Magyar News, 1990. november-1991. augusztus (1. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)

1991-04-01 / 6. szám

Monthly Publication in Cooperation of the local Hungarian Churches & Organization

Maria A. Mathe A PASSAGE OF TIME AND PLACE

Twenty-seven years ago, a trip from Budapest to New York was a formidable adventure for the average Hungarian citizen. I took just such a journey in the spring of 1964. Preparation involved securing the then VERY elusive Hungarian passport and exit visa. Assuring the authorities of my intention to partake of the exciting New York World's Fair experience, I was issued these treasured papers and embarked on a two-day journey to America. I began my travels with a car trip from Budapest to Vienna. From there, 1 boarded a train for an overnight trip to Luxembourg. After that, it was Icelandic Air to Reykjavik and then, at last, to New York. Forty-eight hours after my trip began, I arrived exhausted but happy in America. My routing had the twofold purpose of sight-seeing and economics.

Now, in 1991, Hungarians may board a wide-bodied MALÉV/ Pan Am European Air Bus and fly nonstop from Budapest to Kennedy Airport in approximately nine and a half hours. Hungary has embraced the jet age and Budapest is a bustling European gateway city. The completion of Ferihegy Airport Terminal II opened a Hungarian port for the jumbo jets. The facility teems with a vast array of people entering and leaving the country like never before.

In November of 1990, the Hungarian Government dissolved the requirement for an entry visa for U.S. citizens, facilitating travel into the country. Hungarians too are issued passports quite readily and travel to and from Hungary is routine and open. Americans are anxious to visit the "Paris of the East" and return home raving about Hungary's natural beauty, its culture and most of all its heavenly food. They return home armed with paprika and the knowledge that it is not only used to decorate potato salad.

Hungary has a great deal to offer tourists - its history, architecture, folk art and most of all its people. They await with open arms and warm welcomes, anxious to share their lives with newcomers to the country.

Western businessmen and women are watching Hungary's democratic evolution and are anxious to develop the country's potential for growth and economic prosperity. Patience is the key for them. Red tape still tangles; however, the elements for success have been untapped for decades and are now ready for careful cultivation.

The spas of Hungary are world famous and offer treatment for numerous ailments including rheumatism, arthritis, respiratory diseases and even coronary sclerosis. Complete spa packages are

one of the most convenient and beneficial ways of visiting Hungary. It is a self-restorative vacation and very often, that much needed escape from daily pressures and stress.

And what better place than Budapest for conventions, congresses and conferences? With hotels like the Annum Hyatt, Duna InterContinental, the Hilton and the Thermal Hotel, the city provides elegant accommodations for half the price of their Western European counterparts.

Shopping is a must on the Váci utca where numerous boutiques flaunt the latest fashions. Throughout the city, sidewalk cafes beckon with their fragrant coffee, Dobos Tortes and flaky pastry. Dinner is still a good value at the Budapest restaurants. The food is rich and savory, brimming with ethnic pride and eaten with the haunting sound of gypsy violins floating in the air. Food and music have always been an important part of the Hungarian culture.

Music flourishes in the entire country. Budapest hosts an annual Spring Festival during which the Opera House and St. Matthias Church are filled with music and singing. Open air concerts offer a wide range of talent including anything from Operettas to pop to jazz. The country's innovative Kodály method of teaching music in Kecskemet consistently brings professionals into the country to study and then teach this method to others.

Sportsmen and women will not be disappointed in a visit to Hungary. Everything from marathons, Grand Prix racing, biking, hiking, golf and tennis abound. There's hunting for wild boar, deer, fox and fowl. Quiet streams and lakes delight anglers. Lake Balaton offers swimming, boating and windsurfing. Riding is not only a sport but a tradition in Hungary. The Arabian breed is agile and intelligent and the riding tours quite memorable. Visits to stud farms and equestrian schools are also available.

Travel to Hungary encompasses a wide variety of delightful sights and sounds. There is so much to see and do and with a good U.S. dollar exchange rate, a vacation to Hungary is still a great value. In 1956 the iron curtain discouraged visitors. Hungarians left their country under a barrage of gun fire and barbed wire. Today, the boarders are open. What was once a dream for all Hungarians is now a reality. Travel to and from this beautiful country is not only a passage of miles but a passage from oppression to freedom.

(The writer of this article, Maria A. Mathe, is the owner of the Continental Travel of Fairfield, a travel agency with a special feature of European, including Hungarian, travel.)

OPEN DOOR EXCHANGE

As part of reciprocal exchanges administered by the OPEN DOOR Student Exchange in New York and the Soros Foundation in Hungary, American students will have the opportunity to study at a high school, while living with a family. Upon arrival, U.S. students will receive special language instruction in Hungarian.

U.S. S tudents between 15 and 18 years of age are eligible to apply. Applicants applying should have an above-average academic record, strong teacher/school recommendations, and two years of study in a foreign language with a "B" average.

The OPEN DOOR's exchange programs

with Hungary, which are supported by a United States Information Agency grant, also offer scholarship assistance to graduating seniors interested in serving as assistants to English language high school teachers in both countries. These interns will participate in and help coordinate classroom activities with the instructor. As native speakers, American interns will not only serve as valuable sources of information with respect to the English language, but be able to provide Hungarian students with first-hand knowledge about American culture and society.

If you are interested, please give us a call and we will supply you with more detailed information - (203) 377-0569.

HUNGARIAN BOOKS, NEWS PUBLICATIONS, AND MUSIC

Many people request information on where to find Hungarian publications. You really do not have to go far. PÜSKICORVIN Hungarian book store is in New York on East 82nd Street. You may call them, fax your request, or ask for a catalog.

You could also subscribe to newspapers and magazines from Hungary, or to those published in the U.S.