THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Budapest, Hungary
WELCOME TO BUDAPEST
THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Budapest, Hungary Dear Reader Welcome to Budapest! We are delighted to welcome you to the British International School, Budapest. We hope that once your family is feeling settled at school and you have unpacked your bags that you can begin to enjoy the jewel of a city that is Budapest. This practical book is packed with useful information and handy hints. It has been compiled by parents at the British International School, Budapest who are all too well-acquainted with the immediate needs of families newly arrived in town. We make no claims to Welcome to Budapest being the definitive guide to all you need to know about Budapest, but it is an excellent starting point. It contains all the information deemed by our parents to be most useful, covering all manner of things from how to make a phone call and pay a parking fine to where to eat with children and buy your Hungarian goose down duvet. We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we have enjoyed compiling it and that it helps you start to get to know and love Budapest. Put your feet up, make yourself a coffee and enjoy! Becky Wilcox
✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿
A few child-friendly ones include Náncsi Néni 1026 Budapest, Ördögárok út 80. Tel: +36 1 397 2742
Babies, Kids and Teens in Budapest Medical, Health & Fitness Banking Entertainment, Websites Learning Hungarian Pets in Budapest Lawyers Shopping Expats
Once your new little addition has safely arrived, you will no doubt want to get out and about again. People in Budapest are very child-friendly and you should not feel limited in any way.
Travelling on public transport Travelling on public transport is quite tricky in Hungary with prams and buggies. Try to bring a small buggy and to have someone to help you to lift and carry it for you.
Baby-changing This clearly isn’t done in Hungary!! There are very few areas where a changing table or area is provided, Ikea and Náncsi Néni being two. My advice is to pack a travel change mat or towel and find a quiet corner/park bench/car boot to do the necessary.
Getiing around
Breastfeeding
Security
Hungarians do breastfeed. As long as you are happy to feed whilst out, discreet feeding is not frowned upon.
Bills, post and fines
Formula Milk
At a loose end
There is quite a wide selection available here. There is a Cow and Gate equivalent called Nutrilon. The packaging is very similar, although blue rather than purple. This formula mixes very well, unlike Aptamil, which separates if not used immediately. Nutrilon is widely available from hypermarkets and pharmacies. Some brands of formula are only available in pharmacies.
Being Green Tips & Hints Photographers
Babies in Budapest
Restaurants with high chairs
Colours in the book
Tratorria Toscana 1053 Budapest, Belgrád rakpart 13. Tel: +36 1 327 0045 Vapiano 1036 Budapest, Bécsi út 33-35. Tel: +36 1 336 0610
Café Provence 1 028 Budapest, Hidegkúti út 81. Tel: +36 1 274 7733, Mobile: +36 30 865 9773 www.cafeprovence.hu E-mail: cafeprovence@aroma.com Ikea 1 148 Örs vezér tere Tel: +36 1 460 3160 2040 Budaörs, Sport utca 2-4. Tel: +36 1 460 3160
Baby-Sitters Word of mouth is probably the best suggestion. The going rate (March 2009) seems to be 1500 Ft per hour if they have their own transport. Other options: IB Students from school – a list is posted on the Community Notice Board Babysitters with language skills – www.sitters.hu
Activities/Entertainment Action Tots – 1.5 to 2 years old, dancing, singing and nursery rhymes etc. Thursday 10 – 11 am. Contact: Sandra Knibbs, Dance Craze Academy Tel: +36 30 919 8417 Birthday Entertainer – ZoZo the Clown, Tel: +36 30 236 6120 Mother & Baby Group – through the BWA (British Women’s Association) a Monday pre-school group meets. Monkey Business – Movement, Art & Craft, Music and Baby Sign classes from 4 months. www.monkeybusiness.hu
r
tho
ny n e J ylor Ta Au
Pre-Nurseries and Nurseries BISB parents use the following nurseries and others: Rainbow Art & Creativity School for Children Contact: Dragana 1037 Budapest, Perényi út 19/b. Tel: +36 30 676 6467 / +36 20 377 0866 E-mail: rainbow.kidsart@yahoo.com PlumPudding 1026 Budapest, Gyergyó utca 6. Tel: +36 1 356 6553 / +36 30 991 5481 www.plumpudding.hu Happy Kids 1124 Budapest, Fodor utca 36. Tel: +36 1 356 2440 / + 36 30 948 4436 www.happykids.hu Kids’ Kiosk Contact: Branca 1023 Budapest, Bogár utca 26B. Tel: +36 30 563 5528 www.kidskiosk.eu
Kids in Budapest
Bowling Best bowling places are in Mammut, Duna Plaza and Campona. Petneházy riding club Great for pony riding, walking and buffet lunch. (Feketefej utca 2. on the way out to Nagykovácsi) Tel: +36 20 9873057 Aqua World One of the biggest indoor water theme parks in Europe offers unforgettable entertainment to visitors of every age throughout the year. www.aqua-world.hu
Gellért Hill Slide Park Just up the hill from Hotel Gellért, a bit hidden in the woods. Great slides and a cave chapel. Budakeszi Wild animal park (Vadaspark) It is a big, forested area with many wild animals. Just before Budakeszi from Budapest, on the right hand side. www.vadaspark-budakeszi.hu Hungarian only Buda Castle area 1. Funicular (“sikló”) It leads down from the Buda castle to the Danube, to Chain bridge
2. Labyrinth of the Buda Castle Labyrinth in the cave system under the Buda Castle, Tel: +36 1 212-0207, +36 1 212-0287, +36 1 489-3281, Budapest,Úri utca 9. or Lovas utca 4., http://www.labirintus.com/en 3. Wax museum War hospital museum in the cave system under the Buda castle. Lovas utca 4/C, Tel: +36 30 6898775, +36 1 225 7668, +36 1 225 7669, www.sziklakorhaz.hu
Margitsziget (Margaret Island) This largely traffic-free island park in the middle of the Danube makes you feel as if you’ve left the city behind. With large grassy areas, woods, rose gardens, an animal petting zoo, Palatinus lido with swimming pools, the ruins of a Dominican church and nunnery, well-maintained playgrounds and a thousand perfect picnic spots, this is a great place to take children of all ages. One nice option is to take your bikes or inline skates, or to hire pedal cars or electric cars and ride around the island. Its southern tip is accessible on foot or by bus or tram running over Margit híd (Margaret Bridge). The northern tip is accessible by car from Árpád híd (Árpád Bridge), where there is parking available. It’s open 24 hours a day (although it is advisable to leave the park when the sun sets) and it costs nothing to go there.
Kids in Budapest
Fun things to do
2. Circus An unforgettable experience, not for the faint-hearted, excellent acrobatics, questionable animal acts, you decide... Tel: +36 1 344 39630 www.fnc.hu
3. Amusement park All the new rides as well as old-style merry-go-round and ghost train. Tel: +36 1 363 8310, +36 1 363 4460, +36 1 363 7140, www.vidampark.hu (Not available for children under 3s!) 4. Széchenyi Bath Indoor and outdoor pools and thermal baths. www.szechenyibath.com 5. In winter time there is ice skating on one of the park’s lakes.
City Park (“Városliget”) A lot to see!
Tropicarium Oceanárium Campona Mall 1222 Budapest, Nagytétényi út 37-45. Tel: +36 1 424 3050 Tel/Fax: +36 1 424 3053 E-mail: info@tropicarium.hu www.tropicarium.hu (in English & Hungarian) Open: Daily 10:00-20:00
Get close to all sorts of interesting sea life (including sharks!) at this lovely aquarium. Don’t miss the tropical rainforest area complete with monsoon rains, where you can see crocodiles, monkeys, tropical birds, snakes and insects. There’s a “touch pool” for the brave. It’s an extraordinary experience for both children and adults
1. Fôvárosi Állat -és Növénykert (Budapest Zoo) 1146 Budapest, Állatkerti körút 6-12. Tel: +36 1 363 3710, +36 1 363 3790 , +36 1 363 3794 www.zoobudapest.com (in Hungarian) Open: Daily 09:00-16:00 (winter), 09:00-19:00 (summer) Located on the outskirts of the Városliget, this is a popular zoo with wonderful Art Nouveau buildings including a fabulous Elephant House. The newly built Palm House is home to an array of tropical animals, birds and insect life. This is a big zoo, so expect to need at least a morning to get around. It has plenty of Hungarian-style food and drink facilities and a good playground too.
6. The famous Gundel Restaurant is here as well. Tel: +36 1 468 4040 www.gundel.hu
Kids in Budapest
hors
hegy station (Hegyhát út district XII) to the south and Hûvösvölgy station (district II) to the north. Check the timetables posted at stations or online.
1. Libegô (Chairlift) 1121 Budapest, Csiga út (just off Zugligeti út) Tel: +36 1 394 3764 (no English spoken) Open: Daily 09:00-17:00 (summer) & 09:30-16:00 (winter) The chairlift runs up and down Jánoshegy, the highest of the Buda hills. Take the chairlift to the Erzsébet lookout tower that stands on the 527-meter-high summit. Climb the tower for spectacular views: on a clear day you can see for more than 75 km. The chairlift starts from Csiga út.
