fills the air and of course, it is joined by the aroma of mulled wine, which is served in a special Christmas Fair Mug, that has a fresh design every year.
A huge Christmas tree takes pride of place in Vörösmarty square and the windows of the Gerbeaud house are used to a spectacular Advent calendar; each day, from 1 to 24 December, at exactly 5 o’clock in the afternoon a window of the calendar is opened to reveal a stunning contemporary painting . Each opening is accompanied by wonderful lighting effects, beautiful chime music and festive pieces played on wind-instruments.
Then just when it looks as if the festive Christmas holiday is drawing to a close, the city errupts with the great Szilveszter (New Years Eve) party. It is even possible to celebrate New Year's Eve on the Danube. Can you think of anything more romantic?
The Caucasian Challenge is billed as a minimal assistance motor rally from Budapest, the capital of Hungary to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It is an adventure that takes contestants through Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia. Two weeks of motoring through every type of terrain imaginable, across 11 countries.
Actually, you can race in anything you like, cars, trucks or even mopeds, and since the challenging route goes through the remote and mountainous areas of Europe's Caucasus region, low-tech vehicles might have a distinct advantage. Teams are already registering for next year's Caucasian Challenge, taking place from August 28 to September 13, 2009.
A short tour of Budapest provided by Gabrilu (gabrilu06)to a Brahms soundtrack. It includes shots of the Great Synagogue, Elizabeth bridge, Heroes Square and the Museum of Applied Arts.
Highlights of this season's two-week long festival include a concert by Nigel Kennedy, an opera marking the 150th anniversary of Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini, and several exhibitions, interlinked with Hungary's Renaissance Year; 2008 is the 550th anniversary of the coronation of Matthias Corvinus, who's reign (1458-1490) is regarded as the most glorious in Hungarian history. The different exhibitions have been designed to complement each other, both thematically and chronologically, providing a comprehensive picture of Renaissance culture in 15th century Hungary.
