Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7
Hungary
by Andrew Princz
I
n 1994, I answered an advertisement in
the local newspaper in my native Mon-
treal that read, “Seeking a young, well-
connected, Hungarian-speaking student
for intriguing artistic project.” The job
was indeed intriguing and artistic: I trav-
eled to Budapest for the summer to help
prepare for Canada's participation in the
1996 Expo. The trip started my career as
a journalist and, ironically, brought me
back to the country my parents had
escaped—as young journalists—some 4
decades earlier.
The country I saw that summer—and
had occasionally seen as a child—was
drastically different from the one my par-
ents knew. They lived in a Hungary that
had already lost two-thirds of its territory
during World War I. By 1941, the coun-
try was plunged into World War II, after
which followed the failed 1956 revolu-
tion against the Soviet occupation. To
this day, bullet holes from the armed
insurrection can still be seen on the
facades of buildings.
I walked the streets of Budapest that
summer and saw a city that was blessedly
starting to emerge from the shadows of its
past. My Expo gig introduced me to
many Hungarian personalities—artists,
curators, government officials, and
more—and while a few still held onto the
mentality of Communist Hungary, many
were visionaries trying to break creative
barriers and introduce change. Hungary
was in the midst of a fierce, lively period
of transformation after decades of Com-
munist rule.
Today, Hungary is still eager to move
beyond a difficult century and reconnect
with the world. After all, this country
enjoyed a glorious early history. Budapest
once rivaled its neighboring Vienna
under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy
and enjoyed a flourishing cultural life. In
May 2004, Hungary became a member
of the European Union and now has an
opportunity to be an influential Euro-
pean nation.
Young and old alike, Hungarians love
to live, and you'll find lots of friendly
locals hanging out in bars and bistros.
Explore Budapest, travel the countryside,
and take a dip in a relaxing spa. See
nature and wildlife at the Tisza Lake, eat
exquisite Hungarian fish soup, and ven-
ture off to Lake Balaton—their little sea.
Get to know Hungary and Hungarians.
1 Getting to Know Hungary
THE LAY OF THE LAND
A member of the European Union since the spring of 2004, Hungary is playing a
dynamic game of catch-up. After the systemic changes over 15 years ago, the country did
a total turnaround, from a centrally controlled economy under the sphere of influence of
the Soviet Union, to almost out-of-control capitalism. Today, the government is trying to
find the middle ground and better the lot of the Hungarians as a whole, who have not
