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Social Profile
Food & Drink: A good range of restaurants is available. Table service is common, although there are many inexpensive self-service restaurants. A typical menu offers two or three courses at inexpensive rates. Fine dairy and pastry shops (cukrászda) offer light meals. Specialities include halászlé (fish soups) with pasta and Goulash gulyás soup. Western goulash is called pörkölt or tokány. Stuffed vegetables, sweet cakes, gundel palacsinta (pancake) and pastries are also popular.
Eszpresszó coffee bars and Drink bars offer refreshments. Gerbeaud’s is probably Budapest’s most famous coffee-house. Tokaji (strong dessert wine) or Bull’s Blood (strong red wine) are recommended. Pálinka or barack (apricot brandy) is a typical liqueur. Imported beers and soft drinks are also available. There are no licensing hours, but the legal age for drinking in a bar is 18 years. Minors are allowed to go into bars but will not be served alcohol.
Nightlife: Budapest has many nightclubs, bars and discos. There are two casinos in Budapest: one next to the Sofitel Hotel (formerly Hyatt Regency), and one near Buda castle. Cinemas in major towns show many English-language films. During the summer months the popular Lake Balaton resort has a lively nightlife. Western Hungary in particular has a lot of very good wine cellars. Visitors would do well to search out traditional folk music and dancing, as the gypsy music which is so common in restaurants is not considered the ‘true’ folk tradition of the country. The magnificent Budapest Opera House stages regular performances, and seats are (by Western standards) exceedingly cheap.
Shopping: Special purchases include embroideries, Herend and Zsolnay porcelain and national dolls. Shopping hours: Department stores are open from Mon-Wed and Fri 1000-1800, Thurs 1000-2000, Sat 0900-1300. Food shops are open from Mon-Fri 0700-1900, Sat 0700-1400.
Special Events: For a detailed list of festivals and special events celebrated, contact the Hungarian National Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section) or see the website (www.fesztivalvaros.hu/english.html). The following is a selection of events held in Hungary in 2003:
Mar 14-31 Budapest Spring Festival. Apr 20-21 Hollókó Easter Festival. May 1-31 Balaton Festival, Keszthely. Jul 30-Aug 6 Szijet Festival. Aug 4-19 Budapest Summer Opera and Ballet Festival. Aug 31-Sep 7 Jewish Summer Festival, Budapest. Sep 6-16 Budapest International Wine and Champagne Festival. Sep 26-28 European Wine Song Festival. Oct 17-Nov 2 Budapest Autumn Festival.
Social Conventions: Most Hungarians enjoy modern music and dance, although older people still preserve their traditions and culture, particularly in small villages. Handshaking is customary. Both Christian name and surname should be used. Normal courtesies should be observed. At a meal, toasts are usually made and should be returned. A useful word is egészségünkre (pronounced Ay-gash-ay-gun-gre), meaning ‘your health’. Few people speak English outside hotels, big restaurants and tourist offices. A knowledge of German is very useful. Gifts are acceptable for hosts as a token of thanks, particularly when invited for a meal. Casual wear is acceptable in most places, with the exception of expensive restaurants and bars. Formal attire should be worn for important social functions, but it is not common practice to specify dress on invitations. Smoking is prohibited on public transport in towns and public buildings. Travellers may smoke on long-distance trains. Photography: Military installations should not be photographed; other restrictions will be signposted. Tipping: Ten to 15 per cent is expected for nearly all services in restaurants, bars, clubs, taxis and so on.
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