From the Rubik’s Cube to the unusual fluffy pig – there are five things, useful or not, that are interesting to know about Hungary ahead of the Sunday parliamentary elections.
Good Old Times
Nostalgia for better times is ubiquitous in Hungary. Football enthusiasts still mourn the ‘Easy Horse’, the famous football generation led by Ferenc Puskas that dominated world football from 1950 to 1954.
During that period, they became Olympic champions in 1952 by defeating Yugoslavia 2-0 in the final in Helsinki and reached the World Cup final in 1954, where they unexpectedly lost to Germany.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8oWzpJgO7Y
Historical textbooks still nurture memories of ‘Greater Hungary’ before the signing of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, which saw Hungary lose two-thirds of its former territory.
The victory of Janos Hunyadi’s forces over the Turks during the siege of Belgrade in 1456 still evokes pride. Some even claim that the tradition of ringing church bells at noon began as a remembrance of that Christian victory.
And Attila, the king of the Huns, known as the Scourge of God? The kinship of the Hungarian people with the famous steppe conqueror is yet to be proven, but it fuels numerous myths, especially in nationalist circles.
Balaton and ‘Sheep-Pig’
Among natural attractions, Lake Balaton, the “inland sea” of 600 square kilometers, is an inevitable destination. During the Cold War and the Berlin Wall, it was a meeting place for German families from the East and West. On the peaceful shores of Balaton, entire families gathered.
But Hungary’s hidden treasure, which excites chefs and butchers around the world, is an unusual pig, fluffy like a sheep. The Mangalica breed has meat of extraordinary quality. All gourmets agree on this. This Hungarian breed of pig has become highly sought after for breeding in recent years.
Budapest as a ‘Low-Cost’ Tourist Mecca
Far from the plains with Mangalicas, the Hungarian capital has developed into a leading tourist destination, especially during the holiday season. With dozens of low-budget flights every day, cheap accommodation, and beer, Budapest attracts ‘party-goers’ from all over Europe.
In the heart of the metropolis, the former Jewish quarter, less than two square kilometers is packed with around 800 bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. And just like in Barcelona, Berlin, or Amsterdam, the local population is increasingly dissatisfied with this situation.
