Property In Hungary

Being Hungarian, I always had a dream of owning a property in Hungary. First time I started thinking about it is about 15 years ago and then later in '98 when I was on a holiday. At that time a gorgeous approx. 50m2, 4th floor apartment with balcony, overlooking the street in Pest would cost around 4Million Forint, now the same apartment would cost about 5 times as much! Yes I am banging my head against the wall for not purchasing then, but my circumstances just didn't allow it.

After my last trip to Hungary with my husband and daughter, I decided to look into the property market again. Prices are going up so quickly ever since the country became part of the European Union in 2004. You can now easily spend 20 - 30Million Forint on an apartment anywhere in Budapest.

Because the prices are so crazy in the capital, I decided to look at other parts of the country like the Lake Balaton region. Here you can still purchase a property for around 10Million Forint.

Hungary is a country that has Old World charm with contemporary lifestyles and it is forever evolving. It is full of culture, history, wonderfully diverse landscapes, hot spring baths and I could go on. You are never short of things to do and see like festivals all throughout the year, exciting nightlife, museums, concerts.

There are a couple very helpful sites on the Hungarian property market like ingatlan.net and Otthon Centrum - http://www.oc.hu/ in particular. Otthon Centrum is also quite quick to respond to your enquieries.

Finding a good property has the same criteria as in all countries. Good location, having all amenimeties, schools and universities in the vicinity, good public transport etc.

Now a tip if you are thinking of buying property for investment: People in Hungary still like to live where they work. Here in Australia people will travel great distances to get to work. I know quite a few people that travel 2-4 hours every day for this reason.

There is a lot of foreign investment in Hungary since the abolishment of communism in 1990. The Irish in particular have bought up property at very cheap prices at that time and are now profiting very handsomely! But I beleive it is not too late for any of us! If anyone has bought property in Hungary in the last couple of years, please let us know. I would love to hear how the transaction went and if you had any complications. If you are a non Hungarian, did you have any problems with language barriers or did most professional people spoke English? Hope to hear from you soon! :)))

The Books Have Arrived!

Just a quick note to let you all know that the books I have ordered from Libri.hu have arrived safely and in great condition! So I finally gave them to my parents' with great anticipation, I think they were a hit! What a wonderful gift a book is. :))

My Hungarian Holiday

I have rarely met anyone who had bad things to say about Hungary or Hungarian people. The only critisizm might be is about the deteriorating condition of some buildings in Budapest. It is true that some of the outer suburbs still need a lot of attention, however the "Paris of the East" is still glorious day or night, summer or winter!

Isn't travelling the most wonderful thing in the world - other than getting married to the person you adore and giving birth to healthy, gorgeous children?! Yes, the experience is something that we take to our grave and that nobody or nothing can take away from us.

I'm just riding on a bus to work where part of my job is to upload Eastern European travel packages to our website, http://www.firstclass.com.au/. So at present I have the next best thing to actually travelling, is to write and daydream about it!:)

Last time I travelled to Hungary was in January 2006 with my husband Derek, our 14 months old baby girl and was 4 months pregnant with my baby boy. It was the coldest winter I had ever experienced. Some days it was -18degree celsius and due to snow storms and roads freezing over we had to shuffle our trip itenirary around quite a bit. So from Budapest we drove first to Pécs instead of visiting my relatives in Nyirtelek. Well the drive was quite scary not because of Derek's driving skills - he did really well on the left hand side - but because of people not really keeping to any speed limits!

So at Pécs we visited my best friend Andrea who just moved back to Hungary after migrating to Australia in the early 80's. Andi was living with her beautiful grandmother at the time but since purchased the most gorgeous apartment in the heart of Pécs. For those of you that don't know Pécs, it is Hungary's capital of the Arts and has also been selected as European Capital of Culture in 2010. The city centre also has an early Christian necropolis that is World Heritage listed. Pécs always offers something artistically special like the critically acclaimed yearly national theater festival (POSZT). The city is constantly buzzing with live bands, open air theatres, ballets, markets and wine festivals. Even in the harshest of winters where snow covered the rooftops of monumental buildings, and churches, the city had a lovely cosy feel to it.

Sorry everyone I will continue very very soon as my little ones just woke up, have to run!