3. Challengeland An outdoor climbing park with rope courses in the trees. www.kalandpalya.hu
2. Gyermekvasút (Children’s Railway) www.gyermekvasut.hu (in English & Hungarian) A short walk from the Erzsébet lookout tower is Jánoshegy station, where you can join one of the open-sided trains on the Children’s Railway. The railway is staffed by enthusiastic children in uniform, who salute the trains as they pass and clip your tickets with great pride (but they don’t drive the trains!) The railway runs through attractive woodland as far as Széchenyi-
Parks close to school Vérhalom Tér – A lovely shady, well equipped park in District II Close to Rózsa Kert and only a few minutes drive from school. Margitsziget – Excellent Park for all ages very close to the Margit Bridge side of the Island. Alternatively, park on the island at the Árpád híd end (5 minute drive from school) and walk/ cycle/ catch the bus to the other end. Csodák Palotája (Palace of Miracles) Millenáris 1024 Budapest, Kis Rókus utca 16-20. Tel/Fax: +36 1 336 4000 / 4012 E-mail: millenaries@millenaris.hu www.millenaris.hu (in English & Hungarian) Open: Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat & Sun 10:00-18:00 This interactive science museum is great fun for children aged from around four to ten years. There are lots of interactive activities, from uni-cycling on a high wire to push-button scientific mysteries Boat rides on the Danube Trips run from Vigadó tér to Visegrád, Esztergom or even to Vienna. www.mahartpassnave.hu
Shopaholic Check this out! So here they are, the pages that every girl is waiting for…. I mean, O.K. public transport, cinemas and night life are all very important, but what has the power to make a girl feel extraordinary, enthusiastic and beautiful at the same time?? SHOPPING, of course! Now, I don’t want you to think that shopping here is the same as walking down Regent Street in London or 5th Avenue in New York or in the centre of Milan. However, thanks to our tips, which we hope you are going to find helpful, you’ll find your way around Budapest and all the variety of shops that it offers. So, off we go with our shopping tour around the city…. We are going to visit: • Mammut and WestEnd • Váci utca • Arena Plaza • Premier • Mom Park • Coin • Allee Mammut and
Váci utca: If you love shopping in the fresh air, Váci utca is the place for you. It is one of the busiest central shopping streets in Budapest and an attractive place for tourists from all over Europe. It is easy to get there especially with public transport as it is near to three different metro stations. There are plenty of particular shops, from the designer brands like HUGO BOSS to the amazing gift shop ’Philanthia’. In the main square huge new shops like H&M have opened to help us take a wider look at their wares. Along Váci utca you can find Zara, Promod, C&A, Mango, Salamander, Humanic, Marks and Spencer and other shops. In Vörösmarty tér the famous Gerbeaud Café and Confectioner is waiting for you to taste its delights. There are plenty of fine as well as fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King where you can drop in for a quick meal.
Teens in Budapest
Aut
to, Perla d herita ano an Marg a Fasci n Silvi Yuan Tia Jing
Normafa hills A great place for walks, there is a playground, a challenge park and a children’s steam train and a chairlift.
WestEnd
t do they have WestEnd…Wha Mammut and e of the same They have som in common?? ted shopping en qu fre the most shops, they are name of the e agers. I think th en te d by s re nt ce (Mammut), an t give it away place id m first one migh hu ry ve a it’s basically WestEnd - well ich make you on the walls wh lls rfa te wa with the escalator. ke ta u n each time yo ow dr to t mut. Well, ou am ab M e that I prefer feel as if you ar d se es gu use you dy ly alrea be good beca You’ve probab - which might if you ge at hu th ely ns lut ea so m o Westend is ab ops- but it als sh e to of lki ta ty erie lki va wa der carry around a can have a wi mut is in d, you should am en M fri e a us th ca wi are going e, (literally, be s On the other sid into two building mut is divided keep in touch. am as M ) ch st su Pe s in er shop tEnd is Buda and Wes s smaller but nic oose o bridges and ha which one to ch , So n. tto connected by tw ne Be uld d wo an I t ier bu em , Pr It’s up to you, Berska, Mango d WestEnd?? an ut m am M between ammut. recommend M
Teens in Budapest
Teens in Budapest
Arena Plaza s around big mall Sick of walking r a few te af ed tir and getting ion: found a solut seconds? We d de an br l the best Arena Plaza! Al long o tw o int ed ck shops are pa joy e you can en corridors wher strolling ts en om m your shopping th no to the other wi from one shop nova, Zara, rra Te : er ev s companie Boss, re are the best Lauren, Hugo wasting time! He Hilfiger, Ralph y m loves m o To wh e, st on Laco e kind of pers H&M, Mango, rs. If you are th can just he u ot yo y en an th m d u, Bershka, an e s “advising” yo ide the massiv with no parent ectro World ins to shop alone El or o sc Te e huge send them to th till you drop. mall and shop
Mom Park The essence of Mom Park ? Peaceful, relax ing, quiet an d calm. It’s the be st place if your parents want to go shopping wi th you for two m ain reasons: yo u would never be seen in public with them beca use your mates wouldn’t hang out there and they will be distra there are shops cted by ancient for adults too, so clothing. Mom Pa to eat sushi or rk is also perfect go to the movies if you want that are all in En but I’m sure that glish, or almost the “Cinema Pe all of them… ople” will tell yo Tired after this u m ore about it. intensive Shop ping Tour?? If energy level will you are real Sh be at its apex an opaholics your d your credit ca debt! We hope rd account will that this section almost be in about Shopping you are at home, will help you to and at the same feel more like time won’t caus Enjoy your shop e your family to ping in Budapest, go bankrupt. and maybe we’ll of clothing as ha meet in a café wi ppy as we can th bags full be!
Allee Shopping
Premier O
utlet
Imagine a chilly cold and rainy da would you y, what do? Walk ro und and ro same mall? und the Run from sh op to shop Váci utca? Premier Out along let has been just for yo created u: fantastic and packed popular bran full of ded outlets , it is reacha 10 minutes by car from bl the city cent e in just drive of re. You f the M7 (m ake sure yo a vignette, u have see Getting around sect leave at ex ion) and it 14, pass a there you ar e!! It is huge roundabout and and extrao cheap with rdinarily at least a hu ndred shop different ar s with all ticles for ev ery ki You can leav e your car th nd of costumer. ere and be find it afterw sure to ar for the park ds, without paying an ything ing and with out carrying bags around heavy the place, as you can leave them simply in the car. It is still de so more br veloping anded shop s which mea will be incl ns: uded, to spend yo more opportunities fo r you ur precious money!! Neg aspects? Yo u might ge ative t addicted cheap shop to the ping and fa bulous faci lities.
Coin After the “great” appearance of Paris Hilton at the opening of the department store, Coin brings to Hungary a flavour of Italian shopping. Found in the renovated Dorottya Palace, behind Vörösmarty tér, the atmosphere in Coin makes you want to demolish the shelves and extinguish your credit card. As soon as you enter the palace, you are overwhelmed by small corners displaying expensive items from Paris Hilton’s designs to Armani clothing. Continuing on the left, you will enter a garden of cheaper clothes from the Italian brand “Oviesse”. However, if you want to get rid of your parents before your shopping tour, lead them to the right side of the department store, where they will get lost in a world of household accessories. The only negative thing about Coin is the fact that there aren’t any cafés where you can purchase some caffeine to keep you going during your exhausting shopping session. Despite the meaning of the department store’s name, you will definitely need more than a coin after entering the golden entrance.
Centre
Location: 1119 Budapest Október 23 u./ Körösy J. u. The new shoppin g centre, Allee, was opened on Wednesday 11th November, 2009 . It is located in the heart of District 11 in Budapest (on the site of th e former Buda Sk ála) and is easil 61 trams and als y accessible by th o by car. There e 4, 6, 18, 19, 56 are altogether 1,2 make it very ea , sy to park in the 00 parking spac shopping centre es which The building loo . ks very modern and is altogethe lights on the ce r 46,000 square ilings and on th metres. The e walls of the sh every few second opping centre ch s or so. There ar ange colour e also circular br modern chairs an idges across th d tables where e floors with people can have There are a varie a rest when they ty of shops, inc get tired. luding the most Mango, H&M, popular brands C&A (1,900 sqm such as Zara, ), Marks & Spen World. Van Graa cer (1,300 sqm f, one of the big ) and Electro gest tenants am 4,200 sqm of floo ong the fashion r space. brands has There is a 13 sc reen cinema an d a casino for th and a food co os e urt with Burger looking for ente rtainment King and other 6000sqm hyperm restaurants. Th arket, Interspar, ere is also a where you can Although Allee is do all your groc similar to the ot eries. her shopping ce has a unique kin ntres in Budape d of feeling with st, it certainly the latest techno modern shoppin logy and is definit g centre in town ely the most . Allee will definit shopping malls ely be a rival to in Budapest! the major Hope you enjoy shopping at Allee !
Teens in Budapest
Medical
Youth group
Golf
The International Baptist Church of Budapest http://www.ibcb.info/ has a thriving youth church currently led by Youth Pastor John Punch John Punch’s facebook page is www.facebook.com/#/ budapunch?ref=ts
If you are interested in other type of clubs, we recommend the Academy Golf Club, which will open in May 2010 in the direct proximity of the school and provide opportunity to enjoy a good game both during the day and in the evening hours.
He is continuously updating it and organising events for teenagers.
