The Professor and Her Passport
The musings of a wayward professor
While at the conference this week, I enjoyed many lunches at the market. The market was originally constructed in 1894, but a fire destroyed half the roof in 1896. Following repairs the market reopened in 1897. Along with the many shops for tourists, many locals do their daily shopping in the market. It is hard to resist the sames of cheeses and salamis that the merchants are quick to offer anyone who lingers by their cases.
A light drizzle did not dampen my spirits nor did I allow it to dilute the wine. Spent over five hours visiting the vendors, learning about the wide variety of grapes grown in Hungary. Met people from across the globe. Certainly wine is a unifying element of humanity! Met some gents from England, a retired couple from California, and a family from New Zealand. Everyone was having a lovely time. Along with the wines, the food was scrumptious. My favorite was the open-pit smoked salmon and the dark chocolate chili truffle. Portions from all the vendors were huge! I tried to capture the essence of the festive in photos, but you need to book a trip and experience this annual event for yourself. (Hotels book far in advance for this event, so plan ahead.)
This is the largest market in Budapest. The first floor features fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables. The second floor hosts Hungarian street food and vendors catering to tourists. The food is cheap and plentiful. A must visit.
I’ve been in Budapest all week attending a professional conference. After the late afternoon session, a colleague and I ventured up to the Castle District to savor the grape
harvest at the Budapest Wine Festival. What an amazing event. Over 200 vineyards were on display showcasing their wines. A prepayment card was used to purchase wines and foods. Upon leaving I was refunded the unused amount. The entire night cost less then $40 USD and I had the pleasure of sampling over 6 wines, grilled salmon, oven baked pizza, and a chocolate chili truffle. This event is not to missed.