Learn to Sing with Elly Rab

My relationship with Elly (who is naturally a Hungarian lady) started about 14 years ago when I decided to take singing lessons in pursuit of a musical career! Well I didn't become an opera singer nor a musical theater subrette, but I gained a wonderful friend who at times felt like my second mother. Elly's many other students and I use to do a lot of charity and end-of-year performances where we all had different vocal and movement talents. It was always fun, beautiful and received very well.
Elly herself used to be a beautiful soprano and a featured singer with the Ziegfeld Follies. Trained in Europe, Elly has a unique teaching style and will always bring the best out in all her students. She has time honoured techniques that suit all types of singing styles and genres. With over 20 years experience, she caters for all students from the beginner to the advanced performer.
Elly Rab Academy of Singing is located at Suite 403, 4th Floor, 250 Pitt St. Sydney 2000. Tel: 02 9264 5042 OR 0416 559 945.
If you are thinking about having some singing lessons, not necessarily to become the next Luciano Pavarotti or Maria Callas, but just to do something special for yourself, than please call Elly and start today! She is a diamond!

Spas of Hungary

At the following cities you can find Spas and Baths that treat gynecological problems:

Babocsa, Balatonfured, Buk, Csongrad, Csorna, Debrecen, Eger, Foldes, Fuzesgyarmat, Gunarasfurdo, Gyor, Gyula, Hajduszoboszlo, Heviz, Igal, Jaszapati, Kaposvar, Kapuvar, Kiskoros, Kiskunmajsa, Komarom, Mako, Mezokovacshaza, Mezokovesd, Nagyatad, Nyiregyhaza, Sarvar, Szolnok, Tiszakecske, Zalakaros.

At the following cities you can find Spas and Baths that treat rheumatic, joint and locomotor disorders:

Babocsa, Balatonfured, Berekfurdo, Bogacs, Buk, Csongrad, Csorna, Debrecen, Eger, Foldes, Fuzesgyarmat, Gunarasfurdo, Gyomaendrod, Gyor, Gyula, Hajdunanas, Hajduszoboszlo, Harkany, Heviz, Hodmezovasarhely, Igal, Jaszapati, Kaposvar, Kapuvar, Kiskoros, Kiskunhalas, Kiskunmajsa, Komarom, Lenti, Mako, Mezokovacshaza, Mezokovesd, Miskolc, Morahalom, Mosonmagyarovar, Nagyatad, Nagykallo, Nyiregyhaza, Polgar, Szeged, Szigetvar, Szolnok, Tamasi, Tiszakecske, Tiszavasvari, Turkeve, Zalakaros.

At the following cities you can find Spas and Baths that treat heart problems:
Balatonfured, Debrecen, Gunarasfurdo, Kaposvar, Miskolc.

At the following cities you can find Spas and Baths that treat resperatory illnesses:
Balatonfured, Gunarasfurdo, Gyomaendrod, Gyor, Kapuvar, Mosonmagyarovar, Sarvar.

At the following cities you can find Spas and Baths that treat skin problems:
Bogacs, Csokonavisonta, Eger, Gunarasfurdo, Komarom.

At the following cities you can find Spas and Baths that treat stomach and intestinal problems:

Bogacs, Csokonavisonta, Debrecen, Gunarasfurdo, Gyomaendrod, Mako, Mosonmagyarovar, Nagyatad, Polgar, Szeged.

At the following cities you can find Spas and Baths that treat mental disturbances:

Debrecen, Eger, Fuzesgyarmat, Gyomaendrod, Gyula, Hajduszoboszlo, Kiskoros, Kiskunhalas, Kiskunmajsa, Lenti, Mako, Morahalom, Nagyatad.

Have a wonderful time at a Spa on your next visit to Hungary!

The Therapeutic Effects of Water

We can use mineral waters for medicinal purposes for our insides as well as our outsides. We can bath and we can drink water high in various minerals. If you are travelling to Hungary make sure you indulge in one of many of her hot spring or mineral baths. They are located throughout the country and they all claim to treat something different. At the end of your session if you still have rheumatism, digestive problems or breathing problems at least you would have had a wonderfully relaxing time! Enjoy!