Academy Golf Club www.academygolfclub.hu/ english.html Tel: +36 30 429 2584 E-mail: info@academygolfclub.hu
Budapest after dark Here are some of the major clubs and discos in Budapest! Kameleon, Play and Bed Beach are the most renowned. 1) Kameleon: located in Mammut, one of the favourite places to go out: www.boo.com/budapest/nightlife/ Kameleon_Club 2) Retrodisco: newly renovated club, also very nice if you’re into retro music 3) Play www.hungarystartshere.com/PlayDisco-Club www.partysan.net 4) Bed Beach: located on Hajógyári sziget, fenomenal atmosphere for teens, any kind of music from rock to house: www.bedbeach.hu/ (click the english flag in the top-right corner :) )
Clubs
5) Studio: house music, very large www.studio-eh.hu/
There are four main English Speaking medical centres: All of these offer on-site X-ray facilities, mammograms, and minor surgery together with the paediatrics, gynaecology, chiropractor and general practitioners. Check the relevant websites for more information. First Med (pictured) 1015 Budapest, Hattyú utca 14. 5th Floor, Tel: +36 1 224 9090 www.firstmedcenters.com, Open: 24 hours Appointments: Mon-Fri 08:00 until 20:00, Sat 08:00 until 14:00 Dr Sue McGladdery is always recommended Rózsakert Medical Centre R Rózsakert ózsakert Shopping Centre, 1026 Budapest, Gábor Áron utca 74-78, 3rd Floor Tel: +36 1 391 5903, Open: 24 hours, (always call this number even if the office is closed), www.medical-center.hu Appointments: Mon-Fri 08:00-19:00, Sat 08:00 til 12:00 (Emergencies only). Kinga (pictured) is a great paediatrician
Author
Jenny Taylor
Medicover Medicover has 4 different branches across Pest and Buda. It offers a range of medical packages to those who do not have health insurance while serving those with assigned medical cover. 1132 Budapest, Váci út 22-24., Ground floor. Opening hours: From Monday to Friday 7:00-19:00 For medical appointment please call: +36 1 465 3100 (7:00-19:00) http://www.medicover.com/huen/ Dr Rose Medical Center This is another medical center favoured by many expats in Budapest. 1051 Budapest, Roosvelt tér 7-8. Hotline: +36 1-377 6737 http://www.drrose.hu
Additional Doctor / Dentists etc: Dentist – Dr Ágnes Halman MOM Park Dental Clinic Tel: +36 1 202 3830 Orthodontist – Dr Csipi Rózsakert Magenta Tel: +36 20 581 3952 Tue/Thurs only Dermatologist – Dr Sinka Pálinkás Szent Ferenc Medical Store Tel: +36 1 316 1616 GP Doctor – Dr Giddeon Will do home visits Tel: +36 20 928 1602 Gynaecologist – Dr Szepesi T el: +36 30 403 6790
Medical
Authors
Gwijde Maegherman & Sara Tacconi
Medical
Ticks in Hungary
Public Ambulance (Free of charge although not much English spoken): 104 or 112 (general emergency)
During the summer months from April to September you should be aware that it is possible to be bitten by ticks and this can have serious consequences. Ticks are small flea-like creatures which are carnivorous and use their mouthparts to anchor themselves to the skin of a person or animal which they pierce in order to suck the blood, thus infected ticks transmit infection in their saliva. The risk is greatest in forests and woodland areas however ticks can also be found in your own garden. Ticks can also inadvertently be transferred from family pets to humans so always check your pet after visiting these areas. If you are bitten by a tick there is a risk of contracting diseases such as Tickborne Encephalitis (TBE), a viral infection of the central nervous system, or Lyme-disease, which is a bacterial infection resulting in joint problems similar to rheumatic arthritis. TBE is common in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Croatia.
Private Ambulance (For a fee, English spoken both by operator and Doctor): Tel: +36 1 200 0100 or +36 1 275 1535 You should say: 1. Név? Mi a neve? Your name: “Smith, John vagyok” 2. Cím? Mi a címe? Your address: “ …” 3. Ask for an ambulance: “Mentôt Szeretnék” 4. Try to give details of the emergency eg: • Suspected heart attack: Valószínûleg szívinfarktus • Serious bleeding: Súlyosan vérzik • Collapsed and unconscious: Összeesett es elveszette az eszméletét Accident and Emergency Departments Szent János Kórház 1125 Budapest, Diós árok 1. Tel: + 36 1 356 1122 / 356 0318 Szent János Hospital covers districts I, II, XI and XII. Margit Kórház 1032 Budapest, Bécsi út 132. Tel: +36 1 250 2170 / 250 2420 Margit Hospital covers district III.
Sensible precautions: • Wear closed, brightly coloured clothes in order to see ticks easily. • Use suitable insect repellents • After visiting at-risk areas check your clothes and skin for ticks, especially between the legs, the backs of the knees, under the arms and the neck area. • There is a vaccine available against TBE but not against Lyme Disease. If concerned, consult your doctor about vaccination.
If you find a tick on your skin: • Remove the tick using special tweezers • Grasp the tick as near to your skin as possible • Turn the tick anti-clockwise and then out (they screw into the skin) • Show the bite to a doctor • Make a note of the date of the bite in your diary Signs to watch out for after a bite: • Flu-like symptoms after a tick bite can signal the onset of TBE and you should consult your doctor immediately, showing the site of the bite. • In about 75% of cases of infection with Lyme Disease the bite reddens and enlarges then fades away. Often there are concentric red circles around the bite. There may also be a feeling of numbness or painful inflammation of the nerves and paralysis. Diagnosis is by blood test and treatment by antibiotics. If left untreated Lyme Disease can still affect the joints, skin and heart years later.
Ragweed Hungary is highly infected by ragweed. Each plant is reputed to be able to produce about a billion grains of pollen over a season, and the plant is wind-pollinated. It is highly allergenic, generally considered the greatest allergen of all pollens, and the prime cause of hay fever in Hungary. It flowers from mid-August until midSeptember.
All night chemists/pharmacies Budapest’s pharmacies (“gyógyszertár” in Hungarian) are well stocked and can provide medicaments for most common ailments. The location of the nearest allnight chemist is displayed on the door of every pharmacy. • Aranyhorgony Gyógyszertár IV. kerület, Pozsonyi út 19. • Déli Gyógyszertár XII. kerület, Alkotás út 1/b • Elefánt Gyógyszertár X. kerület, Pongrác út 19. • Fehérvár Gyógyszertár XI. kerület, Fehérvári út 12.
• Hétkorona Gyógyszertár XIX. kerület, Ady Endre út 122.
• Szentkereszt Gyógyszertár XVII. kerület, Pesti út 170/a
• Mária Gyógyszertár XIII. kerület, Béke tér 11.
• Szent Margit Gyógyszertár II. kerület, Frankel Leó út 22.
• Óbuda Gyógyszertár III. kerület, Vörösvári út 86.
• Teréz Gyógyszertár VI. kerület, Teréz krt. 41.
• Örs Vezér Gyógyszertár XIV. kerület, Örs vezér tere – Rendelôintézet
• Tilia Gyógyszertár XXI. kerület, Áruház tér 8.
• Reflex Gyógyszertár XVII. kerület, Ferihegyi út 93.
You can also order a lot of medicines online from Bioszállító Webáruház on www.bioszallito.hu The delivery is swift and cheap. BISB employs registered nurses (pictured) who can administer emergency first aid and care for sudden illnesses.
