Back in the year 2000, my husband and I honeymooned at the Hotel Gellert in Budapest, and took the ancient old elevators down to the baths in our hotel-issue robes. In January of 2019, while living in Paris, we returned to Budapest and the Hotel Gellert for our 19th anniversary. Our teenaged son went with us. The ancient elevator was no longer in operation, but we were able to get the same room for our return that we got for our honeymoon nearly two decades before. It had a giant anteroom with a communist-era desk, two bathrooms, two balconies, and the same tapestry that had hung on the wall on our original visit. We visited the baths again. I love that city so much. Thank you for your photos and your story! They take me back:)
This is a wonderful snapshot in time--makes me want to visit Budapest, but I wonder what it would be like now, given the reactionary government of Hungary. But I am eager to try making the recipe you included, perhaps with chicken rather than veal. Sounds really delicious!
Yes, another wonderful travelogue and history lesson from Marco. It is very sad to see how right wing and reactionary Hungary has become, but reassuring to know that Budapest, with its beauty and its heritage will outlast the ghastly Orban and his mates
You're right that Budapest is a beautiful city, but the Hungarians are a problematic society in Europe. Their reversion to type under the dangerous Viktor Orbán shows they have learned little from their fascist past and the horrific 'murder tourism' of their forces in WWII. Still, we must thank them for their goulash et al and the recipe you suggest does sound great!
Back in the year 2000, my husband and I honeymooned at the Hotel Gellert in Budapest, and took the ancient old elevators down to the baths in our hotel-issue robes. In January of 2019, while living in Paris, we returned to Budapest and the Hotel Gellert for our 19th anniversary. Our teenaged son went with us. The ancient elevator was no longer in operation, but we were able to get the same room for our return that we got for our honeymoon nearly two decades before. It had a giant anteroom with a communist-era desk, two bathrooms, two balconies, and the same tapestry that had hung on the wall on our original visit. We visited the baths again. I love that city so much. Thank you for your photos and your story! They take me back:)
This is a wonderful snapshot in time--makes me want to visit Budapest, but I wonder what it would be like now, given the reactionary government of Hungary. But I am eager to try making the recipe you included, perhaps with chicken rather than veal. Sounds really delicious!
Yes, another wonderful travelogue and history lesson from Marco. It is very sad to see how right wing and reactionary Hungary has become, but reassuring to know that Budapest, with its beauty and its heritage will outlast the ghastly Orban and his mates
We take for granted how much more hopeful the 90s were, especially in Eastern Europe.
Budapest sounds glorious. Too bad Orban wants to return it to the Bad Old Days 😨
Fascinating post and photos, recipe sounds delicious.
You're right that Budapest is a beautiful city, but the Hungarians are a problematic society in Europe. Their reversion to type under the dangerous Viktor Orbán shows they have learned little from their fascist past and the horrific 'murder tourism' of their forces in WWII. Still, we must thank them for their goulash et al and the recipe you suggest does sound great!
I could almost taste the paprika from your descriptions.