"A world without Hungarians - unimaginable" Hungary by GillianMcLaughlin

Hungary Travel Guide: 13,829 reviews and 26,179 photos

Spring pansies - little orphans - Hungary

First thoughts

I had waited many years to visit Hungary; too many years. It seems that since I was in my teens Hungarian writers, thinkers, inventors, scientists have been quietly and consistently leaving their mark on the world. Milan Kundera took the world by storm with his novel "The Incredible Lightness of Being", my thirst for fascinating facts and useless pieces of information lead me to the realisation that the ball-point pen was named after the Hungarian who invented it, a certain Mr Biro and that colourful Rubik's Cube that perplexed the world in the 1970s was also a Hungarian development. More recently I discovered that a new wave of television animations that captured the imaginations of adults and children alike (the Simpsons and the Rugrats amongst others) have been drawn from the mind of Hungarian-born Csupo Gabor. At times one would think that the Nobel prize committee has had a mission to put Hungary and Hungarians firmly on the map. The cinema in general and Holywood in particular would have developed otherwise had it not been for the input of many Hungarians - Zsa Zsa Gabor being the least in a long line of cinematic greats! Media would be much the poorer without the annual accolade pledged by former newspaper boy Pulizer, and the world would have suffered for longer without the Hungarian discovery and isolation of Vitamin C.

Without thinking too much about it, I had gradually concluded that Hungary had to be a huge country, and was somewhat astonished to discover that Hungary is about the same size as Belgium and is home to about the same number of people.

My guides, my hosts, my friends

Heading to Budapest

Here we are waiting for the train not far from Szeged. Charles and Edit have guided me carefully through a first set of secrets and discoveries of this country. On this visit, others, academics, teachers, industrialists who were gathered in Szeged explained with pride and with care their memories, opinions and knowledge of a country in transition, and I am grateful to them all.

My first stop, after a two and a half hour car journey was the amazing city of Szeged, a city that was all but washed away in the latter part of the 18th century by a massive and violent flood. but the people very quickly rebuilt their city to the proud and attractive destination it now has become.

Today, as you will see, the river still breaks its banks from time to time, giving rise to some amusing road signs surrounded by water. While I was there (a business trip) we were treated like visiting royalty: the even opened the fine cathedral for our group and organised a private visit and recital. We also had a private visit to a factory known all over Hungary and beyond: the Pick's Salami plant. May not sound riveting, but I was mightilly impressed with the little museum they opened recently.

The pages are progressing but still need a bit of time spent on them.

Under construction

Jozsef Attila commemorated before the Parliament i

It will take me a little while to sort out my experiences and to try to do justice to Hungary. In the meantime let me share one of my great discoveries with you. The work of Hungarian poet Jozsef Attila... will tell you all about him when I have a little more time:

The Seventh

If you set out in this world,
better be born seven times.
Once, in a house on fire,
once, in a freezing flood,
once, in a wild madhouse,
once, in a field of ripe wheat,
once, in an empty cloister,
and once among pigs in sty.
Six babes crying, not enough:
you yourself must be the seventh.

When you must fight to survive,
let your enemy see seven.
One, away from work on Sunday,
one, starting his work on Monday,
one, who teaches without payment,
one, who learned to swim by drowning,
one, who is the seed of a forest,
and one, whom wild forefathers protect,
but all their tricks are not enough:
you yourself must be the seventh.

If you want to find a woman,
let seven men go for her.
One, who gives heart for words,
one, who takes care of himself,
one, who claims to be a dreamer,
one, who through her skirt can feel her,
one, who knows the hooks and snaps,
one, who steps upon her scarf:
let them buzz like flies around her.
You yourself must be the seventh.

If you write and can afford it,
let seven men write your poem.
One, who builds a marble village,
one, who was born in his sleep,
one, who charts the sky and knows it,
one, whom words call by his name,
one, who perfected his soul,
one, who dissects living rats.
Two are brave and four are wise;
You yourself must be the seventh.

And if all went as was written,
you will die for seven men.
One, who is rocked and suckled,
one, who grabs a hard young breast,
one, who throws down empty dishes,
one, who helps the poor win;
one, who worked till he goes to pieces,
one, who just stares at the moon.
The world will be your tombstone:
you yourself must be the seventh.

Translated by: Gabor K. Tozser

Pros and Cons

Pros:Culture, history, beauty
Cons:Too much culture, history, beauty for one lifetime
In a nutshell:When can I return?

Last visit to Hungary: Apr 2004
Intro Updated Apr 30, 2004
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Reviews (5)

A country that is spick and span Favorites (3)

OK, I did not spend long in Hungary during my first visit, and I only visited two cities, Budapest and Szeged. However I... more travel advice

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Faux Pas Number 1 – clinking beer... Local Customs (2)

I had been aware that Hungarian friends were seriously averse to clinking glasses when having a friendly jar or two of... more travel advice

School leavers in a shop window - Hungary

School graduation ceremony - a community... Local Customs (2)

Coming from a society where leaving school is celebrated with all the pomp and ceremony of a fireworks on a stormy... more travel advice

Classic Eastern European Cars -... Favorites (3)

Well, if I knew little about the Trabbie before leaving the UK, the Moskovich was even more an enigma to me. I think I... more travel advice

Comments (11)

BillNJ Jan 24, 2009 at 7:37 AM Report Abuse

Thanks for a most informative and colorful little page about Hungary!
sourbugger Mar 2, 2006 at 3:48 AM Report Abuse

excellent page for petrolheads
saraheg77 Oct 4, 2005 at 6:46 PM Report Abuse

Intriguing page! Good to know about the glass clinking! My best friend has been to Hungary, but just on her way to Romania. Hopefully I can get there before I am too hungary for more - sorry, I couldn't resist. :)
sue_stone Oct 8, 2004 at 1:53 PM Report Abuse

Really interesting tips Gillian. Most helpful!! : ))
Norali May 28, 2004 at 1:42 AM Report Abuse

Hmm.. Interesting page. I don't know this Moskovich. Still, I know Lada, Niva (we had tons of them in Madagascar during the "communist" era). I know Trabant too (not in M/car, but during my first German lessons almost 2 decades ago).
matcrazy1 May 21, 2004 at 9:45 AM Report Abuse

Very interesting local customs tips. Well, nice to see Trabant and Moskvich in your pages as they are very difficult to find in my country now.
biggeorge May 7, 2004 at 2:02 PM Report Abuse

You also shouldn't sit either side of the corner of a table , ( if female ) or you won't get married.
sandysmith May 6, 2004 at 2:49 PM Report Abuse

fascinating local customs info and I learn about Trabants recently when I saw a golden sculture of one in German Embassy in Prague :-)
Gili_S May 4, 2004 at 2:34 PM Report Abuse

Thanks for the clink beer glasses tip. That should be very important for me to remember.
Mariajoy May 3, 2004 at 1:31 PM Report Abuse

What a lovely interesting page Gillian! I wish there was more - but that is such a helpful bit of advice about the "clinking" I will have to bear that in mind if I ever get to Hungary!!