Medical
An Emergency in Budapest
Maria t u Samm
Horse Riding: • Pasaréti horse riding centre Contact: Kristie Tel: +36 30 961 4645 (about 30 mins outside Budapest on the way to Balaton) • Petneházy riding club: Great for pony riding, walking and buffet lunch. (Feketefej utca 2. on the way out to Nagykovácsi) Tel: +36 20 987 3057 Ice Skating: Eszter Botos Tel: +36 30 5453912
Aquaworld: Aquapark fun all year round. www.aqua-world.hu Basketball (Kosárlabda): VASAS Club, http://www.pasaretsportcentrum.hu Ballet Dance Craze Academy: Sandra Knibbs (Baby ballet, Private lessons for higher grades – see babies in Budapest) Cricket: www.hungary4cricket.com
Ice hockey: Széna Tér Ice Rink, near Mammut 2, beside the bus station, www. szenater.hu (only in Hungarian) the coach is Béla Tejfalussy. There are 2 groups – Under 10s and one for older kids, training 3 times a week, Tues, Thurs and Sat. For older more serious players there is the Budapest Stars, who play in a more serious league and train at a dedicated rink Tel: +36 70 335 2553 Hungarian speaking only. www.bpstars.hu
Cycle hire: Bikebase – they also buy and sell second hand bikes, do repairs and do guided tours. Excellent service and speak English. 1066 Budapest, Podmaniczky Utca 19. Tel: +36 1 269 5983 Mobile: +36 70 625 8501 www.bikebase.hu
Rugby: Budapest Junior Rugby, at BISB on Sunday mornings during term time 10:00 – 11:00 (ages 7-8), 11:00 – 12:00 (ages 9-13) Contact: Jon Cooper Tel: +36 70 930 4030 E-mail: jonathon.cooper@omd.hu
Dance: Dance Craze Academy – Theatre dance, tap, jazz, hip hop. Sandra Knibbs (see babies in Budapest) Tel: +36 30 919 8417
Snow Skiing: A beginners course at Normafa during the winter on a plastic slope. Suitable for those who have never been on skis before to learn the basics. Contact: Orsi Tel: +36 70 290 6872
Figure skating: Eszter Botos Tel: + 36 30 545 3912 Gymnastics: for information Contact gergo.karacsony@bisb.hu Gymboree: for the younger kids Contact zsofi@gymboree.hu
Football / Soccer: • BISB team Saturday mornings 8:30 – 9:30 (Years 1 & 2), 9:40 – 10:40 (Years 3 & 4), 10:50 – 12:15 (Years 5, 6 and 7) Played at BISB in the gym (term time only)
Contact: E-mail: gabor.pereszlenyi@bisb.hu Tel: +36 30 417 7633 • Buda Juniors – English speaking, multinational, for children 4 – 16 years, different times for different grades and abilities. Played at Csillebérc in District 12. Contact : +36 70 702 2350, E-mail: info@budajuniors.hu Squash: • Római Teniszcentrum, 1039 Budapest, Királyok útja 105. Tel: +36 1 240 3895, • Golds Gym, Kolosi tér, district II • RSC Rózsadomb Rószadomb shopping centre, top floor, Tel: +361 345 8490 Swimming Squad: • Lessons : Joe Szoba – Komjádi Swimming Pool Contact: Zoltán, Tel: +36 30 452 6644 • Tamás Denyer – Komjádi Swimming Pool and Margit Island Swimming Pool Contact: Csaba Toth, Tel: +36 20 927 0727) • Private lessons: Chris Walker Tel: +36 70 703 2958 E-mail: chris.walker@bisb.hu Ákos Gerencsér Tel: +36 30 816 3982 Tennis: • Just around the corner from school: Thomas Vári, Hungarian and English speaking tennis coach from Australia. Teaching: beginners to professional, childern and adult. E-mail: thomasvari@hotmail.com Tel: +36 30 916 7669 • Sávolt Tenisz Akadémia, Vasas SC Tenisztelep 1037 Budapest, Folyondár u. 15. Tamás: +36 30 210 1036
Banks are open on weekdays from 8:00 until anywhere between 16:30 and 19:00, and until 12:00 on Fridays. The biggest ones are OTP, CIB, ING, City Bank, Erste bank, MKB, Raffeisen, Unicredit, K&H, Budapest Bank. There are lots of bankomats around the city. Be prepared to have cash on you when you are in a smaller shop as they do not tend to accept credit cards!
Banking
Health & Fitness
or
Auth
Author
Author
Alexandra Fogacs Books There are a few foreign bookstores in Budapest and you can order foreign books online too. The 2 biggest online retailers are www.alexandra.hu and www.bookline.hu (Hungarian websites but can buy foreign books). Both of them give a 20% discount on the RRP if you buy online. If the order is for more than 10,000 HUF, delivery is free. You will need to register on the website before you order. Treehugger Dan’s (pictured) is a great second-hand bookshop located in the very heart of Pest. It is worth subscribing to his newsletters as he hosts a range of events from gigs to talks to book evenings.
Treehugger Dan’s Bookstore Café “The Local Bookstore with a Global Conscience” 1067 Budapest, Csengery u. 48 Tel: +36 1 322 0774 open m-f: 10:00-18:00, sat: 10:00-17:00 1061 Budapest, Lázár u. 16 Tel: +36 1 269 3843 E-mail: info@treehugger.hu www.treehugger.hu open m-f: 09:30-18:30, sat & sun: 10:00-16:00 Pendragon 1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 21-23. – fabulous selection and will order in for you as well Best Sellers Good books and also have magazines 1051 Budapest, Október 6. u. 11. Alexandra and Libri bookshops are large chains dotted around Budapest and in malls. They tend to have a decent selection of books, maps and guide books.
Under the Frog by Tibor Fischer The novel is a black comedy set in Hungary in the years immediately following the end of World War 2 and culminates in the1956 uprising. Its protagonists are Gyuri, Pataki and several others, basketball players who dream of escaping their dead-end factory jobs, and travel to all their basketball gigs in the nude, even when this involves using public transport. The title is taken from a Hungarian expression used to describe any situation when things can’t seem to get any worse: “under the frog’s arse at the bottom of the coal pit”.
While you’re here read: The Food and Wine lovers Guide to Hungary It’s a great book listing good restaurants both Hungarian and International. Culinaria Hungary This book gives not only local recipes but also a history and background to events and traditions. I found it a real lifesaver in the early months and it is handy to give to interested guests.
Now You See It, Now You Don’t / House of Cards, written by our school’s very own Marion Merrick. As one of only about 12 British people to be living in Hungary in the 1980s, Marion Merrick’s books show what real life was like both in communist Budapest, and then after the fall of the iron curtain, through her own experiences here: a very different world to that which expats encounter today.
Television
Mobile phones
Satellite or cable television offers many English channels including CNN, Music TV, BBC World, Cartoon Network, Eurosport, National Geographic, Euronews, CNBC, etc. These English-language channels can be received in most areas of Budapest. UPC Hungary (www.upc.hu) is the largest provider of cable services.
Using your home service provider with international calling is very expensive. Sign up for a mobile service here and get a SIM card for the service. Hungary has three major mobile phone providers. The market leader is T-Mobile (www.t-mobile. hu). Vodaphone (www.vodaphone.hu) and Pannon GSM (www.pannon.hu) are close behind.
Internet
If you need help with the the TV Miki Mátrai (+36 20 337 2962) who works here at BISB during the day is available evenings for installation and maintenance of satellite systems, mending UPC Direct, Antenna Digital, Digi TV, aerial and reinstallation of indoor cables. Basically anything to do with satellites, systems and cables.
There are several internet services available such as T-online (www.t-online.com), Mozilla Firefox (www.mozilla.com), Nextra (www.nextra.hu), Chello via UPC (www. upc.hu), GTS-Datanet (www.datanet.hu)
Entertainment
Entertainment
Anne Hammer
THE HUNGARIAN FOOD BLOG http://www.chew.hu/
Websites
MOVE ONE www.moveonerelo.com Try their Newsletter archives with lots of very useful information! MOVIE, THEATRE http://www.budapest.com http://www.palacecinemas.hu .com
ELO rrelo RR w.inte E T IN ://ww http
FILOLOG http://www.filolog.com Your personal, family-oriented guide to Budapest, Hungary & the Hungarians CABOODLE www.caboodle.hu A great site for searching data about life in Budapest.
Top Budapest, top places, top programs http://familyfriendly.topbudapest.org BUDAPEST CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE http://www.budapest.com/business_education/business_directory/chambers_of_ commerce.en.html Detailed travel information of Budapest – List of chambers of commerce in Budapest MAPS http://utcakereso.hu http://www.holvan.hu/ TRANSLATION SERVICES http://www.translation-guide.com Translate text and web pages online for free! BUDAPEST COMMERCIAL AND TOURIST http://www.budapest.com/
BUDAPEST CITY GUIDE http://cityguide.budapestrooms.com
EXPAT WOMEN http://www.expatwomen.com/ BUDAPEST INDEX http://www.budapestindex.com/ CHAMPS http://www.champs.hu/index
ADVICE FOR EXPATS LIVING IN BUDAPEST http://expatecho.moveone.info/
Websites
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Author @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Marianne @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Spink @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ TIMEOUT Useful local websites and @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ http://www.timeout.com/travel/budapest @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ magazines for life in Hungary @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL http://bbjonline.hu Where do we start with this section? The @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ English language business paper good news is that there is an abundance @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ of fantastic websites and magazines for @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ BUDAPEST FOR KIDS you to choose from. Why not add some of @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ these to your “favourites” and make life a Information portal for family expat life in Budapest http://www.search4.hu/ bit easier! @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ XPATLOOP FUNZINE @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ http://www.xpatloop.com/ http://funzine.hu/ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Magazine in English – free and online Expat information for Budapest @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ BUDAPEST INFORMATION BENJAMIN GUIDES @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/ http://www.benjaminguides.com @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Guidebook for children about Budapest @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ UK IN HUNGARY http://ukinhungary.fco.gov.uk/en/ THE BUDAPEST TIMES @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ http://www.budapesttimes.hu/ – Political @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ and news and other Budapest listings EMBASSY DATA @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ http://hungary.usembassy.gov @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
r
Ruth S
Autho
Fungarian courses are run by the HUNGAROLINGUA Language School. The method is the brainchild of Miklós Molnár and his team of highly qualified and goodhumoured teachers. T el: +36 1 788 8041, +36 20 243 5253 www.hungarolingua.hu Shopping: Open Closed Push Pull Entrance Exit
Days of the week: Monday Hétfô Tuesday Kedd Wednesday Szerda Thursday Csütörtök Friday Péntek Saturday Szombat Sunday Vasárnap Numbers 1 egy 2 kettô 3 három 4 négy 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
öt hat hét nyolc kilenc tíz tizenegy tizenkettô
20 21 22 30
húsz huszonegy huszonkettô harminc
40
negyven
50 60 70 80 90 100 1000 2000
Maria Sammut
Hello is also used as goodbye! It can feel a bit weird when you’re on the ‘phone hearing someone say hello and then putting the ‘phone down, or when someone says hello as you’re leaving the shop.