Following is a few of Hungary's baths, spas and some information about them:

Hajduszoboszlo Spa

At Hajduszoboszlo in 1925 during a deep drill, an eruption occurred of 75degree Celsius warm, iodised, salty, hydrogen carbonated thermal water. The research showed that this water contains a lot of various minerals.

Berekfurdo Spa, Thermal Bath and Camping

Berekfurdo is located 50Kms from Debrecen, on the Great Plains of Hungary (Alfold). It is found next to the Hortobagy National Park (Hortobagyi Nemzeti Park). Due to its wonderful 56degree Celsius, alkali, hydrogen carbonated, iodised spa and due to its peaceful surroundings, it is loved by bathers equally in summer as well as in winter. The spa also contains chloride, bromide, fluoride, sodium and calcium. Over 50 years of research shows that this unique quality water is very effective in gynecological complains, rheumatism and locomotor disorders. After various accidents, it is also highly recommended for rehabilitation. Water temperature ranges between 25 and 36degree Celsius.

Gellert Spa

Built in 1918, today it is called St Gellert Spa and Hotel. In 1927 the so called wave bath (hullamfurdo) and in 1934 the spa bath was completed. The Gellert is the most popular spa with foreign visitors in Hungary.

In the Gellert Bath almost all health services are available, it has a complete physiotherapeutical department (outpatient hospital), a physiotherapy unit and an inhalatorium. Apart from the jacuzzi and the whirlpool, popular are the sun bathing roof terrace for women and the other one used jointly by naturists. This bath includes the following minerals: sulphate (bitter) water, alkali hydrogen carbonated water and chloride water.

Cafes and Bakeries

New South Wales

Gelato Bar - 140 Campbell Pde. Bondi Beach 2026 Tel: 02 9130 4033

Johnny's Cafe - 66 Dalmeny Ave. Rosebery 2018 Tel: 02 9313 8929

Sweet Kiss Cake Shop - 343 Clovelly Rd. Clovelly 2031 Tel: 02 9664 2654

Wellington Cake Shop - 157 Bondi Rd. Bondi Tel: 02 9389 4555

Zizi Cafe and Restaurant - 14 Norton St. Leichhardt 2040 Tel: 02 9569 2111

Hungarian Restaurants

New South Wales
Corner 75 - 75 Frenchmans Rd. Randwick 2031 Tel: +61 (0)2 9399 5712
Double Bay Woodfire Cabaret Restaurant - 459 New South Head Rd. Double Bay 2028 Tel: +61 (0)2 93634567
Zizi Cafe and Restaurant - 14 Norton St. Leichhardt 2040 Tel: +61 (0)2 9569 2111

Victoria
Budapest Restaurant + Palinka Bar - 273 Glenhuntly Rd. Elsternwick 3185 Tel: +61 (0)3 9530 0849
Korona Restaurant - 760 Boronia Rd. Wantirna 3152 Tel: +61 (0)3 9800 4544
Newmarket Hotel - 34 Inkerman St. St Kilda 3182 Tel: +61 (0)3 9534 2385
Paprika Hussar - 99 Glenferrie Rd. Malvern

Queensland
Balaton Hungarian Restaurant - 2739 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach 4218 Tel: +61 (0)7 5538 1110

That is all for now as I am still researching! Let me know if anyone knows a good little Hungarian restaurant somewhere. Thank you!

Buying books online

I don't know if anyone else had experienced this but I wanted to purchase a few Hungarian books for my parents' birthday recently. So I went online and I could only find 2 shops that would actually send books to Sydney. They both had fantastic selections at great prices, but one of them wanted to charge me 12 000Ft (approx. AUD76) for delivery regardless of quantity! I was horrified. Luckily the other shop http://www.libri.hu/, only charged 4 000Ft (approx. AUD25) for the shipping. The books should be arriving in 10-15 days from day of purchase so I am expecting them early next week. Wish me luck as this is my first purchase of anything from Hungary!
I have also registered with http://www.teszvesz.hu/, an online auction site in Hungary. They also have good selection of books by Hungarian and foreign authors as well as lots of other items from clothing to cars! Unfortunately here the sellers don't always want to post to Australia. So if anyone is thinking of buying here, make sure you ask about shipping prior to purchase.
I will let you all know once they arrive! Hope Mum and Dad will like them!

BOLDOG SZULINAPOT ANYUCI ES APUCI!