Hungarian lesson: A common way to say hello to a stranger: Hello pronounced HAA-Low.
There is often a debate about needing cash on holiday in Europe. If you think the answer is NO, move on to another thread because you will not do well with where I went today.
If you are the type that likes to get off the beaten path and see the more “real” side of the city. One I mentioned in the previous post was the Bosnyák Market Hall & Farmers Market. https://oroksegnapok.gov.hu/sites/default/files/kepek/2024/setak/977/bosnyak-kulso.jpg . Inside vendors https://piaconline.hu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bosnyak_teri_vasarcsarnok1.jpg , and a large paved outside market area with literally hundreds of vendors from a farmers market to clothing and tools. https://14.kerulet.ittlakunk.hu/files/ittlakunk/styles/large/public/upload/company/1256/bosnyak_teri_vasarcsarnok5_zugloilapok.hu_.jpg. The Saturday I had gone was approaching noon, and things begin to close up at noon on Saturday, so I returned early today to get a better impression.
The fresh meat markets are inside as are literally hundreds of produce vendors. Then there is a zone that is neither under the market roof, nor outside the market which is mostly vendors of household needs and small convenience store type vendors; then you move to the paved outside.
The first stop was to eat. A tent under which was a bubbling tray of pig fat in which pig ears were being fried to perfection. Also, in the bubbling soup of pig fat were some very nice-looking, juicy pork sausages. Hungarians love their dried, almost peperoni type sausages so finding a thick juicy Polish Kielbasa style sausage is wonderful. I grew up in Texas, so Kielbasa is something that I have missed here. Two links, each almost 2 inches in diameter and not less than 9 inches long, mustard, bread all served on a rectangular piece of cardboard that you took to a shared standup table: 2.500 ft (about $7.30). The young woman who waited on us spoke good English which is rare in that market. Sweet, kind, helpful. I will be back for that alone. The sausage was perfect as well.
The most visually appealing part of the market is the colors of the produce; this being Hungary, especially the paprika (just means peppers). Every size and shape imaginable in green, yellow, orange, red, purple, solid and variegated. Sweet, mild and stupid hot. Simply stunning when mixed together and piled high on the vendors table.
The shopping ended up being light. Corn, dill and a few other freshly picked herbs that my S.O. understood, but not me; pickled cabbage, pickled garlic, this odd flat cabbage, Roma-“like” tomatoes and my favorite crispy fried pig fat snacks.
How to reach the market. Take the M1 from your hotel on Andrassy ut, to the end stop of Mexikói út. Get off and board Tram 3 (it’s the end stop so you can only get on it in one direction). Then it is about 5 stops on Tram 3 to Bosnyák tér followed by a short walk to the market. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ei49J7P5dEnvNXDK7
Hungarian lesson: A common way to say goodbye to a stranger: Hello pronounced HAA-Low.