If you are wanting to really make a go of it in Hungarian there are numerous companies offering classes including Inside Word used by the BISB staff contact. T el: +36 1 215 2753 www.insideword.hu
Author
OK, so Hungarian is never going to be the easiest language to learn. There are language lessons available through school but here are a few useful words and phrases to start with. It gave me such a buzz to be able to greet my non-English speaking neighbour when he spoke to me. I think it was obvious from my accent that I wasn’t Hungarian so he didn’t try further conversation but at least I was able to be polite and not just put my head down and ‘ignore’ him.
hadrack
Learning Hungarian
General:
ötven hatvan hetven nyolcvan kilencven száz ezer kétezer
Nyitva Zárva Tolni Húzni Bejárat Kijárat
General Please Thank you Yes No Good morning Good day/good afternoon Good evening Goodbye Bye Hi/bye
BISB runs its own Hungarian and English classes for parents during the school day. Please ask at reception for details.
Kérem Köszönöm Igen Nem Jó reggelt
(Rough pronunciation) Kayrem Kuhsuhnuhm Eeghen Nehm Yo rehgelhlt
Jó napot
Yo nahpoht
Jó estét Viszontlátásra Viszlát Szia
Yo ashtate Veesohntlatashrah Veeslat Seeya (informal to one person) Seeyastok (informal to more Hi/bye Sziasztok than one person) I don’t understand Nem értem Nehm ayrtehm Do you speak English? Beszél angolul? Bessayl ungolool? Nem beszélek Nehm bessaylek mudyarool I can’t speak Hungarian magyarul Kérhetem a Kayretem uh shegeechaygayt Can you help me? segítségét? Where is …? Hol van? Hole von?
The important thing is to remember to be up to date with the animal’s Rabies injections. This is for both cats and dogs. There are many vets around town and word of mouth is usually the best recommendation as different people demand different qualities in a vet.
Buda Side Dr. Miklós Zsómbôly Tel: +36 20 438 6908 (can arrange to pick up dog) ProVet Veterinary Clinic 1025 Budapest, Csévi utca, Tel: +36 1 394 1006 Budai Kisállat Klinika 1112 Budapest, Csárda utca 10, Tel: +36 1 3101545
Pest Side Állatkórház (Animal Hospital) 1135 Budapest, Lehel Utca 43-47, Tel: +36 1 350 0365 Szent István Veternary University 1078 Budapest, István u. 2. Tel: +36 1 478 4100 E-mail: webmaster@aotk.szie.hu Even do unusual/exotic animals like snakes!
Pets in Budapest
Useful words
Author
Marion Merrick
Pets in Budapest
Boarding Kennels Zöldmáli Kennels These kennels are clean and Zsófi has a genuine interest in the dogs. She breeds Wired Haired Vizslas and can if requested pick up, as she lives in Páty (7 kms from Budapest, about 30 mins from school) Contact: Zsófi Miczek Tel: +36 30 313 2913 E-mail: zsofi@zoldmali.hu Cathotel: cats are treated as home cats and they pick up from your house. Contact: Nikoletta E-mail: nikoletta.cathotel@gmail.com
Dog Walkers / boarding Andrea Tuzson: (speaks only Hungarian) Tel: +36 70 458 7016 Zsófia Eged: (speaks English) Tel: +36 70 458 7014
BISB teacher and (very!) long time Budapest resident Marion Merrick recommends: ZSOLT ARADSZKY has been my long-suffering solicitor for the last 15 years. (He may well feel it’s been longer than that!) He is endlessly patient, totally reliable and honest, speaks wonderful English (he and his partner speak other languages too) and he succeeded in the impossible: suing my bank and sorting out the tangled web of a badly managed property purchase. I cannot recommend him strongly enough! http://www.laworld.com/locations.php?content_id=133
Lawyers
Intervet, 1139 Budapest, Fáy utca 4. Tel: +36 1 350 8550 Alpha-Vet, 1194 Budapest, Hofherr Albert utca 38-40. Tel: +36 1 348 0246
Author
Gai Blyth Shopping is time consuming! My regime is a supermarket shop once every month – water, washing detergent, canned and dried goods, toilet roll etc., then on a daily basis milk and bread. Once a week I visit the butcher and twice a week the greengrocer. Yes, this is a real commitment, but I find this the freshest method. Fruit and veg don’t last long here so it needs to be bought regularly but the taste is so much better! During the summer there is an abundance of excellent and cheap fruit. Hungary was once the ‘bread basket’ of Eastern Europe and the result is fabulous fruit in particular peaches, cherries, watermelon, apricots and so on! The winter is much leaner and fresh green veg are definitely harder to come by. I have found frozen veg a reasonable substitute. The Hungarians eat pickled veg during the lean times and I have been
Meat cuts are different too and a bit daunting. Pork is excellent and cheap. Lamb is a real treat but not impossible to find. The Hungarians also eat a lot of poultry including turkey. Hungarian cheese (trappista) is not very flavoursome however all the supermarkets sell a good range and specialist delis have a great display of European cheeses. Generally speaking, Hungarians tend to do their grocery shopping towards the end of the week. Fresh produce tends to be better quality and more plentiful on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Here are a couple of shopping tips • Always check the sell-by-date carefully! • If you want only one of something then you need to show this using your thumb. For 2 things you need your thumb and forefinger. Do it in the British way and you will probably end up with 3. • Never hand money over (restaurant, taxi, shop) and say “Köszönöm” (thank you) as you do so. This indicates that you don’t want any change back and may be an expensive mistake. • Have a rough idea of how much your shop should cost even if it’s just a coffee and a cake so you don’t hand out too much money.
Bio = organic Bread Good, but best to buy every day if possible. Wide selection: whole wheat, white, some made with potato or corn flour. fehér – white barna – brown félbarna – half-half kukorica – corn burgonya – potato Milk The percentage of fat dictates the colour of the container. 1.5% is skimmed, 2.8% is semi-skimmed and 3.6% is full fat. Check sell-by-date and coolness of the fridge.
1122 Budapest, Csaba utca 8. Tel: +36 1 212 2439 Cakes Daubner (Szépvölgyi út district II), Szamos Café (Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal and Normafa, 1021 Budapest – can buy/order birthday cakes.
Where to shop Supermarkets
Sausages Hungary has some great sausages but you can also buy a selection of British sausages from Wilkinson’s Sausage: E-mail: Sausage@chello.hu He also does New Zealand lamb and beef to order.
Tesco 1037 Budapest, Bécsi út 258. Cora 2045 Törökbálint, Torbágy u. 1. Auchan 1033 Budapest, Szentendrei út 115. Kaiser 1032 Budapest, Bécsi út 136. Interspar 1037 Budapest, Bécsi út 154.
Fruit and vegetables Wherever you buy them, they don’t tend to last very long, but, in season, on the day you buy them, they taste real.
Shopping Centres
Self raising flour and cream are both sometimes difficult to source. The recipe for SR flour is 4 level tsp baking powder (sütôpor) to each 225g (8oz) of flour (finom liszt) tejföl = sour cream. UHT cooking cream and whipping cream usually comes in a carton and is sold close to the UHT milk. (Shake before use, otherwise the gunk all goes to the bottom). Double cream can be purchased from some of the expat shops (see below) Kefir is similar to yoghurt, full of probiotics but a little bit more sour. Ice cream The best ice-cream can be found just off Moszkva tér at ‘Artigiana Gelati’,
Buda side Rózsakert and Rózsadomb both have Kaiser, Posta (Post Office), expensive green grocers, dry cleaning, shoe repair counter, Kodak shop, banks etc. Budagyöngye – Hûvösvölgyi (56 tram) Main food shops are in the basement. Good butcher and greengrocer. Fishmonger (who will fillet, etc as required). The deli sells cheeses from around the world and lovely bread. The butcher can take orders in English – lamb, venison etc – +36 30 408 5355 (Josef). Poultry shop – can order Christmas turkeys. There are 2 Hungarian wine shops and a bio shop. Shell petrol station [sells gas for BBQs]
Shopping
Shopping
Food
caught once ordering a salad in January only to find the veg had been pickled some time the previous July!
Mammut market (Fény utca) (pictured on previous page) – partially covered with huge range of fruit and veg. The butcher upstairs sells the Mangalica pork and organic grey cattle beef. There is also a spice shop there. Pest side Central Market (close to Szabadság bridge at Fôvám tér) – meat, veg, game, fish + Chinese supermarket in basement. Expat shops
Shopping online www.drink-to-door.hu delivers heavy goods i.e. water, wine, washing powder, flour, nappies etc
Furniture
www.cibus.hu is the biggest Italian importer in Hungary. Prices are better than in the supermarkets.
Artosz 1025 Budapest, Csévi utca, (near Pasaréti tér). Baked beans, crisps, double cream and other treats. Happy to take orders.
www.britishcornershop.co.uk features bulk and singular product sales from snacks and cake to noodles and drink. Also provides pet products, toiletries, and fair trade items. Located in the UK.
Culinaris 1036 Budapest, Perc utca 8. 1067 Budapest, Hunyadi tér 3. www.culinaris.hu
www.thebritishpantry.hu online predominantly British food and drink, delivered to your door.
Corner Shop (corner of Gábor Áron and Pasaréti) Delicates Piccante and Café Delicates (pictured) – both very near school These are up-market delis, tempting expats where you can find many home treats. Tesco Has an expat aisle where you can usually get some Mexican, Asian and North-American ingredients as well as muesli, Weetabix, shortbread, jam, SR Flour, mushy peas…. Asia exotic shop Wesselényi utca. Kamleesh runs the shop with her husband and also runs Indian cooking classes at her home. Every Asian ingredient ever required.
Max City Törökbálint huge furniture and accessory stores Vibel Accessories for children’s bedrooms (Maia Christie). 1051 Budapest, Október 6. utca corner of Balaton and Nagy Ignác utca. KA International fabric shop Order and sell fabric etc. although some people have bad experiences with their service. Bajcsy-Zsilinsky út. Beautiful hand-made wooden furniture by Zsolt Buday, cabinet maker. www.fairliefurniture.co.uk
Hungarian wine is good, best known for Bikavér (bull’s blood) which is a big red and Tokaji (mostly sweet, desert wines). Try the rosé as a cheap, refreshing summer tipple, or cabernet sauvignon for a fuller bodied red. “vörös” “rosé” “fehér”
Shopping
Shopping
Kika and Ikea These are a treat and you can pretty much get what you would like – at a price! Unfortunately no M&S ready-meals! They have nice cheeses, crisps, baked beans, spices, oils etc
Bortársaság – chain of wine shops, selling mostly Hungarian wines, but you can pick up new and old world wines at a price. Will deliver for free, and take internet orders.
Aut
hor
obson
As a newcomer to any city it is really worthwhile investing the time and energy to join an Expat club or society. Just remember that everyone who attends has been new at some stage and we all have to do things “out of our comfort zone” and push ourselves a bit in order to become settled. Why not try one of these clubs? You will meet wonderful people and feel at home in no time.
BWA
NAWA
http://www.nawabudapest.com/ The North American Women’s Association (NAWA) of Budapest is dedicated to fostering a sense of community among North Americans and offering a forum for members to interact with the local community through events and charitable activities.
IWC Miscellaneous Great shop selling authentic Hungarian goose down duvets and pillows. (pictured) These can be made to order: Teréz Körút, 35. Tel. +36 30 996 6480 www.paplan.hu Silver jewellery and pashminas: Sheena Bhasin Tel: +36 20 928 1602 Optician – Mom Park Vision Express has an English speaking optician.
Jolie Powell adds: Excellent costume hire shop in central Budapest (V district, opposite Central Kávéház). It has a really impressive range of costumes for hire – just about everything you could imagine for both adults and children. The entire selection is catalogued in an online system so you can browse and select what you would like before going along to the shop to try it on. Once at the shop there are plenty of staff to help find the right costume for you, using the same efficient online system, and help you with fitting.
MASZKA “Costume making and renting” 1056 Budapest Irányi u. 18-20. Tel: +36 1 3175491, +36 1 3174475 www.maszka.hu
http://www.iwc.org.hu The International Women’s Club Association of Budapest (IWCA) is a non-profit, charitable organization founded in 1981 by a group of enterprising women from the international and diplomatic communities in Budapest. Today, the Association has more than 230 members representing more than 35 nationalities. The main purpose of the organisation is to sponsor and support charitable activities related to health care and education in Hungary, and especially to support hospitals and children suffering
was founded in November 2008 for those who are Italian or who can speak Italian. The Italian Chamber of Commerce has a magazine called “Il Ponte” and the Italian Institute of Culture has an organised space for leaflets and have small events.
American Boy Cubs & Scouts Troop 939
Italian Women’s Association
Expats
Shopping
http://bwa.expatshungary.com/ The British Women’s Association (BWA) was set up in 1994 to offer British Women and wives and partners of British men living in Hungary a regular opportunity to meet together in an informal and friendly environment.
from disease or disability. In addition, the organisation promotes the development of good relationships between women of the international community and the host country in order to increase their knowledge of the people and the culture of Hungary. The organisation also supports the Club, which provides opportunities for women in the international community to meet and engage in social and cultural activities. The Club organises meetings and programs which fulfill the goals and principles of the Association and cooperates with other organizations sharing similar goals, whenever possible. The IWCA supports Mother Theresa Soup Kitchen, the Salvation Army, orphanages, hospitals, family assistance centers and a variety of other organizations in need.
Michelle R
http://www.cameradicommerciobudapest.com/cciucom/ http://www.classictic.com/en/Budapest/Italian-Instituteof-Culture There is a new Italian Women Association called “Amiche dell’Italia” which Contact: Don and Diane Baker – bridgeoverbrooke@hotmail.com It’s good to contact your embassy to find out more about any other national groups/societies that might be in your own nationality. Please ask BISB’s Admissions (admissions@bisb.hu) for the name of your Country Representative or the Country Reps Forum (agnes.clapp@bisb.hu) to provide you with more information on national societies/papers/websites/etc.
Author
Alexaongdarcas F
The driving here is not terrible but it could be much better! The roads in Budapest are not very good, they are full of pot holes, especially after the winter. The traffic lights colours are red-yellowgreen. Red = stop, red + yellow = get ready and green = go! flashing yellow = get ready to stop. Sometimes in the evenings and at the weekends they just have a continually flashing yellow light effectively turning a crossroads into a 4-way stop. Proceed with care! The speed limits in the city are 50km/h, dual carriageways are 90km/h and motorways 130km/h. Keep to the speed limits – fines are huge! Headlights must be kept switched on all the time outside built-up areas. In order to use the motorways you will need to purchase a vignette (matrica) before you leave. You can buy these from petrol stations and the minimum time you
Information on the state of the roads can be found at www.fovinform.hu in English as well as Hungarian. www.utv.hu is only available in Hungarian but shows the main interchanges live by camera online. Just click on ’Pest side’ or ’Buda side’ and on the street name. Very interesting! Hiring a car Hiring a car in Budapest is fairly easy. You need your passport and your driving licence. The largest car hire company is Fox Autorent (www.fox-autorent.com) and the largest bus hire company is Sargent-Bus (www.sargentbus.com).
Public Transport A good first thing to do is to ask your new neighbours or your landlord about local public transport. They will know which buses, trams, metro station are most useful for you. The Budapest Közlekedési Vállalat Website at www.bkv.hu is accessible in English too. You can find everything here about how all the different forms of public transport link together. If you type the street name nearest to where you live that has a metro, bus, trolley bus, HÉV (overground metro) or tram on it in the search box, the site will give you a list of all the buses, trams and metro that go there. For example, if you type in Kiscelli (the school’s nearest street) it gives you the number of the bus lines- 86, 109, 206, and then you
can check where the lines come from / go to. There is a route planner on the website too. It is important to know that you CAN’T buy your ticket on the bus, tram, metro, etc., you have to buy them in advance. You can buy tickets at the main interchanges (Moszkva tér, Déli pályaudvar, all metro stations, etc) and you can buy them at most newsstands. Ask for Gyûjtôjegy = 10 tickets Havi bérlet = a monthly pass Heti jegy = weekly pass It is a good idea to check the prices because if you travel a lot it is better to buy a season ticket.
One ticket is valid for one line – the whole line with no stops and no changes. It can be used on all types of public transport. It has to be validated once on board the bus, trolley-bus, HÉV or tram and before getting on the metro.
a r d n A a x e Al ogacs F r
o uth
Getting around
Getting around
Driving in Budapest
can buy one for is 3 days. The official website www.motorway.hu is very useful and gives you other options regarding purchasing a vignette. Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory. Children under 12 years or less than 150 cm tall must sit in the back in a child-seat. Use of a mobile phone while driving is strictly prohibited unless you have a speaker phone or Bluetooth. Unfortunately this law continues to be widely ignored. No drinking and driving! There is zero tolerance of alcohol and it is strictly enforced by the police. Carry your driving licence and car papers with you wherever you go. Do not leave them in the car. EU citizens can use their domestic driving licences in Hungary. Non-EU citizens need to convert their licence into a Hungarian licence after a year. For this, you will need to take a medical exam and the written road test (for English speakers this is arranged as an interpreted oral test). The process can be completed in about two months. Children aged 17 can apply for a driving licence. Driving lessons in English are available (www.csigajogsi.hu, www.driving.hu ) Rush hours are from 07:30 – 09:30 and from 16:30 – 18:30. Don’t be scared, hold your ground! Most of the Hungarian drivers know the short-cuts to school – ask them!
• Make sure you lock your car when you get out of it. • Never buzz in someone you don’t know or understand.
Author
Gai Blyth
• Take valuables – wallet, watch, phone – upstairs at night. • Don’t leave valuables where they can be seen through a window. • Don’t leave valuables in your car. • Pick-pockets are common, especially in Mammut and on crowded trams. Never leave your bag unattended, carry it with you all the time.
We have been the victims of burglary twice. Cash was taken from the house in about 3 minutes, simply by tooling open a window and the second time my husband’s wallet was stolen very professionally. Both times – despite opportunity for more – only cash was stolen. I have never heard of anyone feeling threatened. So, here are a few tips to try and prevent this petty crime and what to do about it if it happens to you.
Tips: • Photocopy passport and permits and keep in a safe place (separate from the originals). • Make a list of all the telephone numbers in your mobile phone. • Always make sure the gates are locked behind you when you leave the garage or property.
If you are the victim of a crime this is what to do: Stolen wallet / break in – go to the Rendôrség (police) in your district, take an interpreter and you will be interviewed. They take a statement i.e. what has been taken, where from, etc. and give you a printed copy (in Hungarian). There’s no point in going unless you have an interpreter that you trust. I have used both my babysitter and my Hungarian teacher – it doesn’t need to be anyone official. The Rendôrség investigate and 6 weeks after reporting, you will receive a closure letter in the post. It’s important to report a stolen wallet, particularly if it has your address and residence permit in it, as you’ll need the police report to replace the cards and insurance companies often want this. Police in English – 438 8080. However ... it’s better if you can get someone to interpret.
Security
Security
Pick pocketing and purse snatching are very common in Hungary on public transportation, on the streets and in restaurants. Crime is petty but prevalent.
Author
acs Alexandra Fog Bills If you are renting your house or flat it is better to agree with the owner that they pay the utility bills and that you give or transfer the money to them. The bills arrive at your house on yellow printed paper which details (see picture below) the amount (1), the name of the payer (2), the name of the company you owe the money to (3) and the deadline (4). The yellow slip has 2 parts, when you pay the smaller part is returned to you for your records. Keep a file with them in!
Post
If you receive a parking fine it is better to pay it within 5 days. The fine is one hours parking + 10x the hourly fee. e.g. if one hour is 115 HUF then the fine will be 115 + 1150 = 1265 HUF. After 5 days the fine goes up to 20x the hourly fee.
The official website is www.posta.hu but is only available in Hungarian. You can do a lot in the Post Office. You can buy all the stationery you need, phonecards, lottery tickets. You can pay bills, pay in money, withdraw money, send
The yellow ticket comes in a blue or red bag attached to your windscreen. You will have to fill in the slip when you pay with the amount in numbers and characters. It is enough if you write the registration plate of the car in the big white box where you normally write who is paying the bill.
The Hungarian Post Office has lots of offices. The smaller ones are usually open from 8 or 9 am until 3 or 4 pm, but close from 12.30 until 2pm for half an hour. The bigger ones in the shopping centres are open from 8 or 9 am until 7 or 8 pm. Most Post Offices close on Sunday and the smaller ones close on Saturday too.
It is best to wrap packages securely and label them as “LÉGIPOSTA” (airmail). Valuables should be sent with an extra security charge paid for them. When expecting packages from abroad, ask them to send to your work place address. They are easier to be traced than home addressed parcels if they are lost on the way.
N.B. Keep some change in your car for parking. You can also pay by mobile phone; check out the website www.fizessenmobillal.hu (Hungarian and English).
(1) (4)
(3)
Euro Centre post office is open on Sunday morning.
Because you only have 5 days to pay the fine, ask one of the Hungarians in school to help you.
(1)
(2)
money, send faxes, subscribe to newspapers, effect an insurance and more.
(3)
(2)
Some international courier services are DHL ( www.dhl.hu ) World Courier (www.worldcourier.hu ). National courier services include 24 hr Futárszolgálat (www.24hfutar.hu ) Gepárd Team (www.gepardteam.hu ). www.interparcel.co.uk charge very competitive rates for sending packages. From the UK to Hungary. Approximately 8,500 HUF for 26 kilos.
Bills, post and fines
Bills, post and fines
It is best to pay on time because late payment incurs an interest charge. You can only pay these bills at the Post Office. Be prepared to line up! You can also set up bank transfers to pay these regular utility bills.
Fines
Author
LECTURE PROGRAM AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST Do you love art? Enjoy art lectures presented by museum curators and educators - in English. Attend the lectures at your leisure – no need to register in advance: you can buy a ticket in the lobby right before the lecture. Each spring and autumn a new series begins. Or if you would like to help introduce others to the beauty of the works in the museum’s collection, consider training to be a Docent of the Museum of Fine Arts. No art background is necessary. The museum provides intensive training – all you need is some free time and lots of enthusiasm. Visit the website www.mfab.hu for more details (click on Education, then Docent Program) or contact docent@szepmuveszeti.hu Again, Budapest’s famous thermal baths and spas are covered in the guide books but a recommendation would be the Széchenyi baths. Clean, beautiful and if you go in the week, not crowded and also
CATWALK in Mammut shopping centre district 2 T el: +36 1 345 8521 DITI just off Vaci út in Pest T el: +36 70 619 9525 JANOS in Paseréti tér in district 2 T el: +36 20 299 11987
not ridiculously expensive which some of the other baths become during the busy summer tourist season. In fact it is best in winter I am told, as bathing outside with snow all around is quite an experience!. They only take cash, you should get a changing cabin and you will need flip flops - top tips from a friend who had been a few times. If you are looking for a new hobby or perhaps you just want to try something a little different, the following short courses/ regular meetings may be of interest to you: Pottery Courses of 10 weeks at a reasonable price. Beginners and more experienced potters are welcomed. Contact Jutka Fisher on +36 70 370 4253 Indian Cookery Short courses for small groups of 5 or so Mums. Learn how to cook authentic curries, rajta, chapattis - tasting included!! Contact Kamlesh on +36 306 818694.
CSABA based at Le Meridian Hotel, Erzsébet tér in Pest IRISZ SALON Gárdonyi Géza, district 2, just round the corner from Rózsadomb. Great manicure or pedicure from Sylvie. You need to call in the salon as she only speaks Hungarian. Other Mums in school have mentioned Marilyn in the Rózsakert shopping centre and Zsuzsi or Kata at the Rózsadomb shopping centre, both in district 2. Whatever you decide to do, you will most probably find someone at school who has tried it or knows someone else who has. Please just ask around and join in the fun!!
Mah Jong It takes place every Monday morning from 10:00 until 12:00/12:30 usually, at Remiz restaurant, Budakeszi út. Bus 22 at Szep Ilona (after Budagyongye). They play in the card room on the first floor. There are no dues. They just pay for their drinks. Everybody is welcome (even beginners). It is an International friendly group. Please contact Marie Pataky-Kovalevitch marie.kovalevitch@gmail.com Walking Club The Buda Hills walking club meet on a Thursday morning at 10am every week for a 2 hour walk. Contact Sharon Hardgrove on +36 20 931 1884 CELTA Train for a TEFL qualification (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) on a 4 month part-time course or a one-month full time-course. This one may even lead to a new career!! See www.ih.hu for more details.
At a loose end
At a loose end
Marianne Spink
Hairdressers and beauty salons are of course a must for any lady with time on her hands!! My personal favourite is ‘A List’ (district 2, +36 30 515 9944) which is cheap and friendly and you are sure to bump into someone from school there on a Friday lunchtime!! Some others are:
The guide ‘Benjamin in Budapest’ covers activities for children and families really well, therefore this section is aimed at adults. Of course, your children may enjoy one of the following activities too, but this section is mainly aimed at Mums with a bit of time on their hands. So, after dropping off your children at school at 8:40, you have a potential 7 hours to fill until you pick them up again! The tourist guide books cover the museums and galleries in Budapest, so I won’t include it here, but for me a real must when you first arrive in Budapest is the National Museum’s ‘Hungary from 1000 to 1990’. It will give you a potted history of the country you have just arrived in and you will see what are effectively the national treasures. Hungary has had a colourful and complicated past and so this might help you to understand the people and customs a little more.
Author
Jane Thompson
It’s Easy Being Green…. It is getting increasingly easier to be ‘green’ in Budapest, the last 5 years has seen an explosion of recycling bins and bike paths. Greenness is no longer confined to the realms of the hardcore. It is possible for those of us who cannot weave and hate tofu to do our bit…
Restaurants: There are many restaurants in Budapest with great options for vegetarians mostly those with ‘international’ menus. Trattoria Toscana 1056 Budapest, Belgrad rakpart 13. Tel: + 36 (1) 327-0045 or vistit www.toscana.hu
1028 Budapest, Hidegkúti út 81. Open: Mon-Thurs 8:00-21:00, Fri 8:0022:00, Sat 9:00-22:00, Sun 9:00-21:00 Tel: + 36 274-7733 Mobile: +36 30 865-9773 www.cafeprovence.hu ‘Normafa Grill’ is a great place to eat after a hearty walk in the hills, very child friendly. 1121 Budapest, Eötvös út 52-54. Tel: + 36 (1) 395-6505 www.normafahotel.com Indigo Indian Restaurant 1066 Budapest, Jókai utca 13. Tel: +36 1 428-2187 www.indigo-restaurant.hu Selling Secondhand: Items you would like to sell or pass onto others. • Place an ad on the school noticeboard • Erika’s Attic is a website for expats wishing to sell or buy secondhand items www.erikasattic.com
Café Provence Great food and brilliant place especially if you have young children. Buda: ‘Bio Centrum’ in Mammut Shopping Centre Eating Organic food is now available nearly everywhere – the best place is the weekly farmers market close to Mom Park. Farmers from the surrounds of Budapest bring fabulously fresh produce, there is an organic bakery stall and a children’s play park adjoining it. A pleasant coffee shop beckons round the corner. 1123 Budapest, Csörsz u. 18. 6:30am – 12:00, Saturdays There are many ‘bio’ shops sprouting up all over Budapest – not cheap – but increasingly well stocked.
Pest: ‘Bio’ ABC 7th district, Erzsébet körút Wesselényi Tram stop
• Emma Toth-Plumtree ‘I sell it on for you’ Takes used items, (especially chidren’s items, clothes, books) presents them and sells them on ebay or local vatera sites. E-mail: emma@tothplumtree.com Buying Secondhand: As above! There are lots of secondhand clothes shops for the brave or very determined. For the more conservative BÚJÓCSKA (Hide-andSeek) is a great place filled with designer childrens’ clothes. It is a bit of a trek but Budakeszi has a pretty playpark and a pleasant coffee shop in the centre and is on the way, if you go the scenic route to Ikea. 2092 Budakeszi, Fô út 88-90. Tel: +36 30 449 9807 E-mail: bujocskabolt@freemail.hu Open: M-F: 10:00-17:30 Sat: 10:00-13:00 Treehugger Dan’s Bookshop is not only a great resource for secondhand books, but also a hub for anyone literary, environmentally or alternative culturally minded who enjoys a good cup of fair trade coffee.
1067 Budapest, Csengery u. 48 Tel: 36 1 322 0774 open M-F: 10:00-18:00, Sat: 10:00-17:00 1061 Budapest, Lázár u. 16 Tel: 36 1 269 3843 E-mail: info@treehugger.hu www.treehugger.hu open M-F: 09:30-18:30, Sat & Sun: 10:00-16:00 1052 Budapest, Sütõ u. 2. In the courtyard in the same building as the McD’s and tourist office Opening hours: Nov to March 10:00 to 18:00, April to Oct 8:30 to 20:00 Ecseri Fleamarket has a great range of knickknacks and antique furniture. Definitely worth a visit for people watching purposes, some extraordinary characters and exchanges to be observed. A good deal of the stuff looks like and probably has come out of a skip. Prices are in some cases ridiculously high but bargaining is the norm. You will occasionally of course find a unique treasure which ensures
you cannot resist going back again just in case!! Best to go early ( 6-7am) on a Saturday morning XIX. Nagykôrösi út Transportation Bus: 54 from Boráros tér Tel: +36 1 280-8840 WAMP While it is not strictly secondhand, WAMP is a monthly market promoting young Hungarian designers. Really cool, unique handicrafts often made from recycled materials, gorgeous jewellery, great gifts (for yourself)! Usually held in the Gödör club in Deák tér in the centre of town so pretty easy to get to . www.wamp.hu/en/ Hiring Bikes Yellow Zebra now do a long term bike rental scheme for those preferring not to purchase a bike. They also do daily and hourly services too. Located at Deák tér. www.yellowzebrabikes.com Green Map A Hungarian environment charity, Messzelátó, has produced a number of detailed maps pin pointing a range of green services. Really worth a look. www.messzelato.hu/hu/node/373
Purely vegetarian or vegan Hummus 1054 Budapest, Alkotmany utca 20. Tel: + 36 (1) 302 13 85 Napos Oldal Jokia utca 7/8 6th district Here there are two shops facing each other, one is a Bio ABC, while the other is a small restaurant using the ingredients from Bio ABC to make sandwiches, lunches and dinners. Vegetarium 1053 Budapest, Cukor ut 3. Tel: + 36 1 48 408 48
Being Green
Being Green
Recycling There is no kerbside pick up for recycling but there are large recycling bins within a few streets of most houses and around big supermarkets or parking areas. You can return paper (“papír”), plastic (“mûanyag”), glass (“üveg”), milk bottles (“tejes doboz”) and clothes (“használt ruha”) in most places.
• Batteries can be brought into school (and Ikea!) • Unwanted clothes can be put in the bins outside ‘Stop Shop’ on Hûvösvölgyi út, or brought to school for various charities. • Bottle returns: You can return most of your glass bottles, such as wine bottles and plastic bottles, such as water bottles at the “üvegvisszaváltó” window in shops. You will get some deposit back. Jam jars are not returnable. • Once or twice a year there is also a disposal day (“lomtalanítás”) when you can get rid of large items of rubbish. These disposal days are advertised in advance by the local government.
Author
Michelle Robson
Making a telephone call • From a landline or payphone to another in Budapest, dial the 7-digit number. • When calling outside the city add +36 then the city code (Budapest is 1) • All mobile numbers here start +36 and 30, 20 or 70 depending on the network provider. • International calls dial 00 + country code + area code + local number. Hungary is 36, England is 44. • If you are having problems dial 00 for the International Operator.
Emergency phone numbers and outside working hours numbers
If you are unable to speak in Hungarian make sure you have contact information for someone who knows your details and can call on your behalf in Hungarian. General Emergency Services 112 Police 107 Fire 105 Ambulance 104 Directory Assistance 198 English Phone Directory 191 International Operator 199 24 hour English language crime hotline Tel: +36 1 438 8080 Lost and Found Tel: +36 1 322 6613
First Med Centers Kft Tel: +36 1 224 9090 Inland enquiries: Universal enquiries: International enquiries: Autó club-help number: Speaking clock: Tourinform telephone enquiries:
198 197 199 188 180
National holidays +36 1 438-8080
Loss of passport You should report the loss of your passport to the following authority: Budapest and Pest County Directorate of the Office for Immigration and Citizenship 1 117 Budapest, Budafoki út 60. Tel: +36 1 463-9165 / 463-9181 Open: 24 hours
Information from: www.budapestinfo.hu/en/general_information/medical_services
If your passport is stolen, you must report the loss to the local district police headquarters.
24-hour medical assistance:
It’s easy to lose your passport, but getting a replacement is expensive and time-consuming. You need to carry ID here, but you can use your photo driving licence.
Falck SOS Hungary. Tel: +36 1 200 0100 24-hour dental assistance: Tel: +36 1 267 9602 Dentist Rózsakert Medical Rózsakert
Tel: +36 1 200 0734 Tel: +36 1 391 5903
Miscellaneous thoughts & tips
The Budapest Police Command has around-the-clock service in the centre of town: T ourist Police (1052 Budapest, Sütô u. 2.)
1st January 15th March March/April (varies) 1st May May (varies) 20th August 23rd October 1st November 24th December 25th December 26th December
New Year’s Day Anniversary of 1848 uprising against Austrian rule Easter Monday Labour Day Whit Monday Feast of St Stephen, the founder of the Hungarian state in 1000 Anniversary of the 1956 uprising All Saints’ Day Christmas Eve Christmas Day Boxing Day
National holidays falling on a Tuesday (or a Thursday) are usually joined with the Monday (or Friday) to make up a long weekend and the following Saturday will be a work day instead. Looking for work www.workania.hu if you are looking to find a job in Hungary. You can change the language to Hungarian, German and English. Post codes Budapest has a four digit post code, the two middle digits are the district. E.g. 1026 = district 2
Tips & Hints
Tips & Hints
A few words of warning unfortunately gained through experience: do not expect emergency services operators to speak
English. It is useful to know your address in Hungarian and to translate some useful phrases, like “my house is on fire!”
Taxis Never get a taxi off the street, always order one by phone or you may be vastly overcharged. Some taxi companies: Buda Taxi: Tel: +36 1 233 3333 Tele5 Taxi: Tel: +36 1 555 5555 City Taxi: Tel: +36 1 211 1111 Taxi 2000: Tel: +36 1 200 0000 Sôfôr Taxi Service will collect you AND drive your car home if you find yourself out with the car and wanting a drink! Tel: +36 1 20 950 5505.
Shopping Grocery shops do not give out free bags (apart from Tescos). Buy bags and keep them in the car! Snow You are responsible for clearing snow from your paths, you could be liable for any accidents.
Driving
Ragweed
Give way to the right rule if there is no give way sign for them to stop. Drivers are very impatient and will use every opportunity to overtake.
You are responsible for cutting back ragweed in and around your property. You could be fined for letting the weed spread. Radio
Money RadioCafé 98.6 FM has an English speaking program on a Thursday evening and BBC and RFI alternate on 92.1 FM (RFI between 7:30 and 16:00, BBC between 16:00 and 7.30)
1 or 2 Forint coins and from January 2010 HUF200 paper notes are not in use Tipping Normally 10%. Do not give the money and say THANK YOU this means thank you and keep the change. “Kérek vissza” means I want the change back. Language Csókolom – means kiss your hand – it is a sign of respect from men to women. Do not say it to men!
Hungarians celebrate both their birthdays and their name’s days which are noted on Hungarian calendars.
Tips & Hints
Tips & Hints
Name days
Photographs always make an excellent gift for friends and family back home. We have 4 recommendations.
For lovely portraits of your little ones or indeed yourselves:
Julian (Gyula Zácsfa
lvi)
Wedding and family photos from which he designs unique Ph otobooks. He also photograph s Budapest and pu blishes calendars each year using these images . www.juulphoto. com tel: +36 70 525 1242 email: juul-photo@ gmail.com
erson
And Franc
t
ough
ften b
t–o apes
Bud os of Phot sents. e as pr 0 com 0 254 mail. 30 99 erson@g 6 3 + tel: cand : fran email
Peter Ronaszeki d portraits.
Family photos an
1 0837 tel: +36 30 50 onaszeki.com @r ter pe : ail em
Tamás Holló
Photographers
pes, landPortraits, citysca ife. ldl wi d an scapes 5 7112 tel: +36 20 32 llo.com ho as tam www. .extra.hu www.hollotamas